Focus
Biden administration plans wind farms along nearly the entire U.S. coastline
The New York Times – October 13
The Biden administration announced on Wednesday a plan to develop large-scale wind farms along nearly the entire coastline of the United States, the first long-term strategy from the government to produce electricity from offshore turbines. Speaking at a wind power industry conference in Boston, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said that her agency will begin to identify, demarcate, and eventually lease federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Maine, New York Bight and off the coasts of the Mid-Atlantic States, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, and Oregon, to wind power developers by 2025.
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News
DOE sets new community solar target, requires 700% growth in 4 years
PV-Tech – October 12
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new National Community Solar Partnership target to have community solar projects provide 26 GW of power and create $1 billion in bill savings by 2025. Currently, however, there is enough community solar to power just 600,000 homes, meaning an increase of more than 700% is needed over the next four years to meet the DOE’s new target.
California can cut electricity costs by almost a fifth if it achieves 100% renewables by 2040
Renewable Energy World – October 12
California can cut its overall cost of electricity generation by almost a fifth (17%), compared to 2020 levels, by accelerating the pace of renewable energy deployment to achieve its 100% Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2040, according to modeling from technology firm Wärtsilä. The modeling also highlights the major planning challenge California faces to shift to a carbon neutral power system. California’s power system output must increase by half – from 280 TWh to 420 TWh – to achieve carbon neutrality.
Avista files clean energy plan in Washington, with focus on demand response, energy efficiency
Utility Dive – October 7
Avista Utilities last week became the first utility to file a clean energy implementation plan with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. The plan details the actions the utility intends to take from 2022 through 2025, including using demand response measures to lower peak demand during periods of extreme heat or cold by 30 MW.
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Projects
California CCA now partially powered by 250-MW desert solar project
Solar Power World – October 4
Valley Clean Energy is now receiving power from a new solar project in Kings County, California. The community choice aggregator (CCA) signed a 15-year contract to purchase 50 MW of renewable power with Aquamarine Westside’s 250-MW array. The Aquamarine project is located in CIM Group’s Westlands Solar Park, a master-planned clean energy park with over 2 GW of solar production potential.
Peninsula Clean Energy signs PPA for Kern County solar project
Energy Storage News – October 4
Peninsula Clean Energy, a non-profit electricity supplier in California, has signed a long-term power purchase agreement for a large-scale solar-plus-storage plant with developer Leeward Energy. The 15-year off-take deal has been signed with Leeward for its Chaparral Solar Facility in California’s Kern County. Chaparral combines 102 MW of solar PV with a 52-MW/208-MWh battery energy storage system.
Phoenix Solar Project begins operations in Texas
Solar Industry Magazine – October 12
Pattern Energy Group LP has successfully completed construction and begun operations at its 83-MW Phoenix Solar Project, located in Fannin County, Texas. The solar project has a 65-MW 12-year power purchase agreement with Digital Realty.
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