8minute to develop 250-MW solar-plus-storage project for California CCA –

8minute Solar Energy (8minute)
announced this week that it has executed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with
Monterey Bay Community Power Authority (MBCP) and Silicon Valley Clean Energy
(SVCE) for the 250-megawatt (250 MWdc / 200 MWac) Aratina Solar Center that includes
150 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage.

The Aratina Solar Center is
being built in Kern County, California. The project will serve approximately
7-8% of MBCP’s retail load with 120 MWac solar generating capacity, 30 MWac
battery energy capacity and a 3-hour discharge duration, while SVCE will be
contracting for 80 MWac solar generating capacity and 20 MWac battery energy
capacity, with a 3-hour discharge duration, serving 6.6% of SVCE’s annual
retail load.

8minte says the Aratina Solar
Center could generate hundreds of millions in total capital investment, more
than $12 million in local tax revenues, $16 million in land payments over the
life of the project and 300 direct construction jobs. It’s expected to be
online before the end of 2023.

“Community Choice Energy
providers across California are taking proactive and ambitious action on behalf
of their communities and are playing a critical role in helping the state reach
its aggressive clean energy goals,” said Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, President and CEO
of 8minute. “Our first partnership with Community Choice Energy providers has
been a positive experience for 8minute, giving us an opportunity to partner
directly with communities to put more affordable, clean energy on the grid.” 

“Securing renewable, reliable,
affordable energy to power our community and support our clean energy goals is
our top priority, and we have been proud to work with the state’s largest solar
developer to ensure that we meet that goal,” said Tom Habashi, Chief Executive
Officer of MBCP. “This large-scale, long-term solar project with storage
launches us into an even stronger position in doing our part to reduce carbon
emissions while meeting our customers’ needs.” 

“Our partnership with 8minute
is another success shared with MBCP as we continue to take significant steps to
expand California’s renewable energy portfolio,” said Girish Balachandran,
Chief Executive Officer of SVCE. “The Aratina Solar Center, complete with
battery storage, will allow us to store and deliver solar power when our
customers need it — well into the evening hours — reducing our reliance on
carbon-emitting gas plants and moving us ever closer to a decarbonized grid.” 

8minute has placed in operation
more than 500 MWdc of solar, including the Springbok Solar Cluster (pictured
above) and the Redwood Solar Cluster.