Focus
California lawmaker aims to stop closure of Diablo Canyon nuclear plant
San Francisco Chronicle – September 4
A Central Coast lawmaker has a new plan to keep California’s last operational nuclear power plant running — and possibly get bankrupt Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) to sell the facility. Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, R-Templeton (San Luis Obispo County), last Wednesday proposed a state constitutional amendment that would designate nuclear power as a source of renewable energy. Two-thirds of each chamber in the Legislature would have to approve putting the amendment before voters. It is likely a long shot in a state that has turned away from nuclear energy, but the idea is to stop the closure of PG&E’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, currently set to shutter in 2025. The plant, which provides about 9 percent of California’s electricity, is in Cunningham’s district.
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News
The greening of California continues with upcoming energy storage solicitations
Microgrid Knowledge - September 3
The California Energy Commission on October 30 will release two energy storage solicitations totaling $31 million to support the state’s goal of attaining 100 percent fossil-free electricity by 2045 under SB 100. Meanwhile, the commission is working on a distributed energy resources (DER) research roadmap. On September 17, it will hold the second of three public workshops on the map. Working with Navigant Consulting, the workshop will summarize the research ideas submitted for the roadmap and share preliminary results of the commission’s scoring of the research ideas. The roadmap aims to develop and prioritize DER research recommendations.
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Projects
BLM approves components of Dodge Flat Solar Energy Center
Solar Industry Magazine - August 29
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved the construction of facilities related to the proposed Dodge Flat Solar Energy Center in Nevada. The 200-megawatt AC solar PV project, proposed east of Reno, is being developed by NextEra Energy Resources LLC on approximately 1,632 acres of private land. The facility, which would also integrate battery storage, would serve NV Energy.
Facebook signs 200-MW wind deal with Apex Clean Energy in Texas
Greentech Media – September 3
Facebook has signed up to buy 200 megawatts of power from the Aviator Wind project in Texas, set to become the largest single-site U.S. wind farm when completed next year, according to developer Apex Clean Energy. Already the largest corporate buyer of renewable power at the end of 2018 — narrowly topping Google, according to Wood Mackenzie — Facebook has continued to chalk up big deals for wind and solar power this year. The 525-megawatt Aviator Wind project is being built at a single site in Coke County in West Texas, and in a single phase — unusual for a U.S. wind farm of that scale.
Amazon installs Colorado’s largest rooftop solar project
PV Magazine – September 4
Amazon's new fulfillment center in Thornton, Colorado, will feature the state’s largest rooftop solar array, according to the company. The 6-megawatt array will consist of more than 17,000 solar panels across 19 acres, or more than 14 football fields in area. The installation brings the company to nearly 76 megawatts of solar installed on rooftops across the country. Amazon has the 5th most installed on-site solar of any company in the country.
Xcel finalizes plans for 522-MW New Mexico project
North American Windpower – August 29
Xcel Energy has announced that construction on the 522-megawatt Sagamore Wind Project in New Mexico will begin in the fourth quarter of the year. Upon completion in late 2020, Sagamore will be New Mexico’s single largest wind facility, says Xcel. The $900 million facility, located in eastern New Mexico in Roosevelt County, will include 240 Vestas wind turbines.
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