California Water Service Signs 20-Year Deal With EDP Renewables North America For Solar Power Supply

California Water Service (Cal Water) has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with EDPR NA Distributed Generation LLC (EDPR NA DG), a subsidiary of EDP Renewables North America, to install a solar photovoltaic system at its Northeast Bakersfield Treatment Plant. The solar array will have a capacity of 2.35 megawatts in direct current (MWdc) and 1.75 megawatts in alternating current (MWac).

This collaboration is part of Cal Water’s broader mission to provide sustainable and efficient water utility services. By generating renewable energy on-site, the project aims to reduce the company’s long-term environmental impact and lower energy expenses, which in turn helps maintain more affordable water rates for customers.

Marty Kropelnicki, Group Chairman and CEO, stated, “At Cal Water, we are dedicated to being a responsible environmental steward, and partnering with EDPR NA DG will help us reduce traditional power costs, reach our science-aligned greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, and increase sustainability. We look forward to bringing this new onsite solar array online, which is an important step for us to continue providing safe, reliable, and affordable water service to our customers for decades to come.”

João Barreto, EDPR NA DG CEO, mentioned, “California is a national clean energy leader because of organizations like Cal Water, which prioritize supporting renewable energy investments. This partnership demonstrates the ever-increasing convergence of the water-energy nexus, and the importance of investment in vital infrastructure throughout California.”

The solar installation is expected to produce approximately 3,800 megawatt-hours of clean energy annually. Based on current electricity rates in the Bakersfield District, one of Cal Water’s largest service areas, the renewable energy generated is projected to reduce energy costs by about $1.7 million over the duration of the agreement.