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Central Coast Community Energy outlines battery storage role, incentives and local uptake in Pacific Grove
Summary
3CE presented program updates to the council, highlighting the role of utility‑scale and distributed battery storage in avoiding flex alerts, funding and rebates for electrification programs, and local participation statistics for Pacific Grove residents.
A representative of Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) provided the Pacific Grove City Council a regional energy update on Sept. 3, emphasizing battery storage, local program participation and funding opportunities for cities.
Sofia Schwarztke, 3CE Northern Region community relations manager, said battery storage helps capture renewable energy during the day and discharge it during evening peak hours, reducing reliance on fossil‑fueled generation and lowering the need for flex alerts during heat events. She displayed statewide generation charts comparing capacity during a 2022 Labor Day flex‑alert event and a July heat wave in which greater battery deployment and renewables helped avoid a flex alert.
3CE highlighted investments in containerized, outdoor battery storage (rather than indoor battery halls), and described an innovative compressed air storage project (Willow Rock Energy Storage Center) planned to provide 200 megawatts of storage. Schwarztke said battery failure rates have declined as deployment has increased and noted that 3CE does not invest in indoor battery halls similar to the Vistra/Moss Landing facility.
The presentation also reviewed customer programs and local uptake. 3CE programs mentioned include Electrify Your Ride (up to $4,000 toward EV purchase and additional EV charger funds), Electrify Your Home rebates, residential battery rebates, new construction electrification incentives, and city‑facing programs such as Plan Your Fleet and Electrify Your Fleet (the latter makes up to $300,000 per year available to member agencies for electric fleet vehicles and chargers). 3CE staff said Pacific Grove residents and customers have received about $440,000 through 3CE programs to date and that the organization has returned more than $11 million to customers across its service area since 2018.
3CE also briefed the council on potential federal policy impacts. The presenter said proposed federal changes (referred to as HR 1 in the meeting) would phase out certain tax credits for electric vehicles and home energy upgrades after end‑of‑year deadlines and could affect utility‑scale projects that have not broken ground by 2027; 3CE is supporting California Senate Bill 540 (Pathways Initiative) to create a regional energy market that could provide savings and allow better trading of excess renewables regionally.
Councilmembers asked about city access to program funding for electrifying municipal fleets and public charging infrastructure; staff said Plan Your Fleet offers no‑cost technical assistance and Electrify Your Fleet can provide up to $300,000 per year for member agencies. 3CE staff offered to coordinate with Pacific Grove staff to analyze city fleet needs and charging opportunities.
