New Goals For California’s New Energy

California’s Clean Energy Roadmap

January 6, 2021 (American Clean Power California)

RELIABLE CLEAN POWER FOR CALIFORNIA

All Californians need electric power during every hour of every day, particularly as we experience more extreme and intense climate events. There can be no backsliding on reliability. A diverse portfolio of clean technologies over a larger footprint will deliver affordable reliability without compromising air quality or decarbonization. We are committed to working with California’s leaders to quickly address the basic need for reliable power.California will ensure electric system reliability while achieving climate mitigation and public health goals by investing in a diverse portfolio of clean resources such as utility-scale solar, storage, land-based wind and offshore wind, deployed in a manner responsive to disadvantaged communities, and with an eye toward powering California’s building and transportation sectors.

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ACTIONS MUST KEEP PACE WITH AMBITIONS

The State is falling behind on much needed clean capacity to power California homes and businesses. To prevent future power outages and to set the pace to achieve our 100% clean energy objective, California’s agencies, and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) must coordinate to establish consistent long-term goals and take immediate, decisive action to require procurement and deployment of renewable energy and storage. We can safely, reliably, and affordably address our need for clean power with existing technologies; what is required is enhanced leadership to marry California’s long-term ambitions with immediate action.California must take immediate action to:

• Overcome regulatory barriers to new renewable energy and storage deployment targeted for operation in 2021-2023.

• Order immediate procurement of 13-24 GW of additional renewable energy and storage to provide replacement power for planned retirements in 2024-2025.

• Initiate market reforms to optimize reliability from wind, solar, and storage resources.

• Signal the need for offshore wind in California and develop a statewide implementation plan for permitting, transmission, and supply chain development.

• Set a consistent and aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target for use in all statewide energy planning efforts.

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IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS TO THE NEAR-TERM CAPACITY SHORTFALL

Expedite approvals, interconnections, and upgrades to prevent future outages

All relevant agencies must fast-track statewide, local, and utility processes associated with interconnection and permitting of renewable energy and energy storage resources to address supply deficiencies and mitigate the impact of outages.

Identify and procure renewable energy and storage to replace planned retirements

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) should direct procurement of at least an additional 13-24 GW of nameplate capacity (7-11 GW of net qualifying capacity) of additional renewable and storage resources by 2025, beyond what has already been ordered by the CPUC, to replace conventional resources (gas and nuclear) slated for retirement.

Enable renewable energy and storage projects to provide essential grid services

Ensure that renewable energy and storage receive full value for these contributions, inclusive of an assessment and timeline to ensure alignment across all relevant agencies and the CAISO. Redesign California’s reliability rules and procurement practices to reflect California’s changing resource mix, ensuring that renewable energy and storage at all scales receive their full and fair value for their ability to contribute to resource adequacy, provision of grid services, and resiliency.

Troubleshoot and expedite permitting of renewable energy and storage infrastructure

Prioritize renewable energy and storage projects needed urgently to meet system needs, identify and troubleshoot siting and permitting issues, and work together to shepherd projects simultaneously through multiple permitting processes with the shared objective of permitting the renewable energy, storage, and associated distribution and transmission upgrades necessary to decarbonize California’s economy in a timely manner.

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IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR A SUSTAINED TRANSITION TO 100% CLEAN ENERGY

Recalibrate greenhouse gas planning goals for consistent statewide planning

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), California Energy Commission (CEC), and CPUC should work together to ensure consistency and accuracy of greenhouse gas planning targets to yield the results necessary to achieve 100% clean energy.

Initiate planning and development of transmission infrastructure to meet SB 100

Improve the relationship between the Integrated Resource Planning process and Transmission Planning process to ensure timely and sufficient approval and development of distribution and transmission infrastructure to deliver a diverse suite of renewable energy and storage resources to meet California’s 2030 and 2045 requirements.

Signal California’s commitment to offshore wind with 2021 action

Communicate support for a lease auction for California offshore wind in 2021 to the Biden-Harris Transition Team and Administration as a priority item for early federal agency climate action and encourage the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to hold a lease auction for offshore wind in the Morro Bay and Humboldt Call Areas by the end of 2021. To deploy offshore wind in the mid-2020s, immediate engagement and coordination with federal agencies is necessary.

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Plan for deployment of offshore wind at scale

Develop an implementation plan to achieve an offshore wind development goal of at least 10,000 megawatts by 2040, with an interim target of 3,000 megawatts by 2030, as part of the State’s overall renewable and greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements, and as indicated by SB 100 Joint Agency planning; addressing permitting, transmission planning, economic development, and sea-space identification for offshore wind.

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