California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the first comprehensive list of 244 proposed renewable energy projects that could produce up to 69,925 MW of clean energy annually. These proposed projects throughout the state include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and small hydro facilities and will help move California towards achieving the renewable energy goal of 33% by 2020. Currently California facilities produce just more than 8,000 MW of renewable energy annually.
In October, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with US Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to expedite the permitting process for renewable energy projects in California and appointed a special advisor to oversee the fast-tracking of the permitting process for renewable energy facilities. California was the first state to sign an MOU with the Department of the Interior to cooperatively develop long-term renewable energy plans and to usher eligible projects through state and federal permitting processes that can receive 30% federal tax credits under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (Recovery Act).
Of the 244 proposed projects, up to 53 (accounting for 10,975 MW) have indicated they will apply for Recovery Act funds and will break ground by the end of 2010. For those proposed projects looking for federal stimulus support, 22 could generate power at utility-sized levels of larger than 200 MW, totaling 9,231 MW. Many of the proposed projects are currently moving through a state, federal or local permitting process.
Governor Schwarzenegger established California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by executive order calling for 33% renewable energy by 2020. The California Air Resources Board will adopt regulations to increase California’s RPS and provide clear and permanent direction for the creation, delivery and servicing of California’s renewable energy projects.
A list of the 244 proposed projects that are currently in review or have been approved is available at www.energy.ca.gov/33by2020/documents/index.html. The projects are separated by those seeking Recovery Act funding. The project list is subject to change since some may lack financing, fail to meet strict environmental standards, or adequately address land use issues as part of the project approval process.