The California Energy Commission has proposed a $1-million award to consulting firm Energy and Environmental Economics to develop a plan for decommissioning certain natural gas infrastructure in the state. E3 will identify where gas infrastructure decommissioning is "plausible, economically … Read MoreQuick Bites: Energy News Roundup
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California energy planners and grid officials have embarked on a dizzying number of new initiatives and programs to prepare the electric grid for the demands of this summer. Read MoreState Pursues at Least 17 Pathways to Summer 2021 Grid Reliability
Maintenance issues contributed to a divergence in Western energy prices this week. Read MoreEnergy Price Divergence Is Maintenance-Driven
The California Energy Commission has proposed spending $24 million on an assortment of natural gas research projects in the coming year, some of which would develop carbon-capture equipment for industrial plants in the state that use high-heat processes. Read MoreCEC Finalizes $24-Million Natural Gas Research Funding Proposal
Southern California Edison on April 5 urged the California Public Utilities Commission to deny a request to rehear an "emergency capacity" decision that opponents say contains legal errors and opens "a significant loophole" for long-term fossil fuel generation contracts without a finding of … Read MoreSCE Asks CPUC to Deny Emergency-Capacity Rehearing Request
State regulators have proposed allowing Pacific Gas & Electric to securitize $7.5 billion in 2017 wildfire-related costs through the issuance of "recovery bonds." Read MoreCPUC Proposes Allowing PG&E to Securitize $7.5 Billion in 2017 Wildfire Claims
The Sonoma County district attorney's office on April 6 charged Pacific Gas & Electric with five felonies and 28 misdemeanors for "recklessly" causing the 2019 Kincade Fire, which burned for 15 days and destroyed 374 structures. Read MoreSonoma District Attorney Charges PG&E With Five Felonies Related to Kincade Fire
Placing solar panels atop the Golden State's water canals has the potential to help the state meet its 2030 climate and air-quality targets as well as reduce evaporation, saving billions of gallons of water annually, a team of University of California researchers found. Read MoreStudy: Over-Canal Solar Promising for Climate, Clean-Energy Targets
The Electric Power Research Institute on April 2 released a study designed to help the industry better determine the value of grid investments to enhance resilience against future threats. Read MoreStudy: Frameworks, Tools Needed to Better Value Grid Resilience Investments
Adventist Health and ENGIE North America said April 1 that they have completed a solar and microgrid project in Paradise, California. Read MoreNew Microgrid Operational in Paradise
The Los Angeles City Council on April 7 voted unanimously to approve a resolution to support any state effort to close the city's Playa del Rey underground natural gas storage facility, owned and operated by Southern California Gas Co. [20-0002-S22]. Read MoreLA City Council Votes to Close Playa del Rey Natural Gas Storage Facility
The Bonneville Power Administration will conduct a public meeting April 14 to discuss a wide-ranging call by customers to engage in a settlement of its BP-22 power and transmission rate case. Read MoreBPA to Conduct Public Meeting on BP-22 Rate Case
Colorado's largest utility will retire the last of its remaining coal assets 30 years ahead of schedule, add more than 4 GW of combined renewable generation and battery resources by 2030, and deliver 100-percent emissions-free power to customers by 2050 if regulators approve its preferred el… Read MoreXcel Plan Would Close Colorado Coal by 2040, Beat 2030 Emissions Targets
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a 45-member wholesale cooperative based in Colorado and serving electric distribution co-ops in four states, says 100 percent of its member load will be served by entities involved in either an energy imbalance market or a regional transmiss… Read MoreTri-State on Path to 100-Percent EIM Participation, but Wants to Join an RTO
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas on April 6 released a preliminary report that, unsurprisingly, points to weather and associated complications as the key factor in Texas' unprecedented energy crisis during a winter storm Feb. 14-19. Read MoreERCOT Preliminary Report: Cold Weather Main Culprit in Texas Energy Crisis
President Joe Biden proposed spending increases of more than $14 billion for climate change-related projects in a $1.52-trillion fiscal year 2022 discretionary budget request he sent to Congress on April 9. Read MoreBiden Seeks Climate Boost in 2022 Budget Request