1. Introduction

a. Goal of proposed project. Determine the amount of renewable energy that could develop in the region based on an analysis of costs, benefits, technologies, and other impacts, including environmental, infrastructure support and land use considerations.
b. Analytical approach: Focus on technical and economic potential, not policy. Reflect uncertainty through use of reasonably probable ranges. Emphasize a practical, collaborative process, and rigorous peer review of results.
c. Geographical scope: Segment the study into three sub-regions: Region 1: Within the SDG&E transmission control area;
Region 2: Northern Baja California and Imperial County
Region 3: Other resources within an approximate 100 mile radius of San Diego (for example, the Palm Springs wind resources). Prioritize study resources toward regions 1 and 2; consider expanding to Region 3 as time and resources permit.
NOTE: The remainder of the document will refer to “region” for brevity, but the term is meant to include all three regions
d. High level overview of region’s energy outlook, population, etc drawing from available sources such as CEC, SANDAG, etc.
e. Define renewable resources for purposes of this study (Use prevailing definition in CA statutes, which is roughly Solar (electric and thermal), wind, geothermal, Biomass / Biogas, small hydro.
f. Participants in this study: Three groups:
• Working Group: specific expertise in the topics, accountable for results, and for organizing and performing the work: SDSU, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, SDGE, SDREO, SANDAG, Qualcomm
• Review Group: help review work, and provide knowledge or perspective on relevant issues on a regular basis:
Cities of San Diego and Chula Vista, County of San Diego, United States Navy, NRDC plus Local Environmental Representative, Labor Representative, Chamber of Commerce Representative, Mexico Government Representative, County Water Authority, Local Consumer Representative
• Technical Resources: ad hoc contributors who have particular knowledge on an issue:
CEC, NREL, Vendors, Consultants

2. Renewable Energy Resources

a. What renewable technology / products are available in the region?
b. Where are potential renewable resources able to be located
c. How do potential locations fit with available or reasonably developable infrastructure such as water, transmission lines, etc?
d. Land use considerations: protected land, cost

3. Renewable Resources - Technical

a. Current state of technology for each resource, including technical challenges and risks
b. Production characteristics of each renewable technology, including reliability/availability, dispatchability, hourly production curves for various seasons.

4. Employing Renewable Resources – Economic

a. Current costs and prices of available renewables, including comparison with alternatives including conventional resources
b. Cost projections for each resource / technology, including ranges and probabilities
c. Local potential by technology

5. Drivers of Renewable Resources’ Potential

a. Technical
b. Economic. We may have to establish an “economic yardstick”
c. Consumer convenience / acceptance
d. Regulatory.
e. Codes and ordinances.
f. Transmission infrastructure
g. Institutional
h. Land use considerations: visual, noise, intrusion on recreational land
i. Indian nation and other key stakeholder group issues
j. Antiquities act and other hurdles to power plant development
k. Recoverable energy in San Diego region from renewable resources after taking constraints into consideration

6. Environmental Considerations for Renewable Resources, including comparison with conventional alternatives

a. Air quality
b. Water quality and quantity
c. Land use issues for generation and or and transmission
d. Visual, noise, smell etc., health impacts

7. Summary

a. Technically and economically realistic renewable resources available to region
b. Tradeoffs, options, choices that will govern levels that actually develop
c. Handoff to public policy and resource planning

8. Timetable (TBD by Working Group; strawman proposal below)

a. Region 1: complete within six months of study kickoff
b. Region 2: complete within a year from study kickoff
c. Region 3: TBD