California Regional Meeting to Feature Panels on How to Meet Climate Goals

Back to All

California Regional Meeting to Feature Panels on How to Meet Climate Goals

DATE:

November 29, 2021

Share

California Regional Meeting to Feature Panels on How to Meet Climate Goals

NHA thanks our sponsors:

Gilkes

In 2016, California set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. This is the most aggressive emissions reduction target in the United States. California Governor Gavin Newsom is directing California state agencies to accelerate the state’s progress toward its climate goals and is evaluating pathways for the state to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.

Meeting these goals means a major shift in how electric power is generated and a greater reliance upon renewable sources, which, in turn, will lead to new kinds of investments, markets, and business practices.

Discussions about these goals and how to meet them using hydro will occur December 6 and 7 during the National Hydropower Association’s virtual 2021 California Regional Meeting.

Registration is open for the meeting, which occurs across two days in two-hour time blocks. Discounted registration rates are available for individuals working for NHA member companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and federal and state agencies.

The meeting is sponsored by 13 regional meeting series sponsors, 1 regional sponsor, and host utility San Diego County Water Authority.

The Deep Dive: What’s on the Agenda?

One of the panels will focus on how pumped storage hydropower can help California meet its climate goals.

The panel includes speakers from the San Diego County Water Authority, the California Department of Water Resources, and Green Gen Storage. Julia Prochnik, Executive Director of the Long Duration Energy Storage Association of California, is moderator.

One of the most promising pumped storage hydro solutions in California is the proposed 500-MW San Vicente Energy Storage Facility under consideration by a partnership of the San Diego County Water Authority and the City of San Diego. The San Vincente Project is expected to play a central role in integrating solar and wind energy from across the Southwest for use in San Diego County.

The proposed project recently received $18 million in the state budget signed by Gov. Newsom. This amount was enough to advance the project through initial design, environmental reviews, and the federal licensing process.

Other topics to be explored during the virtual meeting include: how to manage climate-driven operational challenges, hydro’s role in a zero-carbon grid, how federal and state policies are impacting Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing in California, and the future of dam safety regulations in California.

See the full agenda here.