CA Current

Energy storage is surging in California, with much of it being built next to solar plants. The grid operator board approves giving these complimentary co-located projects a market boost so they can fill the gap in peak supplies over the next three years. After many years, dozens of stakeholders reached an agreement on removing PacifiCorp’s […]

The energy industry has instituted operational changes to slow the spread of the new coronavirus while staying focused on continuing “essential” services. In addition, energy agencies are pulling back on enforcement in response to the Covid-19 contagion. Onsite agency investigations and audits have come to a stop. State and federal energy agencies also are granting […]

The California Energy Commission acted this week to prevent incandescent and other inefficient general light bulbs from being sold in the Golden State after the Trump Administration overturned national standards in order to allow the sale of the inefficient bulbs. California has the authority to set tighter lighting standards under the U.S. Code, Title 22. […]

A study on electrifying the 1,350 mile route from Mexico to Canada for medium- and heavy-duty trucks is being launched by a coalition of nearly three dozen West Coast private and public utilities and organizations. The study by this West Coast Clean Transit Corridor Initiative, announced April 18, is to evaluate how, where and the […]

A dozen-and-a-half Democratic U.S. Senators called on the newest member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to abstain from voting on energy matters on which he previously took strong stances, including on fossil fuel subsidies. Bernard McNamee played an active role in seeking price supports for nuclear and coal resources from FERC when working at […]

Updated Oct. 30 with corrections. The original article mistakenly equated the 2016 power content labels filed at the California Energy Commission with renewable energy portfolio standard compliance levels. (See the bottom of the article for further explanation.*)   All of California’s community choice energy programs far exceeded California’s 25 percent average renewable power level in […]

A major municipal utility and homebuilder announced Oct. 10 that all electric homes are now for sale in a new housing tract in the Sacramento area. The 104 homes will help cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which incentivized the D.R. Horton-built homes in North Natomas. SMUD provided $466,000 of […]

The California WaterFix project, a potential $16 billion dollar public works plan to divert water from the state’s largest delta in order to improve water supplies, has moved a little closer to reality after a Feb. 15 vote by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s board. On a 7-0 vote, the SMUD board approved findings within […]

In response to efforts by telecommunications companies to expand their 4G networks and build new 5G networks, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Nov. 16 set fees for mounting small cell communications equipment on power poles. The move could be a precursor of bigger things to come for power utilities across the board. The fee will […]

Greening the grid is the talk of the town. At the CAISO’s annual confab held this week, most bets are that a westward grid expansion will happen. Why? Because proponents insist it will promote renewables, which will decarbonize both the grid and economy, near and far. Achieving that goal, however, requires paying new alternative resources […]

In the hopes it will lead to higher levels of hydropower generation, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s board Oct. 19 approved expanding the muni’s cloud seeding program over the Upper American River Basin. The action will expand SMUD’s historical cloud seeding program from an area of 190 square miles to 444 square miles beginning this […]

Politicians are to rope up next month and set the path for climbing to a 100 percent renewable/zero emissions energy peak under legislation proposed by the leader of California’s Senate. Investor-owned utilities and several public utilities warn about reliability and cost crevasses that may open beneath them on the trek under SB 100 by Senate […]

Sacramento Municipal Utility District ratepayers will be paying more for power beginning in 2018. Meeting June 15, the board approved consecutive 1 percent hikes for commercial and agricultural customers in 2018 and 2019, and a one-time hike of 1.5 percent for residential ratepayers in 2018. More “significant,” said Board Member Gregg Fishman, is that the […]

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK) warned that House members were blocking passage of a comprehensive energy bill that is the product of bipartisan effort. “For two years, we have provided a textbook example of how the regular order process is supposed to work for congressional legislation,” she said. Murkowski noted the months of hearings, markups, […]

  Last Saturday, a Native American chief drove a stake into the ground as a symbol of protest against continuing to store radioactive nuclear waste onsite at the closed down San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in San Diego County. (more…)

When California Current, previously called CA Energy Circuit, launched in 2003 a big concern of our small operation was workplace diversity. Being owned by two women negated the traditional male dominance issue, but being an all-white duo was a concern. (more…)

Oct. 24: A workshop will be held to receive public comments on the California Energy Commission’s Draft 2016 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update. More information. Draft 2016 IEPR Update (320-page PDF). (more…)

  Oct. 10: California Energy Commission public meeting to present proposed regulations and seek comments from interested parties regarding proposed efficiency standards for computers, computer monitors and signage displays. More information. (more…)

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District will do its due diligence before submitting an application to renew its operational license for the spent nuclear fuel repository facility it operates, muni representatives told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during a Sept. 27 meeting at NRC offices in Maryland. (more…)

Power production has begun at the Rancho Seco Solar Plant, a 10.88 MW solar array sitting on about 62 acres of Sacramento Municipal Utility District property, muni General Manager Arlen Orchard said Sept. 15. (more…)