california – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Is California going the way of Germany when it comes to energy?

November 12, 2018

“One place possesses the fourth-largest economy in the world. Another is home to the fifth-largest. Both places have instituted ambitious energy and climate goals. But one — Germany — is struggling to meet those targets and its citizens pay some of the highest electricity prices in the industrialized world. Is the German experience a cautionary…

California Energy Commission green-lights $8 million grant for hydrogen fuel cell station

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, CEC, hydrogen fuel, renewable biogas

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“The California Energy Commission has voted to approve an $8 million grant for the development of a high-capacity hydrogen fueling station. In a statement Wednesday the Commission said the fueling station, at the Port of Long Beach, would be used to service and promote the expansion of zero-emission fuel cell electric Class 8 drayage trucks.…

‘Disturbance’ occurred at SoCal Edison substation moments before Woolsey Fire started

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, wildfires

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“The utility company Southern California Edison has told state regulators that there was an outage tied to one of its substations two minutes before the Woolsey Fire is believed to have started in Ventura County. The facility, known as the Chatsworth Substation, is located near the area where the massive blaze is believed to have…

PG&E’s record-breaking battery proposal wins approval from regulators

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

battery system, california, CPUC, PG&E, solar energy

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“California utility regulators approved Pacific Gas & Electric’s proposal to build the two largest battery systems in the world. The 4-1 vote marks a landmark development in California’s quest to decarbonize its electrical system by shifting from natural gas to non-emitting sources for flexible power. “Not only will this help California integrate solar and reduce…

Redwood Coast Energy Authority plays key role in bringing offshore wind to Redwood coast

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, offshore wind farms

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“In April 2018, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA), created a consortium of potential partners for their offshore wind project. In September, RCEA sent in a proposal to the Bureau of Ocean Management to lease ocean waters for wind turbines. Currently there are no operational offshore wind projects in the state, but offshore wind prospects…

Floating wind farms off California will require new tethering technology

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, offshore wind farms

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“Offshore wind farms have a big advantage over land-based installations. The wind out over the ocean tends to be stronger and more consistent than over land. It also tends to pick up near the end of the day just when electricity from solar farms is beginning to decrease. Last Friday, the Interior Department took the…

OPINION: Next California governor must focus on climate adaptation

September 6, 2018

Sarina Soor

adaptation, california

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“California’s efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions have made the state an icon in the fight against climate change, a status validated by Gov. Jerry Brown hosting the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco next month. Yet despite its success, California is only slowly beginning to take action to help communities adapt to the…

California beats its 2020 goals for cutting greenhouse gases

July 13, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, clean energy, cliamte goals, ghg, ghg reduction, renewable energy

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“The California Air Resources Board announced Wednesday that total statewide carbon emissions fell to 429 million metric tons in 2016, a drop of 12 million tons from the year before. The decline means California met the Legislature’s goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels, and did so a full four years before the target year…

Indicators of Climate Change in California

May 10, 2018

Sarina Soor

adaptation, california, climate change, resilience

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From record temperatures to proliferating wildfires and rising seas, climate change poses an immediate and escalating threat to California’s environment, public health, and economic vitality. Recent climate-related events – such as the devastating 2017 wildfires and the recordsetting 2012-16 drought – have highlighted the challenges that confront the state as its climate continues to evolve.…

It’s official. All new California homes must incorporate solar

May 10, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, renewables, solar

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“Starting in 2020, virtually all new homes in California will be required to incorporate advanced efficiency measures and rooftop solar — in an historic development for clean energy in the state. The California Energy Commission (CEC) voted unanimously to adopt the policy as part of the state’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards, following more than two…

California has eight of 10 most polluted U.S. cities

April 20, 2018

Sarina Soor

air quality, california, pollution

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“Since California is known for its strict environmental regulations, why are so many cities from the state typically on this list? It’s because the state would be far worse off without its strict laws on tailpipe pollution and eliminating coal-fired power plants. California has done more than any other state to counteract air pollution, the…

Unnecessary complexity? Assessing New York and California’s landmark DER proceedings

April 20, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, der, New York

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“The nation-leading New York and California regulatory proceedings to create a marketplace opportunity for renewable and distributed generation have become almost encyclopedic in their complexity.” Click here to read more from Utility Dive.

Energy Storage: Meeting California’s Clean and Reliable Energy Goals – Apr 23

March 16, 2018

Sarina Soor

battery storage, california, california energy goals, clean energy, energy storage, lgsec, reliable energy, SMUD, storage

The Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition (LGSEC) and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) invite you to register for a one-day networking forum for California local government energy professionals on Monday, April 23rd from 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM. The event will take place at SMUD’s Customer Service Center building at 6301 S Street, Sacramento, CA in the Rubicon Room,…

What if car buyers aren’t ready for electric cars, even in California?

February 9, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, electric cars, electric vehicles, ev

“But a single graph summarizes the problem: car-buyer awareness of plug-in electric vehicles was no higher last year than it was in 2014, when far fewer electric cars were on the road and model selection was far more limited. In 2014, barely 5 percent already owned a battery-electric vehicle or had actively shopped for one.…

California’s economy grew with only a small increase in the state’s energy consumption

January 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, CEC, energy efficiency, renewable energy

The economy grew with only a small increase in the state’s energy consumption. An Energy Commission report shows electricity consumption grew less than 1 percent from 2015 to 2016. Meanwhile, California’s gross domestic product grew four times as fast as its electricity consumption. Click here to view the report.