The Bakersfield Californian reports on two grid-enhancing technology bills, Senate Bill 1006 and Assembly Bill 2779, which have passed the California legislature. The article quotes United's Edson Perez, who highlights that these technologies will increase transmission capacity and improve efficiency, safety, and reliability.
Two bills awaiting the governor's signature could quicken the conversion of parched Kern County farmland into photovoltaic solar farms by promoting upgrades to existing electrical transmission systems instead of waiting for new construction to help cover a capacity shortage.
One of the bills would require utilities to plan for making existing transmission infrastructure run more efficiently. The other would order the operator of California’s power grid to provide updates on such efforts.
Both bills, which passed the Legislature unopposed, are intended to address the grid congestion that has limited renewable energy development and kept down prices paid for energy production in regions like the southern Central Valley.
Some expect that if the bills become law, then investors will move forward with projects on local ag property that is gradually being fallowed because of groundwater pumping restrictions.
The legislation suggests a change in tactics for policymakers. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a pair of reform bills that would have expedited construction of new transmission capacity, which can be costly, contentious and time-consuming.
This time, lawmakers are trying to get electric utilities to essentially upgrade their systems through optimization technology credited with expanding transmission capacity. Some estimate the investments would increase capacity by 20%, while others say it could jump 100% or more.
Executive Director Julia Selker of the trade association WATT Coalition noted Senate Bill 1006, the bill that would require utilities to plan on incorporating new optimization technologies, does not state how or where such upgrades would happen. But she said Kern County was likely to get attention.
"They (utilities) might decide, 'We'll look at areas where there's a bunch of interest in renewable energy or there's a lot of connection requests,'" Selker said.
Senior Principal Edson Perez at Advanced Energy United, a national trade group representing the electrical power industry, said Thursday that SB 1006 and the other legislation, Assembly Bill 2779, would lead to the replacement of older conductors in favor of more advanced ones offering far greater transmission capacity. He said it would also bring better efficiency, safety and reliability.
Work on upgrading existing transmission systems should not forestall construction of new lines, Perez said. He noted legislation that would have streamlined power infrastructure permitting died in the Legislature earlier this year.
In the meantime, he added, it makes sense to optimize existing assets.
"We think this approach is a lot more feasible and sensible and a lot less controversial," he said.
Read the full article here.