Calpine celebrated the expansion of the Santa Ana Energy Storage Project on Tuesday with a $15,000 donation to the Delhi Center, a community partner.
For 40 years, Calpine has been focused on sustainability and has active geothermal, battery storage and carbon capture projects throughout California designed to provide clean, reliable energy while protecting and creating jobs.
With this third phase of expansion, Johanna battery energy storage in Santa Ana is capable of powering more than 80,000 homes for more than 4 hours.
Stored energy, which is free of greenhouse gases, helps provide grid reliability by managing the variability of energy resources and reducing the risk of power outages in Santa Ana and Orange County.
“It is essential that we maintain power during peak usage hours and I am proud to be here today to celebrate this important partnership with the Delhi Center,” said State Senator Thomas Umberg.
Additionally, he commented that Calpine’s Johanna battery energy storage is going to be a crucial piece in meeting Orange County and California’s clean energy goals.
According to the California Energy Commission, Senate Bill 100 (2018) set a 60 percent renewable energy goal by 2030 and a longer-term goal of serving 100 percent of retail sales and California’s state loads with renewable, zero-carbon energy certified by the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 2045.
In the coming months, Calpine staff will interact with students enrolled in the Delhi Teens Engaged in Learning and Leadership (TELL) program, participating in a session that supports professional development knowledge in science, technology, engineering , arts and mathematics (STEAM) on the future of clean energy.
Calpine will also take students on a tour of the battery storage facility to introduce them to staff and opportunities in the clean energy workforce.
“By encouraging students to pursue careers in the clean energy industry and supporting organizations like the Delhi Center, we hope to help develop a strong, diverse workforce to lead the transition to a net-zero emissions energy system by 2045. ”. said Calpine Vice President of Energy Trading Jason Armenta.
According to Armenta, Calpine has another site in development in the Inland Empire that will begin operations in the middle of next year.
When completed it will be one of the largest energy storage facilities in the world that will be used to provide grid stability and power to California consumers.
“We are excited about this partnership with Calpine. Our programming makes a difference in the lives of our young people by exposing them to careers in different fields,” said Juanita Preciado-Hernández, interim executive director of the Delhi Center.
The board added that this partnership can empower and inform teens in the community about emerging careers in the STEAM sector, clean energy, and the important role they play in our communities.
The Delhi Center is a non-profit community organization, created in 1969 in Santa Ana, that promotes self-sufficiency through programs in health, education, financial stability and community participation.