Community Energy Resilience Update

The Climate Center’s Community Energy Resilience (CER) initiative is working to create a new electricity system for California which is clean, affordable, reliable, equitable and safe -- prioritizing microgrid development in vulnerable communities that suffer the most from air pollution and power outages.  If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe, click here.

Upcoming Webinar: Creating Climate Resilient Communities – What Will it Take?

Wednesday, March 24^th, 10 AM to 11:30 AM

To equitably reduce emissions and protect communities from worsening climate impacts, we must engage local voices in planning clean energy microgrids with storage to power Community Resilience Hubs, as well as health centers, fire stations, grocery stores, and other critical facilities during planned and unplanned outages. These hubs, powered by clean, affordable, reliable, and safe electricity, can provide essential services organized by and for the people who live there. In this webinar, we will explore the opportunities and challenges to this vision from a variety of perspectives.  For more information or to register, click here.

State Spends Millions on Diesel Generators to Mitigate PSPS

The State’s FY 2019-20 budget included a $75 million General Fund appropriation that was allocated to support state and local government efforts “to protect public safety, vulnerable populations and individuals, and improve resiliency in response to utility led PSPS actions.”  Unfortunately, most of the funds went towards fossil-fuel generators, further adding to California’s already massive fleet of existing back-up diesel generators.  The State’s FY 2020-21 budget included another $50M which will likely be used for the same purpose.  There is a better way to enhance energy resilience, through local clean energy.  More details are available in a recent blog.

Community Energy Resilience 2021 Legislation for California

With another fire season - and associated power outages – approaching, hopefully clean energy resilience will be a priority for the California legislature in 2021 so we can avoid a Texas-scale power catastrophe.  The Climate Center has been working with partner organizations on related legislation, including the following:

• SB 99 (Dodd): The Community Energy Resilience Act of 2021 would require the California Energy Commission to develop and implement a technical assistance and grant program to support local governments in developing community energy resilience plans, prioritizing state support for the most vulnerable communities.  The bill sets forth guiding principles for plan development, including equitable access to reliable energy, and integration with other existing local planning documents. For more information about this bill, read the author’s FACTSHEET.  STATUS: Referred to the Senate Energy Committee. Here is a link to easily SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

• AB 1325 (Burke): This bill would require the California Public Utilities Commission to develop and implement a Clean Community Microgrid Incentive Program by 2022 to fund community microgrids that support the critical needs of vulnerable communities that utilize clean, distributed energy resources for the generation of electricity. Read the author’s FACTSHEET. STATUS: Referred to the Assembly Energy Committee. Here is a link to easily SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

CPUC Approves New $200M Microgrid Incentive Program for Vulnerable Communities

On January 14th, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a Decision in the CPUC microgrid proceeding which included $200M in utility ratepayer funding to support development of a new incentive program to support microgrid development for vulnerable communities. The new Microgrid Incentive Program will allocate $200 million across the three major investor-owned utilities to support local governments that seek to develop critical facility microgrids for vulnerable populations.  For more information click here.