Energy Digest

California’s Billion Dollar Energy Bill Question – As regulators scramble to respond to the accumulating mountain of energy debt, there has been an appropriate focus on how to target relief at households who really need it. But the success of an energy assistance program will also hinge on how we pay for it. Energy Institute 4/5/21

Google, 23 Others Urge Full Clean Energy for Fed Facilities – Two dozen companies and environmental groups, including Google, urged President Joe Biden to be a “catalyst for investment” by mandating that federal facilities be powered with locally generated clean energy sources around the clock. A goal of using only carbon-free electricity at all hours of the day would be a major step beyond the 100% clean energy commitments that have become popular among corporations and governments but still include some reliance on fossil fuel-generated power that is balanced out with cleaner sources. RealClearEnergy 4/2/21

California to Test Whether Big Batteries Can Stop Summer Blackouts – With summer’s heat approaching, California’s plan for avoiding a repeat of last year’s blackouts hinges on a humble savior – the battery. Giant versions of the same technology that powers smart phones and cars are being plugged into the state’s electrical grid at breakneck speed, with California set to add more battery capacity this year than all of China, according to BloombergNEF. Bloomberg 4/1/21

California’s rooftop solar program collides with equity concerns – A pandemic-era backlash against California’s yawning wealth gap is taking aim at the state’s pioneering climate policies. The latest target: incentives for rooftop solar panels. POLITICO 3/31/21

SDG&E electric vehicle charging program ran $25 million over budget – A San Diego Gas & Electric pilot program that installed more than 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations around the region ran $25 million over budget and the California Public Utilities Commission says before it approves plans to start a second phase of the program, SDG&E must pay for an audit to look into the reasons why. The San Diego Union-Tribune 3/31/21

The Oil Well Next Door: California’s Silent Health Hazard – Unlike other oil-producing states, much of the drilling in California takes place in residential neighborhoods, often in Spanish-speaking communities. Despite mounting complaints about pollution from the wells, the state has failed to take action to address this public health problem. Yale Environment 360 3/31/21

Biden calls for massive climate and transit package – President Biden is asking Congress to approve hundreds of billions of dollars to remake transit, overhaul power grids and expand clean energy in a sweeping plan the White House says will fight climate change while outcompeting China. Axios 3/31/21

Lawsuit challenges Gloria’s ‘invitation to bid’ on San Diego electric and gas franchise agreements – An amended lawsuit filed on behalf of a San Diego resident seeks to void the invitation to bid that Mayor Todd Gloria recently issued regarding the city’s soon-to-expire electric and gas franchise agreements, alleging the invitation violates the city’s charter. The San Diego Union-Tribune 3/29/21

Are California oil companies complying with the law? Even regulators often don’t know – The state’s elected leaders have approved dozens of new staff to better oversee the oil industry and last year changed CalGEM’s mission to prioritize public health and the environment during fossil fuel production. Since 2018, CalGEM officials have pledged to sharply increase the number of enforcement orders they issue — their toughest regulatory hammer. But an investigation by The Desert Sun and ProPublica has found that enforcement is still lax, and in many cases, the state doesn’t know if companies are complying. Desert Sun 3/22/21

California could lead the nation in offshore wind energy – Here’s why environmental justice experts and advocates from organized labor think California needs to go all in on offshore wind farms. CalMatters 3/25/21