Full Title: Renewables and Reliability: Grid Management Solutions to Support California's Clean Energy Future
Author(s): Union of Concerned Scientists
Publisher(s): Union of Concerned Scientists
Publication Date: March 1, 2015
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
California leads the nation in the transition to clean, safe, and renewable forms of electricity. The state is well on its way to supplying 33 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and is now considering a policy to get to 50 percent by 2030—the most ambitious clean energy effort in the nation.
Satisfying half of California’s electricity needs with renewable energy is not only visionary, but also necessary to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and air pollution. Fortunately, this goal is also achievable. As the state plans for this clean electricity future, grid operators should deploy new methods, tools, and infrastructure that allow them to integrate more renewable energy and rely less on fossil fuels to maintain reliability on the grid. Doing so will make renewable energy integration more cost effective and result in less global warming pollution. Enhancing coordination with neighboring grid operators and diversifying the technological mix and geographic placement of its renewable energy resources will also lower costs and make grid operations more efficient. These improvements must be made today to ensure the state can meet its long-term carbon reduction goals.