Focus
PacifiCorp to add 7 GW of renewables and storage, close 20 of 24 coal plants
Utility Dive – October 3
PacifiCorp plans to add nearly 7 gigawatts of renewable generation and storage capacity by 2025 and will shut down 20 of its 24 coal-fired units by 2038, the company announced last Thursday when it unveiled a draft of its 20-year Integrated Resource Plan. The long-term strategy will be filed on October 18 with regulators in the six states where PacifiCorp operates. PacifiCorp plans to reduce coal-fueled generation capacity nearly 2,800 megawatts by 2030 and almost 4,500 megawatts by 2038. The plan includes 1,075 megawatts of solar with 244 megawatts of battery storage capacity, between 2020 and 2033, in Oregon and 814 megawatts of solar with 204 megawatts of battery storage capacity, between 2024 and 2036, in Washington, as well as new solar and storage resources in Wyoming and Utah.
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News
U.S. reverses course on tariff exclusion for bifacial solar modules
Greentech Media - October 7
The reprieve from Section 201 tariffs that bifacial solar panels enjoyed in the U.S. market turned out to be short-lived. Granted in June and rescinded by the federal government last Friday, the exemption completely dissolves on October 28. The change is one that some expected — Roth Capital Partners analyst Philip Shen sent out a note a day ahead of the order suggesting the exclusion was not long for this world — and one the solar industry remained split over. While companies with U.S.-based manufacturing wanted the exclusion gone, others including the Solar Energy Industries Association looked to it as a bright spot for the industry amid years of protectionist trade policy.
Tonopah solar plant could end up in bankruptcy, developer says
Las Vegas Review-Journal – October 7
The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Plant could be heading toward bankruptcy, according to a lawsuit filed by the project’s developer. This Wednesday, SolarReserve filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy and Tonopah Solar Energy. SolarReserve alleges the Department of Energy interfered with its “right to participate in the management” of Tonopah Solar Energy, the plant’s operator. The lawsuit was filed two days before NV Energy provided a notice of termination on its renewable power purchase agreement with the solar project, citing “frequent and prolonged outages” from the project.
Del Mar to join Clean Energy Alliance with North County neighbors
Del Mar Times – October 9
The Del Mar City Council voted on October 7 to join a community choice energy (CCE) program with the cities of Solana Beach, Carlsbad, and Santee, as well as San Diego County. Del Mar and a few of its North County neighbors have been thinking about whether to form a Joint Powers Agreement to start a smaller North County CCE, in which member cities would have an equal vote, or a large one spearheaded by the city of San Diego, in which a weighted voting structure could diminish the influence of the smaller cities. Encinitas recently voted to join the city of San Diego-led CCE.
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Projects
SunPower awarded solar-plus-storage carports in California
PV-Tech - October 3
SunPower will install 3.7 megawatts of solar carports across 10 locations in Contra Costa County, with some of the sites using energy storage. The firm will install its Helix Roof and Carport systems in order to offset 68 percent of power taken from the grid by the county, which amounts to savings of $16.5 million over a period of 25 years. The systems will be deployed over the next year and, once operational, the county will use the energy produced under a 25-year power purchase agreement. It will also earn related renewable energy credits.
New Mexico regulators approve Western Spirit Transmission Line
North American Windpower – October 8
PNM, the wholly-owned New Mexico utility subsidiary of PNM Resources, has received approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to acquire the Western Spirit transmission project from an affiliate of Pattern Energy Group 2 LP and the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority. The acquisition was previously approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Pursuant to the May 2019 agreement among the parties, NM RETA and Pattern Development will develop and construct the Western Spirit transmission project, which will be acquired by PNM upon completion for $285 million. Western Resource Advocates says the decision could create new opportunities for wind energy availability in Arizona, California, and New Mexico.
sPower completes 20-MW California solar project
Solar Power World – October 8
sPower has completed the latest addition to its solar portfolio in Lancaster. Antelope DSR 3 is a 20-megawatt solar energy project, constructed by Cupertino Electric. The project, located in California’s Antelope Valley, will provide energy to Southern California Edison under a long-term power purchase agreement.
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