California energy storage siting bill signed into law

Utility Dive - Oct 4 Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that aims to speed the siting of energy storage projects. The bill, AB 546, requires that any city or country with a threshold population of 200,000 make available on a website documentation and forms associated with permitting energy storage and provide for online submission of permit applications. The bill also authorizes the governor’s office to provide guidance on energy storage permitting and best practices and potential factors for local governments to consider when establishing fees for permitting and inspection of energy storage projects.

SunPower and True Green Capital Management partner on commercial solar

Solar Industry Magazine - Oct 6 Vertically integrated solar company SunPower has announced a collaboration with Connecticut-based True Green Capital Management LLC (TGC) – a privately owned, specialized energy infrastructure asset management firm – to establish a $140 million portfolio expected to finance approximately 50 megawatts of SunPower solar energy systems. According to the partners, projects of interest are likely to include those with solar renewable energy credits, as well as integrated storage components, in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. As part of the three-year agreement, SunPower will deliver turnkey distributed solar electric power projects for commercial and public-sector customers that will be acquired by TGC.

NYC outlines its plan to honor the Paris climate accord

Curbed - Oct 3 When the Trump Administration formally announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris climate accord, 247 mayors from cities across the country immediately issued statements that they would continue to work toward honoring the agreement on a local scale. New York City has just released the first plan of its kind outlining a strategy to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. As part of the plan, the city will pursue legislation to require that all large buildings limit fossil fuel use below intensity targets by 2030 and 2035. Officials will work with the City Council to “adopt ‘stretch’ versions of the energy code in 2019 and 2022” in order to reduce energy intensity reduction by 20 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

FivePoint unveils sustainability plan for San Francisco’s Shipyard

Bisnow - Oct 6 FivePoint’s Shipyard development in San Francisco will include several sustainability components. The developer has partnered with GI Energy, a provider of microgrid energy, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to make the 400-acre site more eco-friendly. The sustainability plan includes the following objectives: provide all electricity from renewable sources through pioneering energy storage and management techniques; reduce water consumption while promoting maximum reuse of water resources, ensuring ample supplies at favorable cost; and cut HVAC consumption by 68 percent, dramatically softening environmental impact with the goal of saving 150 million gallons of water per year.

Nonprofit moves forward on new ‘net energy’ housing in Woodland

Daily Democrat - Oct 5 For local nonprofit Mutual Housing California, the recent allocation of nearly $10.8 million in tax credits means that the organization can move forward on the positive net energy phase of Mutual Housing at Spring Lake in Woodland. Like the first phase, the second phase of the community on Farmers Central Road will be built as year-round affordable housing for agricultural workers and their families. Few other rental developments nationwide use solar and achieve zero-net energy, much less positive net energy. “Positive Net Energy” means that the community will create more energy than it uses through high-efficiency building methods and materials, solar panels, energy-saving appliances, and technology in each home, as well as resident participation in an energy-saving lifestyle.