The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on July 19 ramped up its support for offshore wind, with a proposal to fund the procurement of up to 7.6 GW. The proposal recommended launching three solicitation rounds for offshore wind projects beginning in 2027, with expected electricity deliveries rolling out in 2035, 2036, and 2037. In addition to pledging financial backing to the offshore wind industry, the CPUC’s proposal also committed to financing up to 1 GW of enhanced geothermal systems and up to 2 GW of two different forms of long-duration energy storage equipment.
A persistent heat wave that scorched most of California earlier this month amounted to a real-time stress test that the state’s electric grid managed to withstand. On July 10, the Western Interconnection that helps coordinate electricity between 14 states in the West (including all of California) plus northern Baja California, British Columbia, and Alberta hit an all-time record of 167,988 MW for peak load. But the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) did not resort to issuing any Flex Alerts — requests of customers across the state to voluntarily reduce their energy use. The state has added nearly 11,600 MW of new grid resources since 2022. Of that amount, energy storage from batteries accounts for 5,800 MW.
Senators Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., have introduced permitting reform legislation that would bolster the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) authority to approve transmission lines and require interregional transmission planning. The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 would eliminate the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation process and instead allow FERC to approve transmission projects that meet certain requirements to be deemed to be in the national interest.
One of the largest solar-plus-storage installations in the U.S. has entered commercial operation. Primergy Solar and Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners on July 18 announced that the Gemini Solar + Energy Storage project, which will provide power to Las Vegas, Nevada, and other communities, is now fully online. Gemini has 690 MW of power generation capacity and features 1.8 million solar panels.
Clearway Energy Group closed on $700 million in construction financing and began construction on two projects in Fresno and San Bernardino counties. Luna Valley is a 200 MW solar project in Fresno County. Daggett Storage is a 113.5 MW standalone battery energy storage system in San Bernardino County and is the final phase of the 482 MW Daggett Solar + 394 MW Storage complex.
Ormat Technologies has entered into a 15-year resource adequacy purchase and sale agreement with the City of Riverside for the 80 MW/320 MWh Shirk Battery Energy Storage System in California. The project, located in Visalia, is expected to be eligible for a 40% Investment Tax Credit.
EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA) unveiled its Scarlet I Solar Energy Park in Fresno County during a ribbon cutting ceremony. The 200 MW project also includes a 40 MW battery energy storage system.
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