MCE’s Power Resources team is a driving force for keeping clean energy flowing for the 1.5 million residents and businesses we serve. The heart of the team’s role is to purchase the right mix of power to advance California’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045 while keeping costs affordable and rates stable.
Senior Power Procurement Manager, Stephen Mariani, shares insights on what lights his passion for clean energy and how his team stays on the cutting-edge of securing clean, affordable, and reliable power for MCE’s customers.
What motivated you to join the clean energy industry?
I always knew I wanted a mission-driven career. That goal led me to an internship with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Council nearly a decade ago. In time, I landed at MCE and could not be happier. The climate crisis is one of the most pressing threats we face and I can’t think of a more critical mission to devote my career to. I am inspired every day by the work of my colleagues as we fight the good fight.
What is the role of MCE’s power resources team?
We enter into contracts with renewable developers to purchase clean energy from new and existing facilities, while prioritizing projects in and around MCE’s service area. MCE’s power procurement team is a subset of the power resources team. We build relationships with renewable energy suppliers and facilitate competitive solicitations.
What priorities does MCE have in 2025 when it comes to purchasing clean energy?
We prioritize projects that bring the most benefits to our customers. These benefits may include advantageous project locations that limit constraints on the grid when delivering electricity, or that can come online quickly and reduce MCE’s need to rely on short-term contracts. We also prioritize projects that are built with union labor, create well-paying jobs locally, and help direct funding for innovative climate action projects in our communities.
What market trends is your team watching?
California is achieving some of the most ambitious goals in the nation. Yet there are many obstacles that clean energy projects face in their path to producing electrons.
It’s taking longer for projects to get built due to limited space on the electric grid, limited land available to build projects locally, supply chain issues, and uncertain equipment costs resulting from potential tariff increases and tax credit reductions. This can make for more expensive projects, and make it more difficult for us to count on them to meet our goals.
That’s why our team is laser focused on understanding projects in all stages of development so we act quickly when we need to, and stay on top of policy changes that may impact the operations of these clean power plants.
What types of energy resources does MCE need to meet its goals?
We are seeking to bring more diversity to our clean power mix with resources that will complement one another in their generating profiles, including wind and geothermal projects. It is also our aim to provide flexibility by adding energy storage technologies to generating resources.
How are you securing these resources?
This year, we have refined our long-term energy procurement efforts with a newer, streamlined Request for Information (RFI) process. Our team understands that developers may be working through challenges and may not be ready to offer their projects right away. That is why MCE is working to deepen and form new relationships with developers so that we can position ourselves to purchase energy from projects that meet our specific needs when they are ready.
Learn more about MCE’s Request for Information for long-term offers: mcecleanenergy.org/solicitations/. The deadline for responses is May 8, 2025.
