San José Clean Energy and Pattern Energy Sign Long-term Agreement for New, Large Wind Project
For Immediate Release
Contact: Zachary Struyk, Assistant Director
San José Clean Energy, City of San José
(408) 535-4868, zachary.struyk@sanjoseca.gov
San José Clean Energy and Pattern Energy Sign Long-term Agreement for New, Large Wind Project
225 MW of New Mexico wind will help San José meet its ambitious climate and renewable energy goals
SAN JOSÉ, Calif. (November 12, 2020) – San José Clean Energy (SJCE) and developer Pattern Energy have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement for 225 megawatts (MW) of wind energy that will be built in New Mexico by the end of 2021.
This wind project augments SJCE’s previous investments in new solar and battery storage by diversifying its portfolio. Wind has a complementary generation profile to solar and typically delivers power around the clock. Due to the project’s location in New Mexico, its energy deliveries will generally increase earlier each day than local wind projects, helping meet customer demand during the crucial early evening hours when demand is high but renewable energy supply is typically low.
“This investment will power 186,000 homes each year with clean, pollution-free electricity,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo. “I’m proud that as San José drives California’s renewable energy future, we will leave a more livable planet to our children.”
SJCE has ambitious renewable energy goals. As the City’s Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), it provides more than 330,000 residential and commercial customers with 45 percent renewable energy as a default – 12 percent more than the state’s requirement – at lower rates than PG&E.
“This agreement provides us with a significant amount of cost-effective renewable energy during more hours of the day and overnight,” said Lori Mitchell, Director of the City of San José’s Community Energy Department, which operates SJCE. “As a government agency, we pass this savings on to our customers through competitive rates.”
“Pattern Energy is pleased to collaborate with San José Clean Energy on our major New Mexico wind project and bring the benefits of clean, affordable, and reliable renewable energy to the residents and businesses of San José,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy.
This agreement is SJCE’s fourth investment in new renewable resources since its service launch in February 2019. Before this agreement, SJCE had invested in 262 MW of solar and 10 MW of battery storage. A particularly innovative project was announced in April with developer Terra-Gen: a 12-year agreement guaranteeing delivery of 62 MW of renewable energy from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day. This will help meet SJCE’s goal of providing more renewable energy during all hours of the day to increase grid reliability and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
California’s CCAs are expected to make long-term investments in more than 10,000 MW of new clean energy resources by 2030, including solar, wind, geothermal and energy storage.
Watch a short video highlighting the project with Pattern Energy on SJCE’s YouTube Channel.
About San José Clean Energy
San José Clean Energy is the new electricity generation service provider for residents and businesses in the City of San José, operated by the City’s Community Energy Department. Governed by the City Council, it provides more than 330,000 residential and commercial electricity customers with clean, renewable power options at competitive prices, from sources like solar, wind and hydropower. For more information, please visit www.SanJoseCleanEnergy.org.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn @SJCleanEnergy.
About the City of San José
With more than one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 10th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. In 2011, the City adopted Envision San José 2040, a long-term growth plan that sets forth a vision and a comprehensive road map to guide the City’s anticipated growth through the year 2040.
About Pattern Energy
Pattern Energy is one of the world’s largest privately-owned developers and operators of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects. Its operational portfolio includes 28 renewable energy facilities that use proven, best-in-class technology with an operating capacity of 4.4 GW in the United States, Canada and Japan. Pattern Energy is guided by a long-term commitment to serve customers, protect the environment, and strengthen communities. For more information, visit www.patternenergy.com.
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