As part of its new clean energy program in the state, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has announced a call for proposals for local renewable energy developers across northern and central California.
PG&E is seeking proposals from developers to build small and midsize projects ranging from 0.5 MW to 20 MW for the Regional Renewable Choice program.
The energy for these new projects can be from renewable resources including, but not limited to, wind power, solar power or biomass.
The utility says developers will be able to submit proposals starting Aug. 31 through noon Pacific Time on Sept. 30. Developers will be chosen through a competitive bidding process and are expected to be chosen by December. The request for proposals calls for a development target of 75 MW of renewable resources.
Earlier this year, PG&E launched its Solar Choice program, which offers an option for residential and business customers to enroll with PG&E to support the development of new solar projects within northern and central California (regardless of a customer’s location or ability to physically install private solar systems).
Now, PG&E customers have another clean energy option: Through the new Regional Renewable Choice program, the utility will expand renewable energy access by enabling customers to work directly with developers of new renewable projects.
Customers will have the option to work with developers and subscribe to the output from a new renewable project equaling between 25% and 100% of their electricity use. Participating customers will pay the developers for the new energy directly and receive a bill credit from PG&E on their monthly energy statement.
“The new Regional Renewable Choice program is part of our ongoing commitment to support the growth of solar and other renewable energy sources in California,” says Aaron Johnson, PG&E’s vice president of customer energy solutions. “Building on PG&E’s Solar Choice program launched earlier this year, this new program enables our customers to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from their electricity usage and allows them to directly be a part of California’s clean energy future. This is a win for our customers and for California.”
In 2017, PG&E expects to issue two additional requests for offers for renewable energy developers.
More information can be found here.
