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Consider appointing one primary and one alternate member of the Board of Supervisors to the Marin Clean Energy Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors to represent the electric supply interests of unincorporated Solano County customers participating in the Community Choice Aggregation program
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors consider appointing one primary and one alternate member of the Board to the Marin Clean Energy Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors to represent the electric supply interests of unincorporated Solano County customers participating in the Community Choice Aggregation program.
SUMMARY:
On September 11, 2018, the Solano County Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted Resolution No. 2018-174 requesting membership in the Marin Clean Energy (MCE) Joint Powers Authority (Authority), formerly known as the Marin Energy Authority. On September 25, 2018, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 2018-1795 authorizing a CCA program in unincorporated Solano County; it became effective on October 26, 2018.
On October 18, 2018, the MCE Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 2018-12 approving Solano County as a member of MCE. On February 19, 2019, the California Public Utilities Commission certified Amendment No. 6 to the MCE Implementation Plan and Statement of Intent adding the unincorporated areas of Solano County to MCE’s service area effective April 2020.
MCE requests Solano County appoint a representative, and an alternate, from its Board of Supervisors to serve as a regular Director on the Authority’s Board. MCE is governed by a 29-member Board of Directors comprised of one elected Councilmember or Supervisor from each of its 33-member communities within its service area. Each city, town, or county appoints an elected official to represent their community. The Board of Directors meets monthly at public meetings <https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/meeting-archive/> to determine policy and administration decisions for MCE. The Solano County representative shall be authorized to act for and on behalf of Solano County on matters within the powers of the Authority. There is no term limit but the Board may change its representative at any time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Compensation for work performed by Directors on behalf of the Authority shall be borne by the local government that appointed the Director.
DISCUSSION:
In 2002, Assembly Bill 117 allowed California local governments and Joint Power Authorities to participate in Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). Marin Clean Energy (MCE) is currently one of 19 community choice aggregators in California that pools the electricity demand of its member communities to purchase electricity with higher renewable and lower greenhouse gas content than the investor-owned utility. Since launching in May 2010, MCE has grown to include 33 local governments from Marin and Napa Counties, most of Contra Costa County, and the City of Benicia.
MCE is a not-for-profit, public agency that determines the power source, called electric generation. MCE chooses sources that are more renewable and non-polluting to offer service options that include a minimum 50% renewable mix, or 100%. Instead of paying Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for both electric delivery and electric generation services, customers pay MCE for generation and PG&E for delivery. MCE is funded by electricity ratepayers through their monthly energy purchases, not by taxpayers. A cornerstone to MCE’s mission is to redirect ratepayer dollars back to local economies, and reinvest in its communities by providing low, stable rates, supporting local workforce development, and partnering with community-based organizations. MCE has over 450,000 customers with an average opt-out rate of 15%.
On June 7, 2011, the Board adopted a Climate Action Plan that identified participation in a CCA as having the single-most greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential of all recommended measures in the energy strategy. The power mix of renewables through MCE will lower GHGs generated in the unincorporated and be cost-competitive with PG&E.
On September 11, 2018, the Solano County Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted Resolution No. 2018-174 requesting membership in the MCE Joint Powers Authority (Authority), formerly known as the Marin Energy Authority. On September 25, 2018, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 2018-1795 authorizing a CCA program in unincorporated Solano County; it became effective on October 26, 2018.
On October 18, 2018, the Authority unanimously approved Solano County as a member of the MCE JPA and received certification in February 2019 from the California Public Utilities Commission to add Solano County unincorporated to MCE’s service area effective April 2020.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors can choose to not appoint a Board member to the MCE Board of Directors. This is not recommended to ensure the electric supply interests of unincorporated Solano County customers are represented.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Administrator’s Office has reviewed this report and concurs with the Department’s recommendation. County Counsel has reviewed the Joint Powers Agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION