San Diego Community Power (SDCP), a nonprofit community choice energy program serving five cities in the San Diego region, entered into a PPA with an affiliate of developer RAI Energy International. The project is located in Imperial County, California, and is an integrated 100-MW photovoltaic solar energy project and up to 150-MW/600-MWh of battery energy storage that will provide San Diego Community Power with a 20-year supply of renewable energy, help meet peak summer demand and support grid reliability. With this first project, called the Vikings Energy Farm, SDCP delivers on its promise of investing in regional renewable energy projects that support economic development and local jobs.
San Diego Community Power was formed in Fall 2019 and launched electricity supply services last month for municipal customers in the five member cities of Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa and San Diego. The program provides local control and consumer choice regarding energy decisions on a large scale for the first time in the region’s history.
Under the terms of the power purchase agreement, RAI Energy’s Vikings Energy Farm project will help SDCP power the equivalent of 50,000 homes.
“We are thrilled to be delivering on our promise to invest in projects that deliver more renewable energy to our customers and support regional jobs and economic development,” said Joe Mosca, Encinitas Councilmember and Chair of the San Diego Community Power Board. “The Vikings Energy Farm project will provide clean energy when we need it most while supporting our goal of procuring 100 percent renewable energy to our customers by 2035 or sooner.”
RAI Energy, through its affiliate Vikings Energy Farm will develop, design, permit, construct, own and operate the proposed project. The site is located adjacent to Holtville, Calif. in the heart of the Imperial Valley. Showcasing the shared commitment to the local community, the project was named after the Holtville High School Vikings mascot. RAI Energy is working with the community to develop a scholarship program benefitting Holtville students. Construction on the Vikings Energy Farm is expected to begin in the fall of 2022, with commercial operations expected to begin in the summer of 2023. RAI Energy has a union labor agreement in place and is expected to employ in excess of 250 union workers at peak construction.
“Vikings Energy Farm represents the future of how we fight climate change and increase renewable energy. By combining solar and energy storage, RAI Energy will be able to inject renewable energy into the grid when it is most needed to help ensure reliability and resiliency,” said RAI Energy and CEO Mohammed Alrai. “We are proud to partner with San Diego Community Power on this milestone project and we remain committed to helping power California with clean, reliable solar energy and storage.”
