Focus

State considers more aggressive goals for offshore wind development

Eureka Times-Standard – July 2

Last Monday, the California Energy Commission held a workshop regarding potentially advancing higher offshore wind energy goals after setting preliminary targets of 3 GW of development by 2030 and between 10 and 15 GW by 2045. Some at the meeting suggested the goal should be raised to 5 GW by the end of this decade, but others believe higher offshore wind development goals are infeasible and could have unintended consequences for ocean ecology. Senate Bill 100, the 100% Clean Energy Act of 2018, put California on the path to 100% clean energy by 2045, and Assembly Bill 525, which became law a few months ago, requires the commission to prepare a strategic plan on offshore wind energy development by June 30, 2023.

News

California gives ‘new life’ to gas plants in emergency overhaul

E&E News – July 1

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a measure into law on June 30 that would delay the closure of natural gas plants and expedite energy generation projects in an effort to avoid blackouts over the next five summers. The legislation, passed as part of a raft of late bills attached to the $308 billion state budget, shifts power for buying emergency generation projects to the state Department of Water Resources, allocating at least $2.2 billion to the task. The California Energy Commission will conduct environmental reviews and can bypass approvals from other state and local agencies that normally would review developments.

DOE launches $500M mines-to-clean energy program

PV-Tech – July 4

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a $500 million program that will install clean energy projects on current or former mine lands across the country. At least two funded projects will need to include solar energy. The DOE is looking into opportunities for domestic solar manufacturers to supply the projects, with a funding opportunity to solicit project proposals expected in 2023.

Even with two-year tariff pause, Wood Mackenzie still expects solar markets to be down over 2022

Solar Power World – June 29

Research group Wood Mackenzie has released an updated U.S. solar forecast after the Biden administration issued an executive order announcing a two-year delay on the Department of Commerce’s AD/CVD tariffs. The firm had been predicting a 6.3 GW reduction in 2022 installations based on the uncertainty around the anticircumvention investigation launched in March. The latest forecast predicts some modest upside in 2022 (approximately 100 MW) and more upside to installations in 2023 (around 500 MW), as delayed projects come online.

DOE gives PG&E more time to apply for funds to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open

The Tribune – July 3

PG&E has been given more time to consider whether to apply for federal funding to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open and operating, pushing the deadline to September 6. The U.S. DOE recently granted the utility’s request to extend the deadline for the Civil Nuclear Credit program, a $6 billion funding initiative to help keep struggling nuclear power plants operational.

Projects

Financing closes on 100 MW Rabbitbrush Solar project in California

Solar Industry Magazine – June 30

Leeward Renewable Energy has closed $58.5 million in construction financing and secured tax equity commitments for its Rabbitbrush Solar Facility in Kern County. The project is currently under construction and, when completed, will have a solar generation capacity of 100 MW.

Jupiter Power’s 200 MW/200 MWh battery storage facility now online in Texas

Renewable Energy World – July 5

Jupiter Power’s 200 MW/200 MWh standalone battery storage facility is now commercially operable. Crossett Power Management is now one of the largest battery storage projects within ERCOT, the grid operator representing 90% of the state’s electric load.

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