At Gov.’s Summit, Environment California Outlines Clean Energy Goals

Media Contacts

Environment California

Presentation Summary at Governor’s Conference on 12,000 MW of Renewable Local Energy
University of California, Los Angeles
Bernadette Del Chiaro
Clean Energy Advocate
July 25, 2011

The time has come for California to embark on a plan to make clean, small-scale energy resources the primary way we generate electricity in California. The Governor’s 12,000 megawatt (MW) goal can become the catalyst for transforming our energy infrastructure and preserving our environment. To put it into context, the 12,000 MW goal is four times that of the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, which in and of itself was a game changer for California’s solar market. It is three times the installed capacity of California’s aging nuclear power plants and it could generate enough electricity to meet 25% of California’s summertime peak demand. 

Within that context, the goals of this 12,000 MW program should be:
•    REDUCE RELIANCE ON CENTRALIZED, DIRTY FORMS OF ENERGY
•    PROMOTE VIBRANT, GROWING DISTRIBUTED GENERATION MARKET. Continue to support existing market and add in new policies to support new markets.
•    CREATE JOBS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST
•    LEVERAGE NON-RATEPAYER INVESTMENTS MAXIMIZING RATEPAYER FUNDS
•    LEVERAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ALONG WITH ENERGY GENERATION INVESTMENTS
•    CREATE PLAN TO EXCEED GOALS

SIZE DEFINITION
•    10 MW AND UNDER: Consider reducing size of systems and/or maximizing the small-scale systems

TECHNOLOGY
•    SOLAR PV, SOLAR THERMAL, RENEWABLE FUEL CELLS, SMALL WIND, GEOTHERMAL, CLEAN BIOMASS

LOCATION
•    LOCATED WITHIN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK (AT OR CLOSE TO ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION). Not transmission
•    CONSIDER ONCE-THROUGH-COOLING RETIREMENTS AND RETIREMENT OF AGING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS FOR PRIORITIZING INSTALLS IN TERMS OF SITING NEW GENERATION
•    PRIORITIZE BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT/ROOFTOP

MARKET SEGMENTS
•    ENSURE PROGRAM SUPPORTS BOTH BEHIND THE METER AND WHOLESALE MARKETS
•    EXCEED SB1 GOALS TO REQUIRE ALL NEW HOMES COME WITH SOLAR BY 2020 (NOT JUST 50%)
•    ASSUME MUNICIPAL UTILITIES DO MORE THAN SIMPLY MEET SB 1 GOALS