USA, California: Imperial County Supports Development of Baseload Renewable Energy

Supervisors Send Letter in Support of AB2700 (Holtville Tribune)

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors has approved a letter of support in favor of a bill that will improve the energy procurement in California.

At Tuesday’s regular County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board endorsed AB 2700, authored by Assemblyman Rudy Salas. This bill would require the California Public Utilities Commission to update the least cost, best fit alternatives criteria so that this analysis comprehensively reflects the values appropriately outlined in the statue of particular energy resources.

Over the last two years, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors has worked to support legislation that would provide for a greater use of those resources in the State’s RPS process. Despite these efforts of the County, IID, and many others, they did not succeed.

Supervisor Ryan Kelley suggested the county re-group and try a new plan that would be broader based and more inclusive effort to create a future for baseload renewable energy. Last November, Imperial County asked other counties with geothermal or biomass to join them and baseload industry leaders to craft a path forward for these industries.

Since then, meetings with affected counties and industry leaders have been held, information has been generated, next steps have been defined, and the effort to craft a future for baseload energy in California has begun.

Read More.......