CALIFORNIA - Revised Strategic Plan for Stationary Fuel Cells Released
The California Stationary
Fuel Cell Collaborative (CaSFCC) has published a revised strategic
plan. The 35-page publication reflects changes that have taken place in
California during the past three years, including a bulk purchase bid for fuel
cells by the California Power Authority (CPA), the preparation of a siting and
procurement initiative by the California Department of General Services (DGS),
the launch of several demonstration projects in the state, policy modifications
by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to the Self Generation
Investment Program and exit fee requirements, the establishment of the
California Coalition of Fuel Cell Manufacturers, and the adoption of three
incentive programs for which fuel cells are eligible.
The revised strategic plan emphasizes the development of sound and supportive
policy for DG; support for well-designed demonstration projects; procurement of
fuel-cell systems by the state; improved and expanded incentive programs; and
identification of technology barriers and implementation hurdles that impact
cost reduction, commercialization and deployment of fuel-cell systems.
The CaSFCC was established in June 2001 to accelerate the deployment of
stationary fuel-cell technology in California. The Collaborative adopted a
strategic plan in March 2002 to address issues facing fuel cells, such as high
capital costs, the undemonstrated durability and reliability of fuel-cell
technology, and the regulatory and policy hurdles associated with distributed
generation (DG).