Even though California is leading the transition toward renewable energy in the United States, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy official believes there is a lot California can still learn from other states.

Jonathan M. Weisgall , who is vice president for governmental relations for Berkshire, made his remarks during a May 29 talk at the California Energy Commission.

“As a company, we are doing what we have been planning to do,” he said. “We have 40-year assets and we have been decarbonizing as a company for the better part of 15 years. We are not changing.”

Berkshire has already installed 4,000 megawatts of wind power in Iowa. The company is on track to install 2,000 more by 2020.

Iowa has the ninth lowest utility rates in the United States, and has had a single rate increase in the past 27 years, Weisgall said.

“The myth that renewables equate to higher costs for customers is just not the case,” he said.

It is not a government mandate or policy that is pushing renewable energy in Iowa, but a consumer pull. Renewables portfolio standards are not the only tool in the tool box, Weisgall said.

In 2017, the Energy Commission estimated that 30 percent of California’s electricity currently comes from renewable energy. California has the goal of sourcing 33 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020 and 50 percent by 2030.

In Nevada, the renewables portfolio standard has been the driver towards renewable energy. The current goal is 25 percent by 2025. NV Energy, which is a Berkshire utility, is already at 23 percent renewable energy. Berkshire reduced its carbon emissions by 44 percent, and its coal output is down by 95 percent in the last 10 years, he said.

Decentralization of the industry may be a topic in California, but Weisgall stated “sometimes the big utility can get it done as well as anyone else.”

The focus for Berkshire in Nevada is “mitigating against the duck curve,” which is crucial to getting to 25 percent, he said.

The duck curve—named after its resemblance to a duck—shows the difference in electricity demand and the amount of available solar energy throughout the day.

Homes are generally designed to keep the indoors in, and the outdoors out. But that doesn’t always happen, especially with older homes.

Leaks in a building’s envelope – roofs, walls, and floors – waste money and energy and can be a source of poor air quality. Sealing the envelope though, can be a time-consuming, difficult, and not always effective process that typically involves caulk, spray foam, weather stripping or other materials. But a new product on the market, developed with the help of research grants from the California Energy Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy, is changing that.

AeroBarrier is a portable automated process for sealing gaps and tightening a building’s envelope. Using pumps, hoses, and aerosol-mist nozzles, the system sprays a cloud of waterborne acrylic droplets into a pressurized room. The pressure forces air to escape through leaks, and as it does, the sticky particles follow, coagulate around openings and harden to seal them. A computer controls the temperature, pressure, humidity, and distribution of the sealant while technicians monitor the progress in real time.

AeroBarrier can seal holes as tiny as a human hair and as large as a half inch across, and tests show it can reduce leakage by up to 90 percent in new buildings. Sealing a typical single-family home takes about four hours from setup to completion and costs far less than traditional methods. The process is GREENGUARD Gold certified, meaning it meets or exceeds low emissions standards for volatile organic compounds in indoor spaces.

AeroBarrier hit the commercial market in January after five years of research and development at the University of California, Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center. The project received support from the Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research Program and the Department of Energy’s Building America program. It is licensed to a company called Aeroseal that manufactures, sells and distributes the machinery and sealant.

Successful early demonstrations of AeroBarrier in California homes proved its effectiveness and drew the attention of builders around the country. Arizona-based home builder Mandalay Homes was an early adopter. During beta testing of the technology in 2017, the company volunteered to try it out on a few dozen new homes it was building. It now uses AeroBarrier on every home it builds.

According to Mandalay, in less than three hours, a two-person team reduced the air leakage of a 2,200 square-foot, three-bedroom house by an additional 68 percent over what was accomplished by traditional sealing methods that required more than 20 hours of labor.

Earlier this year, AeroBarrier received the best in show award at the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show.

California has the largest energy storage market in the United States and it is changing. The evolution is happening because of the increase in variable energy resources, such as wind and solar, coupled with the goal of electrifying the transportation system to reduce greenhouse gases. The changes are spurring interest, legislation and investment in energy storage in California.

Energy storage is expected to help the state meet two important goals: sourcing 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

California set procurement targets for energy storage in 2010 with Assembly Bill 2514. That legislation directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to adopt an energy storage program. It also defined procurement targets of 1,325 megawatts (MW) of energy storage by 2020 for the three largest investor-owned utilities (IOUs): Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

As of February 2017, the utilities procured more than 475 MWs of energy storage, according to the California Energy Commission’s latest tracking progress report on the subject.

The IOUs have already opted for energy storage to combat uncertainty in the energy supply chain. This was seen recently in the wake of the 2016 leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility.

In the aftermath of the incident, SCE and SDG&E procured 100 MWs of electricity storage. SCE converted its Center Peaker power plant in Norwalk to a low-emission, hybrid battery storage-gas turbine peaker system - the first such kind in the world.

In California, energy storage exists in different forms including pumped hydropower energy, thermal energy, electrochemical energy, as well as flywheel and compressed air energy storage.

Pumped hydro energy is the dominant utility-scale electricity storage technology in California, and worldwide. As of 2017, more than 4,500 MWs of pumped hydro energy storage systems were operational in California, representing more than 3,400 gigawatts of energy storage.

Photo courtesy of: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

Resources are now online to help Californians finance and install electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment at public locations through a statewide incentive project funded by the California Energy Commission.

The California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) works with community partners to develop regional incentive projects to install EV chargers and accelerate the expansion of charging infrastructure. The project, which is being implemented by the nonprofit Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE), currently has more than $39 million in available funding, with the potential to receive up to $200 million.

CALeVIP provides cash incentives to encourage businesses, apartments, condominiums, workplaces, and public agencies to install EV chargers. Property owners and managers, as well as manufacturers and installers of EV charging equipment, can learn how to participate in the project by visiting calevip.org.

“The Energy Commission is pleased to launch the CALeVIP website with the Center for Sustainable Energy, and to provide the public with tools that will help increase access to the charging infrastructure that makes plug-in electric vehicles a more viable option for communities across California,” said Energy Commissioner Janea A. Scott. “Increasing this access is critical as the state transitions to cleaner transportation in order to meet clean air standards and climate goals.”

CALeVIP and its regional incentive projects are made possible through a grant by the Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, which supports innovations in transportation and fuel technologies.

CALeVIP supports the executive order issued by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in January 2018 to expedite the rollout of zero-emission vehicles and supporting charging and refueling infrastructure. The project also advances ongoing state efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants produced by vehicles powered by fossil fuels.

The first regional CALeVIP project, which launched in Fresno County last December, offers rebates of $4,000 for single-port chargers and $7,000 for dual-port chargers. CALeVIP plans to support additional projects as funding becomes available.

Moving to cut energy use in new homes by more than 50 percent, the California Energy Commission on May 9 adopted building standards that require solar photovoltaic systems starting in 2020. The building energy efficiency standards, which are the first in the nation to require solar, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 115,000 fossil fuel cars off the road.

More information can be found in the frequently asked questions document on the standards.

Here is what people are saying about the standards:

Pierre Delforge, director of high-tech sector energy efficiency, Natural Resources Defense Council
“This is groundbreaking. The new building energy codes will save energy, lower customer bills, keep homes comfortable in increasing heat waves, and reduce pollution from California’s homes and buildings — which account from a quarter of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting energy waste and putting solar panels on every new home built in California should be a shining example to the rest of the world on how to act against climate change.”

Dan Dunmoyer, president and CEO, California Building Industry Association
“With this adoption, the California Energy Commission has struck a fair balance between reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously limiting increased construction costs. We thank the Commissioners and their staff for working with the building industry during the past 18 months and adopting a set of cost-effective standards that ensures homebuyers will recoup their money over the life of the dwelling.”

George H. Koertzen, construction superintendent, Habitat for Humanity San Joaquin County
“Low mortgage payments alone don’t make for affordable housing. It’s also important to make sure families can afford to pay the energy bills that keep the lights on, the temperature comfortable, and the hot water flowing. That’s why Title 24 is so important. Strong energy efficiency standards for housing help keep utility bills down, and help families stay in their homes.”

Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
“This is an undeniably historic decision for the state and the U.S. California has long been our nation’s biggest solar champion, and its mass adoption of solar has generated huge economic and environmental benefits, including bringing tens of billions of dollars of investment into the state. SEIA appreciates the Commission’s efforts to help California take steps toward meeting its zero-net-energy goals by integrating renewable energy with energy efficiency. The combination of rooftop solar and the option to add energy storage systems as an efficiency compliance credit provides builders with an attractive, cost-effective option to fully electrify homes.”

Tom White, sustainability and energy asset manager, Eden Housing
“Low-income families spend a much higher percentage of their income on energy costs than families with more resources do. For people living paycheck to paycheck, energy efficiency can make an enormous difference in keeping the family budget balanced. Similarly, low-income communities bear a disproportionate health burden because of air pollution. Expanding the amount of energy generated from clean sources like wind and solar will mean cleaner air and a healthier California.”

Kelly Knutsen, director of technology advancement, California Solar & Storage Association
"Today, California made history, yet again. We are building a better future for consumers and the environment by embracing innovation and smart technologies. Adding solar on all new homes, and giving consumers a solar plus storage option, will make our homes super energy efficient while generating their own clean energy. The monthly energy bills savings will be twice as much as the increase in home mortgage. This is a win-win for consumers and the environment."

Brandon De Young, executive vice president, De Young Properties
“I know from experience that energy-efficient homes sell faster and bring a better price, and data from the (U.S.) Department of Energy back me up on that. People don’t want to throw money away on wasted energy when they can move into a more efficient, comfortable, and healthy house instead.”

Bart Croes, research division chief, California Air Resources Board
“We fully support the California Energy Commission’s efforts to maintain and improve both indoor and outdoor air quality while pursuing increased energy efficiency in California buildings. We especially support your staff’s proposals to require higher efficiency air filters for all new buildings and for new HVAC systems installed in existing buildings, and requirements for ensuring installed kitchen range hoods provide sufficient protection from toxic chemicals and particles emitted from cooking and gas stoves. These and other measures are needed to protect public health. Particle pollution, especially near pollution sources like freeways and busy thoroughfares, accounts for the greatest percentage of health impacts attributable to air pollution.”

Ron O. Nichols, president, Southern California Edison (SCE) – submitted comment
“SCE supports the CEC’s overall approach to the proposed building standards and we are committed to GHG reduction through providing customers more technology choices and grid harmonization. In its ‘Clean Power and Electrification Pathway,’ SCE has developed an integrated blueprint for California to reduce GHG that includes a combination of measures to produce the most cost-effective and feasible path forward. We appreciate the alignment between the 2019 Title 24 standards, the state’s, and SCE’s GHG reduction vision.”

Nehemiah Stone, principal, Stone Energy Associates
“California’s new energy standards will make homes more affordable as it makes them more efficient. Utility costs can be one of the highest costs of maintaining a household and the standards go directly at this cost. Further, research has shown that the standards’ efficiency measures add little or nothing to the price of a new home.”

Francesca Wahl, senior policy associate of business development and policy, Tesla – submitted comment
“The 2019 code will be able to capture the full value that solar PV paired with storage can provide to meet grid harmonization needs. Tesla looks forward to working with Energy Commission staff and other stakeholders on the Residential Compliance Manual process and the opportunity to utilize a grid harmonization credit for battery storage for both the efficiency and demand flexibility components of the Energy Design Rating (EDR).”

Sean Armstrong, principal and project manager, Redwood Energy
"California law requires Title 24 code updates ensure Californians can have comfortable homes for the least cost. Over the last eight years, solar electric panels has dropped in cost by 80 percent worldwide, and now solar power is the least costly way to power a home. California's next code update will save our citizens hundreds of dollars a year in utility bills, while requiring developers cost-effectively invest in the quality and comfort of our homes."

The partnership on expanding opportunities between Mexico and California continues to flourish since a 2014 agreement was signed to promote cooperation on clean energy policy between the two governments.

Officials from the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento, researchers involved in California-Mexico clean energy efforts and a representative of the Mexican Ministry of Energy recently met with California Energy Commission staff to share updates and discuss new ideas on projects that can benefit both sides of the border.

“We need to use this opportunity to imagine where collaborations can go,” said Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister. “Both places have an incredible depth of intellectual resources and a group of proactive stakeholders who understand the issues that need developing and are predisposed to look for solutions.”

The May 1 meeting is part of a memorandum of understanding agreement that Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Mexican Ministry of Energy Secretary Pedro Joaquín Coldwell signed in 2014. The agreement promotes cooperation between the two governments to implement programs in low-carbon energy, clean technologies, biofuels, and energy efficiency.

California represents only 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but its leadership demonstrates that it is possible to reduce carbon emissions and grow the economy.

Attendees from the meeting included representatives from the Mexican Ministry of Energy (Secretaría de Energía), California Lighting Technology Center at the University of California, Davis, the Autonomous University of Guadalajara (Universidad Autónama de Guadalajara), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Binational Laboratory in Mexico, and Tech de Monterrey.

Researchers discussed ongoing efforts to create joint California-Mexico research centers focusing on energy efficiency measures such as efficient lighting. The centers are funded by the Mexican government as part of a request for proposals on building energy efficiency that the Energy Commission helped review.

Liliana Ferrer, the Consul General of the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento, said the guidance from the Energy Commission has helped increase the opportunities for clean energy. “We need to take full advantage of this opportunity and there’s no better example than this wonderful disposition and willingness,” she said.

The Energy Commission also has MOU agreements with the states of Aguascalientes and Jalisco to collaborate on clean energy policies and programs.

McAllister, who is the lead commissioner on energy efficiency, and Comisión Nacional para el Uso Eficiente de la Energía Director General Odón de Buen, who leads energy efficiency policy for Mexico, are scheduled to participate in a June 1 webinar to discuss recent updates and future collaborations.

California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister (far right) engages with Mexican officials, including Consul General Liliana Ferrer of the Mexican Consulate of Sacramento (far left).

When it comes to sustainability, a California Department of General Services (DGS) official says her department “should be at the front end driving the industry” and “leading by example within our state facilities.”

Nancy Ander is the deputy director in the Office of Sustainability at DGS. Her focus is on supporting California’s energy goals by pushing vigorous benchmarks involving zero net energy (ZNE) in state facilities, electric vehicle service equipment, charging stations, and the installation of renewables.

Ander made her remarks during an April 30 talk at the California Energy Commission. She once worked for the Energy Commission where she developed energy codes and managed research to develop technologies in renewables and energy efficiency.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a crucial sustainability effort at DGS, which among its many functions includes managing state buildings.

“I think we all know that’s the horizon goal,” said Ander.

DGS has a goal of 9 million square feet of ZNE in state buildings by 2025. By the end of 2018 half of that will have been met, said Ander.

DGS also plans to install 1,000 more electric vehicle charging stations at state buildings by the end of the year. The agency wants to install 60 megawatts of renewables and increase organic recycling in all DGS facilities. Many of these programs are being worked on in conjunction with the Energy Commission, Ander said.

DGS will likely be focusing its future efforts on climate mitigation and climate adaption policies, given California’s recent experience with more frequent extreme climate events, she said.

Ander said new technological developments can advance California’s renewable energy goals. These include the ability to store electricity generated from renewables, more efficient fuel cells and hydrogen technology in cars.

The California Energy Commission and the country of Denmark have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on offshore wind.

The MOU, signed on April 30, will serve as a valuable resource for California which is in the early stages of exploring offshore wind. The Energy Commission and the country of Scotland signed a similar MOU in 2017.

Energy Commissioner Karen Douglas and Danish Consul General Katrine Paaby Joensen signed the MOU, which will help California get data and information from Denmark, which has a decades-long experience with offshore wind facilities.

“As home to the first offshore wind farm in the world, Denmark is at the forefront of this development with more than 25 years of experience in developing this great source of renewable, carbon-free energy,” said Douglas.

Denmark was the first country to erect offshore wind turbines, beginning with the 11-turbine Vindeby wind farm which was operational in 1991. The country has a goal of obtaining 50 percent of its energy from wind by 2020. As of January 2016, Denmark had nearly 1,300 megawatts (MW) of operational offshore wind and 950 MW of permitted projects.

California sees offshore wind as a potential resource in sourcing 50 percent of its electric energy from renewables by 2030.

The Energy Commission is currently partnering with state agencies and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on exploring the potential for wind generating facilities off the California coast. BOEM is the lead agency in offshore wind with federal jurisdiction starting three miles from state shorelines.

Outreach efforts for offshore wind began on the Central Coast and have expanded to the North Coast region.

To date, BOEM and California have held approximately 50 outreach meetings with tribes, academics, fishing community, environmentalists, offshore wind developers, military, and state and local elected officials to discuss offshore wind.

California is one of 13 states exploring the potential of developing offshore wind facilities. The first offshore wind project in the United States was the Block Island Wind Farm off the coast of Rhode Island, which came online in 2017.