Two California community choice aggregators have signed 15-year power purchase agreements with Pattern Energy Group 2 LP for the delivery of wind power from the 200-megawatt Duran Mesa Wind project currently in development near Corona, New Mexico.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy signed a 15-year PPA for 110 MW, while Monterey Bay Community Power signed a 15-year PPA for 90 MW.
Construction of Duran Mesa Wind is expected to begin in late 2019 and reach commercial operation in late 2020.
Power from the wind project will be delivered to California in part via the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, a 520-mile 500-kV transmission line under development in New Mexico and Arizona by SouthWestern Power Group, which is also expected to achieve commercial operation by 2020.
Duran Mesa Wind is a project within Pattern Development’s 2,200-MW Corona Wind Projects in New Mexico.
Public power utilities working with CCAs
In California, several public power utilities and entities are moving to provide services to CCAs.
In September 2017, SMUD said that it had been selected to negotiate a services agreement to provide Valley Clean Energy Alliance, a new community choice aggregation joint powers agency, with technical and energy services, data management/call center services, wholesale energy services, credit support services and up to five years of business operations support.
Meanwhile, California-based East Bay Community Energy, selected the Northern California Power Agency to provide wholesale energy services.
In November, NCPA said that it will be providing a variety of wholesale energy services to California’s Pioneer Community Energy.
With the number of community choice aggregation programs rising sharply in California, state utility regulators earlier this year set new requirements designed to ensure that there is not an excess procurement of resources by the incumbent utilities.
The American Public Power Association has initiated a new category of membership for community choice aggregation programs.
