East Bay Community Energy plans to purchase 100-percent clean electricity for its customers by 2030, the community choice aggregator's representatives said on Dec. 18. EBCE to date has contracted for more than 500 MW from wind, solar and energy storage resources, and in 2021 expects to contr… Read MoreQuick Bites: Energy News Roundup
Top Stories
We are excited to announce an upcoming webinar on the timely and vital topic of resource adequacy in the Western power sector. Read MoreExplore California, Northwest Electric Resource Adequacy at Our January Webinar
Lacking an Arctic blast or other seasonal weather changes to propel demand, Pacific Northwest power prices sagged while other regional prices ticked up a few dollars. Read MoreWestern Power Prices Vary Nominally; Regional Gas Prices Edge Higher
California's grid operator is working on a slew of initiatives to maintain reliability as conditions change on the grid and across the West, efforts made much more urgent by rolling blackouts in August. Read MoreResource-Adequacy Reforms Lead a Long List of CAISO Reliability Actions
Federal energy regulators on Dec. 17 narrowly voted down a proposal that could have forced the California Independent System Operator to replace its tariff to ensure system reliability. Read MoreCAISO Narrowly Avoids Federal Inquiry Into System Reliability
The California Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 17 approved a renewable natural gas tariff pilot program that will allow customers to purchase the fuel and help expand its market. But CPUC member Martha Guzman Aceves rejected the proposal, saying it could further harm the air and water qu… Read MoreCPUC Greenlights Renewable Natural Gas Tariff Despite Pollution Concerns
The California Public Utilities Commission is working with electric utilities to minimize social and economic disruptions from public-safety power shut-offs. Read MoreCPUC Working to Minimize Social, Economic Impacts of PSPSes
Southern California Edison submitted a petition for modification to the California Public Utilities Commission Dec. 11, asking the commission to remove two operating incentives for the Mountainview Generating Station. Read MoreSCE Asks CPUC to Eliminate Outdated Incentives for Mountainview Plant
Two of California's investor-owned utilities have agreed to refund ratepayers millions of dollars to settle a scandal involving millions of misplaced high-efficiency lightbulbs that were to be sold at a discount to consumers in the utilities' service areas. Read MoreSDG&E Proposes $51.6-Million Settlement in Lost-Lightbulb Debacle
The California Energy Commission this week announced new funding for projects that will help trim back portions of the state's natural gas pipeline system. But giving a pipeline a haircut is not straight-forward: Pipeline decommissioning could require 100 percent of customers on the line to … Read MoreNatural Gas Pipelines Need Trimming, CEC Says; PG&E Identifies Stasis
In the latest Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California's call for thousands of megawatts of new generation, the coal-fired Colstrip power plant's new lease on life, what it is going to take to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open, and the latest legal challenge to Washington's new carbon emissions cap-and-invest program.
We want to hear from you on energy issues and to share your thoughts with our readership. Read moreVoices From Behind the Meter
I want to commend you for writing what is simply the best article about the transmission issues in [Colorado's San Luis] Valley yet. Read moreKudos for CEM Transmission Story
Multiple studies suggest California will need to add between 45 and 55 GW of long-duration energy storage to meet its goal of zero-carbon electricity by 2045. Read MoreReport: Up to 55 GW of Energy Storage Needed in California by 2045
Toyota Motor North America announced Dec. 10 that the first two fuel-cell electric heavy-duty Class 8 trucks built under the Zero and Near Zero Emissions Freight Forwarding project using its technology are ready for delivery to customers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Read MoreHeavy-Duty Fuel Cell Trucks Ready for Deployment at California Ports
Five Orange County cities began to work toward procuring their own electricity with the inaugural meeting of the Orange County Power Authority Dec. 16. Read MoreOrange County Cities Launch JPA, CCA
Colorado air quality regulators at a Dec. 16 meeting changed course from an earlier preliminary decision that would have closed three of the state's remaining coal-fired power plants by 2028. Read MoreAQCC Walks Back Coal-Plant Closure Acceleration
Nevada's procedure for allowing large customers to exit bundled retail electric service from its sole regulated utility, NV Energy, might have exacerbated the conditions that led to the utility's calls to conserve energy on Aug. 18 and 19, according to staff at the state energy regulator. Read MorePUCN Investigates Large-Customer Provision in August Energy Shortages
New Mexico regulators at a Dec. 16 meeting unanimously denied El Paso Electric's request for a 228-MW expansion of the Newman Generating Station, a natural gas plant in El Paso County, Texas, that would serve ratepayers in both states. Read MoreNMPRC Nixes El Paso Electric Gas Plant Expansion Plans
President-elect Joe Biden on Dec. 17 announced senior members of his incoming administration's "climate team," including former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as his choice for secretary of energy and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) for Interior secretary. Read MoreBiden Rolls Out 'Climate Team'