Hydrogen is sometimes referred to as the Swiss Army Knife of climate solutions due to its potential to replace fossil fuels in multiple sectors. However, not all hydrogen is created equal – with certain production methods better for the climate than others. Prioritizing end-uses for hydrogen based upon regional characteristics can also ensure that project […]
Gov. Newsom and Legislature reach landmark agreement on Clean Energy Central Procurement
This blog was co-authored with Alex Breckel, Director of Clean Energy Infrastructure Deployment at Clean Air Task Force. Last week the Administration and Legislature reached an agreement on a new package of clean energy policies, key to which is the proposed authorization for the Department of Water Resources to centrally procure “diverse clean energy resources”. The […]
Direct Air Capture Hubs: California projects successful in receiving DOE grants
Earlier today, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the recipients sharing in $1.2 billion in Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub funding made available via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Four California projects, including three in Kern County, were successful in their grant applications: California DAC Hub Consortium. The DAC Hub Consortium received $12 million […]
Recommendations to solve California’s biomass challenge
With its world-leading policies on electrification and clean power, California has made important progress towards achieving its climate goals. However, not all emissions are from the energy and industrial sectors. Land-based emissions, including from burning or decaying biomass, must also be addressed to achieve a carbon neutrality goal. Owing to its vast natural and working […]
The challenges of carbon capture and storage in California: Commercial frameworks
California has significant ambitions for carbon capture and storage (CCS), with a goal for this technology to make-up 25% of the state’s net-zero portfolio. However, there are currently no operating CCS projects in California. In a previous post, we highlighted how an immature regulatory framework is a key reason for this and identified opportunities to […]
California’s transmission permitting: Slowest in the West?
In a recent blog post, Clean Air Task Force’s Nelson Falkenburg and CSG’s Sam Uden explore one of the main drivers behind California’s decade-long lead times to transmission development, which is a key permitting application at the California Public Utilities Commission known as the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Nelson and Sam compare these […]
The challenges of carbon capture and storage in California: Regulatory issues
One of the biggest challenges faced by California in decarbonizing its economy is the need to capture carbon dioxide and store it effectively and safely. While a variety of technologies may ultimately be available to capture and store carbon, the current main option is to store it deep underground. The 2022 Scoping Plan identified the […]
Study finds public financing of transmission could save ratepayers billions
A rapid and significant expansion in transmission infrastructure this decade is key for California to meet its ambitious climate goals. However, this build-out will be expensive – with the potential to overburden ratepayers and undermine the state’s clean energy transition. Strategies to minimize the cost of transmission are therefore an important consideration for policymakers. In an […]
Governor’s proposed Clean Energy Central Procurement mechanism could be the most consequential climate policy this decade
The pace of clean energy deployment in California is currently too slow to achieve the state’s ambitious climate targets. The Governor’s proposed Clean Energy Central Procurement mechanism in the 2023-24 energy trailer bill is a powerful policy concept that has the potential to correct this trajectory. In this blog post, we highlight how strategic public […]
State and federal agencies release first-of-its-kind biomass utilization strategy
Biomass management has been a neglected climate problem in California. That is, until recently – when the 2022 Scoping Plan identified both the significant scale of the biomass challenge and importance of mobilizing organic waste to provide clean fuels and carbon dioxide removal in a net-zero economy. In response, the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience […]