The Dept. of Power’s (DOE’s) Grid Deployment Workplace has awarded $34.5 million to California utility Pacific Gasoline & Electrical (PG&E). The funding will help 19 hydropower tasks throughout PG&E’s territory.
The utility on September 24 stated the cash is a part of the DOE’s Sustaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentive program. The Grid Deployment Workplace in early September stated it was focusing on 293 capital enchancment tasks throughout 33 states for potential receipt of funds.
Oakland-headquartered PG&E on Tuesday stated the grant could be used to boost grid resiliency, to enhance dam security, and to scale back environmental impacts related to hydroelectric operations.
“Hydroelectric energy is likely one of the most dependable, inexpensive, and environment friendly types of carbon-free electrical energy in our portfolio,” stated Dave Gabbard, vice chairman of Energy Era for PG&E. “The federal funds will straight profit PG&E clients by the use of efficiency and capability enhancements to hydroelectric tasks that can proceed to supply dependable, sustainable, and cost-effective renewable power for many years to return.”
Main Hydropower Generator
PG&E operates and maintains the second-largest privately owned hydropower system within the U.S. The utility stated it generates some 3,867 MW of electrical energy by 61 standard hydro powerhouses, a pumped storage facility, 98 reservoirs, 168 dams, and greater than 400 miles of canals, flumes, tunnels, penstocks, siphons, and pure waterways.
The utility stated the hydropower tasks anticipated to profit from the federal incentive program are primarily situated in Mendocino, Nevada, Plumas, Fresno, Tuolumne, Butte, Amador, Calaveras, and Shasta counties in California. PG&E stated it plans main tasks at websites together with Potter Valley, Lake Fordyce, Decrease Bucks Spillway, Decrease Blue Lake, Rock Creek and Cresta Cofferdam, Lake Almanor Dam, Courtright Dam, Strawberry Dam, DeSabla, Tiger Creek, Salt Springs, Iron Canyon, Pit 7 Dam, Poe Dam, and Pit 1.
“These funds will allow us to proceed advancing hydroelectricity and environmental sustainability in a cheap method and can additional propel us towards a future the place clear power is accessible and reliable for all,” stated Gabbard.
—Darrell Proctor is senior editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
