The California Assembly passed legislation on Wednesday by a 58:0 vote to increase efficiency of the state’s electric grid and speed up the deployment of renewable energy resources in California.

SB 1006 will require utilities to study the feasibility of grid enhancing technologies (GETs) and advanced conductors and then file a report with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). GETs are easily-installed hardware and software tools that can double the amount of renewable energy that can be integrated into the grid from existing power lines. Advanced conductors replace older, inefficient power lines with lines made of improved conductive material that increase their capacity, efficiency and strength. State Sen. Steve Padilla authored SB 1006 and Environment California sponsored it.

“Too often the power lines that make up our aging electric grid get blocked and congested, which means new renewable energy can’t get where it needs to go,” said Steven King, Environment California’s clean energy advocate. “SB 1006 will help us deploy new sensors and technologies to unlock grid capacity for much more renewable energy. Summer heat waves and devastating wildfires fueled by climate change aren’t slowing down, so we must do all we can to supercharge our path to 100% clean energy.”

“We cannot rely on the grid of our grandparents to power our grandchildren’s future,” said state Sen. Steve Padilla. “California’s electric grid must keep up with our rising energy demand and the increasing impacts of climate change. Installing cutting edge technologies such as GETs and advanced conductors will go a long way toward boosting our grid’s capacity while unleashing more renewable energy, improving grid reliability and reducing pressure on rising electric rates by getting the most out of our existing electric infrastructure.”

If the state Senate passes SB 1006 in a concurrence vote this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the bill into law by the end of September.

News item from Environment California