The local utility district has released a plan that outlines the path to satisfying the district’s renewable energy requirements.
The Imperial Irrigation District released its draft renewable energy procurement policy Tuesday during a regularly scheduled board of directors meeting in La Quinta. Adhering to Senate Bill 2(1X) requirements, the policy includes a detailed enforcement program and procurement plan to fulfill California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Cost-implementation guidelines have also been integrated into the policy.
“This policy serves as a blueprint for satisfying IID’s green energy requirements,” said John Pierre Menvielle, president of the IID board of directors. “It communicates our vision for definitively delivering one-third of our resources from renewable energy, which will enable us to protect the environment and promote energy security in the process.”
The plan aligns with California law that establishes three compliance periods and targets aimed to enforce progress in achieving the renewable energy mandate. Load-serving entities, such as IID, must make “reasonable progress” in procuring renewable energy in the milestone years ending 2013 (20 percent) and 2016 (25 percent), with the ultimate goal of delivering 33 percent by 2020.
According to IID’s procurement plan, the Southern California public power provider has acquired 12 percent renewable energy resources to date toward meeting the 2013 milestone. A resource mix of small hydro, solar, biogas and geothermal energy is slated to be online by the end of the first compliance period and generating green energy for IID. The utility is also in negotiations for additional resources that include geothermal and biomass energy.
Renewable energy resources typically cost more to generate than traditional forms of energy, such as natural gas. Although the utility is opting for cost-effective resources, projections indicate that incorporating additional green energy resources could potentially cost IID customers an additional $330 million or up to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour when the 33 percent mandate is fully satisfied. The average residential user could expect to pay more each month as new green energy sources are integrated into IID’s portfolio — up to $20 more in 2013, $28 more in 2016 and $44 more in 2020.
The procurement plan will be updated to reflect additional green energy resources as they are secured.
IID’s board of directors will make a decision on the policy at a future meeting.
The Imperial Irrigation District released its draft renewable energy procurement policy Tuesday during a regularly scheduled board of directors meeting in La Quinta. Adhering to Senate Bill 2(1X) requirements, the policy includes a detailed enforcement program and procurement plan to fulfill California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Cost-implementation guidelines have also been integrated into the policy.
“This policy serves as a blueprint for satisfying IID’s green energy requirements,” said John Pierre Menvielle, president of the IID board of directors. “It communicates our vision for definitively delivering one-third of our resources from renewable energy, which will enable us to protect the environment and promote energy security in the process.”
The plan aligns with California law that establishes three compliance periods and targets aimed to enforce progress in achieving the renewable energy mandate. Load-serving entities, such as IID, must make “reasonable progress” in procuring renewable energy in the milestone years ending 2013 (20 percent) and 2016 (25 percent), with the ultimate goal of delivering 33 percent by 2020.
According to IID’s procurement plan, the Southern California public power provider has acquired 12 percent renewable energy resources to date toward meeting the 2013 milestone. A resource mix of small hydro, solar, biogas and geothermal energy is slated to be online by the end of the first compliance period and generating green energy for IID. The utility is also in negotiations for additional resources that include geothermal and biomass energy.
Renewable energy resources typically cost more to generate than traditional forms of energy, such as natural gas. Although the utility is opting for cost-effective resources, projections indicate that incorporating additional green energy resources could potentially cost IID customers an additional $330 million or up to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour when the 33 percent mandate is fully satisfied. The average residential user could expect to pay more each month as new green energy sources are integrated into IID’s portfolio — up to $20 more in 2013, $28 more in 2016 and $44 more in 2020.
The procurement plan will be updated to reflect additional green energy resources as they are secured.
IID’s board of directors will make a decision on the policy at a future meeting.
