Rocklin, CA â Pioneer Community Energy (Pioneer), a locally owned not-for-profit electricity provider headquartered in Rocklin, California, announced today that it has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) totaling nearly $2 billion in notional value for solar generation and battery storage projects with developers Origis, Terra-Gen, and RWE. All three project sites are located in California.
âI am so pleased that the Pioneer team has successfully negotiated PPAs that provide current and future customers with long-term price stability while also securing renewable energy,â said Pioneer Board Chair and Auburn City Councilmember Alice Dowdin Calvillo. âPioneerâs commitment to investing in its member agencies is also shown in the selection of the RWE project located in Colusa County, which will join Pioneer in 2027.â
Key details of the PPAs include:
- RWE: “Janusâ Solar + Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project, located in Williams, Colusa County, is an 80 megawatt (MW) solar facility paired with 80 MW of four-hour BESS. This project is expected to come online in early 2027. The PPA has a 15-year term.
- Origis: “Chalanâ Solar + BESS Project, located in Lost Hills, Kern County, is a 65 MW solar facility paired with 25 MW of four-hour BESS. This project is expected to come online in late 2026. The PPA has a 20-year term.
- Terra-Gen: “Enterpriseâ Solar + BESS Project, also located in Kern County, is a 210 MW solar facility paired with 210 MW of four-hour BESS. This project is expected to come online in early 2027. The PPA has a 15-year term.
BESS enhances demand response by storing excess solar energy generated during peak sunlight hours. The stored energy can be dispatched at night or in times of high demand. Unlike traditional generators, batteries provide almost instantaneous responses to utility signals. Managing fluctuations in energy supply and demand promotes overall grid reliability and can lead to significant cost savings.
âThese PPAs are a win-win for both Pioneer and our development partners,â said Pioneer Community Energy Chief Executive Officer Don Eckert. âPioneer receives long-term price certainty, the battery storage component supports grid stability, and these projects help move California closer to its long-term climate goals.â
Pioneer currently serves Placer and El Dorado counties and the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City. In October 2027, Pioneer will more than double its customer base and become geographically the largest community choice aggregator (CCA) in California when it launches service in counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Nevada, Sutter, and Tuolumne, the cities of Chico, Colusa, Live Oak, Orland, Oroville, Sonora, Williams, Willows, and Yuba City, and the Town of Paradise.
