California’s new $7.3 billion grid modernization plan is a crucial step in furthering its ambitious climate goals.
The board of governors for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the state’s grid operator, recently approved a strategy to build thousands of miles of new high-voltage transmission lines. This step addresses a key challenge towards decarbonizing energy consumption: providing enough transmission to connect a massive amount of new clean energy sources to the grid.
Beefing up transmission capability is essential to meeting California’s goal of a carbon-free energy sector by 2045. What’s more, expanded grid capacity could result in lower electric bills for customers if the cost of clean energy generation technology continues to drop.
As more jurisdictions adopt building codes that ban natural gas hookups, and encourage adoption of heat pumps and EV chargers, the environmental benefits of such regulations depend on sourcing clean energy. A more robust grid that can assimilate new solar and wind farms makes this possible.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 4, 2020
Commercial building owners having tougher time securing insurance policies and renewals
Insurers’ fears of civil unrest in wake of election prompt builder’s risk coverage moratoriums.
Codes and Standards | Nov 4, 2020
Turn rooftops into revenue generators with solar arrays
Lease or ownership models for PVs make more sense than ever.
Codes and Standards | Nov 3, 2020
The argument against gas stoves includes degraded indoor air quality
Asthma seems to be aggravated by cooking with flame.
Codes and Standards | Nov 2, 2020
Wildfires can make drinking water toxic
Updated building codes could mitigate the danger.
Adaptive Reuse | Oct 26, 2020
Mall property redevelopments could result in dramatic property value drops
Retail conversions to fulfillment centers, apartments, schools, or medical offices could cut values 60% to 90%.
Codes and Standards | Oct 26, 2020
New seismic provisions for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program released
The provisions present a set of recommended improvements to the ASCE/SEI 7-16 Standard.
Codes and Standards | Oct 22, 2020
More than 130 building projects have engaged LEED’s Safety First Credits in response to COVID-19
Best practices helping companies develop and measure healthy, sustainable, and resilient reopening efforts.
Codes and Standards | Oct 21, 2020
New technologies and techniques can ‘future-proof’ buildings
Net-zero principles may give buildings longer lives.
Codes and Standards | Oct 20, 2020
Updated AIA Contractor’s Qualification Statement and Warranty Bond documents available
Statement now includes safety protocols and plans, sustainability, and BIM experience.
Codes and Standards | Oct 19, 2020
NEXT Coalition chooses five pilot projects to fight COVID-19 on jobsites
Mobile platforms, wearable sensors, AI video systems among the trial solutions.
