Power Grid Summer Reliability Strengthened with New Luna Battery Storage Facility

The 100 MW/400 MWh Luna Battery Storage Project is now operational and providing energy to Clean Power Alliance customers while strengthening grid reliability.

This new standalone energy storage facility located in the city of Lancaster, 50 miles north of Los Angeles, serves as an essential component of CPA’s renewable energy strategy and as a key offering to Los Angeles County and Ventura County customers by enabling the power grid to match natural changes in the supply and demand of electricity. AES Corporation, one of the world’s largest electricity generating and distribution companies, is the developer and operator of the Luna project.

Luna allows us to reduce the potential grid instability during sustained high-temperature weather events, as California has experienced in recent years.

As energy prices are at their highest point in the evening when usage rates are high and solar generation falls when the sun goes down, fossil fuel generation is often used to meet peak demand, increasing customers costs, while simultaneously increasing greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants. Luna allows CPA to provide stored energy to local communities during precisely these moments.

“CPA is proud to partner with AES on the Luna storage project to bring a critical resource online in time to meet California’s grid reliability needs this summer,” said Natasha Keefer, Vice President of Power Supply at Clean Power Alliance. “The Luna project demonstrates CPA’s leadership in storage investment and our commitment to meeting our customers’ clean energy needs. This resource will capture renewable energy during the day when solar is plentiful and send clean energy back to the grid during times of peak demand. Luna is one of many innovative resources in which CPA is investing to help Southern California transition to a clean energy future.”

Luna’s 100MW of lithium-ion batters provide enough energy to power roughly 75,000 Southern California homes for four hours and is now 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.

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.