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 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.”
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.
