Clean Power Alliance Launches Clean Energy 2020 Request for Offers (RFO)

October 22, 2020

Building on a successful run of newly signed clean energy contracts, Clean Power Alliance (CPA) released its Clean Energy 2020 Request for Offers to expand its renewable energy portfolio today. CPA will solicit offers for long-term clean energy power purchase agreements (PPAs), with an eye towards diversifying its renewable energy sources, adding long-duration storage, and securing structured products to deliver energy at specific key times.

Within the “Renewable Energy Contract” category, CPA will be seeking Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)-eligible generation and RPS + Storage projects that are 5 MW – 300 MW in size. Within the “Standalone Storage Contract” category, CPA will be seeking standalone storage projects that are 5 MW – 100 MW in size. For projects that include a storage component, eligible storage durations include conventional 4-hour duration as well as longer storage duration (up to 12-hour duration). Eligible projects must have a commercial operation date no later than the end 2025; however, projects with commercial online dates of December 21, 2023 or sooner are preferred.

“The urgency to address extreme climate change events this year has deepened our commitment to quickly transition to carbon-free, renewable resources,” said Natasha Keefer, Director of Power Planning and Procurement, Clean Power Alliance. “We look forward to receiving innovative offers for projects, particularly long duration storage, that will help us achieve our ambitious goals.”

These projects will complement CPA’s recently expanded portfolio, which includes new solar plus storage, standalone storage, wind, and small hydroelectric projects approved by the CPA board over the past year. Clean Energy 2020 RFO project submissions will be evaluated on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors that include economic value, development risk, workforce development, environmental stewardship, benefits to Disadvantaged Communities, and project location.

Ascend Analytics is administering the RFO process on behalf of CPA. Prospective bidders must register on the Clean Energy RFO 2020 website in order to participate. Submission instructions, the timeframe for bidding and awards, and other key documents can also be found on the Clean Energy RFO 2020 website. The bidder webinar will be held on October 28, 2020 from 11AM-12PM PST.