Articles tagged with "California-energy-policy"
21 Gigawatts of Solar for California Land That Can No Longer Be Used for Agriculture - CleanTechnica
The Westlands Water District in California’s San Joaquin Valley has announced plans to repurpose approximately 21 gigawatts of solar power capacity on land that can no longer support irrigated agriculture. This initiative, known as the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, aims to utilize fallowed, dry land for solar power plants, thereby supporting renewable energy development while preserving water resources for the most productive agricultural areas. The district emphasizes that this approach will help sustain the long-term viability of agriculture in the region by allowing farmers to focus limited water supplies on resilient farmland amid ongoing drought and water scarcity challenges. California law AB 2661, enacted in September, authorizes the Westlands Water District to develop, construct, and own solar generation, battery storage, and transmission facilities as part of this plan. The law also mandates the adoption of a community benefits plan, which involves collaboration with local communities and typically includes payments to neighboring areas impacted by the projects. The Westlands Water District is the largest agricultural water district in the U.S
solar-energyrenewable-energyenergy-storagesolar-power-plantsbattery-storageland-repurposingCalifornia-energy-policyOver 2,000 New Public EV Chargers Planned Or Installed In California In November? - CleanTechnica
In November, California saw plans or installations for over 2,000 new public electric vehicle (EV) chargers across various regions, including San Diego, Central and Northern California, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. Notably, the joint venture IONNA announced a significant investment exceeding $250 million to deploy more than 1,000 charging bays statewide over the next three years. Tesla also launched a large charging facility with over 160 stalls, contributing to the rapid expansion of EV infrastructure in the state. This surge in EV charger deployment is occurring despite federal administration policies that are generally unsupportive of clean energy and EV adoption. California’s progress is driven by strong state policies, public awareness of climate change and air pollution, and incentives for EV ownership. The expansion of charging infrastructure not only facilitates EV adoption but also creates quality jobs, contrasting with lower-wage employment sectors. Political dynamics suggest that growing dissatisfaction with the current federal administration could further bolster support for clean energy initiatives in California and beyond.
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-chargersclean-energysustainable-transportationCalifornia-energy-policyinfrastructure-investmentCalifornia Still Has Some EV Purchasing Incentives - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica confirms that California continues to offer electric vehicle (EV) purchasing incentives despite the expiration of federal EV incentives. California, the largest EV market in the U.S. with about 39 million residents and the most public EV charging ports, maintains its Clean Driving Assistance Program (DCAP). This program provides up to $10,000 for eligible residents to purchase or lease new or used battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), or fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Income-qualified participants living in designated Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) can receive up to $12,000. Those without a vehicle to scrap can still access financing assistance with up to $7,500 in incentives. In addition to vehicle purchase incentives, California offers charging-related benefits, including $2,000 toward Level 2 home charger purchase and installation or a $2,000 prepaid card for public charging. The article notes that after incentives, some EV
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-incentivesclean-energybattery-electric-vehiclescharging-infrastructureCalifornia-energy-policyCalifornia Reaches 29.1% EV Share of Auto Sales in 3rd Quarter - CleanTechnica
In the third quarter of 2025, California achieved a record 29.1% share of new car sales being fully electric vehicles (EVs), totaling 124,755 zero-emission vehicles sold. This milestone marks the highest EV market penetration the state has ever reached, reflecting California’s status as the world’s fourth-largest economy and a major auto market. State leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner, emphasized that this surge demonstrates California’s commitment to innovation and clean transportation, contrasting it with federal policies perceived as less supportive of EV adoption. The California Energy Commission (CEC) highlighted that nearly every resident now lives within 10 minutes of an EV fast charger, significantly improving the practicality of EV ownership. The article notes that the spike in EV sales partly resulted from the expiration of federal EV tax credits, which created a temporary surge rather than a permanent new normal. Sales in Q3 2025 represented a 30% increase over the previous quarter, suggesting some
electric-vehiclesEV-salesCalifornia-energy-policyzero-emission-vehiclesEV-charging-infrastructureclean-transportationsustainable-energyOffshore Floating Wind Hub Will Rise In California, Trump Or Not
The article discusses the current challenges and future prospects of the U.S. offshore wind industry amid federal policy shifts under President Donald Trump’s administration. Despite a near halt to the industry caused by the revocation of federally authorized offshore wind sites and the withdrawal of nearly $427 million in federal funding for projects like California’s New Humboldt Bay Heavy Lift Offshore Wind hub, the sector’s long-term outlook remains optimistic. Congressman Jared Huffman criticized the federal government’s actions as detrimental to job creation, energy prices, and the U.S.’s global clean energy leadership, highlighting the administration’s preference for fossil fuels over renewable energy. In response to federal setbacks, California has taken significant steps to sustain offshore wind development. The state legislature approved CA SB015, allocating $227.5 million toward the offshore wind port project, contributing to an initial total of $800 million in state funds. This move demonstrates California’s commitment to advancing clean energy infrastructure and job creation despite federal opposition. Industry groups like Oceantic Network praised the state
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energyCalifornia-energy-policyclean-energywind-powerenergy-infrastructureA Long-Term Take On California's Net Metering Policies - CleanTechnica
The article discusses California’s evolving net metering policies, focusing on the transition to “Net Metering 3.0” and its long-term implications. A former electrician in California’s power industry provides a critical perspective, describing the new policy as a financial gain for utilities at the expense of residential solar customers. Under earlier net metering rules, residential solar owners could offset their electricity use on a near one-to-one basis, effectively reducing their bills to zero if their solar production matched their consumption. Utilities benefited by acquiring excess solar power at low fixed rates and reselling it at higher commercial rates during peak demand, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, with Net Metering 3.0, utilities pay solar customers closer to wholesale rates for excess power, significantly reducing the financial value of residential solar systems. Customers can no longer fully offset their electricity bills due to lower compensation for surplus energy and the introduction of fixed monthly grid connection charges. This shift devalues residential solar investments, requiring larger and more expensive
energynet-meteringsolar-powerCalifornia-energy-policyphotovoltaic-systemselectricity-ratesutility-companiesDid California Break the Law While Cutting Rooftop Solar Subsidies - CleanTechnica
California, long a leader in rooftop solar installations due to its net metering policy that credited solar panel owners at retail electricity rates, replaced this system with "Net Metering 3.0" on April 15, 2024. This change followed years of pressure from investor-owned utilities—Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric—who argued that compensating solar owners at retail rates unfairly shifted costs to non-solar ratepayers. The new policy significantly reduced these subsidies. However, environmental groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, the Environmental Working Group, and the Protect Our Communities Foundation have sued the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), claiming it failed to consider the full range of financial and societal benefits of rooftop solar. These benefits include reduced grid infrastructure costs (such as transmission lines and substations), improved grid security and resiliency, health and climate advantages, and the use of existing rooftop space rather than new land. The plaintiffs argue that by
energysolar-powerrooftop-solarnet-meteringCalifornia-energy-policyrenewable-energygrid-resiliencyCalifornia Opposes Rooftop Solar For All The Wrong Reasons
energysolar-powerrooftop-solarutility-ratesCalifornia-energy-policyclean-energyelectricity-generation