Advocacy at the California Energy Commission (CEC)

CEERT is actively taking part in the CEC’s Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR), which is focusing on transportation issues and on transmission, the impacts of land-use planning efforts, the use of environmental screens in energy procurement, and the expansion of renewable energy. We are also participating in the CEC-based interagency group working to implement SB 100’s goals of 100% zero-carbon energy for the state.

Recent Developments:

CEERT continues to follow the implementation of AB 205 and to keep in contact with the CEC about the Strategic Reliability Reserve. Following the decision last year to extend the operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) for the next five years, as well as continue to operate several highly polluting once-through-cooling (OTC) gas-fired plants, the state saw a doubling of battery discharge in just one year, proving 2023 to be “the year of the battery.” CEERT wrote a memorandum to CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda, along with several follow-up meetings with staff, strongly pressing the case that, in part due to those growing battery resources, the state will not need the originally anticipated capacity from DCPP and polluting OTC plants, and the CEC should rethink the fund expenditures that keep those plants running.

Soon to be released is the CEC’s SB 846 quarterly Joint Agency Reliability Assessment, which reviews demand forecast, supply forecast, and risks to reliability in the CAISO territory across 10 years, and requires the CEC to report on the operations of Diablo Canyon, including outage information, operational costs, average revenue, worker attrition, and contribution to resource adequacy requirements. CEERT eagerly awaits the chance to review the Assessment to understand in detail what, if any, major interconnection and permitting barriers are in store for additional battery capacity, and to review the Commission’s analysis of DCPP activities.