Global Round Up-7 (4th Of July/USA edition)

1. California produced 232 GWh renewable power on July 2
Renewable power generation in California, excluding large hydro, rose to 232,314 MWh on July 2 from 219,477 MWh in the previous day, thanks to a 20.4% increase in wind farm output. According to data by the California Independent System Operator Corp (ISO), wind parks in the US state produced 75,957 MWh.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) farms generated a total of 102,651 MWh, roughly the same as on July 1. In addition, solar thermal power plants generated 6,201 MWh. The state also produced a total of 23,334 MWh of geothermal power.

2. EDPR strikes US PPAs for 405 MW of wind power
EDP Renewables announced on Tuesday it has signed four power purchase agreements (PPAs) tied to 405 MW of wind energy generating capacity in the US. EDP Renewables North America LLC has entered into 15 year PPAs with three unnamed companies of the commercial and industrial sector. It will supply these firms with electricity from two wind parks located in the states of Illinois and Indiana. They are expected to go online in 2019 and 2020, respectively, the company said.

With these contracts, the firm now has 2.1 GW of wind PPAs in the US, thus exceeding its goal of 1.8 GW of long-term agreements for plants to be installed in 2016-2020. EDPR also currently has a contracted global capacity of 3.6 GW, surpassing its business plan target of 3.5 GW capacity for that same period.

3. Sempra Energy to shed 2.6-GW of US wind and solar assets
San Diego-based utility holding company Sempra Energy said in a company announced last week that it will be looking to sell all of Sempra Renewables’ wind and solar assets in the US, including wholly-owned facilities and joint-venture and tax-equity investments with a combined capacity of about 2,600 MW. The same goes for projects in development. The company has ownership interests and investments in nine solar projects in Nevada, Arizona and California, as well as wind projects in eight states stretching from Hawaii to Pennsylvania, according to the announcement.

“Renewable energy is a vital part of the energy landscape and we have developed a great platform, but we have determined that our U.S. solar and wind generation businesses would be more valuable to another owner,” said Jeffrey Martin, CEO of Sempra Energy. The decision was made after conducting a year-long strategic review of its businesses.

4. New Bill Aims to Extend Electric Car Tax Credits in the US, Lift Cap
Democratic legislators in the United States House of Representatives have introduced a new bill that would lift the cap on electric-car tax credits and extend the incentive for another 10 years. The bill, introduced by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), would lift the cap entirely for automakers.

As the law currently stands, the $7,500 tax credit is only good for automakers until the company sells 200,000 qualifying cars (battery-electric and plug-in hybrids, depending on the battery size). Once an automaker reaches the cap, the credits phase out over four quarters. In the first two quarters, the automaker receives 50 percent of the tax credit, and in the final two quarters, the credit drops to just 25 percent. After that, automakers no longer have the credit to wield in advertising or promotions. But, if the bill is passed companies that exceed 200,000 sales like Tesla and General Motors will instead of getting a tax credit with an electric-car owner’s tax return, get it credited immediately.

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