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CPUC preparing to order replacement of San Onofre's contribution to grid
Sierra Martinez’s Blog
CPUC Proposes to Replace Power from San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station with Energy Efficiency and Mix of Other Resources
Print this pageSierra Martinez
Posted February 12, 2014
The California Public Utilities Commission is proposing a strategy to replace the electricity generated by the retired San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) with a mix of resources, including energy efficiency.
The replacement strategy is a critical issue for communities within the greater Los Angeles region and in San Diego because their health and environment will be directly affected by the Commission’s decision.
The question before the CPUC was: Will the replacement of SONGS — a 2,200 MW power plant — be met with excessive fossil-fueled power plants or clean energy resources? Yesterday the CPUC struck a balance by first relying on energy efficiency (the cleanest, cheapest, fastest energy resource to meet our needs) and other “preferred resources” that have lower environmental impacts (like demand response and renewable energy) to fill the needs left by the 2013 retirement of SONGS. Second, the CPUC went to a mix of resources to meet the remaining portion of the energy needs.
Overall, the CPUC is moving in the right direction by relying on energy efficiency and other preferred resources to replace the retired nuclear plant, although it is critical that the commission improve its proposal by correctly accounting for the contribution of preferred resources. In summary, the Commission:
- Relies significantly on clean energy resources in its proposal
- Authorizes no additional mandatory gas-fired generation in its proposal
- Should modify the proposal to explicitly account for the additional 733 MW of energy efficiency that is reasonably expected to occur
- Should improve the accounting of other preferred resources and transmission solutions
...
CPUC Proposes to Replace Power from San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station with Energy Efficiency and Mix of Other Resources
Print this pageSierra Martinez
Posted February 12, 2014
The California Public Utilities Commission is proposing a strategy to replace the electricity generated by the retired San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) with a mix of resources, including energy efficiency.
The replacement strategy is a critical issue for communities within the greater Los Angeles region and in San Diego because their health and environment will be directly affected by the Commission’s decision.
The question before the CPUC was: Will the replacement of SONGS — a 2,200 MW power plant — be met with excessive fossil-fueled power plants or clean energy resources? Yesterday the CPUC struck a balance by first relying on energy efficiency (the cleanest, cheapest, fastest energy resource to meet our needs) and other “preferred resources” that have lower environmental impacts (like demand response and renewable energy) to fill the needs left by the 2013 retirement of SONGS. Second, the CPUC went to a mix of resources to meet the remaining portion of the energy needs.
Overall, the CPUC is moving in the right direction by relying on energy efficiency and other preferred resources to replace the retired nuclear plant, although it is critical that the commission improve its proposal by correctly accounting for the contribution of preferred resources. In summary, the Commission:
- Relies significantly on clean energy resources in its proposal
- Authorizes no additional mandatory gas-fired generation in its proposal
- Should modify the proposal to explicitly account for the additional 733 MW of energy efficiency that is reasonably expected to occur
- Should improve the accounting of other preferred resources and transmission solutions
...
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smartinez/cpuc_proposes_to_replace_power_from_songs.html
Note the word I put in bold - "mandatory". The option for gas is in the proposal, but the CPUC seems to be structuring the order in a way that will diminish the value of the cost advantage natgas has today.