FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11.15.18

Press Contact: Leora Broydo Vestel

(415) 999-4757 | leora@cal-cca.org

 

California CCAs Achieve 2,000-Megawatt Milestone for New Renewables

Long-term clean energy contract commitments by CCAs double in one year

 

Concord, Calif. – The California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) is pleased to announce that community choice aggregators (CCAs) in the state have signed long-term contracts with new renewable energy facilities totaling more than 2,000 megawatts (MW), reflecting a strong commitment by CCAs to drive clean energy and economic development in California and help the state achieve ambitious decarbonization and climate change goals.

CCAs achieved the 2,000 MW milestone in October when Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) and Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) approved power purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling 278 MW of solar coupled with 340 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage for two separate projects, to be built in Kern and Kings Counties. In 2017, CCAs in California had secured approximately 1,000 MW of new renewables under long-term contracts, so the figure has doubled in one year.

“This is a significant achievement for the CCA movement in California. It shows CCAs are ready, willing and able to sign long-term contracts with new renewable energy projects, fueling new sources of clean energy, job creation and revenues for host communities,” said Beth Vaughan, executive director of CalCCA.

California’s aggregators have signed a total of 59 PPAs with new solar, wind, biogas, and energy storage facilities, supporting billions of dollars in construction and thousands of jobs. All but three of the contracts are for terms of ten years or longer.

The renewable energy projects are located in 16 California counties – from Mendocino County in the north to Riverside County in the south, with one located in New Mexico. Several projects are already operating, while others will become operational between 2019 and 2021. A map of project locations and a list of contracts can be found here: CalCCA Renewable Energy Map. The table below includes a sampling of projects:

 

CCA*	Project	MW	Type	County	PPA Term (yrs)
PCE	Wright Solar Park	200	Solar	Merced	25
MCE	Little Bear Solar	160	Solar	Fresno	20
MBCP/SVCE	RE Slate 1	150/45	Solar/Storage	Kings	15
MBCP/SVCE	Big Beau Solar	128/40	Solar/Storage	Kern	20
CPSF	San Pablo Raceway	100	Solar	Los Angeles	22
SCP	Sand Hill C	80	Wind	Alameda	20
LCE	Western Antelope Dry Ranch	10	Solar	Los Angeles	20

* Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE), MCE, Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP), Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), CleanPowerSF (CPSF), Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), Lancaster Choice Energy (LCE)

Marin Clean Energy (MCE) initiated service in 2010 becoming the first operational CCA in California. There are now 19 CCAs serving approximately 8 million customers in the state and momentum is building. Ten CCAs launched in 2018 alone and many more are under development.

Despite their newness, CCAs are viewed as reliable and stable counterparties and are proving adept at securing cost-effective, long-term power resources. As a result, CCAs are able to serve their customers with electricity that is cost-competitive, and in many cases greener, with the supplies of investor-owned utilities.

“A key aspect of the value proposition offered by MCE and other California CCAs is the requirement that renewable and clean energy be a major component of the customers’ power supply mix,” Moody’s Investor Services said upon assigning MCE an investment grade credit rating in May. “This value is one of the most significant factors that provides strength to the long-term business model.”

As more CCAs begin procuring long-term resources, investments in new clean energy facilities will intensify. Clean Power Alliance and East Bay Community Energy, launched in 2018, are among the CCAs that are currently evaluating developers’ offers for new renewables projects in California. This fact sheet provides additional information on CCA power purchasing.

PDF version of this press release is here:  CCAs Achieve 2000 Megawatt Milestone

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About CalCCA: The California Community Choice Association supports the development and long-term sustainability of locally-run Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) electricity providers in California. CalCCA is the authoritative,

unified voice of local CCAs, offering expertise on local energy issues while promoting fair competition, consumer choice and cost allocation and recognizing the social and economic benefits of localized energy authorities.

For more information visit www.cal-cca.org.