SCE staff and attendees traverse the dam near Powerhouse #1. The water released here can be pumped back to storage during non-peak hours to generate additional energy. Releases also flow down to Millerton Reservoir and then out to hundreds of communities via the Central Valley.
In June, CSDA was invited to join a group of government association and non-profit representatives at Southern California Edison’s (SCE) High Sierra Workshop in Big Creek. The workshop focused on California’s shift away from fossil fuel energy production to electrification and renewable energy. The State of California has set aggressive emissions reduction goals including a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, a transition to 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035, and net zero carbon pollution by 2045. According to SCE’s Mind the Gap white paper, “California must reduce its emissions by an average 4.1% each year from 2019 to 2030 to meet its 2030 GHG reduction goal.” Utility providers play a critical role in developing and incentivizing the pathway to a carbon-neutral California. SCE believes two primary actions are necessary to achieve these goals: clean the power grid and efficiently electrify as much of the state as possible.
Cleaning the power grid means transitioning away from “dirty” fuel production such as coal and natural gas to clean and renewable options such as large hydro, wind, solar, and storage. Transportation represents California's single largest source of GHG emissions, making it an obvious target for electrification. Electrification of commercial and residential buildings will also be required to meet GHG reduction targets. These solutions come with their own set of challenges, however, including a projected 60% increase in electricity demand. Billions of dollars of investment in the grid will be required to support the transition to clean energy and renewables. SCE and other utilities now face the daunting task of balancing the need to fund and construct new infrastructure while also maintaining reliable and affordable service to all Californians.
The High Sierra Workshop provided a valuable opportunity for a private, investor-owned utility such as SCE to convene with individuals representing California’s special districts, counties, cities, and environmental and social justice non-profits. It presented attendees with information and resources to assist our members in responding to rising energy prices and planning for new technologies and the infrastructure necessary to support them. It also created a two-way dialogue between the utility and attendees, allowing us to ask hard questions about the additional hurdles facing disadvantaged communities. These communities are more likely to be sited near polluting fossil fuel plants and consist largely of multifamily residences which can’t be easily outfitted with solar, battery backup, and electric vehicle chargers, some of the best ways to offset the rise in energy costs. SCE believes collaboration between communities, planning authorities, and government will be critical to addressing these challenges. To ensure no community is left behind, SCE hosts the Clean Energy Access Working Group. This group provides representation for disadvantaged and low-income communities, creating actionable plans to make electrification sustainable, scalable, and affordable for all.
To learn more about SCE’s perspective on clean energy, visit their website where you can access content such as Pathway 2045, a 2019 analysis of the steps necessary to meet California’s emissions goals. Contact your SCE Account Executive to learn more about energy efficiency programs and incentives available to your district, including the statewide California Energy Design Assistance (CEDA) program, which provides free design consultation to analyze efficiency options that can save your district up-front and/or over the life of your project.
Powerhouse commissioned in 1913 provides 6% of SCE energy with zero GHG emissions.
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