On April 18th, 2012, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced that the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is the latest state agency to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the goal of installing renewable energy systems on state-owned buildings, rights-of-way, vacant lands and other assets.

The MOU targets the installation of 2.5 GW of renewable energy capacity to help meet California's renewable portfolio standard of 33% renewable generation by 2020. Seven state agencies have signed the MOU, including the Department of General Services, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

"As the program evolves, the plan is to build infrastructure for renewable power on state-owned property," said Energy Commissioner Carla Peterman.

"We welcome the California High-Speed Rail Authority for making green power a high priority as it prepares for electric-powered bullet-trains to meet the state's growing demands for new transportation infrastructure."

Signatories to jointly develop one or more statewide RFPs

Signatories to the MOU will collectively study, plan and develop renewable energy infrastructure on state government properties, as well as working on a consistent procurement strategy and contract language in requests for proposals (RFPs). The organizations will also develop one or more statewide RFP solicitations for renewable energy generation.

The CEC has adopted the staff report Developing Renewable Generation on State Property, which it says will assist in implementation of the MOU.

The report focuses on distributed generation, which the CEC notes has the advantages of quick construction, less need for new transmission, and little or no environmental impact, but also looks at the potential to develop utility-scale renewable energy facilities on state properties.

CEC report: www.energy.ca.gov/2011publications/CEC-150-2011-001/CEC-150-2011-001-CMF.pdf

2012-04-21 | Courtesy: CEC | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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