CARB TO PROVIDE CAP AND TRADE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO CHP AND UNIVERSITIES

By:  Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                       September 6, 2012

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently offered welcome transition relief from cap and trade to some combined heat and power (CHP) facilities, and to California universities.

CAISO STREAMLINES PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTED GENERATION TO PROVIDE RESOURCE ADEQUACY DELIVERABILITY

By:  Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                 May 29, 2012

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) adopted a streamlined, annual process for determining and allocating resource adequacy deliverability for distributed generation (DG) resources on May 16, 2012.  CAISO’s action is intended to support Governor Brown’s goal of connecting 12,000 MW of renewable DG by 2020, and the deployment of other “behind-the-meter” resources that interconnect under the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Rule 21.

RENEWABLE PROCUREMENT:  CPUC ISSUES FINAL DECISION SETTING PROCUREMENT QUANTITY REQUIREMENTS

By:  Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                        December 7, 2011

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously adopted at its December 1 business meeting a decision setting the new renewables portfolio standard (RPS) procurement quantities required by new state law – SB 2 1X – for all retail sellers regulated by the CPUC.  (See Decision (D.) 11-12-020, available on the CPUC’s web site:  http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/WORD_PDF/FINAL_DECISION/154695.PDF .)

CPUC ADOPTS SIGNIFICANT REVISIONS TO SELF-GENERATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM:  EXPANDED TECHNOLOGIES AND GHG EMISSIONS REDUCTION FOCUS 

By:  Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                        September 16, 2011

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously adopted important changes to the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) on September 8, focusing on GHG emissions reductions, as called for by Senate Bill (SB) 412 (see Decision (D.) 11-09-015, http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/WORD_PDF/FINAL_DECISION/143459.PDF). 
 

WASTE GAS-TO-ENERGY:  A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE DER TARGETS AND GHG REDUCTIONS

By:  Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                      June 3, 2011   

Governor Brown has called for 12,000 MW of distributed generation and 6,500 MW of additional combined heat and power (CHP) generation as part of his Clean Energy Jobs Plan.  The California Air Resources Board, in its GHG Scoping Plan, set a target of an additional 4,000 MW of CHP by 2020.  Longstanding California state policy has similarly encouraged distributed energy resources (DER), including CHP, in recognition of reliability, efficiency, and GHG reduction benefits. 

NEW CPUC RULEMAKING TO IMPLEMENT SB 2X AND ADDRESS OTHER RPS ISSUES

By:  Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                 May 12, 2011
       Diana S. Genasci

On May 5, 2011, the CPUC opened a new rulemaking (R.11-05-005) to continue implementation and administration of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) Program. The Rulemaking includes implementation of SB 2X, which was signed by Governor Jerry Brown on April 12, 2011, and expands existing RPS statutes to require that renewable resources comprise 33% of electric retail sales by 2020. SB 2X also calls for changes to renewables procurement, compliance, reporting, and penalty requirements. (See: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/FINAL_DECISION/134980.htm.)

SLOW AND STEADY WITH A STRONG SHELL:  AB 1613 JUST MIGHT WIN THE RACE

By Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                   April 22, 2011

On April 19, 2011, the CPUC issued another in a series of decisions implementing AB 1613, The Waste Heat and Carbon Emissions Reduction Act, enacted in 2007.  This decision addresses the IOUs’ most recent applications for rehearing and is the fourth decision by the CPUC in the AB 1613 proceeding.  FERC has also issued three orders, most recently a Notice of Intent Not to Act on the IOUs’ petition for enforcement action alleging that the CPUC’s AB 1613 decisions are inconsistent with PURPA avoided cost principles.   

THE CPUC CONSIDERS ENERGY STORAGE FOR IMPROVING RENEWABLES INTEGRATION AND REDUCING RATEPAYER COSTS 

By Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                       March 17 , 2011 

AB 2514, enacted in 2010, directs the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to determine appropriate targets for load serving entities to procure viable and cost-effective energy storage systems.  Local publicly owned utilities are separately charged with determining appropriate energy storage targets.

FERC ISSUES THIRD ORDER CONFIRMING THE CPUC’S AUTHORITY
 TO SET MULTI-TIERED AVOIDED COST PRICING

By Ann L. Trowbridge                                                                                   January 24, 2011

In a series of three orders, the most recent issued last Thursday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has confirmed the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) authority to set different avoided cost rates for different types of generation resources.