(a) In consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, the commission shall do both of the following for the purpose of full or partial funding of an eligible construction or retrofit project:
(1) Establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to eligible low-income individuals.
(2) Establish a 2-percent interest per annum loan program to provide financial assistance to a small business owner, residential property owner, or individual who is not eligible for a grant pursuant to paragraph (1). The loans shall be available to a small business owner who has a gross annual income that does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or to an individual or residential property owner who has a gross annual household income that does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
(b) (1) The commission shall use the design guidelines adopted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 14 of the act that added this section as standards to determine eligible energy-efficiency projects.
(2) The award of a grant pursuant to this section is subject to appeal to the commission upon a showing that the commission applied factors, other than those adopted by the commission, in making the award.
(3) The grant or loan recipient shall commit to using the grant or loan for the purpose for which the grant or loan was awarded.
(4) Any action taken by an applicant to apply for, or to become or remain eligible to receive, a grant award, including satisfying conditions specified by the commission, does not constitute the rendering of goods, services, or a direct benefit to the commission.
(5) The amount of any grant awarded pursuant to this article to a low-income individual does not constitute income for purposes of calculating the recipient’s gross income for the tax year during which the grant is received.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, 2nd Ex. Sess., Ch. 9, Sec. 2. Effective August 8, 2002.)