On August 30th, RCRC joined the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities to host a webinar on renewable energy and storage permitting.
Numerous local government officials, developers, and regulators joined the three-hour presentation at which the California Energy Commission discussed SB 100 renewable energy infrastructure needs and explained the AB 205 opt-in permitting process for renewable energy generation, storage, manufacturing, and transmission projects. The CEC noted that California will have to triple the pace at which it is currently permitting and building wind and solar projects, and will need to increase battery storage deployment to eight times the current rate of construction. Haris Gilani, from the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Division, added to the discussion with a presentation on the energy potential resulting from forest biomass-derived hydrogen production.
The second panel brought local government permitting departments from Kern and San Diego Counties together with developers NextEra Energy Resources, EDP Renewables, and Calpine Corporation to share permitting best practices and opportunities for improvement from local permitting agencies and energy developers.
Local jurisdictions are encouraged to submit feedback on how to best advance local government planning and resources in support of clean energy, by completing a brief survey here. For more information, please contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy, or Policy Advocate, Leigh Kammerich.