California sees big costs with renewable plan

subscribe

California forecast a 28 percent rise in electricity rates and $115 billion in construction costs if the state wants to get a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

The draft report by the Public Utility Commission nails down costs for the most ambitious clean energy plan in the nation at a time of economic turmoil and as Congress considers federal legislation.

California already requires 20 percent renewable energy by 2010, and the PUC report said that, if all that power was in place by 2020, new generation and transmission building costs would be $51.8 billion and electricity costs would rise to 15.8 cents per kilowatt hour from 13.2 cents in 2008.

Aiming for 33 percent renewables by 2020, as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has advocated, would more than double capital costs to $114.5 billion and would increase state electricity costs to 16.9 cents per kilowatt hour, the report said.

It also said that hitting the 33 percent target was realistic only in 2021, which it called the "best case" scenario.

Related News

Bruce Power awards $914 million in manufacturing contracts

TORONTO - Today, Bruce Power signed $914 million in advanced manufacturing contracts for its Major Component Replacement, which gets underway in 2020 and will allow the site to provide low-cost, carbon-free electricity to Ontario through 2064.

The Major Component Replacement (MCR) Project agreements include:

  • $642 million to BWXT Canada Inc. for the manufacturing of 32 steam generators to be produced at BWXT’s Cambridge facility.
  • $144 million to Laker Energy Products for end fittings, liners and flow elements, which will be manufactured at its Oakville location.
  • $62 million to Cameco Fuel Manufacturing, in Cobourg, for calandria tubes and annulus spacers…

    READ MORE
nb power

Electricity subsidies to pulp and paper mills to continue, despite NB Power's rising debt

READ MORE

U.S. Electricity Sales Projections

U.S. Electricity Sales Projections Continue to Fall

READ MORE

ESCC logo

The Power Sector’s Most Crucial COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies

READ MORE

philippines-rankshighest-in-coal-power

Philippines Ranks Highest in Coal-Generated Power Dependency

READ MORE