California legislators are devising a series of laws to streamline approvals for the construction of solar and offshore wind projects in the state.
Sources familiar with the matter told CalMatters that Democratic legislators are working through drafts of the new package with environmental groups, industry, lobbyists and other interested parties and negotiating the details with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
CalMatters has seen draft copies of five energy measures that California Senator Mike McGuire helped prepare. The proposals offer incentives for projects and components built in California, establish tax credit-based incentives, reform local and state permitting, and update environmental reviews for some projects.
The proposals are not yet public, but the legislative session ends on 31 August.
McGuire told CalMatters: “We are looking forward to sharing more details in the coming days.”
In a separate statement, he said: “We can all agree that California has serious energy needs. This is why the Senate will be embarking on a two-year effort to modernise our grid, expand the number of large-scale green energy plants and storage facilities in California and kick a modernised permitting process into high gear.”
California has recently faced energy difficulties such as 'brownouts', rising utility costs and the need to cope with climate change. In the past ten years, the cost of electricity in the state has nearly doubled.
Under state law, California is also required to derive 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2045.
In a boost to its renewable energy efforts, 100% of California’s electricity demand was supplied by renewable energy on 100 out of the 144 days since 8 March, Power Technology reported last week. Solar, wind and hydroelectric energy fully powered the state’s grid for at least a few minutes and for as long as ten hours for 100 days.
