Regional Workshops Aim to Spark Community Interest in Local Renewable Energy Development
The California Energy Commission is holding seven regional workshops throughout the state to highlight opportunities for community-scale renewable energy development and demonstration projects. Recent developments at the state and federal level open up opportunities for communities to spark local renewable energy development while strengthening local economies and enabling a wide range of other benefits.
The workshops, which are scheduled to run from mid-September to early October, will showcase recent projects and provide information about resources and funding to help communities pursue local renewable energy projects. The Energy Commission will also use the information gathered at the workshops to refine research and development priorities for future funding opportunities.
Community-scale energy projects use renewable energy to power relatively small areas such as college campuses, military installations, business parks or neighborhoods. They generate less than 20 megawatts and provide numerous benefits. These benefits include leveraging economies of scale to provide a lower energy costs and minimizing transmission losses by locating projects close to load.
These projects are typically planned, developed, and/or owned by a group of customers. Community-scale projects are located close to electricity demand and consist of locally-available renewable resources such as agricultural waste and solar. In addition to the energy generated, community renewable energy projects offer an opportunity for local residents, business owners and government to participate in the development of a unified energy vision that empowers their community.
The workshops will provide information to local stakeholders about potential pathways to develop and demonstrate community-scale renewable energy projects. There will also be discussion about potential resources available to interested communities to help with developing projects.
Scheduled workshop details:
September 17, 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Elihu M. Harris State Building, Room 2
1515 Clay Street
Oakland, CA 94612
(Focus on urban solar and other local resources in the Bay Area)
September 21, 2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.
City of Redding Community Room
777 Cypress Avenue
Redding, CA 96001
(Focus on woody biomass in North State rural communities)
September 23, 2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
1990 E. Gettysburg Avenue
Fresno, CA 93726
(Focus on agricultural waste, dairies, and solar in the Central Valley)
September 29, 9:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.
Norman F. Feldheym Central Library
Kellogg Room A/B
555 West 6th Street
San Bernardino, CA 92410
(Focus on community solar and other local resources in the San Bernardino area)
September 29, 2:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Victorville City Hall, Room D
14343 Civic Drive
Victorville, CA 92393
(Focus on community solar and other local resources in the High Desert region)
September 30, 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Bateman Hall, Room 1
1131 Ernestine Avenue
Lynwood, CA 90262
(Focus on urban solar and local resources in the Los Angeles area)
October 7, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
SANDAG Facility
401 B Street #800
San Diego, CA 92101
(Focus on solar and other resources in the Southern California coastal region)
More information about the workshops can be found here: http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/notices/index.html
