In 2018, former California governor Jerry Brown set a goal to completely decarbonize the electricity grid by 2045. Solar will be the backbone of the grid. The state will need probably 70,000 megawatts of utility scale solar online in the next 25 years. This week, listen to the conversation between Climate Break and Large-scale Solar Association, to see how it supports market penetration of utility-scale solar technologies through appropriate policy mechanisms. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/large-scale-solar-with-shannon-eddy/
For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/large-scale-solar-with-shannon-eddy/
Shannon: Our purpose is to represent the utility scale solar industry and to really find ways to build more utility scale solar, to meet our climate targets.
Ethan: That's Shannon Eddy, Executive Director of the Large Scale Solar Association.
Shannon: We need look no further than SB 100, to see the role that solar will play in the future of the grid decarb plans of California.
Ethan: SB 100 was signed into law by former California governor Jerry Brown in 2018, to completely decarbonize the electricity grid by 2045.
Shannon: Solar will be the backbone of the grid. The state will need probably 70,000 megawatts of utility scale solar online in the next 25 years. Also paired with storage. So probably in the neighborhood of about 55 to 65,000 megawatts of battery storage. A good metric right now is about six acres per megawatt. We'd probably need about a million or so acres. We've got the goal to preserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030. I have heard that that could be extended to 50% by 2050. I think it's going to require one-on-one conversations, reaching the hearts and minds of the local constituency to help everybody understand that these are projects that will help us save the planet.
Ethan: For more information on renewable energy and the Large Scale Solar Association, as well as how to get involved, visit climatebreak.org, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Ethan Elkind and this was Climate Break.