California CCA Peninsula Clean Energy to Receive 220 MW from New Mexico Wind Project
September 29, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 29, 2023
California community choice aggregator Peninsula Clean Energy will receive 220 megawatts of wind power as part of the largest renewable energy procurement project contract the CCA has signed to date, it said on Sept. 28.
Peninsula Clean Energy will begin receiving power for 15 years in 2026 from Pattern Energy’s SunZia Wind project in New Mexico.
The 220 MW of renewable energy will supply 13 percent of the agency’s total annual electricity demand.
Peninsula Clean Energy is the first CCA to sign a contract to receive power from the SunZia Wind project, which in total will generate up to 3,515 MW of nameplate wind power serving the western United States grid.
“As the agency’s first out-of-state renewable project contract, SunZia will provide both geographic and seasonal diversity to Peninsula Clean Energy’s electricity generation as the agency makes headway toward its 24/7 renewable power goal,” the CCA said.
That includes providing higher wind generation during the winter months, when solar energy generated in California is at its lowest during the year.
OPPD, Nebraska County Explore Solar Project at Former Landfill Site
September 21, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 21, 2023
Nebraska’s Omaha Public Power District and Douglas County, Neb., are working together on a project that could bring new life to an old landfill, possibly turning it into a power generating solar array, OPPD said on Sept. 19
The OPPD-Douglas County SOLUS (solar on landfills utility scale) initiative will look at how solar panels could potentially be incorporated at a landfill operated between 1973 and 1989, at which time it was capped to isolate waste.
“Closed landfills have limited future uses,” said Kent Holm, director of Douglas County Environmental Services. “This project identifies a potential compatible use that will provide additional power to the community.”
“The site has good sun exposure and is located near an existing OPPD substation, making it an ideal location for solar panels,” said OPPD President and CEO Javier Fernandez. “We greatly value our partnership with Douglas County on this project. It is a great example of Nebraska ingenuity at work as we seek opportunities to add more renewable energy to our generation portfolio.”
The SOLUS feasibility study will begin in December and conclude in June 2024. The study will help determine the project timeline if it comes to fruition.
A $3.46 million grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust would help bridge the gap between the cost of a typical ground-mounted utility-scale solar project and landfill solar, which is more complicated to design and build.
It is not yet known how many megawatts of power such a facility may generate; however, the area under consideration encompasses 160-acres.
OPPD will share what it learns from the SOLUS project with other utilities that are interested in similar initiatives.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Enters Solar, Storage Agreements
September 21, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 21, 2023
California community choice aggregator Silicon Valley Clean Energy on Sept. 20 announced the execution of two 15-year agreements with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.
The agreements include Grace Orchard Solar, a new build solar project, and Yellow Pine III, a new-build standalone battery storage project.
The Grace Orchard Solar project is slated to come online in the summer of 2027 and will provide SVCE 120 megawatts of renewable solar energy, accounting for 8-9% of SVCE’s 2028 annual retail sales.
The renewable energy will contribute to SVCE’s Renewable Portfolio Standard requirements set by the state.
SVCE has also purchased 115 MW of four-hour lithium-ion battery capacity, 460 megawatt-hours, from the Yellow Pine III project that is expected to be online in summer 2025. The battery storage will count towards SVCE’s resource adequacy requirements and Mid-Term Reliability obligations.
With these new projects, SVCE has contracted for over 20 long-term power purchase agreements totaling nearly 800 MW of clean and renewable capacity and nearly 1,845 MWh of battery storage.
SVCE expects that in 2030 more than 70% of its clean power mix will come from renewable energy, surpassing the goals set by SB 100, which requires energy generated from 60% renewable sources by 2030 and 100% carbon-free by 2045.
In 2020, SVCE contracted with NextEra Energy Resources for 50 MW of renewable solar capacity and 104 MWh of battery storage from the new-build Yellow Pine I project.
The Yellow Pine I project successfully began delivering power to SVCE customers in July 2023.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy is a not-for-profit, community-owned agency providing clean electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources to more than 275,000 residential and commercial customers in 13 Santa Clara County jurisdictions.
Tangibility of Floating Solar Project in Healdsburg, Calif., Spurs Strong Community Support
September 21, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 21, 2023
When Healdsburg, California, brought a floating solar array online a few years ago, the city’s utility knew there would be a wide array of benefits flowing from the project. But one of the benefits that Terry Crowley, Healdsburg’s Utility Director, said he underestimated is the high level of community support that has emerged for the project.
Crowley on Sept. 19 gave a tour of the floating solar project for attendees of the Northwest Public Power Association’s Northwest Innovations in Communications Conference, which was held in Santa Rosa, Calif.
In January 2021, the City of Healdsburg completed the 4.78-megawatt photovoltaic solar array for the recycled-water ponds at its Wastewater Treatment Facility. Healdsburg staff conceived the project with the support of the Northern California Power Agency.
Crowley knew that the tangibility of the project would resonate with the community, “but I really underestimated it,” he said during the tour.
The community has “really gotten behind it because it’s something that’s tangible from their electric utility. It’s something that’s local that they can see and really get behind and support,” Crowley said.
“That’s one of the things that’s kind of interesting about it is how do you put a price on that? How do you put a price on that customer satisfaction, the value of that?”
“If you’re considering local projects or a replication of something like this, it’s something to think about – how you have that local tangibility,” he said.
The contract for the project was awarded to Dissigno in June 2020 and construction began in October 2020. Through collaboration with Dissigno, White Pine, and Collins Electric, the city moved the project from contract award to interconnection in the same year. The project was contracted as a power purchase agreement. The solar developer paid for the entire project and owns the array.
Geese Flock to the Solar Panels
Meanwhile, one of the ongoing challenges that the utility has faced is the fact that geese have been drawn to the panels.
“This has been one of the learning processes that we have,” Crowley said during the tour.
He said that while the geese have done their nesting on berms surrounding the floating solar panels, “what we didn’t expect is they really love just hanging out on the panels. It creates this basically protected island for them.”
One of the things that the utility is trying to figure out is whether it is cost effective “to go through and clean the panels on a frequent basis or just take that loss in production,” Crowley said.
He noted that last year, the project developer sent a crew to clean the panels, which took about a week and a half to complete. Crowley pointed out that due to the power purchase agreement, “whatever they don’t deliver to us, we don’t pay for.”
The developer has considered ways in which to address the challenge including building an island near the panels that might be more attractive for the geese.
“We’re still in that kind of learning process to figure out…how do we manage the wildlife,” Crowley said.
The solar project includes about 11,600 solar panels that can generate 6.5 million kilowatt hours a year, enough to supply about 8 percent of Healdsburg’s annual energy needs.
The project also reduces harmful algae blooms and improves the quality of the water to recycled-water users, which include local vineyards and farms.
The project also helps Healdsburg’s publicly owned utility to meet the state of California’s environmental sustainability requirements and climate goals.
Colorado Springs Utilities, City Receive DOE Funding for Energy Project
September 19, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 19, 2023
Public power utility Colorado Springs Utilities, the City of Colorado Springs and several other entities have received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to validate concepts that aggregate power across complex energy systems, including virtual power plants.
This will support the deployment of large amounts of solar, grid-connected buildings, electric vehicles, and other distributed resources, DOE recently said.
Along with the City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities, other parties involved in the project are Energy Resource Center, the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs, and Careers in Construction Colorado.
Participation in the program has a cash value up to $500,000 (to be divided between two phases), and additional research and planning-focused technical support valued up to $3.5 million, said Natalie Eckhart, a spokesperson for Colorado Springs Utilities.
“We’re fortunate to participate in this program that provides us access to national laboratory experts and their cutting-edge research capabilities as we advance our Sustainable Energy Plan. That plan includes goals for increasing use of renewable energy, incorporating storage resources and integrating new technologies as we modernize our grid,” Eckhart told Public Power Current.
She said that Colorado Springs Utilities staff members and community partners will work alongside the National Renewable Energy Laboratory “to help us determine the best path forward for our community’s energy future,” including:
- Adding large-scale solar to our generating capacity
- Preparing for increased demands related to electric vehicle use
- Aggregating power from multiple resources, possibly to include virtual power plants; and
- Adding other distributed resources and grid-connected buildings
“A couple of important roles that we will play will be to provide data and systems knowledge as the research is conducted, as well as to ensure community stakeholders have visibility and input into the planning effort,” Eckhart noted.
NREL is a DOE laboratory based in Colorado.
Platte River Power Authority Seeks Wind Power Supply Proposals
September 19, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 19, 2023
Platte River Power Authority recently issued a request for proposals seeking proposals for the supply of wind power.
Platte River Power Authority is a not-for-profit, community-owned public power utility that generates and delivers energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colorado, for delivery to their utility customers.
Platte River’s goal is to purchase 150 MW to 250 MW of wind generation resources from new renewable wind facilities or facilities suitable for expansion that interconnect to Platte River’s transmission system, it said in the RFP, which was issued on Sept. 12.
Proposals are due Nov. 14, 2023.
California Lawmakers Pass Legislation Creating Central Buyer for Clean Power
September 17, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 17, 2023
California lawmakers recently passed legislation that will, among other things, allow the state to create a central buyer to procure clean electricity for the grid.
Under a legislative agreement unveiled by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature in late August, the central buyer would focus on sources like offshore wind and long-duration storage to diversify the state’s energy portfolio.
The agreement also aligns the state’s primary clean energy planning and procurement programs – its renewable portfolio standard, resource adequacy and integrated resource planning – with California’s 100% clean electricity by 2045 goal.
The California Senate approved the measure on Sept. 14 by a vote of 29-10. The California Assembly on the same day voted 62-16 concurring with amendments made to the measure. The bill now goes to Newsom’s desk. The governor is expected to sign it by October 14.
Offshore wind groups applauded the action by California state lawmakers.
“Floating offshore wind is the future of the offshore wind industry and the actions taken by California’s legislature positions the West Coast at the center of this exciting and rapidly expanding sector,” said Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind. “This new procurement authority is essential to unlocking the billions in new investments needed for port redevelopments, vessels, supply chain expansions, and manufacturing facilities.”
The legislation, AB 1373, “is an important milestone that will establish a robust mechanism to facilitate procurement and provide a clear path to market for large-scale clean energies like offshore wind. It will help California deliver on its commitment to be a global leader on climate, achieve 100% clean electricity, and generate 25 GW from floating offshore wind by 2045,” said Offshore Wind California, a trade group of offshore wind developers and technology companies.
NYPA Expands Executive Leadership Team to Help Meet New York’s Energy Goals
September 15, 2023
by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 15, 2023
The New York Power Authority is expanding its executive leadership team to deliver on its clean energy mission, including new goals defined in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget, which outlines new legislation providing NYPA with expanded authority to develop, own, and operate renewable energy generating projects, NYPA said on Sept. 15.
The Power Authority “will be a key driver in assisting New York State in meeting its bold clean energy targets, including producing 70% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and creating a zero-emission statewide electrical system by 2040,” it said.
Daniella Piper, an internal leader and expert in power systems and digital technology, has been promoted to Chief Innovation Officer and Alexis Harley has been hired as Chief Risk and Resilience Officer.
“In their new roles, Daniella Piper and Alexis Harley will bring experience and new insights to our executive team and our organization as we fulfill our clean energy promise to the people of New York State,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin Driscoll. “The new expanded authority legislation will allow us to further demonstrate the ingenuity and innovation that is part of the Power Authority’s DNA. I am excited to have Daniella and Alexis join my exceptional leadership team as we forge a clean energy path for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”
In Piper’s role as Chief Innovation Officer, she will coordinate the Power Authority’s strategic business goals, technology innovation, digitization, research and development efforts so that new technologies are developed, tested, socialized and implemented in support of the state’s clean energy targets.
Piper also will oversee a new Enterprise Innovation team that will serve as the incubator for new programs and ideas, “allowing NYPA to develop and deploy game-changing technologies and digital solutions that advance its efforts to create a thriving, resilient New York State powered by clean energy,” NYPA said.
Piper has more than 15 years of experience in the energy industry with a long history of success at the Power Authority, most recently serving as Western New York Regional Manager and Chief Transformation Officer.
She has been integral to some of the Power Authority’s key efforts, such as the successful construction of the Marcy South Series Compensation Project, NYPA’s 10-Point Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, and NYPA’s first Digital Transformation Office.
“Through her varied roles, including a previous post as Chief of Staff, she has developed a broad understanding of the Power Authority and excelled at working collaboratively with employees and external parties,” NYPA said.
In Harley’s role as Chief Risk and Resilience Officer, she will set the Power Authority’s strategic risk management and resilience vision and implement, oversee and monitor all risk management and resilience activities at NYPA.
She also will be responsible for determining NYPA’s risk tolerance and instituting associated strategic plans, including oversight of the Power Authority’s Sustainability team, which is responsible for the development and implementation of NYPA’s ESG strategy.
Harley has spent her entire career in the energy industry and comes to NYPA from National Grid.
She has extensive experience designing, implementing and leading enterprise risk management programs to protect people, assets and communities, while preserving value and adapting to new opportunities, NYPA said.
Inflation Reduction Act Increasing Demand for Minerals Critical to Energy Transition
September 7, 2023
by Peter Maloney
APPA News
September 7, 2023
The Inflation Reduction Act is accelerating demand for critical minerals and copper needed for the energy transition, according to analysis by S&P Global.
Energy transition-related demand for lithium, nickel and cobalt will be 23 times higher in 2035 than it was in 2021 and demand for copper will be twice as high, the study found.
The study, Inflation Reduction Act: Impact on North America Metals and Minerals Market, sees “considerable challenges” in meeting the increased demand driven by the Inflation Reduction Act for decarbonization technologies such as electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, and lithium ion batteries.
The study says demand will continue “to accelerate and be materially higher” for lithium, cobalt, and nickel with demand rising 15, 14 and 13 percent, respectively, by 2035 compared with projected increases before the Inflation Reduction Act was enacted in August 2022.
Demand for copper will be 12 percent higher by 2035 than pre-Inflation Reduction Act projections, the study found. Copper is not currently listed as a critical mineral in the United States and does not qualify for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, but its role as the “metal of electrification” makes it vital to the energy transition and demand for it will rise as it is used alongside critical minerals in energy transition applications, the study said.
To qualify for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, processing and/or extraction of critical minerals used must be in the United States and/ or in a country with which the United States has a free trade agreement and that sourcing cannot involve a “foreign entity of concern.”
Of the four materials analyzed in the study, only lithium is likely to be sufficiently supplied to the United States under the Inflation Reduction Act’s domestic content requirements while cobalt and nickel are both unlikely to be sourced at levels high enough to meet demand, the study found.
Countries with which the United States has free trade agreements already produce enough cobalt to meet the Inflation Reduction Act domestic sourcing requirement, but the United States does not currently source most of its cobalt from those countries and doing so would require a reorientation of trading patterns across several countries given intense international competition for resources, the study said.
Nickel is the most challenged in terms of supply, and there does not appear to be enough supply in countries with which the United States has free trade agreements to meet demand under the Inflation Reduction Act requirements, even if those countries exported all their production to the United States, the study said.
Even though copper is not subject to sourcing requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act, ensuring access to enough supply to meet U.S. post-Inflation Reduction Act demand is also at risk, the study found. The United States is likely to become more reliant on imports as growing demand for energy transition related end markets outpaces domestic supply, the study said.
In addition, S&P Global data on 127 mines across the world that began production between 2002 and 2023 shows that a major new resource discovery today would not become a productive mine until 2040 or later, the study said.
Google Signs PPA for 189-Megawatt North Carolina Wind Farm
September 7, 2023
by Peter Maloney
APPA News
September 7, 2023
Apex Clean Energy and Google recently announced a power purchase agreement for the full 189-megawatt capacity of Timbermill Wind that Apex is building in North Carolina.
Apex said the power purchase agreement will contribute to the clean energy needs of Google’s data centers on PJM Interconnection’s grid.
The planned wind farm is expected to consist of up to 45 wind turbines installed in managed timberland and open farmland in rural Chowan County. The turbines would be spaced about one-quarter to on-half a mile apart, and each would require about half an acre of land.
Existing high-voltage power lines and highways would limit the need for new infrastructure, Charlottesville, Virginia-based Apex said, adding that landowners in the area would be able to continue to farm their land or harvest timber with limited disturbance.
The Timbermill Wind project has received all necessary permits from local, state, and federal jurisdictions and is moving forward with construction, Apex said. The company began construction work began in May and expects turbine deliveries in 2024 and full commercial operation in 2024-2025.
The Timbermill Wind would be the second utility scale wind farm in service in North Carolina.
The state’s first wind farm, the 208-MW Amazon Wind Farm US East, is operated by Avangrid Renewables in Pasquotank and Perquimans counties and entered service in 2017.
The power generated by the wind farm is delivered under a contract with Amazon Web Services into the electrical grid that supplies both current and future Amazon Web Services cloud data centers.