March 13, 2008
Utility Targets Tehachapi Region for On-Peak Technologies
ROSEMEAD, Calif., March 13, 2008 — Southern California Edison (SCE), the nation’s leading utility for renewable energy, has put out the call for more renewable contracts. While all renewable technologies from any location are welcome, the utility is especially interested in projects located in the Tehachapi area of Kern County that will produce electricity when it is needed the most — during hot summer days.
This is SCE’s sixth open, competitive solicitation for additional renewable power contracts since 2002. Previous solicitations have secured for SCE customers 35 renewable energy contracts with maximum future annual power generation of 17 billion kilowatt-hours, enough electricity to serve approximately 2.6 million average homes for a year.
“For more than 20 years, SCE has worked to reduce its carbon footprint. Renewable energy is an increasingly important component of our total portfolio," said SCE Vice President Stuart Hemphill, who is in charge of renewable and alternative power. “SCE currently purchases renewable energy from throughout this great state and beyond and hopes to purchase more. We also look forward to seeing creative proposals that will make the most of the untapped renewable potential in the Tehachapi area.”
SCE’s solicitation calls for short-term and long-term contracts for projects that produce solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy. Proposals will be due in May 2008, and SCE expects to submit completed contracts to the California Public Utilities Commission for approval by December 2008. Interested parties are able to download details of the request for offers at www.sce.com/renewrfp. To answer bidders’ questions, SCE will host a proposal conference on Thursday, March 20.
SCE’s longstanding commitment to renewable energy
SCE leads the nation in renewable power delivery, procuring about 12.5 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy per year, more than any U.S. utility. Renewable energy makes up about 16 percent of SCE’s total energy portfolio. SCE currently has sufficient contracts in place that, when delivering, will meet 20 percent or more of its customers’ energy needs with renewable energy.
The current portfolio includes:
- 1025 megawatts from wind.
- 906 megawatts from geothermal.
- 354 megawatts from solar.
- 174 megawatts from biomass.
- 94 megawatts from independently owned small hydro.
For more about SCE’s renewable energy program, visit www.sce.com/renewables.
Media Contact: Vanessa McGrady, (626) 302-2255
vanessa.mcgrady@sce.com
www.edisonnews.com
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An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is the largest electric utility in California, serving a population of more than 13 million via 4.8 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.
