Focus
U.S. proposal would permit eagle deaths as renewables expand
Associated Press – September 29
The Biden administration on September 29 proposed a new permitting program for wind energy turbines, power lines, and other projects that kill eagles, amid growing concern among scientists that the rapid expansion of renewable energy in the U.S. West could harm golden eagle populations now teetering on decline. The Fish and Wildlife Service program is meant to encourage companies to work with officials to minimize harm to golden and bald eagles, and it is intended to prevent any slowdown in the growth of wind power as an alternative to fossil fuels.
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News
Final federal report on saving salmon calls breaching Snake dams a ‘centerpiece action’
Idaho Statesman – October 1
The final draft of a federal report on rebuilding salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest includes a call for removing the four lower Snake River dams. The initial draft of “Rebuilding Salmon and Steelhead in the Columbia River Basin” was released in July by NOAA Fisheries, with the final report released on September 30, drawing largely the same conclusions.
Without Manchin deal, can U.S. develop enough clean energy?
E&E News – September 28
Some environmentalists cheered when Senator Joe Manchin’s proposed permitting reforms collapsed on September 28. But when the bill failed, so did its climate silver lining: a one-stop shop for permitting long-range transmission lines. The bill would have given the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the power to permit long-range transmission lines and decide how to divvy up the costs for building them. Some analysts said the proposal is crucial to spurring development of the power lines needed for the expansion of wind and solar.
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Projects
Tiny Oregon town hosts 1st wind-solar-battery hybrid plant
U.S. News & World Report – September 28
A renewable energy plant in Oregon that combines solar power, wind power, and massive batteries to store the energy generated there officially opened on September 28 as the first utility-scale plant of its kind in North America. The project, which can generate enough electricity to power a small city at maximum output, addresses a key challenge facing the utility industry. Wind and solar are clean sources of power, but utilities have been forced to fill in gaps when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining with fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.
Intersect Power closes $3.1B financing to complete 2.2 GW near-term portfolio
PV-Tech – September 30
Intersect Power has secured $3.1 billion in project financing for the construction and operation of four solar projects with a capacity of 1.5 GW of solar PV and a 1 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS). All four projects are expected to be operational in 2023, with two located in Texas and two located in California. The projects in California are Oberon I and Oberon II, with 500 MWac solar PV and 1 GWh of BESS, and are located in eastern Riverside County on BLM-managed land.
Tulare County Planning Commission paves way for solar farm expansion
Porterville Recorder – September 29
The Tulare County Planning Commission on September 28 approved the final supplemental environmental impact report and special use permit for the expansion of the Rexford solar project. Aventus, formerly known as 8minute Solar Energy, is expected to break ground on Rexford I in the spring of 2023. The project will generate 700 MW of electricity and another 700 MWh of battery storage. The second phase of the project will have a capacity of 500 MW of power and 500 MWh of battery storage.
California Judicial Council seeks bids for microgrids, solar, storage at 32 sites
Microgrid Knowledge – September 22
The largest judicial court system in the United States — California’s — is seeking bids to develop renewable microgrids or solar and storage for 32 of its courthouses, judicial centers, and other sites. The RFP seeks proposals for systems that offer renewable microgrids, solar and batteries, or solar alone. The projects will operate under solar power purchase agreements or solar equipment lease agreements, which may vary based on the needs of each site.
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