SCE to Buy More Than 1,500 Megawatts of Renewable Power from New Solar, Existing Geothermal Resources

Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s leaders in renewable energy, has signed contracts with solar and geothermal energy producers representing more than 1,500 megawatts of clean, renewable power. Signed contracts include the purchase of more than 1,300 megawatts of new solar power and the re-contracting of 225 megawatts with an existing California geothermal energy project.

“SCE is committed to continuing to bring renewable power resources to our customers and helping achieve California’s environmental goals,” said Stuart R. Hemphill, SCE senior vice president, Power Supply and Operational Services. “These agreements will help us maintain diversity in our renewable energy portfolio.”

These contracts resulted from an open and competitive process for all renewable resources designed to promote market development, contain costs, diversify power sources and help to meet the state’s 33 percent Renewables Portfolio Standard goals. While solar is one of the fastest-growing renewable types and becoming a larger part of the state’s renewable mix, SCE and other utilities have large portions of their renewable energy in the form of geothermal and wind generation. SCE’s re-contracting with an existing geothermal project reflects the utility’s commitment to cost effective and diverse renewable energy.

The agreements are subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. Key facts about SCE’s renewable portfolio:

• SCE has consistently led the nation as one of the top utilities for renewables and is on track to meet the state’s goal of providing its customers with 33% renewables.
• In 2013, 22 percent of the power SCE delivered to its customers came from renewable sources, compared to the overall California power mix of about 15 percent renewables.
• SCE delivered 1 billion kilowatt-hours of solar energy to its customers in 2013. This energy avoided emissions of 444,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and is enough electricity to power 158,000 homes for a year.

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