The California Energy Commission held an Aug. 10 hearing to get a status update on a proposed data center that seeks a permit exemption for its 96 MW diesel powered backup project. The Vantage Data Center project in the City of Santa Clara consists of 44 diesel systems each sized 2.27 MW. It would use less polluting Tier 4 diesel systems when power from the local utility, Silicon Valley Power, is interrupted and for testing and maintenance.

Peninsula Clean Energy customer rebates aim to help drive the uptake of used electric vehicle purchases. It is offering $700 rebates for a plug-in hybrids and $1,000 rebates for fully-electric vehicles. Low income customers can receive rebates up to $3,700 for a second hand plug-in hybrid and $4,000 for a fully-electric vehicle. The EVs under the program can’t be older than eight-years, with a purchase price of $25,000 or less. “These rebates, coupled with our expansive efforts to install new charging infrastructure, create an unprecedented opportunity for San Mateo County residents to transition to electric vehicles that significantly save money and drive down greenhouse gas emissions heating our planet,” Burlingame City Council Member Donna Colson, who is a  Peninsula Clean Energy’s board member said Aug 10.