Since May 2017, RCEA’s Community Choice Energy (CCE) program has provided power to approximately 63,000 electric account customers, delivering around 700 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. As a public agency focused on sustainability and energy resilience, RCEA is dedicated to ensuring that Humboldt County’s energy needs are met with clean, renewable energy sources.
Power Procurement Goals
RCEA’s power procurement is guided by the following key goals:
- 100% Renewable & Carbon-Free Electricity by 2025: This goal was adopted by the RCEA Board in 2019, reflecting our commitment to a clean energy future. In June 2024, the Board decided to delay this goal until 2026 due to short-term financial constraints.
- 100% of the County’s Electricity Needs Met by Local Renewable Resources by 2030: This target, established by the RCEA Board in 2016, emphasizes the importance of local energy solutions.
- 65% State-Mandated Renewable Procurement Under Long-Term Contracts (10+ Years): To comply with the state’s SB 350 requirements, RCEA secured at least 65% of its renewable energy through long-term contracts beginning with the 2021-2024 Renewables Portfolio Standard compliance period. RCEA is doing its part to ensure a reliable, sustainable statewide energy supply.
Humboldt’s Electric Future
In addition to planning to meet RCEA’s own clean energy goals, we are required by the California Public Utilities Commission to produce an integrated resource plan that looks ten years into the future. This plan is updated every two years, with RCEA setting power procurement goals that do our part to ensure the statewide grid is reliable and that Californians are ensured clean and affordable electricity.
During 2023 we engaged the community in a process we call Humboldt’s Electric Future. View the report to learn about how we get our electricity today, what goals our Board of Directors has set, and what we need to do to comply with state regulations on power procurement. Within this framework, community members had their voices heard on important decisions such as:
- Which clean and renewable resources should we maximize in our power portfolio?
- How important is it that our clean and renewable energy comes from local sources?
- How should we balance the community’s priorities, such as clean energy, local economic development, and low utility rates?
Power Mix
RCEA’s energy mix constantly evolves to reflect our commitment to a cleaner, greener energy future. Our renewable energy goals include increased reliance on locally sourced power and broader diversification across multiple renewable resources.
Our power portfolio includes various renewable energy sources, each significantly contributing to achieving our goals. These sources are selected to balance reliability, affordability, and sustainability.
RCEA Power Mix Over Time
In June 2024, faced with financial challenges including increased clean power procurement costs and the need to stay competitive with anticipated decreases in PG&E electric rates, the RCEA Board adopted a resolution reducing renewable power procurement goals for 2024 and 2025 to compliance with State minimum Renewables Portfolio Standard levels. In 2026 or sooner, financial conditions permitting, RCEA will resume its pathway to 100% renewable power by 2030.
This graphic shows the modified clean power procurement targets for 2024 and 2025.
Power Content Label (PCL)
The power content label shows RCEA’s power mix compared to the statewide average power mix for the most recent reporting year. It is mailed to customers every year in compliance with the California Energy Commission’s Power Source Disclosure Program.
Renewable Energy Sources in Our Portfolio
RCEA proudly sources electricity from a variety of renewable and carbon-free projects, balancing sustainability, reliability, and support for our local economy.
Click on each map to enlarge.
Note that the italicized projects are in development.
RCEA’s Humboldt County Power Resources Map
RCEA’s State and Regional Power Resources Map
Local Biomass Energy
The term biomass refers to materials of biological origin, such as forest and agricultural waste, that can be used as fuel for generating electric power.
Local biomass power from Humboldt Sawmill Company in Scotia makes up approximately 20% of RCEA’s current electricity portfolio. The facility uses waste material from local sawmills to fuel its two operating generating units, which power their lumber mill in addition to supplying power to the grid.
2024 Reporting Materials Provided by Humboldt Sawmill Company per their memorandum of understanding with RCEA. View the complete reports here.
Hydropower
RCEA includes both large-scale and small-scale hydropower in its mix.
Cove Hydroelectric Project is a local, small-scale facility that adds to our commitment to regional resources. In September 2019, RCEA signed a 15-year power purchase agreement with Snow Mountain Hydro for its Cove Hydropower Project, an existing, seasonal, 5.6 MW run-of-the-river project in Shasta County.
Solar Energy
Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid: A local solar and battery storage system powering the Humboldt County airport and supporting energy resilience during outages.
Sandrini Solar: RCEA signed a 15-year power purchase agreement in May 2020 with EDP Renewables North America (EDPR) for the 100 MW Sandrini Sol 1 Solar Park in Kern County, California. The project is complete and began delivering power to RCEA customers in late 2024. Under the power purchase agreement, RCEA will receive approximately 300,000 MWh of renewable electricity per year. This will initially meet approximately 45% of RCEA’s current load.
North Coast Highway Solar Project: The North Coast Highway Solar (NCHS) project was procured through RCEA’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Program, which offers 20-year fixed-price contracts for new renewable energy projects under 5 MW in Humboldt County. The NCHS facility is comprised of two 990 kW solar projects to be built in Hydesville, CA and is expected to be operational in 2025.
Geothermal Energy
As a member of California Community Power, RCEA is jointly in contract with several other CCE programs across California to procure round-the-clock renewable geothermal energy from a number of projects currently under development in California and Nevada.
Battery Storage and Microgrids
RCEA supports innovative energy resilience with projects like the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid, which integrates solar generation with battery storage to maintain critical operations during outages.
Clean Power Purchases
RCEA also contracts with Foster Clean Power, ensuring reliable access to additional clean energy sources that support California’s carbon-free electricity goals. The Foster Clean Power A and B projects include 7 MW solar plus 2.5 MW battery storage being developed by Renewable America on land adjacent to Foster Avenue just outside Arcata city limits. Once operational in 2025, the project will contribute reliable, renewable energy to RCEA’s portfolio.