Study says California solar boom makes the state a national leader, prepares new generation of workers

Strong statewide and federal clean energy policies have positioned California as the nation’s solar energy leader in terms of generating new, well-paying construction and permanent jobs while working to curb climate change, according to a new report by UC Berkeley. The Donald Vial Center on Employment in the Green Economy at Berkeley found that California’s use of electricity from renewable sources increased from 11 percent in 2008 to nearly 20 percent in 2013. The center’s report notes that more than 15,000 new jobs have been created over the last five years by California’s solar farm construction boom, with workers building solar arrays earning on average $78,000 a year plus health and other benefits.

Altamont Pass poised to usher in next 30 years of wind power

An Alameda County planning board on Wednesday certified the final program environmental impact report for Alameda County's portion of the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area as well as conditional use permits for two of the largest repowering projects in the area's history. The document allows for a maximum of 450 megawatts of energy production and about 281 total turbines, provided wind energy companies adhere to strict conservation measures. In addition to certifying the landmark report, the board also approved permits for two major wind projects: NextEra Energy Resources' $180 million Golden Hills Project will see the installation of 48 wind turbines, generating 86 megawatts of wind energy across roughly 7 square miles, and EDF Renewable Energy's Patterson Pass Wind Project, will generate close to 20 megawatts of energy with 7 to 12 turbines, which could exceed 500 feet in height.

S.F. clean energy program could generate 8,100 jobs, report says

The controversial government program that funded failed solar company Solyndra, and became a lighting rod in the 2012 presidential election, is officially in the black. According to a report by the Department of Energy, interest payments to the government from projects funded by the Loan Programs Office were $810 million as of September, higher than the $780 million in losses from loans it sustained from startups including Fisker Automotive, Abound Solar, and Solyndra, which went bankrupt after receiving large government loans intended to help them bring their advanced green technologies to market. The report's findings are more of a political victory than a financial one. It took the program three years to break even after Solyndra's failure, while during that same time the Standard & Poor's 500 index increased 67 percent.

Ivanpah solar plant lags in early production

KPCC - Nov 16

The largest solar power plant of its type in the world isn't producing as much energy as planned. One of the reasons is as basic as it gets: the sun isn't shining as much as expected. The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System opened in February in the Southern California desert near the Nevada line. Operators said it would produce enough electricity to power a city of 140,000 homes. Figures from the California Energy Commission show the plant is producing about half of its expected annual output for 2014. The commission said in a statement that clouds, jet contrails, and weather have had a greater impact on power production than anticipated.