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Utility Dive: California passes legislation to avoid blackouts, create ‘insurance policy’ for the grid

Posted by Kavya Balaraman on Jul 1, 2022

Utility Dive detailed newly passed legislation that attempts to ensure the reliability of California's grid, quoting AEE's Emilie Olson on the bill's heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Read snippets below and the full article here.

California lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill that establishes a new certification process for solar, wind and other non-fossil fuel power plants that are larger than 50 MW, as the state works to build out the renewable projects it needs to ensure grid reliability.

The bill also creates a strategic electricity reliability reserve fund, authorizing funding for resources that can help keep the lights on. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, allocated $5.2 billion in his May revised budget proposal to create such a reserve, an up to 5,000 MW pool of resources.

Trade association Advanced Energy Economy, meanwhile, said in a statement that the budget agreement “opens [the] door to extending the life of fossil fuel generation and misses the mark on creating a more reliable, clean and affordable grid system.”

“Better planning to meet near, medium- and long-term needs will set California up for success,” Emilie Olson, policy principal at AEE, said in a statement. 

Read the full article here.

Topics: California Engagement, United In The News, Emilie Olson