{"id":101231,"date":"2023-02-06T15:15:17","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T20:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarpowerworldonline.com\/?p=101231"},"modified":"2023-02-27T14:00:16","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T19:00:16","slug":"new-coalition-urges-california-to-create-regional-transmission-organization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarpowerworldonline.com\/2023\/02\/new-coalition-urges-california-to-create-regional-transmission-organization\/","title":{"rendered":"New coalition urges California to create Western Regional Transmission Organization"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The \u201cLights on California\u201d coalition<\/a> was launched on February 6 by a growing number of clean energy, business and environmental advocates committed to expanding renewable energy cooperation across the West \u2014 and raising awareness about the state\u2019s options for building a more affordable, more reliable clean energy grid through participation in a Western Regional Transmission Organization (RTO).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire Western U.S. continues to grapple with extreme heat, fires and a diminishing water supply, all of which impact the reliability of our energy system,” said Brady Van Engelen, policy advocate on energy and climate for the California Chamber of Commerce. “We simply cannot afford to be left behind as the rest of the West looks for regional solutions that will enhance reliability. An RTO is clearly one of the best ways to deliver it, providing a framework for tapping into vast wind, solar and other reliable, low-cost clean energy supplies across the West, while creating more high-paying jobs for Californians.\u201d<\/p>\n

While California has led the nation in setting ambitious 100% clean energy targets, the annual threats of summer blackouts and spiking winter heating costs continue to highlight just how much more clean power will be needed to keep the lights on and energy bills affordable. One recent state analysis found California will need to increase by nearly five-fold<\/a> the amount of renewable energy it brings online each year to achieve 100% clean energy by 2045. Building the necessary amount of wind and solar power to meet this demand, another study found, would require 6,280 square miles<\/a> \u2014 an area bigger than the State of Connecticut, and likely more land than California has available.<\/p>\n

The Lights On California coalition believes the time has come for California to consider clean energy solutions both within and beyond its borders \u2014 to prevent blackouts, reduce energy costs and accelerate the transition to a clean economy. Several recent energy trends have united the coalition:<\/p>\n