In 2010, California became the first state to mandate energy storage procurement with targets for each major investor-owned utility with the objective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, cutting peak electric demand, deferring or substituting for investments in generation or grid assets and improving overall grid reliability.
The impressive nationwide growth in the adoption of renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) provides technical challenges for utilities long accustomed to pushing power out from remote locations toward load centers in urban areas. When adoption was low, grid operators could largely ignore the existence of distributed renewables.
Two notable transportation electrification (TE) initiatives in California should be on people’s radar. First, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is beginning to implement policies that increase its use of renewable energy.
When it comes to solar electric power, California has a good thing going – perhaps too good. Too much clean, affordable, abundant energy? It’s true because high levels of solar production from utility-scale facilities and widely distributed rooftop installations occur during daytime hours when demand may not be at its peak and grid-supplied electricity is plentiful.
What does Earth Day mean to you? Planting a tree or joining in a neighborhood cleanup? While many of us participate in Earth Day celebrations, we may not understand its historical ties to the environmental movement and its role in cultivating public demand for environmental issues.
We’ve all seen it, whether out surfing, taking a walk on the beach or strolling by a storm drain after it rains – litter composed of food service containers made of polystyrene, more commonly but incorrectly known as Styrofoam™.
Carbon-free electricity is an essential part of efforts to achieve deep reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, regulators tend not to face head-on the need to phase out the use of fossil fuel power production. In fact, the U.S.
Employers who incorporate electric vehicle (EV) charging into their sustainability planning will not only provide a valuable benefit to employees, they can help boost workplace pride and accelerate the market growth of EVs.
In a study with colleagues from the University of Oxford and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) research analysts took a look at the market dynamics of third-party owned residential solar energy systems by investigating the effects of installer competition on prices.
As part of Volkswagen’s $14.7 billion federal settlement for the use of illegal smog check defeat devices in its 2009-15 diesel cars, the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) offers planning recommendations for states to consider when deciding how to allocate their portion of the funding based on recommendations submitted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) during the recent public comm