MCE Open Season 2026 Request for Offers (RFO)

MCE (Marin Clean Energy) is conducting a competitive procurement process to acquire renewable energy resources and energy storage to meet its future resource requirements and support grid stability and resilience. This 2026 Open Season Request for Offers (RFO) solicits proposals for: (1) Mid-term Reliability (MTR) Eligible "Clean Firm" Renewable Energy with zero emissions or RPS-eligible generation capacity with at least 80% expected annual capacity factor, generation size of 5-100 MW, and Commercial Operations Date between January 1, 2029 and June 1, 2032; (2) Renewable Energy Paired with Energy Storage including both four-hour and long-duration (eight hours or more) storage technologies; and (3) Standalone Energy Storage projects. All renewable energy resources must be PCC1-eligible and paired with Renewable Energy Credits and Capacity Attributes (Resource Adequacy). Minimum delivery terms are ten years from new projects and five years from existing renewable facilities, with nameplate capacity minimums of 5 MW for 24x7 load profiles and 25 MW for intermittent resources.

Key Dates and Timeline: The RFO was issued June 17, 2026 with a Respondent Q&A Window from June 17-29, 2026. The Response Window runs June 17 - July 20, 2026, with responses due by 11:59 PM Pacific Prevailing Time on July 20, 2026. Shortlist notifications will be issued on a rolling basis through the end of Q3 2026 (target). Selected respondents must sign and return an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement within seven business days of notification and provide a Shortlist Deposit of $3.00/kW (or $12.00/kW for Cluster 16 projects) multiplied by the Guaranteed Capacity. Cluster 16 respondents have until September 18, 2026 to execute agreements. MCE aims to finalize contracts on a rolling basis through the end of Q1 2027 (target).

Responses must be submitted electronically through MCE's website at http://mcecleanenergy.org/solicitations/ and include a completed Standard Offer Form, completed Term Sheet with acceptance of MCE's terms, and supporting documentation including Interconnection Study or Agreement, site control documentation, and project development timeline. Shortlisted respondents may be requested to provide permitting information, zoning details, site plans, single line diagrams, project financing plans, financial statements, organizational charts, and Pollinator Scorecards.

Evaluation Criteria: Offers will be evaluated based on overall response quality, completeness and timeliness, price and relative portfolio value, acceptance of pro forma terms, project development status (interconnection progress, deliverability, siting, zoning, permitting, financing), qualifications and experience of the project team, project location and unique characteristics, development milestone schedule, environmental impacts and mitigation requirements, and optional elements such as local hiring commitments, community benefits, and workforce development initiatives. MCE will conduct supplier interviews as necessary and reserves the right to request clarifying information.