California not-for-profit energy provider MCE signed its first contract for a local solar + storage project at Rancho Sereno in Contra Costa County.
The project is a part of MCE’s Feed-In Tariff Plus program and is composed of 2 MW of solar and an 800-kW battery. MCE expects to pay $8 million for the energy generation and storage capacity at this site over the next 20 years.
“MCE requires battery storage on all new local solar projects to create a more reliable and cleaner electric grid,” said Dawn Weisz, CEO of MCE. “Smaller-scale, decentralized energy storage projects like this one are a cornerstone of our transition to a 100% renewable energy future.”
The Rancho Sereno project will generate enough electricity to power over 800 homes a year and include storage with a 4-hour dispatch capacity. The energy generated by the solar project will be stored during the day when demand prices are low, and discharged during the high demand hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This is expected to reduce costs for MCE customers and increase local grid reliability.
MCE’s Feed-In Tariff program also includes requirements for union labor, prevailing wage, 50% local hire for project workers and pollinator-friendly ground cover throughout the project site.
