Renewable Energy Focus
Bloomberg - Jul 27
SunPower Corp., the second-biggest U.S. solar manufacturer, bought 1.5 gigawatts of projects under development in 11 U.S. states from the Australian developer Infigen Energy. Three of the projects with a total of 55 megawatts of capacity have contracts to sell power to Edison International’s Southern California Edison unit. Construction on these solar farms in Kern County is expected to begin this year and to be complete in 2016. Terms weren’t disclosed.
Renewable Energy Magazine - Jul 27
A bill intended to unleash the potential of geothermal energy in the United States was introduced over the weekend, and, right out of the gate, it's got bipartisan support. The bill, entitled "The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015," is sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state. Among its provisions is establishing a 50-gigawatt goal for geothermal development. It also directs federal agencies to identify priority areas for development, allows federal oil and gas lease holders to obtain a non-competitive geothermal lease to facilitate coproduction of geothermal power, and will provide geothermal exploration test projects a limited categorical exclusion provided the lands involved present no extraordinary circumstances.
San Bernardino Sun - Jul 29
The Imperial Irrigation District has released a 260-page document that provides short, medium, and long-term plans to avert a health crisis and spur the development of up to 1,700 megawatts of new geothermal energy at the Salton Sea. The initiative includes construction of additional habitat in designated areas as funds become available and construction of an infrastructure backbone that promotes development of renewable energy in areas of exposed playa. The initiative also includes construction of geothermal development and other renewable energy projects. A study released last year said the cost of doing nothing to reduce the shrinkage of the Salton Sea could be as much as $70 billion over 30 years.
Los Angeles Times - Jul 24
Southern California Edison announced a proposal to purchase almost 105 megawatts of renewable power as part of the utility’s effort to meet state requirements for broader use of energy sources such as solar. The utility also is seeking 50 megawatts of solar resources to support the launch of its Green Rate program. The Green Tariff program allows customers unable to obtain rooftop solar to meet 50 percent to 100 percent of their electricity use from other solar resources.
Washington Post - Jul 27
With the lowering of giant steel legs to the sea bottom off Rhode Island, construction has officially begun on the country’s first offshore wind farm, starting what U.S. officials hope will be a race to harness a vast energy resource capable of powering millions of homes along the East Coast. The project developer, Deepwater Wind, marked the “steel-in-the water” milestone for its Block Island Wind Farm on Monday. The farm’s five turbines are expected to begin turning next year, providing electricity for about 17,000 nearby homes.
Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals
San Diego Union-Tribune - Jul 29
Wind energy developer Iberdrola Renewables has signed a power contract to underwrite construction of an array of industrial-scale turbines in southeastern San Diego County. Southern California Edison has agreed to buy electricity from up to 67 turbines located mostly on public lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, according to Iberdrola Renewables, a U.S. division of the Spanish energy company. The Tule Wind Power project should supply enough electricity to power about 40,000 typical homes.
Charlotte Business Journal - Jul 28
Duke Energy Renewables has purchased the development rights for two Southern California solar projects with a total capacity of 50 megawatts. When the projects are completed, likely in December, Duke will have 116 megawatts of solar capacity in the state. Duke Renewables bought the 20-megawatt Seville Solar I and the 30-megawatt Seville Solar II from Montreal-based Kruger Energy for an undisclosed price. The projects are in the Imperial Valley.
PV Magazine - Jul 28
Germany’s increasingly pro-solar energy firm E.ON completed its first large-scale solar farm in California and hinted strongly that many more such developments are in the pipeline across the U.S. The 20-megawatt Alamo Solar farm in San Bernardino County has now been connected to the grid and sold to Dominion, making it the first solar project to be sold by E.ON.
