Community Energy Resilience

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CPUC Approves $200M Investment in Microgrids for Vulnerable Communities

On January 12, 2021 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a new decision in the CPUC microgrid proceeding. While the decision did very little to advance microgrid commercialization as required by SB 1339, it did include $200 million in utility ratepayer funding for a new incentive program to support microgrid development in vulnerable communities. These funds will not be … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Just Transition
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Equitable clean energy– support this new bill

Technology and market trends of this moment are laying the groundwork for a clean, affordable, reliable, equitable and safe electricity grid in California. Unfortunately, our laws are sabotaging us. The failings of our archaic electrical system, which ignited many of California’s recent wildfires, are causing homeowners, businesses, hospitals, firefighters, and others to buy fossil fuel-powered back-up generators– increasing emissions that drive climate change … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Transportation
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California 550 MW virtual power plant would be the biggest yet

by Dan Gearino, InsideClimateNews Highlights Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners and OlmConnect have collaborated on a virtual power plant project titled Resi-Station Resi-Station would use batteries at homes and businesses in California to act like a 550-megawatt power plant, becoming the largest virtual power plant in the world This power can be used as backup in the … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
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Utilities commission must act to encourage clean energy microgrids

by P.J. Quesada, CalMatters Highlights Many Californians are experiencing the negative health effects associated with dirty energy pollution To combat this, the California Public Utilities Commission should advance a regulatory framework for more microgrids throughout the state, especially for essential businesses  California ok’d the use of diesel powered generators during power shutoffs that occur during … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
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The first major long-duration storage procurement has arrived

by Julian Spector, Greentech Media Highlights Eight of California’s community choice agencies have published a request for offers seeking 500 megawatts of long-duration storage capacity, helping the state meet its need for 1 gigawatt of long-duration storage by 2026 Long-duration storage allows resources like wind and solar to provide power for longer periods of time There … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Choice Energy Community Energy Resilience
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Blackouts: Let’s build reliable clean power

“One factor that did not cause the rotating outage: California’s commitment to clean energy. Renewable energy did not cause the rotating outages.” That’s right, California’s climate policies and clean energy goals did not cause the state’s recent blackouts, as the three lead California energy agencies wrote in a letter to the Governor and the Legislature in August. The … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels
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Let’s ensure that communities already burdened by pollution benefit from a transition to clean energy

Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate sent a message that climate change policy in a Biden Administration will focus on ensuring that communities already burdened by pollution benefit from a transition to clean energy, following up on Senator Harris’ recent proposed legislation, the Climate Equity Act. Equity was also the focus … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience
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California Community Choice agencies eye long duration batteries for energy storage

Photovoltaik_Dachanlage_Hannover_-_Schwarze_Heide_-_1_MW by AleSpa

by Kavya Balaraman, Utility Dive Highlights A group of 11 small scale, local agencies called Community Choice Agencies (CCAs) have issued a request for information regarding long-duration battery storage that can hold power for at least 8 hours The storage can be used to take in excess solar power from the day and shift its … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Choice Energy Community Energy Resilience
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Let’s secure equitable access to resilient clean energy

#WomenInSolar installs in Nicaragua & Nepal by Grid Alternatives

The Climate Center’s Community Energy Resilience Policy Summit will address equitable approaches to clean energy resilience programs.  August 5, 2020, 9 AM – 12 PM. As awareness of systemic poverty and racism grows, government policies and programs beyond police force budgets and protocols are also getting attention. The media is shining light on toxic oil … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience
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Congressional climate strategy includes microgrids and climate justice

Last week, Democrats on the US House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis issued a report, “Solving the Climate Crisis, “ which provides an emissions reduction policy framework which seeks to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Here’s a link to a summary article from Vox about the report.  One of the recommendations in the report is … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Transportation