Clean Energy Archives

O.C. Sanitation to Demo Tech That Kills ‘forever Chemicals,’ Turning Waste Into Water, Clean Energy

What happens after you flush your toilet? For 2.6 million county residents, the answer to that question can be found at a 110-acre plant in Fountain Valley operated by the Orange County Sanitation District.

The industrial site, along with a similar setup in Huntington Beach, is where approximately 185 million gallons of sewage is treated in a complex process that essentially digests biologic material into its basic components.

Full Story

Poseidon Vows 100% Clean Energy for Desalination Plant in Huntington Beach

February 23, 2022/in Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Ed Joyce /The Orange County Registerby Martin Wisckol

As Poseidon Water gears up for next month’s final permit hearings on its controversial Huntington Beach desalination proposal, the company signed a non-binding agreement Tuesday, Feb. 22, recognizing a “goal” of 100% clean energy for the massive power needs of the plant.

The surge of new greenhouse gases resulting from those needs is among numerous objections to the operation, and opponents remain skeptical Poseidon will follow through with its 100% clean energy promise.

Full Story

Wave. Offshore Wind. Geothermal. Are These the Next Power Resources for San Diego County?

October 21, 2021/in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /The San Diego Union Tribuneby Rob Nikolewski

In addition to renewable energy projects featuring solar, wind and energy storage, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved looking at the potential of wave energy, offshore wind and geothermal to someday provide electricity in unincorporated areas of the county.

Full Story

Agencies Seek Private Partner to Develop 500-MW San Vicente Energy Storage Project

September 21, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Ed Joyce /Hydro Reviewby Elizabeth Ingram Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority has issued a request for proposals seeking a full-service private partner capable of developing the 500-MW San Vicente pumped energy storage project, planned jointly by the Water Authority and the City of San Diego.

The partner agencies aim to maximize the value of the existing San Vicente Reservoir for on-demand energy generation to support the state’s clean energy goals.

Full Story

California’s Clean Grid May Lean on Oil, Gas to Avoid Summer Blackouts

August 12, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /REUTERSby Nichola Groom

California, struggling to balance its clean energy push with the need to boost tight power supplies and avoid rolling blackouts, will lean more on fossil fuels in coming weeks to keep the power on if scorching heatwaves stretch its grid.

The Golden State, which has among the world’s most aggressive environmental policies, faces a potential supply shortfall of up to 3,500 megawatts during peak demand hours in the coming weeks. That is about 2.6 million households worth of electricity supply.

Full Story

‘Big Structural Change’: What Greens Want On Infrastructure

March 24, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /E&E Newsby Nick Sobczyk and Timothy Cama,

Environmental groups are calling for massive spending on an infrastructure package they view as a generational opportunity to address climate change, ramping up pressure on Democrats to deliver on campaign trail promises on clean energy and environmental justice. As Democrats call for bipartisanship and Republicans demand a narrower and cheaper bill, greens will be warning the new congressional majority against giving in to GOP demands.

Full Story

Will California’s Desert be Transformed Into Lithium Valley?

February 25, 2021/in Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /CalMattersby Julie Cart

California’s desert is littered with remnants of broken dreams — hidden ghost towns, abandoned mines and rusty remains of someone’s Big Idea. But nothing looms larger on an abandoned landscape than the Salton Sea, which languishes in an overlooked corner of the state.

Full Story

Public Power Agency Preparing Launch With Clean Energy Emphasis

February 18, 2021/in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /KPBS San Diegoby Andrew Bowen

San Diego Community Power (SDCP), the local government agency created to speed up the transition to renewable energy, will officially start serving its first customers in less than two weeks.

The launch is the culmination of years of debate over whether governments can be trusted to purchase electricity on behalf of homes and businesses, or if that responsibility should stay with San Diego Gas & Electric, the region’s private utility.

Full Story

Joe Biden Wants 100% Clean Energy. Will California Show that it’s Possible?

February 11, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /Los Angeles Timesby Sammy Roth

The undersea power line would run south from San Luis Obispo County, hugging the California coast for 200 miles before making landfall in or near Los Angeles. It would be able to carry electricity from a fleet of offshore wind turbines, providing Southern California with clean power after sundown and helping to replace fossil-fueled generators.

Fewer planet-warming emissions, less risk of blackouts and no chance of igniting the wildfires sometimes sparked by traditional power lines: Those are the arguments for the $1.9-billion Pacific Transmission Expansion.

Full Story