The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) board of governors has recently granted approval for the organization’s 2022-2023 Transmission Plan. In an effort to bolster the state’s renewable energy capabilities, a groundbreaking proposal has been put forth to connect up to a staggering 40GW of renewable energy projects to the grid.
This visionary transmission plan showcases an array of 45 projects aimed at system expansion and upgrades. Among these projects, an impressive 17GW of solar generation is set to be distributed throughout various locations across the state. Additionally, over 3.5GW of in-state wind generation will be integrated into existing wind development regions, including Tehachapi.
Furthermore, the plan includes ambitious initiatives such as over 1GW of geothermal development, primarily concentrated in California’s Imperial Valley, as well as in southern Nevada. To ensure optimal utilization of renewable energy resources, the plan allows for battery storage projects to be co-located with renewable generation projects across the state. Additionally, stand-alone storage facilities will be strategically located closer to major load centers in the LA Basin, greater Bay Area, and San Diego.
Not content with relying solely on in-state resources, CAISO also intends to import over 4.5GW of out-of-state wind generation from neighboring regions such as Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico. This will be made possible by enhancing corridors from the ISO border in south-eastern Nevada and from western Arizona into California load centers.
Addressing the significance of this transmission plan, CAISO President and Chief Executive Elliot Mainzer emphasized, “This 2022-2023 transmission plan represents the next major installment of infrastructure investment required to meet California’s long-term clean energy goals.” Mainzer further expressed the commitment of CAISO to work closely with regulatory agencies, load-serving entities, and other key stakeholders in order to address the state’s reliability and policy needs in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible.
Anticipating future demands, next year’s transmission plan is expected to highlight the requirement of adding 70GW of capacity by 2033, eventually escalating to a remarkable 120GW. These expansions are imperative in aligning the state with its ambitious target of achieving a carbon-free power system by 2045. Through such ambitious endeavors, California continues to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions.
