Tuesday, June 24, 2014

USA, California:

Calpine Seeks Level Playing Field for California's Green Energy (The Street)



Calpine's Michael Rogers, a GRC Member, talks about the company's difficulty securing renewals for existing contracts for its geothermal power and what kind of shadow that casts on new plants the company is developing. State policies in California favor subsidized wind and solar power, the company says. But wind and solar are an intermittent power source where geothermal is constant. Calpine says the true costs of wind and solar and the true economic benefits of its geothermal facilities aren't being factored in. Calpine's geothermal plants at The Geysers currently supply 18% of California's renewable energy, employ 300 people and help neighboring counties recycle wastewater.