CA-Training for Residential Energy Contractors (CA-TREC) Group 3: New and Expanding
Summary
SCH Number
2026070407
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
CA-Training for Residential Energy Contractors (CA-TREC) Group 3: New and Expanding
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/10/2026
Document Description
The goals of this project are to:
• Expand contractor training capacity in underserved California communities by upgrading Joint Apprentice Training Committee (JATC) facilities with residential heat-pump and modern training equipment and tools for refrigerant charging, capture, and leak detection.
• Create accessible, high-road training pathways that help technicians advance into residential contractor roles.
• Increase the number of qualified residential contractors able to perform permitted, safe, efficient and code compliant heat-pump and modern installations.
• Reduce barriers to training by providing hands-on tools and equipment, updated curriculum, and coordinated outreach and support.
• Strengthen local economies by growing small business opportunities and improving homeowner access to high-quality residential energy services.
Contact Information
Name
Amber Beck
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Energy Commission Specialist II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Jeremy Zeedyk
Agency Name
Western States Council of SMART
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Fresno, La Puente, Modesto, Nipomo, Sacramento, San Diego
Counties
Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus
Regions
Statewide
Other Location Info
1. 633 N. Baldwin Park Blvd., Bassett, CA 91746 – Los Angeles County
2. 4596 Mission George Pl., San Diego, CA 92120 – San Diego County
3. 5410 E. Home Ave., Fresno, CA 93727 – Fresno County
4. 841 Lone Palm Ave., Modesto, CA 95351 – Stanislaus County
5. 3665 Bleckely St., Mather, CA 95655 – Sacramento County
6. 1220 Professional Pkwy., Nipomo, CA 93444 – San Luis Obispo County
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15301, provides that the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the responsible agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project involves the installation of new HVAC and heat pump-related equipment that will be installed across 6 training centers statewide in facilities that are already designed to hold and operate this type of equipment. This equipment will either replace equipment previously in place or will work in tandem with existing equipment. There will be minimal expansion in use beyond that in existence at the time the equipment is installed. Therefore, this project will not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from CEQA under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301.
This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15302, provides that projects which consist of the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced, inclusive of the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity, are categorically exempt from CEQA. This project involves the installation of new HVAC and heat pump-related equipment that will be installed across 6 training centers statewide in facilities that are already designed to hold and operate this type of equipment. This equipment will either replace equipment previously in place or will work in tandem with existing equipment. There will be minimal expansion beyond that in existence at the time the equipment is installed. Therefore, this project will not have a significant impact on the environment and is exempt from CEQA under Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15306.
This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.