Focus
California takes step toward first offshore wind farm on West Coast
Courthouse News Service – April 7
The California Coastal Commission last Thursday voted unanimously to pave the way for the West Coast’s first offshore wind farm, which, if ultimately approved and built, would occupy roughly 206 square miles of ocean about 20 miles west of the town of Eureka. While this project is the first one on the West Coast to begin the approval process, another similar offshore wind project west of Morro Bay along the Central Coast is slated to come before the commission for consideration in June.
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News
California grid operator considers ways to integrate long-duration storage
Utility Dive – April 6
As California moves to achieve aggressive clean energy goals, the state's grid operator is thinking through the additional tools and compensation mechanisms it will need to better integrate longer-duration storage resources into the grid. Around 3,100 MW of energy storage capacity is installed on the California grid today, up from 1,500 MW last summer and around 200 MW to 300 MW the summer before, according to statements from the California Independent System Operator storage sector manager at a California Energy Commission workshop last Tuesday.
Stanford researchers develop solar panels that can generate electricity at night
NPR – April 7
A team of engineers at Stanford University has developed a solar cell that can generate some electricity at night. The research comes at a time when the number of solar jobs is rising, along with residential installations. While standard solar panels can provide electricity during the day, this device can serve as a "continuous renewable power source for both day- and nighttime," according to the study published last week in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
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Projects
California City Planning Commission approves large solar project
Antelope Valley Press – April 10
The California City Planning Commission last Friday unanimously approved the Bellefield Solar Project. Most of the project parcels are located within unincorporated Kern County, but about 30% are within California City’s boundaries. The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved the majority of the project, in unincorporated Kern County, in December. The project, proposed by 8 Minute Energy, LLC, will generate 1,500 MW of electricity and include power storage of 1,500 MW.
Could geothermal power U.S. military bases? DOD wants to find out
Power Engineering – April 8
As the largest energy consumer in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world, the Department of Defense (DOD) has the ability to influence markets and achieve near-immediate scale for emerging technologies. The DOD's interest in geothermal energy could be a shot in the arm for the firm, clean energy resource that has often lagged behind technologies like wind and solar in the U.S. The agency requested information on March 7 related to powering at least 14 installations, including sites in California, with the potential for more, across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Interested companies should reply to the RFI by April 21.
Arizona's TEP plans RFP for 550 MW of renewables, firm capacity
Renewables Now – April 7
Arizona utility Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is seeking to add up to 250 MW of renewables and energy efficiency and 300 MW of firm capacity to its network, it said last Wednesday. The company will issue an all-source request for proposals (RFP) on April 19. The competitive round will be open for wind, solar, and energy efficiency projects, with a combined capacity of up to 250 MW. Up to 300 MW of the targeted capacity is set aside for firm capacity resources such as battery storage with at least four hours of storage capacity daily.
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