Community Electricity Choice:
History and Developments 2002 through 2016
As of 2017, the growth of Community Choice programs was exceeding SDED's ability to track monthly developments. We leave this litany here as history and testimony to the pace of growth.
2016
- October -- Peninsula Clean Energy begins serving customers.
- September -- County of San Diego holds public meetings on draft "Comprehensive Renewable Energy Plan" (CREP)
- August -- Contract for City of San Diego's Feasibility Study awarded to Willdan Financial and EnerNex.
- June 3 -- Final day to submit bids for the City of San Diego's "Feasibility Study for a Community Choice Aggregate (CCA)".
- May 19 -- On May 19, Peninsula Clean Energy Authority (PCEA) announced the appointment of veteran energy professional Jan Pepper as its first CEO. Ms. Pepper has been Director of the Energy Division at Silicon Valley Power, the municipal utility serving the City of Santa Clara. She assumes the reins of PCEA at the end of May.
- May 19 -- Silicon Valley CCE Partnership (SVCCEP) announced Tom Habashi as the new CEO of Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority. SVCEA appointed its Board in spring 2016 as it gears up for program launch in early 2017.
- May 11 -- At its City Council meeting, the City of Solana Beach accepted the CCA Technical Study prepared by California Clean Power and provided guidance to staff to go forward on a two-track plan toward CCA formation. See meeting agenda and video here.
- May -- After 12 years of public debate and challenges, CleanPowerSF officially launched to all eligible ratepayers on May 1. CleanPower SF now delivers power to over 7,800 residences and businesses as it starts full-scale operation.
- April -- Peninsula Clean Energy, the CCA for the cities and towns of San Mateo County, submitted its CCA Implementation Plan to the CPUC. The CPUC has 90 days to respond; following Plan approval, PCE can set its initial launch date, targeted for October 1, 2016.
- March -- The City of Davis expects to review the findings of its CCA Feasibility Study and vote in March on the next steps for a CCA for Davis and surrounding Yolo County. The City's Community Choice Energy Advisory Committee meets monthly.
- February -- In February, the cities of Los Altos Hills, Campbell and Los Gatos joined five other communities (Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Morgan Hill, Mountain View and Saratoga) and unincorporated Santa Clara County in adopting a JPA to form Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCEA). SVCEA announced a six-month contracted executive manager to expedite formation; RFP closes March 7.
- February 16 -- The Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), acting on behalf of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments and the San Bernadino Associated Governments, released an RFP for a Community Choice Aggregation Study. A total of 50 communities are represented by the three agencies. The RFP closes on March 17.
- February 1 -- CleanPowerSF started enrolling customers February 1 for its initial roll-out phase beginning May 1. Customers can select either 35% renewable (vs PG&E's current 27%) or, for slightly more each month, can opt for 100% renewable kWh.
- January/February -- Since the beginning of the year, the Silicon Valley CCE Partnership has been conducting public hearings, meetings, City Councils and Town Councils throughout its 11-community partnership on findings of its CCA Feasibility Study. Objective: build participation in the Joint Powers Authority between member communities.
- January -- It's official! After over ten years of effort, CleanPowerSF is launched. Completing procurement now, customers are expected to enroll in March. Congratulations to the dedicated advocates whose perseverance brought this 4th CCA to fruition.
- January -- Redwood Coast Energy Authority, a Joint Powers Authority comprised of Humboldt County and seven cities, released an RFP for "CCA Development and Operations Services". The RFP is linked here.
- January -- Brentwood became the 16th of the 16 cities in Contra Costa County to vote to release its electricity load data to participate in a county-wide CCA Technical Feasibility Study.
- December -- The City of San Diego becomes the first major City in the US to adopt a binding Climate Action Plan with a CCA at the heart of its commitment to reach "100% Clean Energy by 2035". Major National News!
- December -- Santa Barbara County released an RFP for a CCA Technical Feasibility Study, to cover the area of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Responses due January 25; see the RFP here.
- November -- November 17, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to create a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for the Peninsula Clean Energy Authority. Meeting agenda with resolution linked here; item #6.
- November -- Silicon Valley CCE Partnership, the community choice alliance for Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View and unincorporated Santa Clara county, completed its draft Technical Feasibility Study. Following review of Study results, SVCCEP expects public discussion of JPA formation, the next step creating a multi-jurisdiction CCA.
- October -- San Francisco CCA supporters announce formation of Silicon Valley CCE Partnership, including participation by 12 Bay area communities. Details here.
- September -- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors votes unanimously to contract for a CCA Technical Feasibility Study for the unincorporated areas of the County, "with potential for expansion". LA also sets up a CCA Implementation Workgroup to report to Supervisors bi-monthly. Read more.
- September -- Sonoma Clean Power ends its first year with impressive results: $13.6 million in bill savings for customers, 48% lower greenhouse gas emissions than with PG&E and payments over $207,000 to local solar generators, one-third of which were schools. Read the Press Release ..
- September -- Peninsula Clean Energy, the community choice program for San Mateo County, releases its Technical Feasibility Study. View the highlights of the Study's findings here.
- May -- Marin Clean Energy celebrates five years of successful operation. Expands service to Napa County, Benicia, San Pablo. City of Davis to consider adopting Marin Clean Energy or starting its own Community Choice Energy District. Read More...
- May -- The City of Lancaster launches Lancaster Choice Energy Program. California's third Community Choice program is up and running.
- December –- Sonoma Clean Power adds 140,000 additional customers, now serving all Sonoma County (except Petaluma and Rohnert Park). Petaluma City Council voted unanimously to join SCP, bringing to 500,000 the number of residents and businesses served by SCP. Read more.
- November -– Rohnert Park votes to join Sonoma Clean Power. Read more.
- October -– With 70 MW of solar and 50 MW of geothermal under contract, Sonoma Clean Power exceeds the State 2020 mandate two years early. Details.
- May -– City of Lancaster votes to pursue Community Choice Aggregation. Read more.
Formation of the First Two CCAs
2011 – Sonoma Clean Power forms
In 2011, a steering committee formed to explore the formation of a CCA. Participants included city council members, city managers and staff, local activists and businesses, among others. In 2012, the initial implementation plan was revised and toured to the cities invited to participate in Sonoma Clean Power: Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor, Sebastopol. SCP started serving customers in May 2014 with 20,000 customers, 79% of Sonoma Couty.
California's first CCA was launched through the valiant efforts of grassroots advocates and farsighted local elected leaders. Marin Clean Energy (MCE; www.marincleanenergy.org) ) was launched in May, 2010. MCE's initial roll-out was accomplished in phases, as customers were added in groups – each group had, as do all CAA customers continuously, the option to Opt-Out of the program at any time:
The California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 117 in 2002. This is the law that allows communities to purchase power directly on behalf of their constituents. Known as Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), this law is widely recognized as a hugely powerful tool for the advancement of the clean energy economy and the environmental benefits that result from a shift to locally produced zero-emission electricity generation.
2011 – Sonoma Clean Power forms
In 2011, a steering committee formed to explore the formation of a CCA. Participants included city council members, city managers and staff, local activists and businesses, among others. In 2012, the initial implementation plan was revised and toured to the cities invited to participate in Sonoma Clean Power: Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor, Sebastopol. SCP started serving customers in May 2014 with 20,000 customers, 79% of Sonoma Couty.
- June 2013 – Town of Windsor votes to join SCP
California's first CCA was launched through the valiant efforts of grassroots advocates and farsighted local elected leaders. Marin Clean Energy (MCE; www.marincleanenergy.org) ) was launched in May, 2010. MCE's initial roll-out was accomplished in phases, as customers were added in groups – each group had, as do all CAA customers continuously, the option to Opt-Out of the program at any time:
- May 2010 – 8,000 customers enrolled – Marin
- August 2011 – 5,500 customers enrolled – Marin
- August 2012 – balance of Marin residents and businesses enrolled
- July 2013 – City of Richmond customers enrolled
- 2015 – Service begins to unincorporated Napa County and San Pablo
The California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 117 in 2002. This is the law that allows communities to purchase power directly on behalf of their constituents. Known as Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), this law is widely recognized as a hugely powerful tool for the advancement of the clean energy economy and the environmental benefits that result from a shift to locally produced zero-emission electricity generation.