CONCORD, Calif. — MCE signed its first contract for local battery storage at Rancho Sereno in Byron, unincorporated Contra Costa County, on February 23, 2022. The project is a part of MCE’s Feed-In Tariff Plus program and includes 2 megawatts of solar and an 800-kilowatt 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, MCE CEO. “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. – 9 p.m. This will reduce costs for MCE customers and increase local grid reliability. With the addition of Rancho Sereno, MCE now has more than 135 MW (615 MWh) of battery storage under contract.
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. These additional program requirements help MCE deepen our investment in the clean energy economy and foster local biodiversity.
Learn about MCE’s other local projects at mceCleanEnergy.org/local-projects/
About MCE: MCE is a groundbreaking, not-for-profit, public agency that has been setting the standard for clean energy in our communities since 2010. MCE offers more renewable power at stable rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling millions of dollars of reinvestment in local energy programs. MCE is a load-serving entity supporting a 1,200 MW peak load. MCE provides electricity service and innovative programs to more than 540,000 customer accounts and more than one million residents and businesses in 37 member communities across four Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano. For more information about MCE, visit mceCleanEnergy.org, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
