Renewable Energy Focus
Solar Industry Magazine - May 18 A new survey by Lazard Ltd., a financial advisory and asset management firm, has found that bipartisan support for clean energy policies has increased among U.S. voters. The Lazard Alternative Energy Poll was previously conducted in 2012, the prior presidential election year. According to Lazard, the poll showed a striking change in attitudes over the last four years among likely voters describing themselves as conservative. In 2012, 46 percent of this group said it was “not important” for America to transition toward a cleaner, more energy-efficient economy. In 2016, only 18 percent said it was not important.
Capital Public Radio - May 18 California's energy grid manager says summer power supply will be "adequate" for most of the state. However, CAL-ISO Senior Public Information Officer Steven Greenlee says natural gas shortages, due to the shutdown of the Aliso Canyon plant, may affect electricity in Southern California. He said improved hydroelectricity generation, after a near-normal winter in Northern California, helps meet the state's overall energy demand. Greenlee also said renewable energy sources, which include solar, wind, small hydro, geothermal, biofuel, and battery storage, now make up 24.6 percent, or 17,882 megawatts, of the electricity supply in California.
Energy Matters - May 17 Dozens of America’s biggest companies have joined with several non-profit organizations to form the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), which has set a goal of developing 60 gigawatts of new renewable capacity by 2025. REBA, led by Business for Social Responsibility, Rocky Mountain Institute, World Resources Institute, and World Wildlife Fund, wants to galvanize the nation’s most successful businesses into climate action by removing barriers to corporate purchasing of solar and wind power. REBA is joined by over 60 of the country’s most profitable companies, including Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and General Motors.
KPBS - May 16 San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) plans to spend a significant amount of money to raise awareness and to dramatically expand the number of drivers using electric cars. SDG&E is considering new pricing structures that make it cheaper to charge cars in the middle of the day, when there's a surplus of solar produced electricity. The education effort comes in addition to a $45 million pilot project recently approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. That program commits the utility to installing 3,500 charging stations around the county.
East Bay Express - May 18 Alameda County is on the brink of creating its own electricity system, which will provide greener energy at lower prices than Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). But some community and environmental activists argue that the current strategy for a community choice energy system, or CCE, fails to adequately prioritize local energy generation and the well-paying jobs that come with it. They also say there's not a plan for sufficient public input. The county recently released a feasibility study that confirmed it will be able to offer electricity produced with reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. Utility bills will also be less than with PG&E. The board of supervisors is expected to launch the CCE in early summer.
Marin Independent Journal - May 15 The high-tech Tesla battery installations that could save College of Marin about $10,000 a month popped up on campus last week. The energy storage system with home, commercial, and industrial applications, is designed to store and distribute electricity generated by the school’s solar arrays. The project took nearly 18 months of planning and will be completed at the end of May.
PV-Tech - May 18 Utah-headquartered independent power producer sPower has been awarded 20-year PPA contracts by Pacific Gas and Electric Company for 60 megawatts of solar capacity in California. The contracts are for three projects, named Bayshore A, B, and C, which are all situated in Lancaster. They are to be constructed and commissioned next year.
