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California secures $600M federal grant to improve power grid By Staff
T
he U.S. Department of Energy granted $600 million to a public-private partnership to improve California's electric power grid that officials hope will lead to energy savings and better reliability for consumers, the governor's office announced Tuesday. The federal grant will fund upgrades to 100 miles of electricity transmission lines with technologies that improve reliability and more swiftly deliver "clean, affordable electricity," according to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office. A consortium comprised of the California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, California Independent System Operator, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and Southern California Edison will administer the grant, known as the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership, or GRIP. "The agencies, grid operator and utilities will
partner on the California Harnessing Advanced Reliable Grid Enhancing Technologies for Transmission (CHARGE 2T) program, which will expand transmission capacity and provide interconnection improvements to increase and accelerate equitable access to clean energy resources across the state," according to the governor's office. “Once again, the BidenHarris Administration is not just talking the talk, they’re walking the walk," Newsom said in a statement. "This funding is critical to our efforts to build a power grid that ensures all Californians have access to cleaner, cheaper, more reliable electricity." Officials highlighted these aspects of the project: -- It will support over 300 direct jobs; -- equip over 100 miles of transmission lines with updated conductor technologies that officials said "will
programs; and -- "develop a portal to improve transparency and efficiency in the interconnection process," officials said. “As California grapples with increasingly extreme weather as a result of the climate crisis, bolstering our transmission network is essential for protecting public safety and ensuring a successful clean energy transition,” U.S. Senator Alex Padilla said in a statement. “To meet the challenges we face, we must modernize our grid, and there is no better way to achieve that than through reconductoring. Thanks to this historic investment in our state’s CHARGE 2T program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re updating our transmission lines to efficiently, reliably, and affordably deliver clean electricity while creating new green jobs.”
Electricity transmission lines. | Photo courtesy of the California Energy Commission
help connect more clean energy resources than the existing grid can accommodate at this time"; -- deliver savings of a projected $200 million in energy costs because of
enhanced grid efficiency; -- "create economic and community benefits for disadvantaged communities," according to Newsom's office; -- invest in energy and utility workforce training
Clean energy leadership The governor's office touted the state's status as the world’s fifth largest economy that is being powered by more clean energy than ever in the past, setting new records and accelerating progress toward 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. At 10,379 megawatts, the state's battery capacity has jumped 1,250% from 770 MW in 2019 when Newsom took office. California’s electricity grid broke "a series of clean energy records this year," officials said. "For at least 100 days this year, clean energy has exceeded grid demand consumed at some point during the day." Newsom's office credited the new clean energy resources and surge in battery storage with enabling the state's grid to withstand July’s two-week heat wave "and even exported
See Power grid Page 02
Nixon Fire containment increases to 92%
Murrieta's police chief announces pending retirement
By City News Service
By City News Service
C
ontainment of the Nixon Fire increased to 92% Monday with all evacuation warnings and orders lifted as of 3 p.m, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department announced. The slow-moving 5,222acre brush fire burning in a federal preserve on the See Nixon Fire Page 36
southern tip of Riverside County, along the boundary with San Diego County, had been 82% contained as of Sunday night. Full containment was expected by Wednesday. "Firefighters continued to work hard to ensure strong control lines around the
fire's perimeter," a statement from the departments issued Monday night. "Crews will remain in the area over the next several days, continuing mop up and gain complete containment of the fire. Residents and visitors are reminded to use caution when driving near the fire
M
urrieta police Chief Anthony "Tony" Conrad announced Monday he will retire at the end of the year. Conrad, who started his law enforcement career close to 30 years ago, will be officially concluding his duties as Murrieta's top cop on Dec. See Police chief Page 36
30. He has been at the helm since December 2020. "Chief Conrad has built a well-respected, community-focused and forwardthinking department that utilizes new technology and resources to remain trustworthy to residents," City
Manager Kim Summers said. "I am sad to see Chief Conrad leave, but I thank him for his years of service and ensuring Murrieta remains one of the safest cities in the nation." He began his career as a peace officer in February 1995, when he was sworn in as a patrolman with the