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.
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IOU BioRAM Procurement Orders |
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|
|
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.|
IOU BioRAM Contracts |
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|
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.|
High Hazard Zone (HHZ) Forest Fuel Usage from BioRAM Contracts |
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|
Year |
BioRAM HHZ % Requirements |
Percentage of Total Biomass Feedstock from HHZ Fuel |
Total HHZ Delivered (Bone Dry Tons) |
Total HHZ Usage |
|
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 |