Water contractors can expect to pay between 1% to 3% more for the energy it takes to bring supplies down the state through California’s largest project thanks to just one renewable energy project that came online recently in Kern County – the Pastoria Solar Project.
And that’s just the beginning.
When the Department of Water Resources (DWR) brings on enough renewable energy projects to fully power the State Water Project (SWP), contractors can expect their costs to increase another 10% to 20%, according to a presentation at the May 20 California Water Commission meeting by DWR Manager of Power Operations Jorge Quintero.
Quintero said 45% of the power needed for the SWP is currently coming from renewables, including the project’s own hydro electricity. The department has contracted for renewable projects to provide another 11% of its power needs…