BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//MCE – Community Choice Energy - ECPv6.16.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:MCE – Community Choice Energy
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://mcecleanenergy.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for MCE – Community Choice Energy
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Los_Angeles
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20250309T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20251102T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20260308T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20261101T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20270314T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20271107T090000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260618T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260618T203000
DTSTAMP:20260613T184920
CREATED:20260612T203820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T203820Z
UID:10000395-1781807400-1781814600@mcecleanenergy.org
SUMMARY:MCE Board of Directors Meeting\, June 18\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:At the heart of MCE’s work is our Power Resources team\, which buys renewable energy on behalf of the 1.8 million residents and businesses the agency serves across four Bay Area counties. Each year\, the team seeks new long-term opportunities from the market of renewable energy projects to secure contracts at stable costs while advancing California’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. 								\n				\n				\n		\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n					\n				\n		\n					\n				\n				\n									As MCE’s Power Procurement Manager\, Andy Twilling plays a critical role in establishing the agency’s power mix and contracting for clean energy projects that will power local homes and businesses for decades to come. As a Marin County local and an experienced energy professional who previously led power procurement and EV deployment in the private sector\, she brings unique experience to the agency. \nAs MCE prepares to launch its annual “Open Season” solicitation for renewable energy projects\, Andy shares insights on what’s guiding the team’s approach and the trends they’re watching in today’s rapidly evolving energy market. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s top of mind for MCE’s Power Resources team as we launch this year’s Open Season?  What types of resources are we prioritizing?  \nIt is always top of mind for MCE’s procurement team to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and serve our communities with renewable energy at stable rates. Our mission drives all of MCE’s procurement decisions. This year\, we’re especially looking forward to reviewing offers for wind and clean baseload generation\, such as geothermal and biomass. \nMCE already has a robust portfolio of solar projects and we’re looking for additional resources that will complement solar with electricity production during hours when the sun isn’t shining. Wind energy would be a great addition to MCE’s portfolio because it often produces energy at opposite times of the day compared to solar. \nOver the past several years\, MCE has contracted with over 700 megawatts of energy storage projects\, and we’re excited to continue to evaluate how energy storage will contribute to our portfolio through this year’s Open Season. We plan on evaluating long‑duration storage (8+ hours) to meet our compliance obligations under the California Public Utilities Commission’s 2026 procurement order\, as well as solar‑plus‑storage contracts that allow us to store energy during solar hours and discharge it to serve customers in the evening. \nAs part of our forward-looking procurement and our commitment to supporting new renewable projects\, we’re soliciting bids from projects entering the California ISO’s Queue Cluster (“QC”) 16 process  seeking Commercial Interest Points (“CIPs”). MCE will review bids we receive to identify projects to allocate our CIPs.   \nQueue Clusters and Commercial Interest Points may sound like energy jargon\, but they directly shape what kinds of renewable projects get built. Through this process\, we’re helping ensure that new renewable projects can move forward in the CAISO’s interconnection queue. \nSupporting projects early in their development accelerates the transition to a cleaner energy future\, and that transition has very real impacts on people’s daily lives\, from healthier air quality to more resilient local economies. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What market trends are we watching? \nWe’re closely watching how batteries are reshaping energy markets. California has added extensive battery storage capacity in recent years\, and that trend is only accelerating. Storage helps shift supply into the evening hours when demand peaks\, and the extent to which these batteries flatten electricity prices throughout the day will have a direct impact on MCE. \nIt will be interesting to see how quickly emerging technologies\, such as long‑duration storage and new approaches to geothermal development\, can scale. We’re especially interested in innovations that can help bring down the cost of these promising resources. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What do you wish more people understood about how power procurement works? \nHow complicated it is! There are many risks involved in purchasing power\, and the procurement team’s goal is to put together a portfolio that balances the different types of risks we see from each kind of contract. To give you some examples\, just a few of the risks we consider are:  \n\nProduction risk: How likely is it for a resource to produce the power MCE expects? For example\, in a drought year\, a run-of-river hydroelectric project might produce far less electricity production than expected.\nLocation risk: How much risk is there that the electricity will be able to travel along the transmission lines to MCE’s service territory? For example\, if a solar project is in Southern California and the transmission lines to the Bay Area get overloaded\, MCE may get less financial benefit from the project compared to what we expected.\nDevelopment risk: How likely is it for a renewable electricity project to be canceled? We consider whether there could be issues or delays with obtaining permits\, supply chain risks for getting appropriate electrical equipment onsite\, or challenges with interconnecting with the grid. \n								\n				\n				\n				\n									How does this year’s Open Season differ from previous ones? \nLast year\, we issued a Long-Term Offer Request for Information due to the uncertainty in market conditions. This year we are returning to a formal request for offers that we call Open Season. This is the same process we’ve done in previous years that many developers will be familiar with.   								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s most exciting about the opportunities this Open Season could bring to our communities? \nWe’re inspired by the potential to procure additional projects that help fill the gaps between MCE’s solar‑rich portfolio and our customers’ electricity use throughout the day. We’re looking forward to seeing the projects that renewable developers submit that align with MCE’s goals and working with them to bring new renewable resources online\, strengthening both our communities and California’s grid. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What inspired you to pursue a career in clean energy? \nGrowing up in Marin splashing in tidepools and hiking in the redwoods made me fall in love with our natural world. That led me to study biology and environmental science in college and graduate school. After graduating\, I’ve built a career addressing climate change and environmental justice issues to contribute to creating a future where all life thrives on this planet. Everyone deserves clean air\, clean water\, and a habitable climate\, and I’m proud to be contributing to that vision of the future.   \nI joined MCE’s procurement team in January of 2026\, and it’s especially meaningful to get to serve my local community by procuring clean\, renewable electricity in California.  \nLearn more about MCE’s 2026 Open Season at  mcecleanenergy.org/solicitations/. The request for offers launches on June 17.
URL:https://mcecleanenergy.org/event/mce-board-of-directors-meeting-june-18-2026-2/
CATEGORIES:Board Meeting
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260624T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260624T183000
DTSTAMP:20260613T184920
CREATED:20260609T210544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T221940Z
UID:10000391-1782318600-1782325800@mcecleanenergy.org
SUMMARY:MCE Public Power Procurement Workshops: Index Plus and Hedges
DESCRIPTION:At the heart of MCE’s work is our Power Resources team\, which buys renewable energy on behalf of the 1.8 million residents and businesses the agency serves across four Bay Area counties. Each year\, the team seeks new long-term opportunities from the market of renewable energy projects to secure contracts at stable costs while advancing California’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. 								\n				\n				\n		\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n					\n				\n		\n					\n				\n				\n									As MCE’s Power Procurement Manager\, Andy Twilling plays a critical role in establishing the agency’s power mix and contracting for clean energy projects that will power local homes and businesses for decades to come. As a Marin County local and an experienced energy professional who previously led power procurement and EV deployment in the private sector\, she brings unique experience to the agency. \nAs MCE prepares to launch its annual “Open Season” solicitation for renewable energy projects\, Andy shares insights on what’s guiding the team’s approach and the trends they’re watching in today’s rapidly evolving energy market. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s top of mind for MCE’s Power Resources team as we launch this year’s Open Season?  What types of resources are we prioritizing?  \nIt is always top of mind for MCE’s procurement team to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and serve our communities with renewable energy at stable rates. Our mission drives all of MCE’s procurement decisions. This year\, we’re especially looking forward to reviewing offers for wind and clean baseload generation\, such as geothermal and biomass. \nMCE already has a robust portfolio of solar projects and we’re looking for additional resources that will complement solar with electricity production during hours when the sun isn’t shining. Wind energy would be a great addition to MCE’s portfolio because it often produces energy at opposite times of the day compared to solar. \nOver the past several years\, MCE has contracted with over 700 megawatts of energy storage projects\, and we’re excited to continue to evaluate how energy storage will contribute to our portfolio through this year’s Open Season. We plan on evaluating long‑duration storage (8+ hours) to meet our compliance obligations under the California Public Utilities Commission’s 2026 procurement order\, as well as solar‑plus‑storage contracts that allow us to store energy during solar hours and discharge it to serve customers in the evening. \nAs part of our forward-looking procurement and our commitment to supporting new renewable projects\, we’re soliciting bids from projects entering the California ISO’s Queue Cluster (“QC”) 16 process  seeking Commercial Interest Points (“CIPs”). MCE will review bids we receive to identify projects to allocate our CIPs.   \nQueue Clusters and Commercial Interest Points may sound like energy jargon\, but they directly shape what kinds of renewable projects get built. Through this process\, we’re helping ensure that new renewable projects can move forward in the CAISO’s interconnection queue. \nSupporting projects early in their development accelerates the transition to a cleaner energy future\, and that transition has very real impacts on people’s daily lives\, from healthier air quality to more resilient local economies. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What market trends are we watching? \nWe’re closely watching how batteries are reshaping energy markets. California has added extensive battery storage capacity in recent years\, and that trend is only accelerating. Storage helps shift supply into the evening hours when demand peaks\, and the extent to which these batteries flatten electricity prices throughout the day will have a direct impact on MCE. \nIt will be interesting to see how quickly emerging technologies\, such as long‑duration storage and new approaches to geothermal development\, can scale. We’re especially interested in innovations that can help bring down the cost of these promising resources. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What do you wish more people understood about how power procurement works? \nHow complicated it is! There are many risks involved in purchasing power\, and the procurement team’s goal is to put together a portfolio that balances the different types of risks we see from each kind of contract. To give you some examples\, just a few of the risks we consider are:  \n\nProduction risk: How likely is it for a resource to produce the power MCE expects? For example\, in a drought year\, a run-of-river hydroelectric project might produce far less electricity production than expected.\nLocation risk: How much risk is there that the electricity will be able to travel along the transmission lines to MCE’s service territory? For example\, if a solar project is in Southern California and the transmission lines to the Bay Area get overloaded\, MCE may get less financial benefit from the project compared to what we expected.\nDevelopment risk: How likely is it for a renewable electricity project to be canceled? We consider whether there could be issues or delays with obtaining permits\, supply chain risks for getting appropriate electrical equipment onsite\, or challenges with interconnecting with the grid. \n								\n				\n				\n				\n									How does this year’s Open Season differ from previous ones? \nLast year\, we issued a Long-Term Offer Request for Information due to the uncertainty in market conditions. This year we are returning to a formal request for offers that we call Open Season. This is the same process we’ve done in previous years that many developers will be familiar with.   								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s most exciting about the opportunities this Open Season could bring to our communities? \nWe’re inspired by the potential to procure additional projects that help fill the gaps between MCE’s solar‑rich portfolio and our customers’ electricity use throughout the day. We’re looking forward to seeing the projects that renewable developers submit that align with MCE’s goals and working with them to bring new renewable resources online\, strengthening both our communities and California’s grid. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What inspired you to pursue a career in clean energy? \nGrowing up in Marin splashing in tidepools and hiking in the redwoods made me fall in love with our natural world. That led me to study biology and environmental science in college and graduate school. After graduating\, I’ve built a career addressing climate change and environmental justice issues to contribute to creating a future where all life thrives on this planet. Everyone deserves clean air\, clean water\, and a habitable climate\, and I’m proud to be contributing to that vision of the future.   \nI joined MCE’s procurement team in January of 2026\, and it’s especially meaningful to get to serve my local community by procuring clean\, renewable electricity in California.  \nLearn more about MCE’s 2026 Open Season at  mcecleanenergy.org/solicitations/. The request for offers launches on June 17.
URL:https://mcecleanenergy.org/event/mce-public-power-procurement-workshops/
CATEGORIES:Community,Community|Contra Costa,San Rafael
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mcecleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DSC02797-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260626T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260626T131500
DTSTAMP:20260613T184920
CREATED:20260609T210434Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T174826Z
UID:10000390-1782475200-1782479700@mcecleanenergy.org
SUMMARY:Permitting Barriers in Residential Electrification
DESCRIPTION:At the heart of MCE’s work is our Power Resources team\, which buys renewable energy on behalf of the 1.8 million residents and businesses the agency serves across four Bay Area counties. Each year\, the team seeks new long-term opportunities from the market of renewable energy projects to secure contracts at stable costs while advancing California’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. 								\n				\n				\n		\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n					\n				\n		\n					\n				\n				\n									As MCE’s Power Procurement Manager\, Andy Twilling plays a critical role in establishing the agency’s power mix and contracting for clean energy projects that will power local homes and businesses for decades to come. As a Marin County local and an experienced energy professional who previously led power procurement and EV deployment in the private sector\, she brings unique experience to the agency. \nAs MCE prepares to launch its annual “Open Season” solicitation for renewable energy projects\, Andy shares insights on what’s guiding the team’s approach and the trends they’re watching in today’s rapidly evolving energy market. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s top of mind for MCE’s Power Resources team as we launch this year’s Open Season?  What types of resources are we prioritizing?  \nIt is always top of mind for MCE’s procurement team to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and serve our communities with renewable energy at stable rates. Our mission drives all of MCE’s procurement decisions. This year\, we’re especially looking forward to reviewing offers for wind and clean baseload generation\, such as geothermal and biomass. \nMCE already has a robust portfolio of solar projects and we’re looking for additional resources that will complement solar with electricity production during hours when the sun isn’t shining. Wind energy would be a great addition to MCE’s portfolio because it often produces energy at opposite times of the day compared to solar. \nOver the past several years\, MCE has contracted with over 700 megawatts of energy storage projects\, and we’re excited to continue to evaluate how energy storage will contribute to our portfolio through this year’s Open Season. We plan on evaluating long‑duration storage (8+ hours) to meet our compliance obligations under the California Public Utilities Commission’s 2026 procurement order\, as well as solar‑plus‑storage contracts that allow us to store energy during solar hours and discharge it to serve customers in the evening. \nAs part of our forward-looking procurement and our commitment to supporting new renewable projects\, we’re soliciting bids from projects entering the California ISO’s Queue Cluster (“QC”) 16 process  seeking Commercial Interest Points (“CIPs”). MCE will review bids we receive to identify projects to allocate our CIPs.   \nQueue Clusters and Commercial Interest Points may sound like energy jargon\, but they directly shape what kinds of renewable projects get built. Through this process\, we’re helping ensure that new renewable projects can move forward in the CAISO’s interconnection queue. \nSupporting projects early in their development accelerates the transition to a cleaner energy future\, and that transition has very real impacts on people’s daily lives\, from healthier air quality to more resilient local economies. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What market trends are we watching? \nWe’re closely watching how batteries are reshaping energy markets. California has added extensive battery storage capacity in recent years\, and that trend is only accelerating. Storage helps shift supply into the evening hours when demand peaks\, and the extent to which these batteries flatten electricity prices throughout the day will have a direct impact on MCE. \nIt will be interesting to see how quickly emerging technologies\, such as long‑duration storage and new approaches to geothermal development\, can scale. We’re especially interested in innovations that can help bring down the cost of these promising resources. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What do you wish more people understood about how power procurement works? \nHow complicated it is! There are many risks involved in purchasing power\, and the procurement team’s goal is to put together a portfolio that balances the different types of risks we see from each kind of contract. To give you some examples\, just a few of the risks we consider are:  \n\nProduction risk: How likely is it for a resource to produce the power MCE expects? For example\, in a drought year\, a run-of-river hydroelectric project might produce far less electricity production than expected.\nLocation risk: How much risk is there that the electricity will be able to travel along the transmission lines to MCE’s service territory? For example\, if a solar project is in Southern California and the transmission lines to the Bay Area get overloaded\, MCE may get less financial benefit from the project compared to what we expected.\nDevelopment risk: How likely is it for a renewable electricity project to be canceled? We consider whether there could be issues or delays with obtaining permits\, supply chain risks for getting appropriate electrical equipment onsite\, or challenges with interconnecting with the grid. \n								\n				\n				\n				\n									How does this year’s Open Season differ from previous ones? \nLast year\, we issued a Long-Term Offer Request for Information due to the uncertainty in market conditions. This year we are returning to a formal request for offers that we call Open Season. This is the same process we’ve done in previous years that many developers will be familiar with.   								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s most exciting about the opportunities this Open Season could bring to our communities? \nWe’re inspired by the potential to procure additional projects that help fill the gaps between MCE’s solar‑rich portfolio and our customers’ electricity use throughout the day. We’re looking forward to seeing the projects that renewable developers submit that align with MCE’s goals and working with them to bring new renewable resources online\, strengthening both our communities and California’s grid. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What inspired you to pursue a career in clean energy? \nGrowing up in Marin splashing in tidepools and hiking in the redwoods made me fall in love with our natural world. That led me to study biology and environmental science in college and graduate school. After graduating\, I’ve built a career addressing climate change and environmental justice issues to contribute to creating a future where all life thrives on this planet. Everyone deserves clean air\, clean water\, and a habitable climate\, and I’m proud to be contributing to that vision of the future.   \nI joined MCE’s procurement team in January of 2026\, and it’s especially meaningful to get to serve my local community by procuring clean\, renewable electricity in California.  \nLearn more about MCE’s 2026 Open Season at  mcecleanenergy.org/solicitations/. The request for offers launches on June 17.
URL:https://mcecleanenergy.org/event/permitting-barriers-in-residential-electrification/
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mcecleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MCE_Hercules_2024_924-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260708T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260708T173000
DTSTAMP:20260613T184920
CREATED:20260609T210552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T221852Z
UID:10000392-1783528200-1783531800@mcecleanenergy.org
SUMMARY:MCE Public Power Procurement Workshops: Resource Adequacy
DESCRIPTION:At the heart of MCE’s work is our Power Resources team\, which buys renewable energy on behalf of the 1.8 million residents and businesses the agency serves across four Bay Area counties. Each year\, the team seeks new long-term opportunities from the market of renewable energy projects to secure contracts at stable costs while advancing California’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. 								\n				\n				\n		\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n					\n				\n		\n					\n				\n				\n									As MCE’s Power Procurement Manager\, Andy Twilling plays a critical role in establishing the agency’s power mix and contracting for clean energy projects that will power local homes and businesses for decades to come. As a Marin County local and an experienced energy professional who previously led power procurement and EV deployment in the private sector\, she brings unique experience to the agency. \nAs MCE prepares to launch its annual “Open Season” solicitation for renewable energy projects\, Andy shares insights on what’s guiding the team’s approach and the trends they’re watching in today’s rapidly evolving energy market. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s top of mind for MCE’s Power Resources team as we launch this year’s Open Season?  What types of resources are we prioritizing?  \nIt is always top of mind for MCE’s procurement team to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and serve our communities with renewable energy at stable rates. Our mission drives all of MCE’s procurement decisions. This year\, we’re especially looking forward to reviewing offers for wind and clean baseload generation\, such as geothermal and biomass. \nMCE already has a robust portfolio of solar projects and we’re looking for additional resources that will complement solar with electricity production during hours when the sun isn’t shining. Wind energy would be a great addition to MCE’s portfolio because it often produces energy at opposite times of the day compared to solar. \nOver the past several years\, MCE has contracted with over 700 megawatts of energy storage projects\, and we’re excited to continue to evaluate how energy storage will contribute to our portfolio through this year’s Open Season. We plan on evaluating long‑duration storage (8+ hours) to meet our compliance obligations under the California Public Utilities Commission’s 2026 procurement order\, as well as solar‑plus‑storage contracts that allow us to store energy during solar hours and discharge it to serve customers in the evening. \nAs part of our forward-looking procurement and our commitment to supporting new renewable projects\, we’re soliciting bids from projects entering the California ISO’s Queue Cluster (“QC”) 16 process  seeking Commercial Interest Points (“CIPs”). MCE will review bids we receive to identify projects to allocate our CIPs.   \nQueue Clusters and Commercial Interest Points may sound like energy jargon\, but they directly shape what kinds of renewable projects get built. Through this process\, we’re helping ensure that new renewable projects can move forward in the CAISO’s interconnection queue. \nSupporting projects early in their development accelerates the transition to a cleaner energy future\, and that transition has very real impacts on people’s daily lives\, from healthier air quality to more resilient local economies. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What market trends are we watching? \nWe’re closely watching how batteries are reshaping energy markets. California has added extensive battery storage capacity in recent years\, and that trend is only accelerating. Storage helps shift supply into the evening hours when demand peaks\, and the extent to which these batteries flatten electricity prices throughout the day will have a direct impact on MCE. \nIt will be interesting to see how quickly emerging technologies\, such as long‑duration storage and new approaches to geothermal development\, can scale. We’re especially interested in innovations that can help bring down the cost of these promising resources. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What do you wish more people understood about how power procurement works? \nHow complicated it is! There are many risks involved in purchasing power\, and the procurement team’s goal is to put together a portfolio that balances the different types of risks we see from each kind of contract. To give you some examples\, just a few of the risks we consider are:  \n\nProduction risk: How likely is it for a resource to produce the power MCE expects? For example\, in a drought year\, a run-of-river hydroelectric project might produce far less electricity production than expected.\nLocation risk: How much risk is there that the electricity will be able to travel along the transmission lines to MCE’s service territory? For example\, if a solar project is in Southern California and the transmission lines to the Bay Area get overloaded\, MCE may get less financial benefit from the project compared to what we expected.\nDevelopment risk: How likely is it for a renewable electricity project to be canceled? We consider whether there could be issues or delays with obtaining permits\, supply chain risks for getting appropriate electrical equipment onsite\, or challenges with interconnecting with the grid. \n								\n				\n				\n				\n									How does this year’s Open Season differ from previous ones? \nLast year\, we issued a Long-Term Offer Request for Information due to the uncertainty in market conditions. This year we are returning to a formal request for offers that we call Open Season. This is the same process we’ve done in previous years that many developers will be familiar with.   								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s most exciting about the opportunities this Open Season could bring to our communities? \nWe’re inspired by the potential to procure additional projects that help fill the gaps between MCE’s solar‑rich portfolio and our customers’ electricity use throughout the day. We’re looking forward to seeing the projects that renewable developers submit that align with MCE’s goals and working with them to bring new renewable resources online\, strengthening both our communities and California’s grid. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What inspired you to pursue a career in clean energy? \nGrowing up in Marin splashing in tidepools and hiking in the redwoods made me fall in love with our natural world. That led me to study biology and environmental science in college and graduate school. After graduating\, I’ve built a career addressing climate change and environmental justice issues to contribute to creating a future where all life thrives on this planet. Everyone deserves clean air\, clean water\, and a habitable climate\, and I’m proud to be contributing to that vision of the future.   \nI joined MCE’s procurement team in January of 2026\, and it’s especially meaningful to get to serve my local community by procuring clean\, renewable electricity in California.  \nLearn more about MCE’s 2026 Open Season at  mcecleanenergy.org/solicitations/. The request for offers launches on June 17.
URL:https://mcecleanenergy.org/event/mce-public-power-procurement-workshops-2/
CATEGORIES:Community,San Rafael
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mcecleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DSC02797-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260716T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260716T120000
DTSTAMP:20260613T184920
CREATED:20260609T205911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T180924Z
UID:10000389-1784197800-1784203200@mcecleanenergy.org
SUMMARY:2026 Certify & Amplify Webinar
DESCRIPTION:At the heart of MCE’s work is our Power Resources team\, which buys renewable energy on behalf of the 1.8 million residents and businesses the agency serves across four Bay Area counties. Each year\, the team seeks new long-term opportunities from the market of renewable energy projects to secure contracts at stable costs while advancing California’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. 								\n				\n				\n		\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n					\n				\n		\n					\n				\n				\n									As MCE’s Power Procurement Manager\, Andy Twilling plays a critical role in establishing the agency’s power mix and contracting for clean energy projects that will power local homes and businesses for decades to come. As a Marin County local and an experienced energy professional who previously led power procurement and EV deployment in the private sector\, she brings unique experience to the agency. \nAs MCE prepares to launch its annual “Open Season” solicitation for renewable energy projects\, Andy shares insights on what’s guiding the team’s approach and the trends they’re watching in today’s rapidly evolving energy market. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s top of mind for MCE’s Power Resources team as we launch this year’s Open Season?  What types of resources are we prioritizing?  \nIt is always top of mind for MCE’s procurement team to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and serve our communities with renewable energy at stable rates. Our mission drives all of MCE’s procurement decisions. This year\, we’re especially looking forward to reviewing offers for wind and clean baseload generation\, such as geothermal and biomass. \nMCE already has a robust portfolio of solar projects and we’re looking for additional resources that will complement solar with electricity production during hours when the sun isn’t shining. Wind energy would be a great addition to MCE’s portfolio because it often produces energy at opposite times of the day compared to solar. \nOver the past several years\, MCE has contracted with over 700 megawatts of energy storage projects\, and we’re excited to continue to evaluate how energy storage will contribute to our portfolio through this year’s Open Season. We plan on evaluating long‑duration storage (8+ hours) to meet our compliance obligations under the California Public Utilities Commission’s 2026 procurement order\, as well as solar‑plus‑storage contracts that allow us to store energy during solar hours and discharge it to serve customers in the evening. \nAs part of our forward-looking procurement and our commitment to supporting new renewable projects\, we’re soliciting bids from projects entering the California ISO’s Queue Cluster (“QC”) 16 process  seeking Commercial Interest Points (“CIPs”). MCE will review bids we receive to identify projects to allocate our CIPs.   \nQueue Clusters and Commercial Interest Points may sound like energy jargon\, but they directly shape what kinds of renewable projects get built. Through this process\, we’re helping ensure that new renewable projects can move forward in the CAISO’s interconnection queue. \nSupporting projects early in their development accelerates the transition to a cleaner energy future\, and that transition has very real impacts on people’s daily lives\, from healthier air quality to more resilient local economies. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What market trends are we watching? \nWe’re closely watching how batteries are reshaping energy markets. California has added extensive battery storage capacity in recent years\, and that trend is only accelerating. Storage helps shift supply into the evening hours when demand peaks\, and the extent to which these batteries flatten electricity prices throughout the day will have a direct impact on MCE. \nIt will be interesting to see how quickly emerging technologies\, such as long‑duration storage and new approaches to geothermal development\, can scale. We’re especially interested in innovations that can help bring down the cost of these promising resources. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What do you wish more people understood about how power procurement works? \nHow complicated it is! There are many risks involved in purchasing power\, and the procurement team’s goal is to put together a portfolio that balances the different types of risks we see from each kind of contract. To give you some examples\, just a few of the risks we consider are:  \n\nProduction risk: How likely is it for a resource to produce the power MCE expects? For example\, in a drought year\, a run-of-river hydroelectric project might produce far less electricity production than expected.\nLocation risk: How much risk is there that the electricity will be able to travel along the transmission lines to MCE’s service territory? For example\, if a solar project is in Southern California and the transmission lines to the Bay Area get overloaded\, MCE may get less financial benefit from the project compared to what we expected.\nDevelopment risk: How likely is it for a renewable electricity project to be canceled? We consider whether there could be issues or delays with obtaining permits\, supply chain risks for getting appropriate electrical equipment onsite\, or challenges with interconnecting with the grid. \n								\n				\n				\n				\n									How does this year’s Open Season differ from previous ones? \nLast year\, we issued a Long-Term Offer Request for Information due to the uncertainty in market conditions. This year we are returning to a formal request for offers that we call Open Season. This is the same process we’ve done in previous years that many developers will be familiar with.   								\n				\n				\n				\n									What’s most exciting about the opportunities this Open Season could bring to our communities? \nWe’re inspired by the potential to procure additional projects that help fill the gaps between MCE’s solar‑rich portfolio and our customers’ electricity use throughout the day. We’re looking forward to seeing the projects that renewable developers submit that align with MCE’s goals and working with them to bring new renewable resources online\, strengthening both our communities and California’s grid. 								\n				\n				\n				\n									What inspired you to pursue a career in clean energy? \nGrowing up in Marin splashing in tidepools and hiking in the redwoods made me fall in love with our natural world. That led me to study biology and environmental science in college and graduate school. After graduating\, I’ve built a career addressing climate change and environmental justice issues to contribute to creating a future where all life thrives on this planet. Everyone deserves clean air\, clean water\, and a habitable climate\, and I’m proud to be contributing to that vision of the future.   \nI joined MCE’s procurement team in January of 2026\, and it’s especially meaningful to get to serve my local community by procuring clean\, renewable electricity in California.  \nLearn more about MCE’s 2026 Open Season at  mcecleanenergy.org/solicitations/. The request for offers launches on June 17.
URL:https://mcecleanenergy.org/event/2026-certify-amplify-webinar/
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mcecleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-Certify-Amplify-Webinar-Graphic.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR