Focus
THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE - Aug 13 The bill to expand the state power grid was placed on hold Monday so lawmakers can digest the acknowledged costs and consider other impacts of the legislation. The bill, which is expected to be reconsidered by the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday or Friday, would expand oversight of the state power grid to as many as 14 western states. Supporters say it will save ratepayers up to $1.5 billion a year and enable California to market excess wind and solar power to other states. Critics worry the state would cede direct authority over the transmission network to a federal agency that might resist California’s emphasis on renewable energy sources in favor of natural gas, coal, and other less environmentally friendly power sources.
REUTERS - Aug 14 China’s commerce ministry said a U.S. decision to subsidize renewable energy firms and impose tariffs on imported products has seriously distorted the global market and harmed China’s interests, firing the latest shot in a broader trade conflict. China has lodged a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to help determine the legality of the U.S. policies, saying they not only harm China's rights but also undermine the WTO's authority. Washington announced in January that it was imposing what it called safeguard tariffs over four years - with a 30 percent tariff in the first year reduced gradually to 15 percent.
UTILITY DIVE - Aug 10 Two utility interest groups have raised protests against Southern California Edison (SCE)'s proposed $760 million plan to expand its electric vehicle infrastructure to California's Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Small Business Utility Advocates are challenging SCE's proposal on the grounds that the utility is putting too much of the burden on ratepayers and not considering the small business market. TURN notes that the utility is incurring around 90 percent of the project's costs on consumers unnecessarily, particularly low-to-middle income customers, in violation of Senate Bill 350, which outlines, in part, the PUC's commitment to "minimize impacts on ratepayers' bills."
GREENTECH MEDIA - Aug 14 A new report from property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financier Renew Financial said a California law passed last year has unintentionally choked business for the energy and water retrofit program. Renew Financial said its California residential PACE volume in the first half of 2018 dropped 42 percent compared to the same period last year. The firm said overall California residential PACE applications dropped 49 percent since the beginning of this year. Cliff Staton, executive vice president for government affairs at Renew Financial, attributes much of that decline to regulatory changes that came into effect in April. Assembly Bill 1284 set up “ability to pay” standards and also disqualifies some homeowners, for instance, if the property owner has been party to bankruptcy proceedings in the past seven years or has more than one late payment on a mortgage in the 12 months preceding the application.
Projects
LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM - Aug 13 Port of Long Beach officials on Monday moved forward on a green terminal plan being proposed by Toyota to better serve its hydrogen-powered clean vehicle line. The renewable energy power plant would power the private terminal that imports Toyota vehicles at the port and is intended to reduce air pollution. A hearing held before the unanimous vote to accept and approve permitting for the plans by the Toyota Logistics Services facility drew no comments from the public. The major renovation on the terminal would add a self-contained fuel-cell power plant and a fueling station to the Toyota Logistics Services facility at Pier B.
RENEWABLES NOW - Aug 8 Ethanol producer and marketer Pacific Ethanol Inc. has completed a 5-megawatt solar power system at its plant in Madera. According to president and chief executive Neil Koehler, this is the first large-scale solar power system installed at a U.S. ethanol plant. The CEO added the system will lower the company’s carbon score and is expected to cut its utility costs by $1 million a year once fully operational.
THE ASSET ESG FORUM - Aug 15 Shenzhen Energy Company has terminated its planned purchase of three U.S. solar projects, after the deal had not gained Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. approval within the necessary time frame. The three power plants subject for acquisition, developed by San Francisco-based Recurrent, are all located in California. In late 2017, the U.S. subsidiary of Shenzhen Energy, Shenmei Energy Investment Holdings, agreed to buy three firms partly owning the projects for $232 million. But Shenzhen Energy said in a recent filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange that after many delays seeking CFIUS approval it was no longer proceeding.
