Focus

Newsom signs bills to speed up infrastructure projects

Courthouse News Service – July 10

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills on Monday aimed at streamlining the construction of solar and wind farms, reservoirs, bridges, railways, and other infrastructure projects in California. The package includes measures to move projects more quickly through the "red tape" of California's onerous bureaucratic processes, including a streamlined mechanism for mitigating development impacts to the western Joshua tree. It also establishes a Green Bank Financing Program within the Climate Catalyst Fund, allowing state agencies to leverage federal dollars for climate projects that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities.

News

California receives $67 million grant for electric grid resiliency

The Center Square – July 10

California has been awarded $67 million to enhance the physical resilience of the state's electric grid against extreme weather and natural disasters that impact its ability to provide affordable and reliable energy. The funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. California will use its funding, the highest amount awarded to any endowed state this year, on selected projects that advance the state's goal of achieving 100% clean energy that reduce fossil fuel reliance.

New law to protect Joshua trees from climate change imposes fees on desert developers

Los Angeles Times – July 11

California has enacted the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, the first law aimed at helping to ensure the survival of millions of the climate-threatened trees while accommodating booming renewable energy and housing projects across their ancient Mojave Desert domain. The new law, which took effect July 1, prohibits unpermitted killing or removal of the trees, tasks state wildlife authorities with developing and implementing a conservation plan for the species by 2024, and creates a fund to acquire and manage suitable habitat funded by mitigation fees paid for by developers advancing projects that impact the trees.

California greenlights $4.3B funding for energy efficiency, targets underserved and rural communities

Smart Cities Dive – July 5

California regulators last Thursday approved $4.3 billion in investments for energy efficiency efforts from 2024 through 2027, along with a forecasted budget of $4.6 billion from 2028 through 2031. Around 14% of the budget will be channeled to programs that target disadvantaged and underserved communities. The investments approved by the California Public Utilities Commission will go into a host of energy efficiency-related measures that will also help improve energy reliability in the state, according to the agency. These include expanding current programs so that consumers can receive energy efficiency along with other home energy benefits — including electrification and energy storage — at the same time, the agency noted.

Arizona Public Service issues RFP to meet growing power demands

Solar Industry Magazine – July 7

Arizona Public Service (APS) has issued a 2023 All-Source Request for Proposal, seeking project proposals from developers for flexible and innovative energy resources that will fuel increasing power needs as more people and businesses move to Arizona. APS plans to add approximately 1,000 MW to serve customers with even more around-the-clock power, with at least 700 MW earmarked for renewable energy projects.

Projects

Electric truck stop with 31 charging stations under development near Bakersfield

The Bakersfield Californian - July 6

Kern County's first all-electric truck stop is on track to open 31 charging stations this year — about half of them to be powered by solar panels on-site, the head of the Long Beach company behind the project announced last Thursday. WattEV founder and CEO Salim Youssefzadeh said the 110-acre site will be one of four charging stations operational by the end of this year in Bakersfield, Gardena, Long Beach, and San Bernardino.

San Diego goes big on microgrids

The San Diego Union-Tribune – July 7

The city of San Diego is about to join the microgrid movement. The first of eight microgrid projects to be built at city facilities was unveiled last Friday at the Southcrest Recreational Center in South County as part of a $5.5 million public-private partnership designed to reduce energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and save taxpayers money. Growing in popularity in California, microgrids essentially act as mini-electric grids that can power a defined area by operating independently of the conventional electric power system.

D.E. Shaw begins construction on 200 MW San Juan solar+storage project in New Mexico

Solar Builder – July 11

D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments has closed on financing and started construction on its San Juan 1 project, a 200 MW solar and 100 MW battery storage facility adjacent to the former San Juan Generating Station in San Juan County, New Mexico. The project is a critical capacity replacement to the San Juan Generating Station, which was retired in 2022, and it will interconnect to the grid using existing infrastructure from the retired plant.

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