California energy regulators, during their meeting on February 15, approved a sweeping plan to reduce the state’s yearly electric sector greenhouse gas emissions to 25 million metric tons by 2035, down nearly 60% compared to the 2020 emissions level. The new goal from the California Public Utilities Commission would also require the state to build more than 56 GW of additional clean energy generation, including solar and different durations of energy storage, as well as 4.5 GW of offshore wind, according to the agency.
A Northern California lawmaker has introduced legislation that would repeal a solar metering tariff that sharply cut how much utility companies pay homeowners for surplus energy generated on their residential solar systems. Assembly Bill 2619, introduced by Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, would repeal Net Energy Metering 3.0 (which was approved in December 2022 and cut incentives by 75%) and require the California Public Utilities Commission to create a new rule structure that will still enable the state to meet its clean-energy goals. California is committed to having carbon-free energy by 2045.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has found that of the 62.8 GW of utility-scale electricity capacity planned for 2024 in the United States, the greatest share of new developments will be solar projects, followed by battery storage. According to EIA, planned solar projects will account for 55% of new electricity capacity for 2024, while battery storage will account for 23%.
Federal energy officials denied permits for a controversial hydropower project on The Navajo Nation in northern Arizona. In its decision to deny those permits, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said it was establishing a new policy about cooperation with Tribes. “The Commission will not issue preliminary permits for projects proposing to use Tribal lands if the Tribe on whose lands the project is to be located opposes the permit,” the agency wrote.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted a Clean Air Act permit to New York's Empire Offshore Wind LLC, owned by Equinor. The permit was given after an air quality analysis showed federal air quality standards would not be compromised during construction and operation of the project, the agency said. The project will include two offshore wind farms, 816 MW Empire Wind 1 and 1,260 MW Empire Wind 2, located about 12 nautical miles (nm) south of Long Island, and about 17 nm east of Long Branch, New Jersey.
Strata Clean Energy has closed on $559 million in financing for the construction and ownership of the 255 MW/1,020 MWh Scatter Wash battery storage complex. The facility is expected to be operational by April 2025. In May 2023, Strata forged a 20-year tolling agreement with Arizona Public Service (APS) for the project. The development of Scatter Wash is supported by the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for standalone energy storage created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022.
Lightsource bp is currently developing a 288 MW solar portfolio in Texas, consisting of two utility-scale projects. Construction on the Starr Solar project (163 MW) in Starr County and Second Division Solar (125 MW) in Brazoria County is being financially supported by a recent $348 million investment.
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