Category: Uncategorized

Welcome Enrolling Communities

Posted on by Leslie Madarang

3CE wants to give a warm welcome to the cities of Arroyo Grande, Del Rey Oaks, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, Solvang and Northern Santa Barbara County as they near enrollment with 3CE in January 2021. We are excited to share the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy and local control with our neighboring communities. More communities joining 3CE means greater benefits for all!

“Our expansion to serve 11 new communities in Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties marks an important transition in 3CE’s development as a community choice energy agency,” shares 3CE CEO, Tom Habashi. “This expansion led to a name change, a larger board and most importantly a new direction and a real commitment to renewable energy. In 2021, 3CE will be serving 4 counties and 29 cities along California’s Central Coast.”

Read our Press Release

3CE Earns ‘A’ Credit Rating by S&P Global Markets – a First Among California CCAs

Posted on by Leslie Madarang
On Friday October 16, 2020 Standard & Poor’s (S&P’s) Global Ratings assigned 3CE with an ‘A’ credit rating, the highest rating received by a California community choice aggregator (CCA) to date. 3CE joins three other CCAs (MCE, Peninsula Clean Energy and Silicon Valley Clean Energy) who also received credit ratings further strengthening the viability and financial sustainability of the CCA industry. Like so many 3CE accomplishments, the support of customers and communities we serve played an instrumental role in this achievement. Other contributing factors as noted by S&P include strong economic fundamentals, comprehensive governance structure, robust energy risk management policy and experienced executive leadership.
 
”Achieving the first ‘A’ rating is a testament to our Boards, customers, staff and 33 communities that believe in the CCA model as critical to our affordable clean and renewable energy future,” stated 3CE’s CEO Tom Habashi. “This rating also demonstrates the viability of both the CCA business model and the leadership that CCAs provide in achieving California’s greenhouse gas emission goals while providing reliable low-cost electricity.  3CE’s CEO Tom Habashi said.  
 
3CE’s ‘A’ Rating will aid in accelerating the path to 100% clean & renewable energy for Central Coast communities, increasing wholesale buying power, lowering transaction costs & helping us make innovative financing structures for energy challenges.
 
Please click here to learn more and review S&P’s full rating action.

Pathway to 100% Clean and Renewable Energy by 2030

Posted on by Leslie Madarang
The adoption of a new and affordable pathway to 100% renewable energy by 2030 will provide more enduring impact toward the 3CE’s original goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This pathway ensures 60% of our energy supply will come from new renewable resources by 2025 and 100% by 2030, putting 3CE 15 years ahead of the state’s clean energy goals. Adopted on September 2nd, the new strategy will move power purchasing towards optimizing increasing low-cost renewable energy and energy storage technologies as well as closer to seeking renewable energy projects within its expansive service area.
 
“With the formal adoption of our new name, Central Coast Community Energy, we are charting a new course to achieve significant and meaningful reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030. 3CE’s new resource procurement strategy comes at an opportune time when we can further capitalize on low cost long term new renewable energy projects to achieve an even greater impact on the environment while lowering customer cost,” shares CEO, Tom Habashi.
 
This transition would produce both utility-scale progress toward growing renewables and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing the likelihood of localized generation and battery storage. Because the cost of renewable energy is at an all-time low while carbon-free attributes have increased five-fold in the past 3 years, this new approach would also reduce 3CE’s energy supply costs by up to $10 million a year or potentially over $100 million by 2030. With more financial flexibility, 3CE can further support rate stability, re-investment in efforts to bolster and accelerate the electrification of the Central Coast’s transportation, building and agricultural sectors while evaluating the value proposition of distributed energy resources.
 
To learn more about our new pathway to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2030, please visit our website below.
Learn More

Monterey Bay Community Power Has a New Name!

Posted on by Leslie Madarang
This new name reflects our expanded service area now covering 33 communities, including additional communities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, as well as Del Rey Oaks in Monterey County starting in early 2021 and the city of Buellton in early 2022. These communities join our existing service area in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz counties, and the cities of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. This will unify access to clean energy and local control for over 400,000 residential, commercial, and agricultural customers on the Central Coast.
 
Your service will not be impacted by this change. The current MBCP Electric Generation Charges on your statement will be renamed as Central Coast Community Energy Electric Generation Charges. Our commitment to local control and competitively priced electricity from clean and renewable energy sources remains the same.
 
Central Coast Community Energy invites customers to visit its new website and learn more about the 2021 enrollment of Arroyo Grande, Carpinteria, Del Rey Oaks, Goleta, Guadalupe, Grover Beach, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, Solvang and the County of Santa Barbara at 3CEnergy.org.
Watch Video to Learn More

Electrifying Our Local Ag Industry with the MBCP Ag Electrification Grant Program

Posted on by Leslie Madarang
Through our Ag Electrification Grant Program, with a total available funding of $160,000, MBCP is offering eligible customers up to $20,000 to assist with fuel-switching or electrifying tractors, forklifts, coolers/boilers, light/heavy duty vehicles, diesel-powered irrigation pumps, and more.
Many of our agricultural customers are already focused on reducing the climate impact of their operations, benefiting their bottom line and the planet. As a local partner in GHG reduction efforts and economic development, MBCP has identified the Electrification of the Ag Sector as a key initiative and focus for future Energy Programs. Electrification, often referred to as “fuel switching,” has a variety of benefits for the customer, the surrounding communities and the people who work in the fields.
Our Energy Programs team has already received four applications from local farms interested in fuel switching to cleaner, all-electric alternatives. If you know someone in the local ag industry, please share or forward this information to them. Applications are being accepted through September 16, 2020.
Learn More Here

Exciting News: MBCP is Changing their Name!

Posted on by Leslie Madarang
This September we’re changing our name to Central Coast Community Energy. The new name reflects our expanded service area, which now includes service for areas of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
These communities join our existing service areas in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. This will unify access to clean energy and local control for over 400,000 residential, commercial, and agricultural customers on the Central Coast.
Though our name is changing, our commitment to local control and competitively priced electricity from clean and renewable energy sources will remain the same. As a customer of MBCP, you can expect to see our new name on your utility bill beginning in October and November. Our website will redirect you to the new site, 3CEnergy.org beginning September 4th, 2020. 
Learn More Here

MBCP Signs 7th Renewable Energy Contract in Partnership with Silicon Valley Clean Energy

Posted on by Leslie Madarang

Scheduled to come online before the end of 2023, MBCP’s newest solar + battery storage project is set to begin serving 7-8% of our customers’ energy needs. The Aratina Solar Center will provide enough power for 93,000 homes and offset carbon emissions by approximately 430,000 metric tons each year, the equivalent of planting 7 million trees annually or removing 90,000 cars from the road.

“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.”

The Aratina Solar Center is being built in Kern County, California where 8minute has been a significant player in accelerating solar and storage development. This agreement marks MBCP’s 7th renewable energy contract in partnership with Silicon Valley Clean Energy and part of an ongoing effort to seek more renewable opportunities.


Want to learn more about the Aratina Solar Center?
Click here to read the press release.

MBCP Partners with Monterey Bay Air Resources District to Electrifying Our Community’s School Buses for a Cleaner, Healthier Monterey Bay Region

Posted on by Leslie Madarang

In partnership with Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD), MBCP’s latest energy program is designed to fund 100% of costs to replace at least six traditional school buses with electric buses. MBCP dedicated $1.2 million in funding to add to MBARD’s existing electric school bus program. MBCP and MBARD share a goal of improving air quality and this powerful partnership reduces local greenhouse gas emissions for an annual program total of 120 MTCO2e, the equivalent of over 132,000 lbs. of coal burned each year by replacing six traditional school buses with electric buses. 

The Zero Emission School Bus Program helps ensure your school district has the opportunity to provide clean running electric transportation for our students in the community. MBCP will provide up to $200,000 per bus for at least six buses while MBARD leverages state funding for the remaining balance of each electric school bus through their ongoing program. 

Please click here for details found on our
MBCP Transportation Electrification Webpage

MBCP is Accelerating the Construction of New All-Electric Housing

Posted on by Leslie Madarang

MBCP’s latest energy program is aimed at accelerating the construction of new all-electric housing to decrease reliance on fossil fuels such as natural gas and reducing local greenhouse gas emissions while improving indoor air quality for occupants. The MUD Electrification Grant Program supports local housing developers in the transition from traditional mixed-fuel building design to all-electric buildings by providing incentives on a per-unit basis. Funding for the MUD Electrification Grant Program totals $1.2 million. Housing developers may apply for $2,500 for each affordable housing unit, and $1,750 for each market-rate housing unit.  Applicants can apply for up to $240,000 for each all-electric MUD housing project.  

Please click here for details found on our 
MBCP Building Electrification web page

MBCP Responds to COVID-19 with 50% Cost Deferment for ALL Customers for Two Months

Posted on by mbcp-administrator

MBCP recognizes COVID-19 is impacting customers and communities both economically and socially as we all shelter in place. While many local, state and federal programs are available to support customers, MBCP is here to provide support to all customers we serve.

In response to these hardships, MBCP leadership determined immediate and decisive action to benefit all customers was needed. After careful analysis of the possible actions, MBCP Boards voted, on April 13, 2020, unanimously in favor of financial relief to all customers that above all, would be swift and equitable.

Please click here for details found on our
MBCP COVID-19 Response Webpage