Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Survey Responses The Issue CCA is a state law that allows municipalities to competitively procure power on behalf of ratepayers. Initial studies for Marin have shown that we may be able to substantially increase use of renewable power (e.g., wind, geothermal and solar) while remaining at or below PG&E rates, promote local renewable generation and provide greater price certainty and stability to ratepayers. Under a CCA, homes and businesses would have a choice to buy power from the CCA or PG&E and PG&E would still maintain the power lines and billing. Mill Valley along with the other cities and County of Marin is in the process of investigating the creation of a CCA. What is your commitment to promoting increased use of renewable energy and to continuing Mill Valley’s participation in this investigation? See: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/comdev/advance/Sustainability/Energy/cca/CCA.cfm for background information) Maureen Parton As you are aware, Supervisor Charles McGlashan in conjunction with Supervisor Hal Brown is pursuing the possibility of a CCA for the County of Marin and the eleven cities. This is an exciting venture. I enthusiastically support Mill Valley’s continuing participation in this investigation. Actions It is responsible for Mill Valley to look at increasing the amount of renewable energy that it uses in the service of its residents. The goals of a local CCA are truly worth our most serious and immediate investigation: putting more green electrons into our 21st century energy portfolio, lowering rates over the long term, increasing local control of rate setting, and spurring responsible renewable energy choices and economic growth nationwide We need to study the benefits and risks carefully. The biggest risk is that in fact rates may be higher than under existing utility provider. However, the idea is that power purchasing done under the guidance of professional management can and will mitigate that risk. The mechanism to mitigate risk includes both short and long term power contracts to procure stable rates over the long term. In addition, the field of CCA includes opportunities for local employment, and even local power generation. For Marin, that might mean solar energy production and possible methane digester at the local landfill to produce energy needed for the CCA. The upside is very exciting. This is true energy security and a model for the nation, as well. Marin can and should pursue this energy model with rigorous study and united commitment from our collective communities. Ken Wachtel I am committed to dramatically increasing the use of renewable energy, as fast as possible. I know how important this is to the future of our civilization. The County has been taking the lead in investigating the feasibility of CCA. If the business plan the County commissioned confirms the initial CCA feasibility study, and if the County leaders affirm that we can increase the use of renewables at competitive rates then I would wholeheartedly support CCA. My limited understanding of CCA suggests that it is a highly complex topic. I will need to work to learn more so I can be effective in pursuing the opportunities of renewable energy. Stephanie Moulton-Peters CCA provides local communities the opportunity to secure power on behalf of their citizens who have not chosen to rely on PG&E for that role. To the extent that the initial consultant studies indicate that a Marin CCA may be able to provide a higher percentage of power from renewable resources than might otherwise be reflected in the PG&E mix, and at a rate competitive with PG&E, the CCA concept deserves further consideration and analysis. The recently released draft business plan for the Marin CCA provides further detail on important issues which would need to be addressed satisfactorily before a decision can be made about proceeding. I support Mill Valley continuing to participate in evaluating the merits, commitments and risks associated with any decision to joint the Marin CCA JPA. I believe that it is essential that both the City and the residents and businesses of Mill Valley adopt a commitment to first do everything they can to reduce the amount of power they consume and to employ energy conservation technology to use power as efficiently as possible. I also support the use of renewable and low CO2 emitting sources of power in preference to use of natural gas or other carbon-based fuels. Mill Valley should actively support the use of (and itself deploy) solar technologies to satisfy some of the power requirements in the city. Mill Valley should anticipate and be prepared to utilize vehicle-to-grid plug-in hybrid technologies to integrate transportation and energy use in a way that allows the two sectors to be mutually supportive and to reduce aggregate power demands. George Gordon I am beginning the process of solar panel installation along with flash heaters instead of the standard tank water heater. As is almost always the case, NIMBY is the main obstacle to overcome. Everybody is for it until is being built next to their house. I think that one of the most important events of the past two years was the elevation of the price of gasoline to more than $3.00 per gallon. More people have decided to make positive and permanent changes in their energy consumption than at any time in our history. It also begins to make other sources of power seems reasonable and useful when compared to present systems.
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