This solicitation will be SCE’s seventh open, competitive call for additional renewable power contracts since 2002. Previous solicitations have secured 48 renewable energy contracts with a maximum future annual power generation of 27.3 billion kilowatt-hours for SCE customers; enough electricity to serve around 4.1 million average homes for a year. Solicitation in 2008 alone resulted in the signing of six contracts for a total of 6.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.
SCE’s solicitation seeks out short-term and long-term contracts for projects powered by solar, wind, biomass, biogas, oceanic, and geothermal fuels. SCE is particularly looking for viable projects that will begin prior to January 2014. By seeking contracts in the Tehachapi and Sunrise transmission regions, SCE hopes to utilize the most of the untapped renewable potential the areas have to offer.
“As a company that encourages progress and excellent value for our customers, we anticipate seeing several innovative projects as a result of this solicitation,” said Stuart Hemphill, SCE vice president, renewable and alternative power. “Every contract we execute for renewable power is good for the industry, our customers, and the environment.”
Proposals are due in August 2009 and SCE expects to submit completed contracts to the California Public Utilities Commission for approval by April 30, 2010.
