Clean Energy

The energy generation process, particularly from fossil fuels, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change. However, California’s energy grid has become cleaner in recent years (as evident in TCR’s decreasing Emission Factor, which is used to calculate GHG emissions from energy) due to various pieces of legislation, new regulations, and programs. DWR-SWP plays a key role in these efforts through its Climate Action Plan (CAP), which targets aggressive reductions in GHG emissions. The plan is designed to help DWR-SWP achieve carbon neutrality while ensuring water supply reliability.

DWR-SWP has a comprehensive plan that guides the SWP Power Portfolio to meeting or exceeding the aggressive GHG reduction targets as noted in DWR’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) Phase I document (CAP Phase I Update 2023) on its way to Carbon Neutrality. 

DWR-SWP is committed to reducing both water and energy consumption across its facilities. These efficiency improvements directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help meet California’s climate goals outlined in Executive Orders B-18-12 and N-10-21, which include:

• 20 percent reduction in grid-based energy purchases by 2018
• 20 percent reduction in overall water use by 2020
• Converting 50 percent of building square footage to zero net energy by 2025
• Converting 100 percent of building square footage to zero net energy by 2035

In 2024, DWR-SWP completed a water and energy efficiency assessment of its retail facilities. This included evaluating equipment such as water fixtures, HVAC systems, and lighting to determine where improvements could help achieve 50% Zero Net Energy (ZNE) compliance by 2025 and 100% by 2035.

The SWP has one of the cleanest power portfolios of any utility in California. DWR-SWP hasbeen proactively responding to the evolving power market by reducing reliance on fossil fuel energy resources, assisting in maintaining grid reliability, and controlling energy costs for water customers.  Over the past several years, DWR-SWP has conducted several surveys to determine suitability to support the development of Clean Energy generation.  Development of Clean Energy generation is one of the methods for reducing GHG emissions.  DWR is committed to exploring all efforts to advance integration of Clean Energy resources and technologies to provide Clean Energy to California.

To efficiently manage water resources and supply energy that DWR-SWP could not produce from its own resources, DWR-SWP has historically procured energy from various economically available sources using long-term power contracts to meet its energy needs.

With the passage of SB100 in 2018 and SB1020 signed in 2022, DWR-SWP has a goal to have 100% of its electric load met by carbon free or renewable energy resources.

The SWP’s plan to help achieve its long-term GHG emissions reduction goals is by incrementally adding Clean Energy resources into the SWP Power Portfolio.

The Clean Energy projects contracted for include:

• Solar
  •  DWR-SWP has secured Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for multiple solar projects. These projects provide renewable energy while helping to reduce GHG emissions. Some examples include:
    • RE Camelot Solar Project (45 MW) in operation since late 2014 in Kern County produces approximately 124,000 MWh of energy annually.
    • Solverde 1 Solar Facility (85 MW) in operation since late 2016 near Lancaster produces approximately 230,000 MWh of energy each year.
    • Pearblossom Solar Facility (9.5 MW), which is adjacent to the Pearblossom Pumping Plant and has been in operation since late 2016, produces approximately 28,000 MWh of energy annually.
    • Sanborn Solar Project (36 MW) in operation since late 2022 in Kern County produces approximately 105,000 MWh of energy annually.
    • Pastoria Solar Energy Project (100 MW) in Kern County, which will be operational in early 2026 and produce approximately 280,000 MWh of energy annually.
    • Kyan Solar, LLC (100 MW) in Kern County, which will be operational in 2027 and produce approximately 281,000 MWh of energy annually.
  • Active contracts in operation total 175.5 MWs of capacity and 487 GWhs of energy
• Hydropower Projects
  • DWR-SWP has long-standing hydropower agreements to ensure Clean Energy.  Some examples include:
    • Pine Flat Hydropower Facility (165 MW) in operation since early 1984 in Fresno County produces approximately 431,000 MWh of energy annually.
    • Hoover Hydropower Facility (2,080 MW) in operation since 1934 in southeast Nevada, where DWR-SWP purchases 3 MW of capacity, contributes approximately 5,000 MWh of energy annually.
    • Pine Flat U4 Hydropower Facility (4.5 MW) in Fresno County, which will be operational in late 2027 and produce approximately 9,800 MWh annually.
  • Active contracts in operation total 168 MWs of capacity and 436 GWhs of energy.

DWR released the State Water Project Energy Roadmap in 2022 that identifies the short-, mid-, and long-term opportunities and challenges faced by the SWP Power Portfolio in its pursuit of an efficient and effective power portfolio that serves DWR and the 29 State Water Contractors in achieving their water supply reliability and clean energy goals in a cost effective manner.