From The Sacramento Bee, in a commentary by Susan Sward:
In the third-largest watershed in California, the Eel River
rambles through some of the state’s most stunning landscape.
…
In about three years, though, a federal commission will begin
reviewing an application by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to
re-license its Potter Valley Project.
From the California Department of Water Resources (DWR):
The California Department of Water Resources has announced the
release of the Draft Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package
for the 2014 Water-Energy grant program. Total funding for the
program is $19 million. The Water-Energy Program was established
on March 1, 2014 when the Governor approved the appropriation of
funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
“Addressing the Western Governors’ Association today [June 9],
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the Bureau
of Reclamation will make $17.8 million in water and energy
efficiency grants available to 36 projects in the western United
States and will provide $1.8 million for three river basin
studies—for a total of $19.6 million in Federal funding.”
“The Obama administration’s announcement Monday of sweeping new
rules aimed at curbing global warming emissions from power plants
could boost profits at Silicon Valley companies that make solar
panels, energy efficiency software and other clean technology.”
“Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today [June 2] released
the following statement after the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) issued the Clean Power Plan proposal:
“’The President understands that we have a moral obligation to
future generations to leave our land, water, and wildlife
better than we found it.’”
“The California
Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently ruled to protect all
existing solar, biogas and wind customers under their current
net-energy metering (NEM) contracts for a 20-year grandfathering
period.
From the Los Angeles Times, in a commentary by Catherine Wolfram
and David Zetland:
“Our conservation efforts, even the tiniest ones, have a second
overlooked benefit: They also save energy. Water is essentially
liquid energy. We don’t think about it that way. But every drop
must be moved, treated and heated. Each step takes energy.”
“On Thursday, the governing board of Sonoma’s new public power
agency plans to set rates for its electricity service, which will
begin in May. Most customers will save money, compared to what
they currently pay Pacific Gas and Electric Co.”
“The Yuba County Water Agency is filing to renew its operating
license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the
first time since the agency’s creation almost 50 years ago, and
it will dictate how the YCWA will run the Yuba River Development
Project for the next 50 years.”
“While some groups are excited about the what the Yuba County
Water Agency’s FERC relicensing applications contains, other
groups are lamenting what is missing — namely, provisions that
address removing barriers to native spawning habitat for
endangered fish.”
“Customers enrolled next year with Sonoma County’s startup
public power agency could see some savings on their electricity
compared to rates proposed by PG&E for 2014. …
“The public
venture is seeking to displace Pacific Gas and Electric
Co.
“As a dry December accentuates the stress on California’s limited
water supplies, the success of the state’s energy sector in
implementing efficiency programs offers valuable lessons to the
water sector. A new report from the Pacific Institute examines
the rules, regulations, and policies that promote energy
efficiency and finds models for water management in drivers like
the energy sector’s appliance standards, building codes, pricing
policies, and utility-sponsored efficiency programs.
“Whether area electricity customers could face higher rates in
2014 was called into question at Tuesday’s Modesto Irrigation
District board meeting, with no clear answer. …
“Also Tuesday, staff presented potential reactions to drought,
and the board continued taking steps to correct mistakes in
expanding a water treatment plant that will cost taxpayers an
extra $24 million.”
“A different legal interpretation could make it easier for the
Modesto Irrigation District to raise electricity prices, the
utility’s lawyer told leaders Monday in their first gathering
since three men were elected to the five-member board. …
“MID leaders last year declined to raise power rates, a
departure from sharp increases every year since 2000, noting
that prices had stabilized for natural gas used to produce
energy.
“New technologies to unlock energy below the earth’s surface
could transform the global energy picture, allowing a handful of
nations not ordinarily thought of as energy producers to emerge.”
