|
CCA NEWS & NOTES
Dear Friends: CCA continues to flourish and make headlines across the United States. In this issue:- On November 6, Illinois doubled the number of aggregated communities, which now number more than 400, including the City of Chicago.
- Clean energy CCAs make national news in the Wall Street Journal.
- California's Marin Energy Authority receives landmark approval for $4 million in energy efficiency funding.
- The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) designates CCA as top local clean energy strategy.
- LEAN Energy launches national regulatory, membership, and social media programs.
|
|
|
AROUND THE NATION
NREL Sees CCA as Promising Renewables Strategy 
The National Renewable Energy Lab, an affiliate of the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, has issued a report that examines CCA, among several other strategies, for procuring and developing new renewable resources at the local level. The report finds that CCA can "provide lower-cost renewable energy products, make a large environmental impact, provide an easy way for consumers to support renewable energy, and access lower-cost, tax-exempt debt by using the borrowing capacity of the local government."
|
LEAN Launches New National Regulatory Report 
This issue debuts LEAN's new national CCA regulatory feature compiled by Gregory Klatt of Douglass & Liddell, P.C. This month, Greg reports on recent regulatory action in California and Illinois. A detailed copy can be found on LEAN's website. Here are a few of the highlights:
- Draft California PUC order approves modified utility service agreement for San Francisco
- PG&E and SDG&E file tariffs extending customer data protection rules to CCAs
- Illinois Commerce Commission staff files revised draft rule in municipal aggregation rulemaking
- ComEd files petition to modify GAP tariff
Do you have regulatory news in your state to share? Email Greg at klatt@energyattorney.com.
|
ILLINOIS
ILLINOIS Says Yes--Again--to Municipal Aggregation 
For the second time this year, Illinois voters have resoundingly approved municipal aggregation referenda. Of the 216 municipalities with CCA on November's ballot, 199 (92%) of the jurisdictions passed it. The Citizens Utility Board provides a complete list of the referenda locales and how they voted. |
Chicago Moves Quickly on Energy Contract 
Two days after residents approved their aggregation referendum, the City of Chicago issued a timeline for completing a deal with a new electricity supplier by February 2013. With approximately 950,000 residents, Chicago is the largest city in the nation to attempt such a large bulk... |
Aggregation Shines Light on Possible RPS Reform 
Support for aggregation in Illinois remains high, but some question CCA's potential to spur clean energy development over the long term. The Chicagoist raises doubts. "Chicago can probably put together a cost-competitive low-carbon energy mix for consumers, but very little ... |
|
CALIFORNIA
Marin Energy Authority Wins Landmark Energy Efficiency Funding and Approves IRP 
On November 8, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the energy efficiency programs proposed by the Marin Energy Authority. Worth more than $4 million, the programs include three energy financing programs that will set a new bar for on-bill repayment in California. |
Sonoma Clean Power Forges Ahead 
Sonoma Clean Power, a CCA being formed by Sonoma County and the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA), is about to reach a major milestone. On December 4, the County Board of Supervisors will consider formation of a joint powers authority (JPA) with SCWA. Once established, the JPA can issue a supply RFP, possibly by the end of the year, and solicit indicative pricing from electricity providers. Sonoma County cities have been requesting information on power rates through CCA, a key determinant in whether they will participate in the JPA. In addition, SCP's implementation plan, which calls for a minimum of 50% clean energy, local renewable development, and energy efficiency programs, is nearly complete and will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission for certification next month.
|
City of Sunnyvale Leads the Way in Silicon Valley 
The City of Sunnyvale, in partnership with the business leadership group Joint Venture Silicon Valley, hosted several Santa Clara cities at an in-depth CCA workshop on November 14. The county and several cities have proposed CCA as the primary GHG reduction strategy in their climate action plans. Silicon Valley communities are the latest to join a growing number of California municipalities investigating CCA formation. Please contact LEAN Energy executive director Shawn Marshall for more information or to join its California CCA Network.
|
OHIO
Seven in Hamilton County Approve Referenda 
Eight municipalities in Hamilton County had municipal aggregation on the November 6 ballot; seven approved the referenda, including Miami Township and the villages of Addyston, Cleves, and North Bend. Forest Park voters narrowly defeated the issue, as they had in 2010. It remains the only one of the county's dozens of communities to reject municipal aggregation.
Among the new aggregations is the City of Loveland. City manager Tom Carroll says that the city will issue a request for qualifications this month and select a broker in January. He expects the city will complete the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio process for aggregation programs and select energy providers by June.
|
LEAN NEWS
LEAN Welcomes a New Board Member 
We are pleased to announce that Jeff Shields, general manager of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, has joined the LEAN Energy Board of Directors as its treasurer. Jeff has managed water and electric utilities in California and Oregon for decades and has been involved in the formation and expansion of six community-owned electric utilities. He has served on the boards of the Northwest Public Power Council, the Northwest Energy Coalition, the California-Oregon Transmission Project, the California Special Districts Risk Management Authority, and the American Samoa Power Authority. He currently serves as treasurer for The Utility Reform Network (TURN).
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCA Makes National News
 Passage of Chicago's aggregation referendum has spurred unprecedented national media attention. A recent Wall St. Journal article reviews the CCA landscape across the country and highlights three reasons for aggregation's growing popularity: rate savings, the opportunity to shift to cleaner power, and the desire for local control. Read on
|
|
Our Magnificent Membership
Very soon you'll have an opportunity to become a supporting member of LEAN Energy U.S. Whether you represent a public agency or local government, a non-profit or NGO, a company large or small or even if you're a sole proprietor or individual who wants to contribute to a cause that's really making a difference, you'll be most welcome to join us.
Look for our membership info, heading your way in the upcoming weeks.
Or contact us at 415-888-8007 to join us today!
 And we have more exciting news... in the realm of social media. If you enjoy keeping up with the latest developments via social media, you'll soon find some dynamic resources linked to the LEAN Energy U.S. website that will invite you to be part of our conversation. Coming soon!
|
|
