Panama Bartholomy

Sustainability requires Microgrids

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Join Jim Simon at next Tuesday’s California League of Cities webinar about climate resilience districts one of 10 TIF tools available in California today.

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What if instead of replacing an aging #gas pipeline that served your home, your local gas utility decarbonized your entire neighborhood instead? A bill recently passed by California state legislators would authorize up to 30 of these neighborhood-scale #building #decarbonization projects across the state — as long as the decarbonization projects are less expensive and at least two-thirds of affected property owners consent. If signed into law, this bill marks a step forward for the neighborhood-scale decarbonization movement. More details in my story for Smart Cities Dive:

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This is a good article in Microgrid Knowledge about why SB 1374 (Becker) is such an important bill. It is all about solar fairness. Making sure that schools, multifamily housing projects and farms can utilize all the solar that they generate across multiple meters. Tell your state legislator, they should be supporting this bill.

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The California Energy Commission has launched an RFP for "Distributed Energy and Electrification Analysis" using the LF Energy Arras project. The goal of the initiative is "to buildout the state’s electric distribution grid model to support the CEC in assessing various electrification and distributed energy resource (DER) adoption scenarios." Learn more about the RFP and how to submit a proposal at https://hubs.la/Q02TtnTR0 #lfenergy #energy #utilities #arras #energytransition #der #climatetech

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DRAFT LETTER TO EPA ADMINSTRATOR EPA may soon be considering - following a request for RuleMaking by the Solar Industry - a move to make waste solar panels "Universal Waste". The truly storm damaged, wrecked solar panels, are ostensibly candidates. But the VAST majority of secondhand solar panels our company receives are ELECTIVELY UPGRADED solar panels. They might be hail-damaged (80% efficient), or simply 12 year old 200kw panels that can be economically replaced with 400kw panels, saving the siting and permitting expense of a greenfield. The replacement of existing solar panels in OECD (cold) Northern nations with weak sunshine is an opportunity for Africa. Contact us at FairTradeRecycling.net if you want to co-sign, or amend, or disagree with this draft letter to USA EPA. https://lnkd.in/eAHMjjrw

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I really appreciated this article on RMI's efforts to support municipalities in different parts of the US install #heatpumps. Their cohort approach with the wrap around tools, training, and financial support seems unique to me. If you know of similar approaches in #Canada, please comment below or DM me. It looks like more of these installations were for single family homes, which does receive attention, financial incentives and dedicated #HVAC installer programs in Canada (e.g. Jovan Cheema Home Performance Stakeholder Council). I wonder how the program might be delivered differently if it was focused on residents who live in 3 and 4 story multi-unit residential buildings? That is where the most vulnerable populations to extreme temperatures and live and that is also the type of building that gets the least amount of notice, with the recent exception of BC Hydro and Government of British Columbia's recent #MURB Program. Kambo Energy Group Efficiency Canada Pembina Institute Zero Emissions Innovation Centre FRESCo Introba Lisa Westerhoff Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors https://lnkd.in/gZBQRgFn

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HOW TO OVERCOME PERMITTING/SIGHTING CHALLENGES IN WA STATE The push for clean energy in Washington state faces challenges in permitting and sighting clean energy projects. The state's commitment to transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2045 requires balancing environmental, regulatory, and community considerations. Obtaining permits for such projects is a lengthy process due to compliance needs across various jurisdictions and agencies with evolving requirements. Clean energy initiatives can impact wildlife habitats, marine ecosystems, and land use, leading to conflicts over conservation. Community opposition also arises from concerns about aesthetics, noise, property values, and safety, especially when projects intersect with tribal lands or cultural resources. Collaboration with tribes and local stakeholders is crucial to address these concerns and garner support for clean energy projects. Early engagement and education about project benefits are key to overcoming opposition and ensuring successful implementation. Washington state's efforts to streamline permitting processes aim to reduce timelines for large energy projects, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and education for project success. #cleanenergy #communityengagement #streamlinedpermitting

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Storms and heat waves drive urgency for utilities to fund grid resilience projects, but often those costs fall on homeowners in the form of more charges on their bills. Over time, this can threaten affordability of homeownership. #getquoll #quollintelligence #climaterisk #climatechangeadaptation #financialprotection https://lnkd.in/eZvqmT5G

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Recent developments in grid modernization focus on enhancing grid reliability, resilience, and the integration of renewable energy sources. Innovations such as 'advanced reconductoring' are being explored to upgrade existing power lines for higher capacity, facilitating the transmission of electricity from renewable sources over longer distances. Additionally, there's a push towards creating a more resilient and responsive grid to accommodate the increasing demand from clean technology and AI.

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Solar developers take note: this analysis shows "connect and manage" or "flexible interconnection" results in revenue gains for community solar projects, especially in constrained areas of the grid. Many thanks to the team at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for their good work.

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A few weeks ago the LA Times published an article about how solar is not being used during the day, when Californians are at work. The result is a u shaped curve where power went to waste. Now, the Times believes that it is ok to remove over 3500 protect Joshua Trees for more solar farms. Does this make sense? TAG Consulting Group has been working on energy issues, with a thorough understanding of California energy needs, for over twenty five years. This strategy makes no sense, especially when there are discussions about EVs, data centers, heat waves, and the lack of base load generation. Sacrificing protected species for solar power means that you better be in the right place in the energy food chain or you may not survive. Congress must begin working on a comprehensive energy bill in 2025. The sooner the better. #TAGConsultingGroup

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This is the most authoritative piece I’ve read on emissions, and really highlights the benefit of living and operating a business in California. It should make emissions accounting much easier if the cost is already included in electric rates. It should make businesses outside California want back in. https://lnkd.in/eeVkj-_3

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Case NEPR-MI-2020-0019 (PREPA’s System Remediation Plan) Budget Constraints Affecting Solar and Storage Programs: An itemized breakdown on how insufficient funding is affecting solar and storage projects was requested. This will include a quantitative assessment of the gap between current allocations and required investments, particularly relevant for transitioning to renewables. The Energy Bureau is seeking alternative funding approaches to ensure critical solar and battery initiatives remain on track despite budget limitations. Utilization of Federal Funds for Solar and Battery Storage: Questions probe delays and underspending in federally funded projects, including those meant to support solar and storage infrastructure. PREPA is required to address these delays and propose strategies to ensure federal funds are used efficiently, potentially accelerating solar and storage deployment. Procurement Process Improvements to Facilitate Solar and Storage Projects: The Bureau has requested detailed accounts of challenges in procurement processes that may delay solar and battery projects. PREPA must submit plans to streamline these processes to enhance the rollout of solar and battery storage installations critical to grid reliability.

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Southern California Edison (SCE) offers a variety of programs and resources to help customers prepare for and cope with Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. These include:  🤳 211 Community Referrals: This free, confidential service connects customers affected by PSPS to hotel or other lodging accommodations, food support, and transportation. The service is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week in multiple languages via phone (dial 211), web (211.org), and text (text “PSPS” to 211211).    ✅ Disability Disaster Access & Resources Program: A partnership with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) that supports customers with disabilities before, during, and after a PSPS outage. The program may assist individuals obtain ADA-accessible care rides and hotel stays as well as receive food assistance.    💻 SCE Outage Tool: This online tool allows customers to view current and upcoming power outages as well search for an address to see PSPS details.  sce.com/outagemap.  Community Resource Centers (CRCs) and Community Crew Vehicles (CCVs): Provides essential customer service support during PSPS, including resiliency kits and other helpful resources and programs.     To learn more about these programs and resources, visit www.sce.com/afn or call 1-800-655-4555. 

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UtilityDive reporting that utilities are starting to consider climate resilience as part of their planning. "APS, Duke, other utilities pursue new climate resilience strategies as some await upcoming tools APS and Duke, along with PacifiCorp, Central Hudson Gas & Electric and Puget Sound Energy, see different paths to reach resilience planning’s potential while awaiting EPRI metrics. The U.S. has experienced 24 events so far in 2024 “with losses exceeding $1 billion each,” and billion-dollar events have impacted all 50 states in the last decade, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported. There were 20.4 events per year from 2019 to 2023, but that jumped to 28 events in 2023 that cost $95.1 billion, NOAA added. “The utility industry is shifting from responding to an individual event to mapping vulnerability to financial risk and quantifying benefits of potential investments on four pillars,” said Aditya Ranade, GuideHouse director of energy, sustainability, infrastructure. “The first of the four pillars is hazard mapping,” which identifies types of threats, from flooding to wildfires." Read more at https://conta.cc/3C35zJJ #solar #energy #solarenergy #renewables #renewableenergy #electricity #energystorage #ESS #distributedenergy #solarpower #batteries #EVCha

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