CPA Team Visits Luna Battery Storage Facility

CPA Team Visits Nearly Completed Luna Battery Storage Project

Recently, members of the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) team visited the nearly completed 100 MW, 400-megawatt hour (MWh) Luna Storage standalone battery storage facility in Lancaster, California. This is CPA’s third standalone storage project, in addition to the Johanna ESS Energy Storage Facility in Santa Ana and the Edwards Sanborn Storage II Facility in Kern County, and will allow CPA to cost-effectively integrate renewable energy resources into the grid 24 hours a day.

Battery storage systems are a key component of CPA’s renewable energy strategy and are a key offering to Los Angeles County and Ventura County customers, as they enable the power grid to match natural changes in the supply and demand of electricity.

Because energy market prices are at their highest point in the evening when usage rates are high and solar generation is reduced due to the lack of sunlight, fossil fuel generation is often used to meet peak demand, increasing customers costs while simultaneously increasing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental damage.

Energy storage projects like Luna Storage allow CPA to capture excess energy throughout the course of the day when renewable sources are plentiful and prices are low, and to deploy that energy to customers over the course of the evening when prices and usage are higher.

According to Matt Dugan, the BESS Sr. Project Manager, this project represents a monumental advancement in energy battery storage systems. “As the Senior Project Manager for AES, I’ve been fortunate enough to help lead our first two Battery Energy Storage System Projects. Just a few years ago, 100 MW facilities didn’t exist and technology limits made them almost impossible. Now with huge battery storage chemistry advancements, Luna marks our 3rd 100 MW project. This now allows for around-the-clock clean energy products to be delivered to the grid.”

The $100 million project, constructed with union labor in Lancaster at the northern edge of Los Angeles County, is a little over an hour’s drive from downtown Los Angeles. This allows CPA to advance renewable energy storage options while investing locally and creating local jobs.

AES Clean Energy will own and operate the Luna Storage facility on behalf of CPA with the site expected to become fully operational during the summer of 2022.

Founded in 2017, Clean Power Alliance is the locally operated electricity provider for 30 cities across Los Angeles County and Ventura County, as well as the unincorporated areas of both counties. CPA is the fifth largest electricity provider in California and the single largest provider of 100% renewable energy to customers in the nation, serving approximately three million customers via one million customer accounts, providing clean renewable energy at competitive rates.

Anthony Boukarim

Anthony Boukarim serves as Resource Planner, Power Supply, supporting long-term resource planning, portfolio optimization, and procurement strategy to advance CPA’s clean energy, reliability, and affordability objectives. He brings more than a decade of experience in the energy sector, spanning management consulting and advanced energy analytics, with deep expertise supporting utilities and community choice aggregators. Prior to joining CPA, Anthony spent six years at Ascend Analytics, where he led firm-wide renewable energy and storage procurement initiatives. He holds a Master of Science in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

Kim Dunham

Kim joins Clean Power Alliance as the Senior Analyst, Rates and Tariffs. Kim is responsible for developing and maintaining CPA’s cost of service and rate models to evaluate the financial, competitiveness, and customer impacts of rate design and rate setting options. Kim held financial, strategy, and planning roles across utilities, consulting, and the energy sector, including roles with Black Hills Energy, Marathon Oil, and Noble Energy. This cross-sector background gives her a broad view of how financial modeling, regulatory strategy, and capital planning intersect to support growth, reliability, and environmental responsibility. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Wyoming.

Mark Hum

Mark Hum serves as Senior Associate, Communications and Marketing at Clean Power Alliance. He is a marketing and communications strategist with a background in medtech and life sciences, where he supported initiatives spanning multiple industries across both B2B and consumer-facing brands. His work is grounded in a copywriter’s mindset, starting with audience needs and translating complex ideas into clear, compelling stories that build trust and understanding. Mark has led integrated communications across digital, social, email, web, and stakeholder channels, with an emphasis on accessibility, consistency, and measurable impact. He brings a strong appreciation for structure and narrative, ensuring that every message serves a purpose and connects with people in a meaningful way. Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).

Pom Saengxuto

Prapassara “Pom” Saengxuto serves as Finance and Accounting Analyst at CPA. She is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. Throughout her career, she has worked across a wide range of industries, including public accounting, private corporations, entertainment, manufacturing, consulting and construction. This diverse background allows her to bring a well-rounded and practical perspective to every engagement. Pom is known for her strong dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy. She works effectively both independently and as part of a team, consistently supporting organizations in making informed, strategic financial decisions. Her approach combines technical expertise with a deep sense of responsibility and professionalism.