California regulators approved a proposal yesterday that will require utilities in the state to buy at least 11,500 MW of capacity from zero-emitting or renewable resources during 2023-26.
The California Public Utilities Commission says the order will allow for a better response to extreme weather and replace capacity expected to be lost from the retirement of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant and several natural gas plants later in the decade.
The proposal replaces earlier drafts that were opposed by environmental groups because they called for utilities to buy up to 1,500 MW of capacity from fossil-fired generation, mostly natural gas.
The PUC also approved changes that will reduce the value of the energy produced by rooftop solar systems by 74% compared with last year.