Golden State Clean Energy (GSCE) and MCE have agreed to work together to build California’s clean energy future by building much-needed solar and battery storage resources in Fresno County. The master-planned development program, known as the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, aims to rezone up to 130,000 acres of land with reduced drainage or water issues within the Westlands Water District in Fresno County to provide transmission infrastructure, solar energy generation and storage to develop.
At full buildout, the plan will include up to 20 GW of solar and 20 MW of energy storage, potentially meeting one-sixth of California’s electricity needs by 2035. MCE has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GSCE for up to 400 MW each for solar energy and battery storage.
“This agreement with Golden State Clean Energy allows MCE to be intimately involved in the planning process for these resources,” said Vicken Kasarjian, COO of MCE. “The project could provide MCE with a valuable solar and storage project and is a unique opportunity to build something truly tailored to the needs of our customers and California as a whole.” MCE expects that the project can provide MCE with:
- 200-400 MW of solar energy
- 200-400 MW battery storage of 4 or 8 hours
- 100% renewable energy and associated resource adequacy
This project will help MCE meet existing procurement needs in the medium and long term, with the aim of being commercially operational between 2028 and 2030. The MOU allows MCE to consider the option of building the project outright or purchasing the resources through a power purchase. Agreement. The potential portion of MCE’s project will generate enough electricity to power more than 160,000 homes annually.
“We are thrilled that MCE will be the first customer in the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan,” said Patrick Mealoy, COO at Golden State Clean Energy. “The plan is expected to benefit Valley communities by creating jobs and preserving family farms, while moving California significantly closer to achieving its clean energy goals.”
News item from MCE
