Focus
NextEra loses bankruptcy court jurisdiction fight with PG&E over renewables contracts
Utility Dive – June 11
A bankruptcy judge has ruled that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) does not have "concurrent jurisdiction" over Pacific Gas & Electric's power contracts, possibly clearing the way for the utility to have above-market power purchase agreements (PPAs) discharged in its Chapter 11 proceeding. NextEra Energy, which has subsidiaries selling renewable power to PG&E, asked FERC in January to stop the utility from amending or rejecting PPAs in bankruptcy court. PG&E responded by asking the court to block the commission from issuing rulings that would impact rejection of the contracts.
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News
Renewables finally beat coal for U.S. electrical generating capacity
Solar Industry Magazine - June 11
For the first time, U.S. electrical generating capacity by renewable energy sources – biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind – has surpassed that of coal, according to a SUN DAY Campaign analysis of new data from FERC. The agency's latest monthly report – with data through April 30 – notes that 18 “units” of new wind capacity (1,545 megawatts) and 102 units of new solar capacity (1,473 megawatts) were added during the first four months of this year. Coupled with four units of new hydropower (29 megawatts), that was enough to push renewable energy’s share of total available installed U.S. generating capacity up to 21.56 percent. By comparison, coal’s share dropped to 21.55 percent (down from 23.04 percent a year ago).
Bifacial modules win reprieve from U.S. solar tariffs
Greentech Media - June 12
Officials said in a filing that the U.S. Trade Representative will publish a Section 201 tariff exclusion for bifacial modules, which absorb sunlight on both sides. The decision marks the second round of exemptions the U.S. has granted since the Trump administration's January 2018 imposition of 30 percent tariffs on most imported solar cells and modules. The first exclusion seemed largely designed to benefit U.S.-based SunPower, which acquired Section 201 petitioner SolarWorld Americas in April 2018. But the impact of this second round of exclusions is harder to gauge. Bifacial modules represent less than 1 percent of global solar installations today and their track record is thin, but with a substantially higher efficiency than traditional modules, they are gaining traction in a number of markets, including the U.S.
U.S. Navy seeking ideas for water and energy resilience on islands off California
Microgrid Knowledge – June 5
The U.S. Navy is seeking ideas to improve water and energy resilience for bases on two islands off the coast of California: San Clemente and San Nicolas. The islands already use various distributed energy resources, including solar, wind, and diesel generators. The request is not a solicitation for contracts, but seeks information to help the Navy determine strategy for the facilities, leading to possible future solicitations. The Navy hopes to collaborate with private industry “to develop holistic energy and water solutions” on the islands, according to the white paper request.
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Projects
World’s largest battery system planned for Nevada solar plant
PV Magazine - June 10
Last week, one of the largest solar and battery projects in the world just got one step closer to approval. On Friday the Bureau of Land Management released the draft environmental impact statement for the Gemini Solar Project, planned for 11 square miles of the Nevada desert northeast of Las Vegas off Interstate 15. The paperwork shows few exact details of the project. However, there has been an upgrade to the scale of the battery storage component, with a mammoth 531-MW/2125-MWh battery planned to accompany the 690 MW of solar that will be deployed.
Tulare County ready to make the ‘switch’ to solar
Sun Gazette – June 12
Tulare County is going green. Last week the Tulare County Board Supervisors, county staff, and community members gathered to “Flip the Switch” at Government Plaza. The symbolic light switch denotes the county’s new partnership to implement a large-scale solar energy project at several county facilities, including Government Plaza, County Civic Center, Bob Wiley Detention Facility, and the new South County Detention Facility. The energy saving program is expected to generate approximately $40 million in savings over the next 25 years and reduce electricity spending by 70 percent.
California bioengineering firm completes adjacent 1-MW solar array
Power Engineering – June 12
ATUM, a California-based bioengineering and bioproduction firm, announced the completion of a $1.5 million, 26,000-square-foot solar panel installation at its corporate headquarters and manufacturing site in Newark. The 1-MW solar array will generate all of the energy that the ATUM facilities need.
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