Focus

California climate bill would make companies disclose emissions

Associated Press – January 30

Democratic lawmakers in California introduced a package of climate bills on Monday aimed at holding corporations accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions. The bills include legislation to require companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions to the public, ban the state’s public pension funds from investing in major fossil fuel companies, and create a group to analyze climate-caused financial risks for corporations.

News

U.S. battery supply chain investments reach $92 billion since President Biden took office

Energy Storage News – January 26

A total of $92 billion has been invested in the U.S. battery supply chain since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. The figure includes government and private sector investments into the country’s battery supply chain, including recycling, materials separation, and processing and component manufacturing. A total of 78 facilities have been announced.

Wind-based PPA prices drop for first time since early 2021 while solar prices continue to climb

Utility Dive – January 31

The average price of power purchase agreements for wind projects in North America dropped 1.9% in the final quarter of 2022, the first price decline in two years, according to renewable energy marketplace LevelTen Energy. Although wind markets seem to be reaping the benefits of new, stabilized incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, prices for solar PPAs rose 8.2% during the fourth quarter. Ongoing supply chain challenges, concerns about forced labor, and interconnection delays continue to impact solar developers and raise questions about whether the IRA alone will be enough to bring solar costs back to pre-Covid levels, according to Gia Clark, senior director of developer services at LevelTen.

Projects

Long Beach seeks offshore wind opportunities with Pier Wind project

Maritime Executive – January 27

The Port of Long Beach is looking to offshore wind turbine assembly and manufacturing as part of its new growth strategy and its overall goal to become the world’s first zero-emissions seaport. The new 400-acre terminal would be the largest offshore wind turbine assembly facility dedicated to floating wind farm technology. The proposed floating offshore wind staging and integration facility is dubbed “Pier Wind” within the port’s complex.

Renewable Properties signs 30 MW in PPAs with PG&E for community solar projects

Solar Builder – January 31

Renewable Properties has signed power purchase agreements for five projects totaling almost 30 MW with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties. The projects will bring the benefits of clean solar energy to households that can’t install solar on-site, helping to expand renewable energy access to low-income communities in California. The projects are part of California’s Disadvantaged Communities and Community Solar Green Tariff programs enacted by Assembly Bill 327 in 2013.

Bishop Ranch’s massive energy storage center expands

Connect CRE – January 24

Sunset Development and DSD Renewables have begun the second phase of their multicampus solar and energy storage installation at Bishop Ranch, a 600-acre, mixed-use development in San Ramon. The new phase will add 35,000 solar panels, and when completed in early 2024, will produce over 22 million kWh of clean, renewable energy annually that will offset Bishop Ranch’s energy usage by 90%.

Utah company advances Wyoming pumped-storage project

The Salt Lake Tribune – January 28

Salt Lake City-based rPlus Hydro announced last Thursday that it has submitted its final application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a 900 MW pumped storage project north of Rawlins, Wyoming. There are two major transmission lines under construction near the project. One is the Gateway South line that PacifiCorp is building from southeastern Wyoming to Mona, Utah. The other line, the Transwest Express line, will run from Wyoming to the Intermountain Power Plant near Delta, Utah, where it can connect to another transmission line to Southern California.

Green hydrogen plant in Lancaster will be one of California's largest

Spectrum News – January 24

A year and a half after Lancaster announced its plans to become the first hydrogen-powered city in the U.S., the Antelope Valley enclave will become the site of one of California’s largest green hydrogen production facilities. The new operation will produce 20,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually and supply users throughout the Los Angeles area when it opens in 2025. The new plant will be operated by Texas-based green hydrogen company Element Resources.

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