Peninsula Advanced Energy Community to kick off with strong support
The initiative is staged to facilitate advanced energy solutions like local renewables, energy efficiency, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and Solar Emergency Microgrids.
The Clean Coalition’sPeninsula Advanced Energy Community (PAEC)project – which received a grant from the California Energy Commission in March – will officially launch in July. PAEC is staged to proliferate policies and cross-fertilize projects that facilitate advanced energy solutions like local renewables, energy efficiency, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and Solar Emergency Microgrids. It covers a core region in southern San Mateo County and a broader region that extends across the entire County and appends the City of Palo Alto. PAEC collaborators include numerous municipalities, Pacific Gas & Electric, and a multitude of leading property owners like Facebook, Stanford University, and Kaiser Permanente. See the growing list ofPAEC collaborators.
The overall PAEC coverage region is representative of typical urban-suburban California areas: largely built-out and struggling with the pressures of development.The Clean Coalition is confident that the PAEC can be replicated widely across California and beyond.
The State of California encourages the creation of Advanced Energy Communities as places where electricity demand is met through efficiency, renewables, and storage. In order for PAEC to be successful, replicable, andaligned with the State’s vision, it must meet these strategic goals:
- A high percentage of power in the coverage regions are generated from local, renewable sources.
- The energy used by residential and business customers are used as efficiently as possible.
- New commercial construction consists 100% zero net energy and more than 50% of existing commercial buildings retrofit to zero net energybuildings, allbefore the CEC’s 2030Title 24building energy efficiency requirement.
- Interconnecting local renewables to the electrical grid is straightforward.
- The grid is stable, robust, and reliable.
- Energy storage is affordable and widespread.
- Electric transportation replaces the internal combustion engine and electric vehicles in the coverage regions support the grid.
- Solar Emergency Microgrids are installed at all critical facilities, including police and fire stations, emergency operations centers, and emergency shelters.
The Clean Coalition plans to share future updates from PAEC’s development as they transpire over the next several months.
