Pacific Gas & Electric on April 23 said it will host a series of county webinars to detail the progress of actions taken as part of its wildfire mitigation program. Any public-safety power shut-off events in 2020 "are expected to be smaller in scope, shorter in duration and smarter for c… Read MoreQuick Bites: Energy News Roundup
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Michael Moore's new documentary on the renewable-energy industry, "Planet of the Humans," is a skillful and passionate work of film that raises tough questions about the renewables industry, but eventually drifts into a wider anti-capitalist and neo-Malthusian message that humans are a scour… Read More'Planet of the Humans' Tackles Renewables Sector, Overpopulation
In recent weeks, California Independent System Operator demand has been softened by state stay-at-home orders; however, usage this week climbed as the week progressed, mirroring rising temperatures. Read MoreCAISO Demand Increases as Week Progresses
Energy consumer advocates in California are voicing opposition to two proposed decisions from the California Public Utilities Commission that they say water down penalties on Pacific Gas & Electric. Read MorePublic Advocate, TURN Charge That CPUC Favors PG&E in Reorganization Proposal
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a number of challenges to the energy-efficiency and clean-energy sectors across the country, and California is no exception, regulators, utilities, contractors and others said at an April 23 webinar hosted by the California Public Utilities Commission. Read MoreClean-Energy Advocates Urge CPUC to Loosen Regulatory Time Frames
A settlement agreement that moves Southern California Gas Co. closer to being able to offer its customers renewable natural gas was filed April 17 with the California Public Utilities Commission. Read MoreSoCal Gas RNG Tariff Filed With CPUC
Firefighting agencies throughout the country have been coordinating on best practices in recent years as climate change brings larger, hotter wildfires—often caused by utility infrastructure—and the season increases in length. But as fire season approaches, the COVID-19 pandemic brings new c… Read MoreAgencies Consider New Fire Season Protocols for Use During Pandemic
Elected officials from the Redondo Beach area and others urged California water control officials to not adopt a staff proposal to extend the compliance deadline for once-through-cooling regulations for AES' Redondo Beach plant, which is being considered along with three other natural gas-fi… Read MoreState Water Board Urged to Not Extend Once-Through-Cooling Deadline
The California Air Resources Board is developing new strategies to confront the state's highest-emitting greenhouse gas source: its transportation sector. Read MoreCARB Confronts Shaky Outlook for Transportation Emissions Reduction
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In the latest Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about growing summer reliability risks for the Western power grid, the latest push to make the California Independent System Operator into an independent organized market, a developer's proposal to pair pumped storage with wind turbines off the Oregon coast, new metrics to assess the risk of capacity shortfalls in the Northwest, and more.
We want to hear from you on energy issues and to share your thoughts with our readership. Read moreVoices From Behind the Meter
PG&E Corp. CEO and President Bill Johnson will retire on June 30 after less than 15 months in the role, the company said April 22. Read MorePG&E's Johnson Announces Retirement; Bankruptcy Judge Approves Subpoenas
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a rapid effect on the renewables industry, with not only extensive job losses but also supply chain disruptions that are threatening wind and solar development, panelists from trade associations said at an April 23 webinar held by Infocast. Read MorePandemic Hindering Renewables Project Development, Supply Chain
Tech giant Google on April 22 said it is developing predictive modeling technology that will help reduce its carbon footprint and bring the company closer to powering its data centers with 100-percent carbon-free energy. Read MoreGoogle, Cruise Utilizing Carbon-Free Energy Technology Platforms
The East Bay Community Energy board of directors voted to accept a large hydroelectric-generation allocation offered by Pacific Gas & Electric, but not the nuclear portion of the voluntary offer. Read MoreEBCE Accepts PG&E Hydro Allocation Offer, Declines Nuclear Portion
Monterey Bay Community Power and Silicon Valley Clean Energy on April 21 jointly signed two long-term renewable-energy contracts for a combined 210 MW of generation capacity. Read MoreNorthern California CCAs Ink Geothermal, Solar Contracts
PBF Energy completed the sale of five of its operating hydrogen production facilities to Air Products in a $530-million transaction that closed March 30, but was announced April 20. Read MoreAir Products Acquires Hydrogen Plants
New Mexico regulators will wait to decide on 350 MW of solar resources planned as a partial replacement for the output of the 847-MW San Juan Generating Station. Read MoreNMPRC Mulls San Juan Resource Replacement, Considers New RFP Plan
The developer of a Nevada concentrated-solar plant that left the U.S. Department of Energy on the hook for $737 million in unpaid loans appears to have ceased operations. Read MoreSolarReserve Appeals Chancery Decision in Apparent Bid to Retain Control
President Donald Trump on April 24 signed into law the fourth coronavirus pandemic response bill. Read MoreTrump Signs Fourth Pandemic Bill