Water Authority, City of San Diego Measuring Interest in Potential Energy Storage Project
The Water Authority and the City of San Diego on Jan. 4 took a step toward the possibility of helping the region meet its future energy needs through a new pumped storage opportunity at the San Vicente Reservoir site.
By releasing a joint Request for Letters of Interest in the proposed San Vicente Energy Storage Facility, the Water Authority and the City of San Diego are reaching out to electric utilities, developers, investors and energy off-takers to help determine who may be interested in participating in the potential project. The request will also help determine what possible next steps are in the best interests of regional ratepayers and stakeholders.
The potential project would create a new, up to 500-megawatt source of renewable energy that could provide electric grid stability to the region during peak times for energy use or when demand for electricity is high and renewable energy supplies are scarce. With the capability to provide the region with up to eight hours of storage capacity daily, the project could support electrical grid operations that are essential to integrating large new supplies of renewable electricity into the California and western power grids.
John Paasch and Frank Gehrke from California Department of Water Resources conduct a manual snow survey on Jan. 3.
California Snowpack Measurement Grows in Early January
On Jan. 3 the California Department of Water Resources measured the snow water content at 53 percent of normal at the Phillips Station near Lake Tahoe. However, an active storm track kept delivering snow so that by the end of the week the statewide snowpack was just above average for this time of year.
Sign Up for Tours of State Water Project and Colorado River Aqueduct
The Water Authority, in conjunction with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, host tours of the State Water Project and Colorado River Aqueduct System. These tours, called inspection trips, help interested participants learn about current and historical water issues. Tours also provide a firsthand look at the magnitude of the water delivery systems that feed Southern California by visiting key sites and facilities.
Transportation, lodging and meals are provided. Limited seating is available on each tour and registration is required.
The Landscape Design for Homeowners Workshop is a three-hour workshop that teaches homeowners the basics of how to do a landscape makeover.
Topics include soil, design, turf removal, plant selection, planning, irrigation, rainwater catchment and implementation -- all the steps on your path to a beautiful, water-efficient landscape. Upcoming workshops:
The Times of San Diego wrote about the energy storage project in East County that is being explored by the Water Authority and the City of San Diego. "When we filled San Vicente Reservoir last summer, we filled it with more than just water - we filled it with huge potential for energy benefits," said Mark Muir, chair of the water authority board. "Given this new potential for energy from a recently expanded water resource, it's only prudent to continue to research the potential benefits to our region's ratepa
yers."
