Explicit involvement and incentivising of utility/grid operators is indeed a big step up vs classic PPAs particularly in the current context of grid constraints in the US
Groundbreaking from Google and NV Energy! “Typically companies procure clean energy, primarily #wind and #solar power, through power purchase agreements (PPAs) with project developers — a model that Google pioneered. This approach has been incredibly successful: since 2008, corporate clean energy buyers have unlocked nearly 200 GW of new solar and wind capacity around the world. But this approach has limitations. PPAs are often isolated from broader grid planning and utility investment processes, and the variability of the weather can mean inconsistent solar and wind availability. Therefore, fully decarbonizing electricity systems will require other technologies that can deliver clean power whenever it is needed (also known as “#cleanfirm capacity”). These technologies, like enhanced #geothermal, #longdurationenergystorage and advanced #nuclear power, are early-stage, relatively costly and poorly incentivized by current regulatory structures. As a result, customers often still rely on fossil fuels for reliable power when solar and wind aren’t available. To access the benefits of 24/7 carbon free energy technologies and meet the growing needs of local grids, we need a new approach that makes it easier to invest in clean energy projects that provide firm capacity to the grid.”