 |
Karl Gawell, Executive Director,
Geothermal Energy Association
|
Karl Gawell, Executive Director, Geothermal Energy Association
The California legislative session that ended last week saw geothermal initiatives at the forefront of public discussion. Geothermal supporters sought to take steps towards a new policy structure that should favor a diversity of renewable technologies. Positive accomplishments included a first-ever Geothermal Awareness Day that brought operators from all over the state to the Capitol to raise geothermal’s profile.
Another success was the passage of AB 2363, sponsored by Rep. Brian Dahle, R-Lassen, which requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to incorporate integration costs into procurement decisions. This is a good first step given that the failure to consider integration costs has been a major contributor to the unbalanced procurement of recent years and has disadvantaged resources such as The Geysers, the world’s largest geothermal energy producer, from being awarded new contracts despite its local and environmental benefits.
Another bill the State legislature considered, SB 1139, sponsored by State Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego and Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, D-Coachella, would have directed the state’s investor-owned utilities to procure 500 MW of new geothermal power. While the sponsors ultimately withdrew the bill prior to bringing it to the floor of the assembly for a final vote, it did shine a light on the plight of contracting geothermal resources and the economic and environmental benefits these resources provide including possible answers for the serious problems and unique opportunities facing communities around the Salton Sea.
Karl Gawell will be speaking at the Opening Session of the GRC Annual Meeting at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon, USA, September 28 - October 1.
Another success was the passage of AB 2363, sponsored by Rep. Brian Dahle, R-Lassen, which requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to incorporate integration costs into procurement decisions. This is a good first step given that the failure to consider integration costs has been a major contributor to the unbalanced procurement of recent years and has disadvantaged resources such as The Geysers, the world’s largest geothermal energy producer, from being awarded new contracts despite its local and environmental benefits.
Another bill the State legislature considered, SB 1139, sponsored by State Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego and Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, D-Coachella, would have directed the state’s investor-owned utilities to procure 500 MW of new geothermal power. While the sponsors ultimately withdrew the bill prior to bringing it to the floor of the assembly for a final vote, it did shine a light on the plight of contracting geothermal resources and the economic and environmental benefits these resources provide including possible answers for the serious problems and unique opportunities facing communities around the Salton Sea.
Karl Gawell will be speaking at the Opening Session of the GRC Annual Meeting at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon, USA, September 28 - October 1.
