Focus
California legislator introduces new community solar bill
Solar Power World – February 27
California Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) has introduced AB 1260, legislation designed to strengthen and expand the initial framework for California’s community solar + storage program established by AB 2316. The proposed legislation requires community solar projects to deliver guaranteed bill savings to subscribers, with at least 51% of capacity dedicated to low-income customers. Additionally, by allowing community solar as a compliance option for the state’s solar-on-new-homes mandate, the bill seeks to save billions in construction costs while expanding access to clean energy.
News
New York PSC approves retail and residential storage plan as 6 GW 2030 target in question
Utility Dive – February 25
The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved the state’s retail and residential energy storage implementation plan, a significant step in its effort to reach 6 GW of energy storage by 2030. The February 13 order approved a framework to reach the state’s retail storage deployment goal of 1,500 MW and its residential storage deployment goal of 200 MW. The plan was approved as a new forecast by Aurora Energy Research shows New York falling “marginally short” of its 2030 energy storage target despite an expected deployment surge in the late 2020s.
Projects
CEC issues first staff assessment in Opt-In Certification Program: Darden solar/storage project
The Business Journal – February 28
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released its staff assessment for the Darden Clean Energy Project, a 2,300 MW solar and battery storage project proposed to be built on retired farmland in western Fresno County. This is the first project to reach this stage under CEC’s Opt-In Certification Program.
Batten down the batteries: Energy storage project coming to Naval Base San Diego
The San Diego Union-Tribune – March 4
An $8 million battery energy storage project is coming to Naval Base San Diego, using zinc-based technology that its makers tout as nonflammable. The project will be powered by Eos Z3 Cubes, with battery duration ranging from four to eight hours, depending on the use case. The zinc-based liquid technology is different than lithium-ion batteries used in many other storage facilities.
Renewable America completes nearly 3 MW solar project for low-income San Jose residents
Solar Power World – March 3
Renewable America has achieved commercial operation for its West Tambo Clean Power II (WEST-II) site. This 8.5-acre, 2.93 MW solar project, located in Livingston, California, is situated in a community designated as both disadvantaged and low-income.
Residents voice opposition to Merced County solar and battery project
GV Wire – March 3
A group of Los Banos residents are speaking out against a proposed solar farm and battery energy storage facility and urging Merced County elected representatives to press pause before approving it. The Merced County Planning Commission on February 26 unanimously approved the environmental review and a conditional use permit for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the 622-acre Zeta solar and battery energy storage system project on private land south of Los Banos. The project will go before the Merced County Board of Supervisors in the coming months for a final vote.
Last Energy to deploy 30 microreactors in Texas for data centers
Data Center Frontier – March 4
As the demand for data center power surges in Texas, nuclear startup Last Energy has now announced plans to build 30 microreactors in the state's Haskell County near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The plan marks Last Energy's largest project to date and a significant step in advancing modular nuclear power as a viable solution for high-density computing infrastructure.
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