The California Energy Commission iwas created by the Legislature in 1974 and located in Sacramento, the Commission has five major responsibilities:

• Forecasting future energy needs and keeping historical energy data
• Licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger
• Promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building standards
• Developing energy technologies and supporting renewable energy
• Planning for and directing state response to energy emergency

The Commission's role includes overseeing funding programs that support public interest energy research; advance energy science and technology through research, development and demonstration; and provide market support to existing, new and emerging renewable technologies.