Climate Change Solutions Update

Tag: Kern County

  • Q&A: Chris Gould of the California Resources Corp.

    California Resources Corp. is leading the way in California's transition from oil production to carbon storage, injecting carbon dioxide underground in Kern County to store emissions from a nearby power plant in a depleted oil reservoir. This innovative project marks the first of its kind in the state, utilizing a depleted oil and gas reservoir for carbon storage. In addition to this initiative, CRC is planning to repurpose infrastructure originally built for oil production by constructing a data center campus powered by its gas plant, showcasing their commitment to sustainable solutions for reducing emissions.

    https://www.eenews.net/articles/qa-chris-gould-of-the-california-resources-corp/

  • EDF and Masdar sign 15-year PPAs for BigBeau output

    The BigBeau Solar+Storage Project in Kern County, California, US, began operating in December 2022, with EDF power solutions North America and Masdar signing 15-year power purchase agreements for the 128MW solar installation and 40MW/160MWh battery energy storage system. This project, supplying power to Southern California Edison, can power up to 64,000 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 315,000t annually. Part of a larger collaboration between EDF and Masdar, this initiative aims to develop renewable energy sites in the US with a total capacity of 1.1GW, contributing significantly to climate solutions and the transition to clean energy.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/edf-masdar-sign-15-year-ppas-bigbeau-output/

  • California powers its massive water pumps with 105 solar project

    California has successfully launched the 105 MW Pastoria Solar Project in Kern County to power the Edmonston Pumping Plant, a key water supply infrastructure for Southern California. Equipped with tracking technology, this project is the largest renewable energy procurement in the history of the State Water Project. By utilizing renewable energy, officials hope to stabilize water delivery costs and move towards carbon neutrality by 2035. The project also incorporates a natural gas facility and a battery storage system, and was completed with union labor, showcasing the integration of climate goals with local economic development.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/04/20/california-powers-its-massive-water-pumps-with-105-solar-project/

  • New Energy Storage Systems Are Killing Trump’s Coal Dreams

    Energy storage innovators like Hydrostor are promoting compressed air as a long duration energy storage solution to support more wind and solar resources on the grid, with comparisons showing it to be slightly cheaper than Li-ion batteries. Hydrostor has signed a significant offtake agreement with California Community Power for a 500-megawatt compressed air energy storage facility in Kern County, California, marking progress towards building resiliency, security, and diversity into the nation's energy storage assets. Community choice aggregation systems in states like California are negotiating for more affordable electricity rates, with Hydrostor's A-CAES energy storage system at the Willow Rock facility gaining attention for its innovative capabilities. The growth of energy storage projects, including Hydrostor's expansion in various locations, is focused on developing long duration, compressed air energy storage facilities to meet the increasing demand for renewable energy solutions.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/02/14/new-energy-storage-solutions-are-killing-trumps-coal-power-fantasy/