- Author: Rick Satomi
On November 19, the Energy Division’s Staff Proposal on SB 1122 Implementation and B&V Study (PDF) was released. Interested parties have until December 20th, 2013 to submit comments. To learn more about the SB1122 proceeding and the most recent developments, check out the CPUC site.
Some key proposals pertaining to wood bioenergy produced from byproducts of sustainable forest management are highlighted below:
-
Projects eligible to seek a FIT contract pursuant to SB1122 may not seek a contract pursuant to the baseload, peaking, or as available categories of the FIT.
-
SB 1122’s 250 MW procurement requirement should be allocated across the three large IOUs by share of statewide peak demand: PG&E – 110.78MW, SCE – 114.53MW, SDG&E – 24.68MW.
-
Only new facilities whose initial commercial operation date is on or after June 1, 2013 will be eligible for SB1122.
-
Any bioenergy project securing a contract pursuant to SB1122 must source 100% of its fuel from Renewable Portfolio Standards eligible sources and at least 80% of its fuel on an annual basis from bioenergy resources within the SB1122 category.
-
The bioenergy feedstock for a category 3 project must be sourced from one or more of the following:
-
Fire Threat Reduction - Bioenergy feedstock from fuel reduction activities identified in a fire plan approved by CAL FIRE or other appropriate state local, or federal agency.
-
Fire Safe Clearance Activities - Bioenergy feedstock from fuel reduction activities conducted to comply with PRC Sections 4290 and 4291. This would include bioenergy feedstocks from timber operations conducted in conformance with 14CCR 1038(c) 150’ fuel reduction exemption.
-
Infrastructure Clearance Projects - Bioenergy feedstock from fuel reduction activities undertaken by or on behalf of a utility or local state or federal agency for the purpose of protecting infrastructure, including but not limited to: power lines, poles, towers, substations, swtich yards, material storage areas, construction camps, roads, railways, etc. This includes timber operations conducted pursuant to 14 CCR 1104.1(b)-(g).
-
Other Sustainable Forest Management - Bioenergy feedstock certified and approved as being derived from “sustainable forest management” by CAL Fire or another appropriate state or federal agency. View CalFire Forest Sustainability and Feedstock Verification Recommendations (PDF).
-
The pricing structure for SB1122 should utilize a single remat pricing mechanism for each bioenergy category to set a statewide price for each category. Implementation of this pricing structure should include the following elements:
-
Individual Projects will submit PPRs directly to a single utility.
-
Each IOU will maintain its own ReMAT queue per bioenergy category consistent with the capacity targets proposed above: PG&E – 110.78MW, SCE – 114.53MW, SDG&E – 24.68MW.
- Execution of a FIT contract by a bioenergy project will result in capacity of that project being attributed to the SB1122 capacity target for the utility with which the project signs its contract.
-
The IOUs will jointly administer a statewide “price pool”for each of the three SB1122 bioenergy categories to establish a single, statewide FIT payment rate for each of the categories to.
-
The reMAT starting price was set at 124.66/MWh for all three bioenergy categories.
Important Dates
Pursuant to the ALJ ruling, opening comments from parties are due on December 20, 2013, and reply comments are due on January 16, 2014.
Following the submission of comments and reply comments, the ALJ will issue a Proposed Decision that will be subject to additional party comment. Final implementation of SB 1122 will occur after the CPUC formally adopts a Decision. All information is available from the CPUC site.
/span>
- Author: Peter Tittmann
Join us Thursday, November 7th at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center or virtually via live webinar for the last of our fall 3e Community-scale Wood Bioenergy workshop series. In this workshop, we bring together experts in woody biomass utilization and bioenergy issues from California universities, state agencies, community organizations, and private enterprise to discuss topics ranging from planning and siting to operating and monitoring community-scale bioenergy facilities.
More information, registration and and a detailed program is available on our website.
Recent wildfire activity throughout California has made evident the pressing need to re-create the diminished legacy of California's fire tolerant forest landscape. Critical to this goal is the development of markets for low-value residues from forest management. With several recent policy initiatives coming to fruition in California (Senate Bill 1122, Assembly Bill 32), meaningful incentives for forest-based bioenergy may soon be available to help meet California's demand for stable, renewable electricity and heat. The 3e workshop brings together a diverse panel of experts, organizers, agencies, and land managers to:
- Address near term opportunities for development of bioenergy capacity in the region
- Increase practical understanding of critical environmental, engineering, and economic (3e) considerations
- Provide a forum for stakeholders to identify issues, forge partnerships and articulate a vision for the role of wood bioenergy in forest restoration and management at the regional scale.
Registration for the workshop is just $25 ($10 for students) and lunch is provided. However, space is limited and on-site attendance is only available on a first come, first serve basis so please register for this workshop ASAP. Presentations will start at 9am and run till 5pm in Room 203 of the HSU Aquatic Center. For those of you still interested but unable to join us in Eureka, we will also be hosting the workshop online and live via webinar. You can tune-in with your browser to https://uc-d.adobeconnect.
Where: Aquatic Center, Humboldt State University (Map), 921 Waterfront Drive Eureka, CA 95501
or: Join via the web at https://uc-d.adobeconnect.com/woodbio/. Registration is free for those attending via webinar. If you plan to join online, please register so we can anticipate our bandwidth requirements.
When: November 7th, 9 am to 5 pm
Who: UC Berkeley, UC Cooperative Extension, Hayfork Watershed Research and Training Center, Schatz Energy Research Center, Environmental Protection Information Center, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, Six River NF, Green Diamond Resource Company, Headwaters Fund, Redwood Capital Bank, Continental Resources, North Coast AQMD, and YOU.
- Author: Peter Tittmann
The Thirty-mile room at the Mclellan Wildfire Training Center in Sacramento filled to capacity on December 14th, 2012 for the Community-scale Bioenergy Conference presented by the Woody Biomass Utilization group of UCANR and the UC Berkeley Center for Forestry (jump to conference page). Attendees represented a broad range of stakeholders including community organizations, bioenergy startups, consultants, utility companies, and agency representatives. The conference focused on providing information about small scale production of electricity from woody biomass in the context of recent legislation. Senate Bill 1122, signed by Governor Brown in September 2012, was intended to increase the production of bio-electricity in the State from small scale producers (3MW or less) as a component of the States Renewables Portfolio Standard. Presentations can be viewed at http://ucanr.edu/community bioenergy
The day-long conference was kicked off by organizer and UC Berkeley biomass and forest products extension advisor John Shelly. California Energy Commission commissioner Carla Peterman gave a thoughtful keynote covering aspects of the States recently updated Bioenergy Action Plan related to small scale biomass-to-energy conversion.
The conference presentations covered the following topics:
- Impacts biomass utilization on forest health and fire risk.
- Public and private landowner perspectives on biomass utilization.
- The role of community organizations in developing small scale biomass-to-energy projects.
- Policy nexus for wood biomass project development (air quality, environmental review)
- Conversion technologies review
- Project development case studies
Several issues were identified as important in considering small scale bioenergy projects.
Wildfire risk reduction.
All speakers commented on the importance of finding uses for the woody biomass that is responsible for high wildfire hazards.
Conversion technology cost.
Technology to convert biomass to electricity exists but the economic viability remains a challenge.
Coproduct valuation.
Capturing the full value of the feedstock (heat, char, solid wood products) can make make an energy project much more attractive to investment.
Interconnection costs.
While solar and other renewables have benefitted from streamlined permitting and reduced interconnection costs, interconnection costs for biomass is a major barrier to expansion.
Community involvement.
Outreach and education early and often reduces social resistance, builds community, and can result in important strategic partnerships.
Ray Lucas at UCANR Communications Services did an excellent job creating webcasts of all presentations and speakers. Videos and presentation slides can be accessed via the UCANR Woody Biomass Utilization conference page.
/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>/span>