News Services
Resources
CU/CEM Archives CU/CEM Archives:

CD-ROM archives of Clearing Up and California Energy Markets are available for purchase and delivery.

California Energy Markets / This Week

[CEM 1093 / August 27, 2010]

CPUC Resurrects TRECs; Feed-In Tariff for Renewables Advances

A draft decision at the California Public Utilities Commission would lift a freeze the commission enacted soon after setting rules on tradable renewable-energy credits last spring. The ruling, from CPUC President Michael Peevey, would also raise the limit on the amount of TRECs that investor-owned utilities can use to count toward the renewables portfolio standard from 25 percent to 40 percent. A ratepayer group has called the move a negotiating tactic from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to pressure lawmakers on pending legislation that would codify a 33 percent RPS and set the amount of in-state and out-of-state generation allowed. Meanwhile, a separate CPUC decision aims to launch a feed-in-tariff effort for 1,000 MW of renewables using a market-based auction tool with non-negotiable bids in which utilities must take the lowest-cost offers.

CEC Approves License for Beacon: First Solar Thermal Permit in 20 Years

Whew. After a 27-month licensing process, the California Energy Commission approved a construction permit for NextEra's 250 MW Beacon Solar Energy Project in Kern County. It is the first large-scale solar-thermal project to be licensed in 20 years. The CEC in the past month has recommended approving 2.8 GW of solar projects in the state. On the solar-photovoltaics front, San Luis Obispo County this week issued a draft environmental impact report for SunPower's 250 MW California Valley Solar Ranch that recommended a scaled-down version of the plant. And a big fossil-fuel plant-Mirant Corp.'s 760 MW Marsh Landing Generating Station in Contra Costa County-also was approved for a license at the CEC.

FERC Considers How to Refine Cal-ISO Wires Planning

The California Independent System Operator's revised transmission-planning process will likely undergo further refinement following a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission technical conference on the plan Aug. 24. At issue is how Cal-ISO develops a conceptual transmission plan; the role of independent developers versus utilities in building transmission; and whether or not to adopt a cost cap on proposed wires projects.

LADWP Gives Up Legislative Fix on Once-Through Cooling

Also In California Energy Markets This Week . . .

  • LADWP Gives Up Legislative Fix on OTC
  • Senate Energy's Murkowski Endangered in Election
  • Quick Bites: CPUC Approves Green Energy Deals
  • SCPPA Sells Bonds for Windy Flats Project
  • ...And Much More!


This information is excerpted from California Energy Markets. If you aren't a current subscriber, see for yourself how NewsData's independent reporters put events in an accurate and meaningful context -- request a sample of either or both California Energy Markets and Clearing Up.
Please contact webmaster@newsdata.com with questions or comments about this site. Contact the editor if you have questions or comments about California Energy Markets content.

Energy Jobs Portal
Energy Jobs Portal
Check out the fastest growing database of energy jobs in the market today.
What's New
Relicensing Review
Relicensing Review:
Relicensing Review reports on an unprecedented volume of FERC power dam relicensing application projects in the Northwest and California.