San Diego County moves to join a community choice energy program
San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors late Tuesday night took a step toward having unincorporated areas of the county join one of two community choice aggregation programs in the region that serve as alternatives to San Diego Gas & Electric when it comes to purchasing energy contracts.
The board, on a 4-1 vote, adopted a set of revised guiding principles and directed the county to start discussions with San Diego Community Power — a five-city CCA that began lining up customers last month — and the Clean Energy Alliance — a CCA consisting of the North County cities of Del Mar, Solana Beach and Carlsbad that begins operating next month.
“I think the big point here is that we really want to focus on the benefits of taking the reins of our energy production,” said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, who joined board chair Nathan Fletcher in submitting the item.
The board approved six principles that would make up any Joint Powers Authority the county would sign with a prospective CCA. The principles included providing “cost competitiveness” compared to SDG&E’s rates, signing contracts that achieve 100 percent renewable electricity on its books by 2030 and adopting prevailing wage requirements.
SDCP’s top executives sent the board of supervisors a letter before Tuesday’s meeting, saying the group was looking forward to talking with the county. “The proposed Guiding Principles largely mirror SDCP’s own principles,” the letter said.
Two officials with the Clean Energy Alliance, or CEA, phoned in during the public comment period to offer their own pitch.
“We look forward to discussions with county staff on how CEA can help the county meet its climate goals through joining Clean Energy Alliance,” said interim CEO Barbara Boswell.
Read more here: San Diego County moves to join a community choice energy program – The San Diego Union-Tribune