North American Windpower: California Regulators Approve Utilities' Renewable Energy Plans

California Regulators Approve Utilities' Renewable Energy Plans

by NAW Staff on Friday 09 November 2012

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved the renewable energy plans of the state's investor-owned utilities (IOUs), paving the way for the IOUs to solicit bids for clean energy procurement in order to fulfill California's 33% by 2020 renewable portfolio standard (RPS).

The decision approves the renewable energy procurement plans of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric, as well as allows SCE to forego holding a 2012 RPS solicitation and instead focus on procurement from small, distributed generation renewables.

The decision also includes modifications pertaining to standard variables for the least-cost, best-fit bid evaluation methodology; contract termination rights based on higher-than-expected transmission upgrade costs; and the use of energy-only and full deliverability time-of-delivery factors.

The utilities must file final RPS procurement plans with the CPUC to initiate the RPS solicitation process within 14 days.

Latest Top Stories

Study: How Northwest Wind Can Play With Energy Storage And Provide Operational Flexibility

Researchers have identified two possible sites in eastern Washington to build compressed-air energy-storage facilities that could temporarily store the Northwest’s abundant wind resources.

Wind Consortium Deploys Nacelle-Mounted LIDAR At Offshore Site In Irish Sea

In an important development for performance verification for offshore wind sites, a group of companies have deployed a nacelle-mounted LIDAR at DONG Energy's 367 MW Walney Wind Farm.

As U.S. DOJ Investigates, Duke Works Adaptive Management Plan

With previous golden eagle fatalities reported at two company-owned wind farms in Wyoming, Duke Energy Renewables is going to great lengths to protect raptors.

DOE To Recast Landmark 20% Wind Energy Report; Study Looks Back, Ahead

The U.S. Department of Energy will update its 20% Wind Energy By 2030 report, which indicated increased levels of wind penetration for the U.S. is not only possible but feasible.

Wind Energy Procurement Top Of Mind For Big-Name Companies

With greater frequency, top-tier companies are discovering the economic and environmental power of wind energy and upping their investments in the resource.