Focus
PNM plans to join California ISO’s day-ahead market beginning in 2027
Utility Dive – November 12
Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) announced on November 11 that it plans to join the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) extended day-ahead market, or EDAM, beginning in 2027. The market is slated to launch in the spring of 2026. The announcement is a win for CAISO over Southwest Power Pool’s competing Markets+, which is expected to launch in 2027. PNM already participates in CAISO’s Western Energy Imbalance Market, which the utility said has generated about $99 million in economic benefits for its customers since it joined in 2021.
News
Efforts push forward for California offshore wind despite uncertainties
The Maritime Executive – November 14
Federal and state officials are continuing to push for the potential development of offshore wind power generation along the California coast. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) conducted the first offshore wind lease auction for California in December 2022. A total of five lease areas were contracted, bringing in over $757 million for the rights and laying the groundwork for the start of the West Coast industry. As a next step in the process, BOEM on November 14 published the California Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the five areas, initiating a 90-day comment period. BOEM reports the leases have the potential to produce over 4.6 GW of offshore wind energy. At the state level, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on November 11 agreed to commit up to $14 million in matching funds as they also apply in December for a state grant aimed at covering the cost of design, environmental review, and community outreach for a proposed 400-acre terminal at the Port of Long Beach to assemble and deploy floating offshore wind turbines.
Biden administration sets out plan to triple nuclear power capacity
The Hill – November 12
The Biden administration on November 12 released a roadmap for plans to triple U.S. nuclear capacity by the middle of the century. The plan sets a goal of 200 GW of new capacity by 2050, more than three times the 2020 capacity. This will require the development of multiple new power sources, including large and small modular plants, as well as upgrades to existing reactors and restarting retired ones. This includes adding 35 GW of new capacity by 2035 and a goal of 15 GW per year by 2040.
Interior Department to restrict drilling, renewables in the U.S. West to help struggling sage grouse
Associated Press – November 8
President Joe Biden’s administration on November 8 proposed tighter restrictions on oil, solar, and wind energy development across more than 6,500 square miles of federal land in the U.S. West to protect a declining bird species, the greater sage grouse.
Projects
Green hydrogen startup unveils H2 construction plans near Port of Long Beach
EnergyTech – November 11
Avina Clean Hydrogen is detailing its plans for a green hydrogen project in the City of Vernon, 10 miles from the Port of Long Beach, as part of its target to decarbonize heavy-duty transport and support California’s clean energy goals.
EPRI secures $2M in funding for commercial building VPP demonstration project
Microgrid Knowledge – October 31
The California Energy Commission has awarded a three-year, $2 million grant to EPRI, an independent, non-profit organization, for a community-based virtual power plant (VPP) demonstration project. The demonstration, a collaboration between EPRI, the Los Angeles Unified School District, Southern California Edison, and other organizations, will explore how VPP can increase the integration of commercial customer-sited renewables such as rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and building load demand flexibility.
Inside the plan for a 1 GW virtual power plant in Texas
Renewable Energy World – November 8
NRG Energy is partnering with Renew Home to upgrade its residential VPP capabilities with the aim to distribute hundreds of thousands of VPP-enabled smart thermostats by 2035 and create a nearly 1 GW AI-powered VPP – enabled by Google Cloud technology. NRG and Renew Home expect to roll out their VPP program to Texas customers in the spring of 2025.
Enlight signs PPA with APS for 600 MW Snowflake A project in Arizona
Solar Industry Magazine – November 7
Enlight Renewable Energy’s U.S. subsidiary, Clenera, has signed a new PPA with Arizona Public Service for its Snowflake A Project, encompassing the project’s 600 MW of solar and 1,900 MWh of energy storage availability. The project, located near Holbrook, Arizona, is in the final stages of pre-construction permitting.
U.S. BOEM publishes final EIS for SouthCoast Wind Project
Power Technology – November 11
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has published its final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the SouthCoast Wind Project. The move aligns with the federal administration’s target of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030. Spanning approximately 127,388 acres, the lease area is situated south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts.
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