California's Vision for Reaching Zero-Carbon Emissions

<div>In "The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018" the California legislature set a target of 100\% of California's electricity generated from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045. </div><div>The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) and other state entities now have the task of planning to meet that target. </div><div>The California Energy Commission (CEC) has sponsored multiple studies and sought public input on the pathways that they are exploring. </div><div>A key result of that planning process is a Reference System Portfolio (RSP) based on existing and planned electricity generating capabilities, and modeled grid build out to meet the planned targets by 2045 at the lowest cost. </div><div>Although this RSP has been discussed by the CEC in a public forum, to our knowledge, it has not been presented to the photovoltaic community.</div><div>Here we document the CEC’s current RSP, with emphasis on understanding their expectations for build out of solar as well as the associated need for storage and curtailment.</div>

California's Vision for Reaching Zero-Carbon Emissions

<div>In "The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018" the California legislature set a target of 100\% of California's electricity generated from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045. </div><div>The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) and other state entities now have the task of planning to meet that target. </div><div>The California Energy Commission (CEC) has sponsored multiple studies and sought public input on the pathways that they are exploring. </div><div>A key result of that planning process is a Reference System Portfolio (RSP) based on existing and planned electricity generating capabilities, and modeled grid build out to meet the planned targets by 2045 at the lowest cost. </div><div>Although this RSP has been discussed by the CEC in a public forum, to our knowledge, it has not been presented to the photovoltaic community.</div><div>Here we document the CEC’s current RSP, with emphasis on understanding their expectations for build out of solar as well as the associated need for storage and curtailment.</div>

California's Vision for Reaching Zero-Carbon Emissions

<div>In "The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018" the California legislature set a target of 100\% of California's electricity generated from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045. </div><div>The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) and other state entities now have the task of planning to meet that target. </div><div>The California Energy Commission (CEC) has sponsored multiple studies and sought public input on the pathways that they are exploring. </div><div>A key result of that planning process is a Reference System Portfolio (RSP) based on existing and planned electricity generating capabilities, and modeled grid build out to meet the planned targets by 2045 at the lowest cost. </div><div>Although this RSP has been discussed by the CEC in a public forum, to our knowledge, it has not been presented to the photovoltaic community.</div><div>Here we document the CEC’s current RSP, with emphasis on understanding their expectations for build out of solar as well as the associated need for storage and curtailment.</div>

Navigating the Winds of Change

The State of Texas leads the United States in wind energy generation capacity—it has more than twice the wind generation capacity of the next-closest state, California. If Texas was an independent nation, it would rank sixth in the world in total installed wind capacity. Texas has a rich history of legislation and regulatory effort to thank for these statistics, which reflects the knowledge that energy and infrastructure drive the economy. Starting in 1999, Texas became one of the first states to enact a Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”). The RPS set a state-wide goal for new renewable energy installation with deadlines for when that goal was to be met. In addition to passing an RPS, Texas also created Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (“CREZs”). CREZs are areas of Texas that have been designated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (“PUCT”) to receive special benefits for wind transmission and development due to their strong wind resources and large financial commitments in the region by wind developers. These programs, and several others, have helped the wind industry in Texas grow exponentially to continually reach the goals set out by the RPS long before deadlines arrive. In fact, on a recent day towards the end of March, wind generation accounted for 29% of the electricity used by most Texans.

Biology and Management of Inland Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass

<em>Abstract</em>.—Habitat for striped bass <em>Morone saxatilis</em>, hybrid striped bass, salmonids, and other coolwater and coldwater fishes can be limiting in stratified reservoirs during summer and early autumn as surface water temperatures increase above tolerable ranges and deeper waters are depleted of dissolved oxygen (DO). Usable habitat can be increased in these reservoirs using oxygen diffusers to increase DO concentrations in the cooler, deeper waters. Several oxygen diffuser systems are currently in operation. Some of the systems were originally designed to increase DO in hydropower reservoir releases, but have also created fish habitat as a result of the diffuser system’s efficient oxygen transfer capabilities in the reservoir. Several other systems are operated to improve water quality in the reservoir for water supply, and two systems have specific fish habitat maintenance goals. Improvements in DO for fish have been obtained at Calaveras Reservoir, California by the San Francisco Public Utility Commission, and fish studies at this reservoir are currently underway. In North Twin Lake, Washington, the Colville Confederated Tribes and Washington State University have documented improved trout habitat and reduced sulfide concentrations. Oxygenation of cool, deep water is now a proven technology that can alleviate summertime thermal and oxygen stress on striped bass and hybrid striped bass and can minimize habitat-related mortalities. The technology is being implemented specifically for striped bass with a large installation in J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir, South Carolina, for the Savannah District of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.