MONTEREY, California, August 17, 2026: Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), a community choice aggregator (CCA) in CAISO, announces a request for proposals to meet its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and reliability goals. Through Ascend Analytics’ Power Procurement (APP) platform, 3CE aims to procure power purchase agreements (PPAs) with new or existing renewable energy and storage projects. Acceptable PPA start dates are no later than December 31, 2032, with a preference for projects with a commercial online date (COD) prior to 2030, and PPA term lengths must be between 3 and 20 years.

3CE’s RFP seeks offers with a capacity of at least 20 MW from the following product categories:

1. Renewable Generation Only Contracts: RPS-eligible generation from solar, wind, geothermal, or any other PCC1 generating resource.
2. Renewable Generation Plus Storage Contracts: RPS-eligible generation paired with a storage project. The storage duration must be at least 4 hours, and the storage contract capacity cannot exceed 120% of the guaranteed generating capacity. 3CE is interested in all storage technologies, including alternative technologies that support 3CE’s innovation goals.
3. Standalone Storage Contracts: Standalone storage projects with a duration of at least 4 hours. 3CE is interested in all storage technologies, including alternative technologies that support 3CE’s innovation goals. Standalone storage proposals may be offered as a physical or financial settlement.
4. RA Only Contracts: RA Only projects from storage, thermals, or other qualifying resources. Resources supplying RA must be certified with the CAISO as Resource Adequacy Resources.
   
   • Import RA Contracts: 3CE is also accepting offers for imported RA, with Respondent required to be the importer of record.
5. Carbon-Free or Low-Carbon Generation Contracts: carbon-free or low-carbon eligible generation projects, such as from large hydroelectric, hydrogen, thermal plus carbon capture systems, thermal plus storage, or any other eligible projects, that produce zero or reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Ascend Analytics, via Ascend Power Procurement (APP), administers and organizes the RFP process on behalf of 3CE. This RFP is administered through the new APP Platform, where interested parties can view relevant documents, ask questions, and submit bids. Prospects must create a free account on the APP Platform to register and participate in this RFP. Ascend will evaluate all conforming bids using its energy analytics platform, PowerSIMM.

The RFP team will host an informational webinar for interested bidders on September 16th, 2026, at 1pm PT. Bid submissions are due September 25th, 2026, at 5pm PT. Interested parties can email: 3ce2026rfp@ascendanalytics.com for more information.

Timeline

About Central Coast Community Energy (3CE)  ‍

Central Coast Community Energy is a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) established in 2017, which formed under a joint powers’ agency and is subject to legislative and regulatory requirements imposed on load serving entities within California. 3CE serves over 436,000 customers in the Central Coast, including in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties.  

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