Tag Archive for: california

California ranks as the “greenest” state in America according to a report released Wednesday by the WalletHub personal finance website.

California ranked ‘greenest’ US state thanks to water conservation, EVs and rooftop solar

California ranks as the “greenest” state in America thanks to rooftop solar, water conservation and electric vehicles, according to a report released Wednesday by the WalletHub personal finance website.

“Eco-friendliness and personal finance are related,” noted Miami-based WalletHub in its introduction to the ranking. “Our environmental and financial needs are the same in many areas.”

States were ranked on environmental quality, eco-friendly behavior and contribution to climate-change using 25 metrics ranging from water quality to LEED-certified buildings to greenhouse gas emissions.

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Source: Times of San Diego

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Calpine’s billion-dollar, 680-megawatt project in Menifee will be one of the biggest batteries in the U.S. when it comes online this summer.

This California city is trading an old gas plant for a giant grid battery

For a decade, twin smokestacks loomed against the bright blue skies of Menifee, in Southern California’s Inland Empire. But the old gas combustion plant came down, and on the flat industrial site it left behind an army of batteries is now being assembled.

When it comes online this summer, developer Calpine’s Nova power bank will store more electricity than all but one battery plant currently operating in the U.S. The billion-dollar project, with 680 megawatts and 2,720 megawatt-hours, will help California shift its nation-leading solar generation into the critical evening and nighttime hours, bolstering the grid against the heat waves that have pushed it to the brink multiple times in recent years.

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Source: Canary Media

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Utilities tend to treat solar & batteries as threats to their power grids. CA’s policy will now tap their flexible power to benefit the grid.

California’s new rules allow solar and batteries to help out the grid

For years, utilities have grappled with how to handle the ever-growing number of solar and battery systems trying to connect to the lower-voltage grids that deliver power to customers. That’s especially true for midsize projects like, say, a solar array that might adorn the roof of a multiunit apartment complex or a community-solar project that generates power shared by hundreds of dispersed customers.

On the one hand, utilities have eyed such projects warily, fearing that if the solar panels or batteries inject too much power onto local circuits at moments when electricity demand is low, it might cause grid instability or safety problems. As a result, utilities have thrown up barriers that have delayed or halted grid connections.

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Source: Canary Media

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USDA is investing close to $6M in 9 renewable energy projects throughout CA to lower energy costs, generate new income, and support farmers & rural small business

Energy projects aim to strengthen California farms

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A nearly $6 million investment announced on March 28 focuses on clean, renewable energy. U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development California State Director Maria Gallegos Herrera made the announcement on March 28 that USDA is investing close to $6 million in nine renewable energy projects throughout California to lower energy costs, generate new income, and support California’s farmers, ranchers, and rural small business.

“With the Inflation Reduction Act, we are able to support more rural business owners and agricultural producers adopt sustainable energy solutions that provide short- and long-term benefits,” said Gallegos Herrera. “These investments reduce energy costs for producers and small business owners, invest in renewable energy that benefits not only our environment but also our economy, while reaffirming the commitment to rural California.”

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Source: Riverbanks News

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The CPUC issued a significant decision allowing renewable energy systems to be approved to interconnect to the electric grid using LGP.

California approves use of DER schedules to avoid grid impact

Today the California Public Utilities Commission issued a significant decision allowing renewable energy systems to be approved to interconnect to the electric grid using an energy export schedule (known as a Limited Generation Profile or LGP) that is designed to avoid grid impacts. This approach, which leverages California’s public grid data, can reduce the need for costly infrastructure upgrades and support higher levels of renewables on the grid.

The decision is the first of its kind in the United States and is a major milestone in enabling distributed energy resources (DERs), like solar PV and energy storage, to operate in flexible ways that align with conditions on the grid. The decision was significantly shaped by recommendations from the nonprofit Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

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Source: Solar Power World

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California sets ambitious clean energy goals: net zero emissions and 100% clean energy by 2045, leading the nation once again.

Southern California projects help state achieve ambitious clean energy goals

California, once again, is leading the nation with its ambitious clean energy goals, which include calling for net zero emissions and 100% clean energy by 2045. Success will require exponential growth in battery storage facilities, solar power, electric vehicles, smart buildings and more – fueled by investment by both the private and public sector.

Perhaps surprisingly, one of the leading businesses helping with this transition is our company, Prologis, which is the global leader in logistics real estate. Actually, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate clean energy projects throughout Southern California to both serve our customers and help the state meet its far-reaching goals. Southern California is Prologis’ largest market, and the company has adopted- ed our own ambitious goal to have net zero emissions across our value chain by 2040 – five years earlier than the state’s climate plan.

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Source: Los Angeles Business Journal

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“NREL being a leader in clean energy technology gives instructors at the colleges a crucial resource,” McCall said.

In California, NREL helps kern county embrace clean energy in partnership with community colleges

For more than 100 years, Kern County, California, has relied on energy (oil and gas) and agricultural production to stimulate the economy. People in Kern County have a fierce sense of pride and a strong sense of identity as an energy producing community, and they are expanding that vision.

“Typically, people who were born and raised in Kern County choose to raise their families there and stay for the long term,” said James McCall, energy and environmental analyst for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “Bakersfield is a big city that has a small-town feel. A small town of more than 400,000 people, but that’s small for California. The joke there was it was two hours from everything: Los Angeles, the beach, and the national parks are all two hours away.”

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Source: Clean Technica

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Solar workers traveled to the state capital on Wednesday to rally in support of solar energy, calling on lawmakers to keep CA a solar state.

300+ solar workers and supporters rally in support of solar energy

Solar workers traveled to the state capital on Wednesday to rally in support of solar energy, calling on lawmakers to keep California a solar state.

The solar industry is experiencing business closures and significant job losses in every part of the state after the decision of the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, to slash overnight by 70 to 80 percent the value of solar energy contributed back to the grid.

Since then, the solar industry has lost more than 17,000 jobs, representing 22 percent of all solar jobs in the state. A steep 87 percent decline in solar installations is also pushing California off its path to meeting renewable energy goals that are critical to the fight against climate change.

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Source: ewg

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Arevon Energy has secured $1.1 billion in aggregate financing commitments for its Eland 2 Solar + Storage Project in Kern County, California.

California solar + storage project secures $1.1 billion in financing

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Renewable energy project developer Arevon Energy has secured $1.1 billion in aggregate financing commitments for its Eland 2 Solar + Storage Project in Kern County, California. The 374-MWDC solar project coupled with 150 MW/600 MWh of energy storage is under early-stage construction and is anticipated to come online in Q1 2025.

Wells Fargo provided a $431 million tax equity commitment. Arevon obtained $654 million of debt financing including a construction-to-term loan, a tax equity bridge loan and letter of credit facilities. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) served as the Administrative Agent, Coordinating Lead Arranger, Green Loan Coordinator, and Bookrunner. Other Coordinating Lead Arrangers included BNP Paribas, CoBank, Commerzbank AG, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and National Bank of Canada. J.P. Morgan served as Joint Lead Arranger, Collateral and Depositary Agent. Amis, Patel & Brewer, LLP represented Arevon as Sponsor Counsel; Milbank LLP served as Lender Counsel; and Sheppard Mullin served as Tax Equity Counsel.

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Source: Solar Power World

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California must add nearly 60 GW of new renewable energy and energy storage resources by 2035 to slash power sector greenhouse gas emissions.

California plans to add nearly 60 GW of renewables, storage by 2035

California must add nearly 60 GW of new renewable energy and energy storage resources by 2035 to slash power sector greenhouse gas emissions under a sweeping plan approved Feb. 15 by state energy regulators.

“This is a critical component of California’s climate change strategy,” California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds said ahead of a 3-0 decision to approve the “preferred system plan and portfolio,” which is designed to reduce emissions in the power sector to 25 million metric tons by 2035.

More than 40 individual integrated resource plans filed by investor-owned utilities, community choice aggregators and other load-serving entities helped to shape the statewide preferred plan. Under the portfolio, the use of natural gas-fired power plants connected to the California ISO transmission system “would decrease by roughly 70% by 2035” compared with 2024, Reynolds said.

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Source: S&P Global

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