Focus
California gives nod to 3.2-GW electric transmission line project
Renewables Now – November 9
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has given unanimous approval to the Ten West Link high-voltage transmission line project, advancing a plan to make available more renewable energy and energy storage resources in Arizona and California. The CPUC last Thursday issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the construction and operation of the project, which is sponsored by Starwood affiliate DCR Transmission LLC. Once it enters operation in 2023 as scheduled, Ten West Link will have the capacity to transmit 3,200 MW between central Arizona and southern California.
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News
California should revisit shutting down Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, Stanford, MIT analysis finds
Utility Dive – November 8
California could reduce its power sector emissions by more than 10% from 2017 levels, save $2.6 billion in power system costs, and improve system reliability by delaying the retirement of Pacific Gas & Electric’s Diablo Canyon, its last nuclear plant, to 2035, according to a new report from experts at Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Regulators in 2018 approved a settlement that would have the nuclear power plant shut down completely by 2025, when the federal license for its second unit expires.
Commerce Department rejects request for circumvention tariffs on solar products
Renewables Now – November 11
The U.S. Department of Commerce on Wednesday refused to open an investigation into the possible circumvention of antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese solar products through imports from three countries in Southeast Asia. The Solar Energy Industries Association hailed Commerce’s decision. It said that if the circumvention tariffs were imposed, they would have led to the loss of 46,000 solar jobs in the space of two years.
Helion secures $2.2B to commercialize fusion energy
Tech Crunch – November 5
Helion Energy, a clean energy company advancing zero-carbon electricity from fusion, today announced the close of its $0.5 billion Series E funding, with an additional $1.7 billion of commitments tied to specific milestones. Fusion energy promises all the benefits of current-generation nuclear fission generators, at a fraction of the risk, with far less radioactivity when running, and with very little radioactive waste.
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Projects
Clean Power Alliance signs with Terra-Gen for renewable energy storage capacity
Solar Industry Magazine – November 2
Clean Power Alliance is now receiving 100 MW of clean energy storage capacity from Terra-Gen’s Edwards Sanborn Solar Storage facility. The 15-year contract adds flexible new-build storage capacity to CPA’s energy mix. The Edwards Sanborn Solar Storage facility is located on land leased from Edwards Air Force Base as well as on adjacent private land. Once fully built out, the facility will consist of 760 MW of solar and 2,445 MWh of energy storage in Kern County.
Los Angeles again rolls out big microgrid plans, this time for transportation electrification
Microgrid Knowledge – November 9
Los Angeles is emerging as an innovation hub for microgrids, evidenced most recently by a plan to install what is being described as one of the country’s largest EV charging stations powered by a solar and storage microgrid. With a $6 million grant from the California Energy Commission, the Washington Bus Yard solar and storage microgrid will serve a 7.5-MW EV charging system, making it one of the largest projects of its kind in the U.S.
New pumped storage project under development amidst controversy in central Washington
Energy News Network – November 10
Rye Development of Boston is hoping to build Washington’s first pumped storage project for $2 billion in southern Klickitat County near the John Day Dam, aiming to have it in operation between 2028 and 2030. It would be nestled between two rows of wind turbines and, while the idea may be environmentally promising, the proposed location of the project is getting pushback from the Yakama Indian Nation, which considers the site sacred.
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