California postpones cap-and-trade auctions until November

California officials announced plans to postpone the first allowance auction for its cap-and-trade program from Aug. 15 to Nov. 14. The later start date will give the state more time to link its program with that of its Western Climate Initiative partner, Quebec. Forward progress will be challenging because of a lawsuit challenging the cap's use of offsets, or reductions outside the cap. The lawsuit alleges that offsets represent reductions that would have occurred with or without public policies.

DOI announces onshore wind energy guidelines to protect wildlife

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has released guidelines designed to help wind energy project developers avoid and minimize the impacts of land-based wind projects on wildlife and their habitats. According to the DOI, the voluntary guidelines will help shape the siting, design and operation of the nation's growing wind energy economy. The voluntary guidelines are designed to be used for all utility-scale, community-scale and distributed land-based wind energy projects on both private and public lands.

CPUC issues proposed modifications to California feed-in tariff

The CPUC issued proposed modifications to the state's feed-in tariff (FIT) program, based upon legislation passed over the last few years. The CPUC will have final say on the proposal, which implements changes initiated by SB 380, SB 32 and SB 2. These modifications include a new pricing mechanism and an increase in the maximum size of eligible facilities to 3MW. The new pricing mechanism proposed will base a starting price on the weighted average contract price of the highest priced executed contracts resulting from the November 2011 Renewable Auction Mechanism auction. This price will be modified by a monthly price adjustment mechanism based on market responses and by a time-of-delivery adjustment.

California ISO approves transmission plans for grid reliability

The California ISO approved the 2011/2012 Transmission Plan, which identified 30 transmission projects needed to maintain grid reliability. While an ISO analysis shows approving additional green transmission could potentially lead to overbuilding and stranded investments, the ISO aims to identify and approve the least costly options that improve grid reliability. The ISO 2011/2012 Transmission Plan is the result of a 15-month process. Project investments approved total $691 million.

Environmentalists sue feds over California solar project

Three environmental groups have sued the federal government over its handling of a solar project in the Mojave Desert, saying it will harm the desert tortoise and its habitat. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court by the Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club against the Interior Department. The groups want the Calico solar project moved to another site and out of desert tortoise habitat. They say the proposed project's location will harm some half a dozen sensitive animals and plants.

Gov. Jerry Brown's solar power campaign

Even as other solar projects move forward, the breakdown in a major solar project at Blythe suggests the technological and financial uncertainties of a still-young industry. It is a setback to Gov. Jerry Brown's campaign to create 20,000 new megawatts of renewable electricity by 2020. Observers estimate that the solar industry's failure rate is as high as 40%. Of the projects that succeed, some sputter through ownership and design changes or face delays caused by land-use disputes or environmental concerns. Part or all of the Blythe project may still be developed, though when and by whom is unclear. Nonetheless, Brown's administration is pursuing the installation of PV panels at fairgrounds, prisons and along California highways.

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Biomass-fired power projects on the rise in the U.S., but constraints loom

According to Industrial Info Resources (subsc. req.), biomass-fired power generation projects are on the rise. In the U.S., utilities, municipalities and independent power producers are developing 90 biomass-fired units totaling more than 4GW of potential power generation. However, several constraints have come together to place a cloud of uncertainty for biomass projects and are limiting biomass development.

Bloomberg Markets: Santander proves greenest as No. 2 BofA supports solar

Bank of America's support for solar propelled it to No. 2 behind repeat winner Banco Santander in Bloomberg Markets' second annual lineup of the world's greenest banks, which examines 48 banks with market values of $10 billion or more each. The ranking tallies how much banks are investing and lending to support clean energy and how they are managing their own power consumption and carbon footprints. A $1-billion plan to put solar panels on 160,000 U.S. military-base homes was collapsing in September after a $344-million DOE loan guarantee fell through, but BofA stepped up to finance the effort headed by SolarCity. Also in 2011, BofA provided a $1.4-billion loan to Prologis for solar systems on warehouse roofs. The DOE guaranteed 80% of the loan.

CPUC approves SCE exit from coal-fired power plants as renewables become focus of utilities

The CPUC approved SCE's previously announced sale of its interest in the Four Corners coal-fired power plant in New Mexico, ending the company's ownership in coal-fired generation. With California having some of the toughest greenhouse gas and renewable energy requirements in the U.S., the state's utilities are buying more power from wind and solar projects and shedding older fossil-fired units. SCE, which owns a 48% share in the 770MW Units 4 and 5 at Four Corners, agreed to sell its share to Arizona Public Service, which operates the plant.