The California Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill on a 58-0 vote to increase the efficiency of the state’s electric grid and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources in California.
SB 1006 will require utilities to investigate the feasibility of grid enhancement technologies (GETs) and advanced conductors and then submit a report to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). GETs are easy-to-install hardware and software tools that can do that double the amount of renewable energy that can be integrated into the electricity grid from existing electricity lines. Advanced conductors replace older, inefficient power lines with lines made of improved conductive materials that increase their capacity, efficiency and strength. State Senator Steve Padilla authored SB 1006 and Environment California sponsored it.
“Too often, the power lines that make up our aging grid become blocked and clogged, meaning new renewable energy can’t get where it needs to go,” said Steven King, clean energy advocate with Environment California. “SB 1006 will help us deploy new sensors and technologies to unlock grid capacity for much more renewable energy. Summer heat waves and devastating wildfires fueled by climate change are not slowing down, so we must do everything we can to boost our path to 100% clean energy.”
“We cannot rely on our grandparents’ electric grid to power our grandchildren’s futures,” said Senator Steve Padilla. “California’s electric grid must keep pace with our rising energy demands and the increasing impacts of climate change. Installing advanced technologies such as GETs and advanced conductors will go a long way in increasing the capacity of our electricity grid, while at the same time unleashing more renewable energy, improving grid reliability and reducing pressure on rising electricity rates by to get the most out of our existing electrical infrastructure.”
If the Senate passes SB 1006 in a concurrence vote this week, Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the bill into law by the end of September.
News item from Environment California
