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| "Geothermal Energy the savior of Salton Sea", by Alexander Schriener Jr. Units 1 and 2 at Salton Sea geothermal field, Imperial Valley CA. GRC PHOTO CONTEST |
As California Gov. Jerry Brown looks to neighboring states for cheap sources of clean energy, a legal settlement could result in coastal cities like Los Angeles and San Diego getting more climate-friendly power from California's own Imperial Valley.
Three years ago, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) sued the nonprofit corporation that manages most of California's power grid, accusing the grid operator of stifling clean energy development in one of the state's poorest counties and plotting to "crush IID out of existence." The Imperial Valley-based power provider also sued the grid operator under the California Public Records Act, demanding documents that the public utility suspected would undermine Brown's efforts to start a regional power grid.
Those lawsuits have now been settled — and both sides are pleased with the outcome.
The state grid operator, California Independent System Operator (CAISO), has agreed to upgrade a power line that will allow more electricity to flow from the Imperial Valley to the rest of the state. That should make it easier for companies to build solar projects in the region and sell the electricity to coastal population centers. Outside the legal settlement, CAISO has said it will do more to promote development of geothermal energy — a top priority for IID, which wants to see new geothermal power plants build by the southern shore of the Salton Sea.
CAISO President Stephen Berberich cautioned that while more solar projects could result from the settlement, geothermal development isn't a guarantee. Utilities like Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have been hesitant to invest in new geothermal plants, which produce climate-friendly electricity around the clock but are more expensive to build than solar and wind farms. CAISO doesn't tell utilities what kind of energy to buy, but it does work closely with agencies that do, like the California Public Utilities Commission.
"We don't do procurement at the ISO. But to the extent I can use my influence to help Kevin bring (geothermal) to the attention of those that do, we did that," Berberich said, referring to IID general manager Kevin Kelley.