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Posted on by NancyStephenson
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RCEA Joins California Community Power Members for a 2nd Long Duration Energy Storage Procurement Project

The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) has again teamed up with six of our Community Choice Aggregator members on another lithium-ion energy storage project. ‘Goal Line’ will be a 50MW/400MWh project with eight hours of discharge duration. It’ll be developed by Onward Energy in Escondido, California, with an expected online date of 2025.

Energy storage continues to play a key role in maximizing the benefits of renewable energy that is so abundant during the day but drops off in the evening.

See our joint press release below for further details.

Read press release

California Community Power Members Approve Second Lithium-Ion Long-Duration Energy Storage Contract
Six CCAs sign on to new California lithium-ion storage project

March 7, 2022

Monterey, Calif. – At a special meeting of the California Community Power (CC Power) board on February 25, members of the Joint Powers Agency voted to enter into a contract for the 50-megawatt (MW)/400-megawatt hour (MWh) Goal Line long-duration energy storage project. The lithium-ion battery storage project, developed by Onward Energy, will have eight hours of discharge duration and will be located in Escondido, California, with an expected online date of 2025.

“The collaboration of California Community Power members has been a tremendous success as we enter into our second long-duration storage agreement,” said Geof Syphers, CC Power Board Chair and Sonoma Clean Power CEO. “This new contract allows the participating members to meet our state-mandated long-duration storage requirements, showing how CCAs are leading the way to advance clean energy in California.”

“Combined with the approval of the Tumbleweed project in January 2022 – the first CC Power long-duration storage contract, the Goal Line contract demonstrates the commitment of member CCAs to confront the reliability needs of the power grid to hit California’s greenhouse gas reduction targets by 2030,” said Tim Haines, CC Power Interim General Manager.

“Onward is honored that California Community Power has entrusted us with this important project,” said Steve Doyon, CEO of Onward Energy. “Long-duration storage is an important part of the energy transition, and we are proud that the Goal Line battery storage facility will provide clean, reliable power to CC Power members for years to come.”

Participating CCAs

The Goal Line project adheres to the long-duration storage enhanced conditions adopted by the CC Power Board. It will be constructed under a Project Labor Agreement, assuring prevailing wages and use of apprenticeship programs.

This joint procurement effort for long-duration energy storage is a continuation of the Oct. 2020 Request for Offers (RFO) seeking to procure cost-effective and viable long-duration storage resources. A subset of CC Power member CCAs issued the RFO before the California Public Utilities Commission Mid-Term Reliability procurement order (Decision 21-06-035). The Goal Line and Tumbleweed contracts will allow the participating CCAs to meet their obligation for the long-duration energy storage requirement mandated by the CPUC.

Participation in the RFO and resulting projects is voluntary for each CC Power member. The participating agencies for the Goal Line project are CleanPowerSF, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, San Jose Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Sonoma Clean Power Authority, and Valley Clean Energy. The governing boards of each participating member will follow their local review and approval processes for the contract and associated agreements for the Goal Line project.

The ongoing RFO process and member participation are discussed during noticed public meetings of the CC Power board. Additional projects identified during the competitive solicitation process will be reviewed at upcoming meetings. Meeting information is available at cacommunitypower.org/meetings.

About California Community Power

California Community Power is a Joint Powers Agency comprised of ten California Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs). The agency allows its member CCAs to combine their buying power to procure new, cost-effective clean energy and reliability resources to continue advancing local and state climate goals. California Community Power members represent over 3 million customers across more than 145 municipalities spanning from Humboldt County to Santa Barbara County. Learn more at cacommunitypower.org.

About Onward Energy
Onward Energy is an independent power generator that owns and operates a 4GW portfolio of solar, wind, and gas generation projects in the U.S. With 43 projects in 16 states, Onward Energy is a national leader in the clean energy transition, investing in the next generation of reliable, clean technologies that will enable our customers and communities to meet their decarbonization goals faster. More information can be found at www.OnwardEnergy.com.

Media Contact
Pamela Leonard
Communications Manager
Silicon Valley Clean Energy
pamela.leonard@svcleanenergy.org
O: 408-721-5301 x1004

Here are a few links to coverage of the story:

News

Posted on by NancyStephenson
Battery energy storage system in nature

RCEA Joins Six California Community Power Members in a Contract for 69 Megawatts of Long Duration Energy Storage

The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) has teamed up with six other Community Choice Aggregators on a new energy storage project that not only helps fulfill compliance requirements but more importantly supports the transition to a carbon-free energy future. Low-carbon renewable energy supplies tend to be more intermittent on the grid, so RCEA and others load-serving entities will continue to invest in long-term storage to reliably deliver clean, affordable electricity to our customers.

RCEA’s share of the project will be 2.5 MW, or 3.6% of the total of the project’s capacity, which satisfies about one-third of RCEA’s total “long lead time” compliance requirements. RCEA’s Board of Directors is expected to finalize the contract at its February meeting.

See our joint press release below for further details.

Read press release

Seven California Community Power Members Contract for 69 Megawatts of Long Duration Energy Storage

Project marks first major procurement milestone for CCA Joint Powers Agency

Monterey, Calif. –

At the January 19 California Community Power (CC Power) board meeting, members of the Joint Powers Agency voted to enter into an energy storage service agreement with REV Renewables for 69 megawatts (MW)/552 megawatt hours (MWh) of long-duration energy storage. The REV Renewables Tumbleweed project will be a CAISO grid-connected, lithium-ion battery storage resource located near Rosamond, in Kern County, California, with an expected online date of 2026.

“Long-duration energy storage is a vital resource, needed to amplify the value of renewable power, and accelerate California’s shift to a clean, reliable and affordable grid,” said Girish Balachandran, California Community Power Board Chair and Silicon Valley Clean Energy CEO. “This first project is an exciting milestone that shows how CCAs work together to advance our shared goals in the transition to a carbon-free grid.”

The California Public Utilities Commission Mid-Term Reliability Procurement order (Decision 21-06-035) requires all CPUC-jurisdictional load serving entities, including CC Power Members, to procure from energy storage facilities capable of discharging for a minimum of 8 hours. This project satisfies approximately 55% of the long-duration storage compliance requirements of the participating members.

This joint procurement effort for long-duration energy storage began before the CPUC issued the new procurement order when a subset of the CC Power members issued a Request for Offers (RFO) in Oct. 2020 seeking to procure cost effective and viable long-duration storage resources.

Participating CCAs

Participation in the RFO and resulting projects is voluntary for each CC Power member. The participating agencies for this project are CleanPowerSF, Peninsula Clean Energy, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, San Jose Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Sonoma Clean Power Authority and Valley Clean Energy. Participating members will follow their own review and approval processes with their local, elected boards.

The Tumbleweed project adheres to the long-duration storage enhanced conditions adopted by the CC Power Board for this procurement effort. It will be constructed under a Project Labor Agreement, assuring prevailing wages and use of apprenticeship programs and is expected to create dozens of new jobs.

The ongoing RFO process, as well as member participation, have been discussed during noticed, public meetings of the CC Power board. Additional projects identified during the competitive solicitation process will be discussed at upcoming meetings. Meeting information is available at cacommunitypower.org/meetings.

 

This story was also covered here:

  • https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/lithium-ion-batteries-beat-novel-long-duration-tech-in-california-contest
  • https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/lithium-ion-takes-early-lead-in-calif-race-for-longer-lasting-energy-storage-68468842
  • https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/01/26/california-community-power-members-procure-69mw-of-long-duration-storage/
  • https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/01/7-california-ccas-sign-on-for-nearly-70-mw-long-duration-energy-storage-project/

News

Posted on by NancyStephenson

RCEA Contractor and Vendor Network

One of the challenges that RCEA and our customers have had to deal with is that as a government agency, RCEA is not allowed to make recommendations for individual contractors or vendors. Our customers want to make improvements to their homes and businesses to make them more energy-efficient, but they don’t always know where to start.

In order to better serve our customers, RCEA invited contractors and vendors to submit an application to be included in our Contractor and Vendor Network. This new resource is for our customers who are looking for licensed contractors for their installation needs, and qualified vendors for their equipment needs related to RCEA program services or referrals made by RCEA.

Please visit our new webpage and be sure to visit again soon since we are going to be adding to it on an ongoing basis.

Contractor and Vendor Network

Contractors and Vendors – please join our network! You can get more information and learn more about how to apply by going to the Ongoing Opportunities section of our Contracting page.
Posted on by NancyStephenson

RCEA 2021-22 Community REport

RCEA is excited to present our 2021-22 Community REport. We implement a variety of energy-related programs and projects on behalf of Humboldt County ratepayers. Public input shapes what we do, so we hope you’ll appreciate all that we’ve accomplished together. As our executive director Matthew Marshall says, “we couldn’t do this work without your ongoing support and commitment to our community’s renewable and resilient energy future.”

View full screen and then zoom in on sections of the document below as needed.

You can also:

  • View our PDF, which includes links for more information.

  • Click on the image to the left (or above) to enlarge and then scroll through all the images
  • Pick up a paper copy from the North Coast Journal’s racks January 20-26

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Net Energy Metering Proposed Changes

Posted on by NancyStephenson

Proposed Changes to Net Energy Metering

RCEA recently provided a presentation to our Community Advisory Committee about the California Public Utilities Commission’s Net Energy Metering Successor Tariff and the Proposed Decision. You can view the slides here.

The RCEA Board of Directors will be discussing this at our January 27 Board meeting, and we encourage the public to attend to learn more, express their views, and hear our Board’s comments. 

NEM Successor Tariff

Update:

On February 3rd, the judge presiding over the Net Energy Metering proceeding issued the following statement:

“On January 11, 2022, the Commission reassigned Rulemaking 20-08-020 to President Alice Reynolds.  The assigned Commissioner has requested additional time to analyze the record and consider revisions to the proposed decision based on party comments. Furthermore, the assigned Commissioner wants to ensure all five Commissioners participate in oral arguments.  Accordingly, the oral argument hearing will be rescheduled at a later date.   After additional analysis is conducted, I will issue a subsequent ruling providing information on the proceeding schedule and details regarding the oral argument hearing.”

In August 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) initiated a proceeding to develop a successor NEM tariff (a.k.a. “NEM 3.0”) pursuant to the requirements of Assembly Bill 327 passed in 2013.

On December 13th 2021, the CPUC issued a Proposed Decision explaining what the new tariff provisions would be. The Commission is expected to vote on this Proposed Decision on January 27th. If this Proposed Decision passes as written, the current NEM 2.0 tariff will sunset in late May 2022 (an estimated date of May 27th).

While the sunset could change if the Proposed Decision is revised prior to the CPUC’s vote, the current guidance for customers interested in installing rooftop solar is to submit their interconnection applications as soon as possible if they wish to enroll in the current tariff. If the interconnection application is submitted prior to the sunset date, the customer can stay on the NEM 2.0 tariff for 15 years from their interconnection date.

For more information on the successor tariff, please read the customer explanation that the CPUC developed here.

To subscribe for updates and to submit comments on the successor tariff to the CPUC, please click here.

Background - AB1139

In February 2021, the Legislature introduced Assembly Bill 1139, which sought to expedite the current CPUC proceeding. Furthermore, if the accelerated timeline for the CPUC to establish a new NEM tariff was not met, the bill required specific provisions for the replacement tariff including additional interconnection fees, monthly fixed charges, NEM credits based on wholesale instead of retail rates, and a series of other provisions not favored by supporters of the current NEM 2.0 framework.

RCEA’s Board voted to oppose the legislation at its May 2021 Board meeting, deciding that the bill would harm current NEM customers and disincentivize new enrollment in the NEM program.

As of June 2021, this bill was not voted out of committee and is no longer active.

Posted on by NancyStephenson

Stephen Kullman's Talkshop Interview

Listen here.

Demand Side Management Director, Stephen Kullmann,  discusses energy in Humboldt County, services for RCEA customers, RCEA’s promotion with Food For People, and more on Talkshop KINS.
Posted on by NancyStephenson

Run-of-the-River, Small-Scale Hydroelectric Power Webinar

The North Coast’s Untapped Potential

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

  • 10:00-11:00 AM and

  • 5:30-6:30 PM

The Redwood Coast Energy Authority invites the public to a free online presentation by RCEA consultant Michael Furniss about the potential of small-scale, run-of-the-river hydroelectric power for the North Coast.

Two sessions will be offered on Tuesday, December 7, the first at 10-11 a.m. with a repeat at 5:30 p.m. Both one-hour webinars will include time afterward for attendees to ask questions.

Register for the morning zoom webinar here

Register for the evening zoom webinar here

RCEA is launching a regional effort to facilitate the development of small hydroelectric projects “done right”, and we are ready to discuss any questions you may have, such as:

  • Why is hydropower needed when solar is now so widely available and inexpensive?
  • How will fish be protected if you are diverting water from streams to make electricity?
  • Won’t development of watersheds cause impacts to water and ecosystem?
  • What are the Best Practices for hydropower development?
  • For systems that cannot be feasibly connected to the grid, how will this project help?
  • How will landowners and investors be incentivized to develop small hydropower?
  • Why hasn’t more hydropower been developed so far?
  • What does RCEA expect to get from this effort?
  • How does small hydro fit into RCEA’s power portfolio?

RCEA’s Certify & Amplify Virtual Workshop

Posted on by NancyStephenson

RCEA's Certify & Amplify Virtual Workshop

Connect Your Business to California’s Contracting Clearinghouse

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 10:00-11:30 AM

Small diverse businesses who certify have special access to multimillion $ contract opportunities with utilities, large and small, across the state.

The Redwood Coast Energy Authority is hosting a free webinar to introduce local businesses to the benefits and opportunities available through the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC)  Supplier Diversity program.

If you are a small diverse business owner, we want to help you certify in the CPUC Supplier Diversity program and amplify your business opportunities throughout the state. In this webinar, you will learn about the benefits and opportunities available through this certification and how to access California’s multimillion-dollar utility contracting clearinghouse.

Commonly referred to as “Supplier Diversity,” General Order (GO) 156 is a statewide program that encourages utilities to prioritize contracts and subcontracts from businesses that meet diversity qualifications. To qualify, businesses must be 51% woman-owned; minority-owned; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT)-owned; or disabled veteran-owned enterprises.

After being certified as a diverse supplier, qualified businesses are listed in the CPUC’s Clearinghouse, which utilities can then access for their contracting needs and to meet their contracting quotas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has squeezed our local businesses into even more competitive environments and tighter margins, making Supplier Diversity certification another way to get local businesses noticed and ensure that they stand out among the competition.

RCEA wants to make sure that businesses in our communities are aware of this program, know how to qualify for the Clearinghouse, and get their questions answered by our guest speakers from the CPUC, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and a local business like themselves. Please visit our Supplier Diversity webpage for more information.

When diverse community businesses thrive, we all thrive.

Traducción estará disponible. Los detalles se proporcionarán con el registro.

Register for the zoom workshop here.

Download Flyer:   PDF   JPG

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