Bioenergy Renewable Auction Mechanism (BioRAM)

Bioenergy Renewable Auction Mechanism (BioRAM) Program

In 2016, the CPUC implemented Governor Brown's October 2015 Emergency Order addressing Tree Mortality by establishing the BioRAM program in Resolution E-4770.  BioRAM uses RPS standardized renewable auction mechanism (RAM) contract with a BioRAM rider to streamline the procurement process.  Subsequently, Senate Bill 859 (2016) directed additional BioRAM procurement implemented in CPUC Resolution E-4805.  The BioRAM program requires the large IOUs to procure 146 MWs of bioenergy from High Hazard Zone (HHZ) fuel, as defined by CAL FIRE, to aid in mitigating the threat of wildfires.

IOU BioRAM Procurement Orders

 

PG&E

SCE

SDG&E

Emergency Order (Res. E-4770)

20

20

10

SB 859

(Res. E-4805)

43

44

9

Total

63

64

19

Program Modifications

Senate Bill 901 (Dodd, 2018) and SB 1109 (Caballero, 2022) further amended the BioRAM program which the CPUC implemented in January 2019 via Resolution E-4977 and October 2022 via Resolution E-5228, respectively. Program modifications include expansion of eligible fuel stock that can be classified as HHZ fuel, monthly opt-out options, reporting option for annual fuel use requirements, and removal of missed fuel requirements as an event of default. The Resolution also ordered the IOUs to offer contract five years extensions to BioRAM contracts and to offer BioRAM contracts to other certain biomass facilities. 
 
The table below lists the IOU's current BioRAM contracts.
 

IOU BioRAM Contracts

IOU

Facility Name

Location

Capacity (MW)

PG&E

Burney

Shasta County, CA

29

PG&E

Wheelabrator Shasta

Shasta County, CA

34

PG&E

Woodland Biomass

Yolo County, CA

25

SCE

Rio Bravo Rocklin

Placer County, CA

24

SCE

Pacific Ultrapower Chinese Station

Tuolumne County, CA

18

SDG&E

Honey Lake Power Company / Greenleaf

Lassen County, CA

24

Total

 

 

154
 

High Hazard Zone Fuel Requirements

The IOUs are required to collect quarterly data from the BioRAM facilities to track the amount of HHZ feedstock that is being used to for bioenergy generation.  In addition, the IOUs are required to perform an annual audit to verify the amount of HHZ feedstock that BioRAM facilities utilize on a calendar year basis and measure the verified amount.
 
HHZ feedstock usage data for the current IOU-contract BioRAM facilities is aggregated below.  One bone dry ton (BDT) is approximately equivalent to 1 MWh of power.

High Hazard Zone (HHZ) Forest Fuel Usage from BioRAM Contracts

Year

BioRAM HHZ % Requirements

Percentage of Total Biomass Feedstock from HHZ Fuel

Total HHZ Delivered

(Bone Dry Tons)

Total HHZ Usage
To-Date (Bone Dry Tons)

2017

50%

54.6%

267,745

267,745

2018

60%

56.5%

671,847

939,592

2019

60% and 80%

84%

823,515

1,763,107

2020

60% and 80%

79%

829,522

2,592,629
 2021 60% and 80%  82.5%   844,527 4,212,315 
 2022 60% and 80%  84%   951,677 5,136,208 

BioRAM Non-Bypassable Charge

Senate Bill 859 directed that the costs from BioRAM procurement be allocated to all customers given that there are broad social benefits that are realized from supporting wildfire mitigation.  In December 2018, the CPUC issued D.18-12-003 establishing the methodology that will be used to calculate total BioRAM costs, including the value of BioRAM RECs and Resource Adequacy, and the allocation of the costs.

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