CC Power’s nine members will gain information and may explore offshore wind procurement following the RFI. Valley Clean Energy (VCE) is a member of CC Power.
Davis, Calif. – California Community Power (CC Power) posted its Request for Information (RFI) on offshore wind, seeking information for potential projects to be developed in the Humboldt and Morro Bay Wind Energy Areas, along with other possible locations. This RFI will inform CC Power Board recommendations regarding procurement, readiness, barriers, or other Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) member actions for offshore wind.
The Humboldt and Morro Bay wind areas can provide high-quality wind energy that supports California’s grid reliability. CC Power could contract for such resources on behalf of VCE and its other nine members, pending CC Power Board direction and related clean energy and economic analysis.
“Valley Clean Energy is pleased that CC Power is taking a big step toward exploring offshore wind, which has the potential to provide more clean, renewable electricity to the grid in times of need,” said Mitch Sears, VCE’s Executive Officer. “Because of its high efficiency and ability to generate when other sources cannot, offshore wind would be a great fit for VCE’s procurement strategy, which prioritizes reliable, affordable clean electricity.”
VCE adds local, California-based renewables to its portfolio whenever possible, and prioritizes the integration of community benefits into power purchases. Recent power contracts have included benefits such as provisions for pollinator habitat on-site, as well as funds for local workforce development and sustainability projects. Exploring offshore wind through its membership in CC Power aligns with VCE’s strategic goals, as well as statewide carbon reduction targets. These targets will require a portfolio of renewable energy resources, including those that can generate clean energy at night and during extreme weather events.
“This joint-action RFI will focus on California’s opportunity for floating offshore wind turbines, a technology gradually being deployed around the world,” said Alex J. Morris, General Manager of CC Power. “CC Power and its member CCAs have a track record of contracting for valuable renewable energy. This RFI helps us build formal recommendations on procurement for our Board and will inform strategies to address needs for port infrastructure and expanded electrical grid transmission, known barriers for offshore wind development in California.”
CC Power represents nine CCAs, each governed by local boards of elected officials, overseeing the CCAs’ pursuit of clean energy resources, customer-benefiting programs, and cost-competitive electrical service for local communities. If contracted for development by CC Power, resources will be included in each CCA’s resource plan, and CC Power will administer contracts to drive timely development and operations of new resources.
The ongoing RFI process, as well as member participation, have been discussed during noticed, public meetings of the CC Power board. More information is available at https://cacommunitypower.org/solicitations/.
About California Community Power California Community Power is a Joint Powers Agency comprised of nine 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 2.7 million customers across 112 municipalities spanning from Humboldt County to Santa Barbara County. Learn more at cacommunitypower.org.
About Valley Clean Energy Valley Clean Energy Alliance—or VCE—is the official electricity provider for residential and commercial customers in the cities of Woodland, Winters, and Davis, and unincorporated Yolo County. We’re a not-for-profit public agency, which means that we’re working 100% for our customers. VCE offers a choice in electricity suppliers for the first time ever. It also keeps program control and revenues right here at home, where we can create jobs and build local clean energy installations—as many other programs just like ours have already done. We’ll reinvest dollars to boost our local economy while taking control of our clean energy future. More information available at https://valleycleanenergy.org/.