California roadmap paves the way for energy storage
To
highlight California’s energy roadmap to the future, the Energy Commission has
established an online showcase of some of the state’s energy storage
technologies.
California
established itself as an early advocate of energy storage technology when, in 2013,
the state mandated that investor-owned utilities reach a combined target of
1,325 megawatts (MW) of energy storage to be online by 2024.
The
California Independent System Operator (ISO), the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC), and the Energy Commission unveiled a comprehensive roadmap
to assess the current market environment and regulatory policies for connecting
new energy storage technology to the state’s power grid.
Energy
storage technology is being hailed globally as the game-changer toward reliably
managing low-carbon, greener electricity grids. California, a national leader
in advancing energy storage, envisioned this technology as a critical component
in reducing global warming, improving air quality and promoting energy
independence.
Geothermal Grant Program Recognized
The California Energy Commission’s Geothermal Grant and Loan Program has been recognized for its significant contributions to advancing geothermal technology, spurring economic development and protecting the environment.
Commissioner David Hochschild was on hand to receive the Honors Award from the Geothermal Energy Association this week.
The Geothermal Energy Association said the Energy Commission’s geothermal program is “an outstanding example of a state program that advances environmental quality and economic growth through a sustained effort.”
The Energy Commission’s geothermal program was created by legislation and has been operating since 1981. Since its inception the program has awarded close to $74 million to co-fund more than 180 geothermal projects.
The Geothermal Energy Association is a trade association comprised of companies that support the expanded use of geothermal energy.
Recently Approved Water Appliance Standards to Save Billions of Gallons of Water
Due to the severity of California's drought, the state's experts have been managing water resources to deal with the effects of the drought and prepare for the next one. As part of the solution, the California Energy Commission approved standards for water appliances which will save more than 10 billion gallons of water in the first year. Over time, the water savings is estimated to reach 105 billion gallons per year - a savings of more than three times the annual amount of water used by the City of San Francisco.
The energy efficiency and water standards require toilets, urinals, and kitchen and bathroom faucets to consume less water thereby using less energy while performing the same function. Click here for more details.
The energy efficiency and water standards require toilets, urinals, and kitchen and bathroom faucets to consume less water thereby using less energy while performing the same function. Click here for more details.