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Home My WebLink About12-03-2013 ac tuckey ss1Goodwin, Heather From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Anthony J. Mejia I City Clerk City cal. ; AY1 IUJS cats SPO 9 )o Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 tel 1 805, 8i-7 oa Mejia, Anthony Tuesday, December 03, 2013 3.05 PM Goodwin, Heather FW: The Benefit of Communication Choice Aggregation Programs SKM BT_C22413120314550.pdf AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE Date _.- ( 3112,Iten� From: Jamie Tuckey [mailto:jtuckey@mcecleanenergy.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 2:53 PM To: Ashbaugh, John; Carpenter, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Codron, Michael; Dietrick, Christine; Lichtig, Katie; Marx, Jan; Smith, Kathy; Mejia, Anthony Cc: Dawn Weisz; mladenbandov@gmail.com; scoff@slocleanenergy.org; gradofcal@yahoo.com; eric@slocleanenergy.org Subject: The Benefit of Communication Choice Aggregation Programs Dear San Luis Obispo City Council Members, Marin Clean Energy (MCE), California's first operational Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, is a public electric generation provider that gives customers two new choices for their power supply: Light Green 50% renewable energy and Deep Green 100% renewable energy. Power sources include solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal and hydroelectric at competitive rates. Since launching service in 2010, MCE has been able to steadily increase the amount of renewable energy offered to customers while keeping costs competitive with PG&E. The Light Green power content increased from 27% renewable in 2010 to 33% in 2011 and 50% in 2012. MCE's renewable power supply has reduced more than 28,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions which has helped our member cities and towns to meet their climate action plans. MCE Light Green rates are currently lower than comparable PG&E rates for all commercial customers and most residential customers. With the added cost of the PG&E exit fee (Power Charge Indifference Adjustment), the average cost for MCE commercial customers is still lower than PG&E, resulting in an overall savings with MCE. The average MCE residential customers' cost is currently about $0.90 more per month. However, cost comparisons vary throughout the year depending on rate changes. Over the course of the last year, the average cost increase for MCE residential customers was only $4. Customers can also choose MCE's "Deep Green" 100% renewable energy product for a premium of just $0.01 per kWh, which is about $5 per month for an average residential customer. Customers who choose Deep Green 100% renewable power directly support new local renewable energy projects. Half of the revenue generated from Deep Green is allocated to the development of local projects to be owned by MCE. 1 MCE customers also help support new in -state renewable energy generation. MCE currently has 54 megawatts (MW) of new renewable California -based energy under development for our customers. This includes 46 MW of solar and 8 MW of biogas — enough clean energy to power more than 28,000 homes per year. MCE has also launched a $4.1 M energy efficiency program focused on energy assessments and retrofits in multifamily, single family, and small commercial buildings with the goal of reducing customer bills and energy related greenhouse gas emissions. In order to help alleviate the up -front costs associated with energy efficiency improvements, MCE is also offering a Green Loan financing program in partnership with First Community Bank and River City Bank. Customers can take a low - interest loan out through the bank to fund the improvement and pay it back directly on their PG&E bill. That creates a direct tie between the cost of the project and the utility dollar savings associated with the energy efficiency improvements. MCE also benefits our local economy. In 2012, MCE partnered with local businesses to build the largest solar project in Marin County. A local bank helped finance the project and 20 jobs were created during the construction period. To support its energy efficiency program, MCE has contracted almost $200,000 with local jobs development and training organizations. The City of Richmond requested to join MCE in 2011 with the interest of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting its local economy, and providing more choices to residents and businesses. MCE is also considering requests for membership from the County of Napa and City of Albany. Today MCE serves approximately 125,000 customers, 80% of its customer base, in Marin County and the City of Richmond. MCE has a long-term goal of providing 100% renewable power for all of its customers, and steadily increasing local renewable power supply, thereby further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We strongly encourage the City of San Luis Obispo to explore implementing a CCA program. The benefits are immense, ranging from environmental and economic benefits and beyond, and can be tailored to meet the needs of your own communities. Sincerely, Jamie Tuckey MCE Communications Director Jamie Tuckey 1415.464.6024 jtuckey@mceCleanEneray.com www.mceCleanEnergy.com Cleaner energy for our community. Your choice. T a MCE is committed to protecting customer privacy. Learn more at: www.mceCleanEnergy.com/privacy 2 MCEDecember 3, 2013 San Luis Obispo City Council Members 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Dawn Weisz EXeCUfiVe C1fficer RE: Community Choice Aggregation Programs Damon Connolly Chair City of San Rafael Dear San Luis Obispo City Council Members, Kathrin Sears Vice Chair Marin Clean Energy (MCE), California's first operational Community Cor.inty of Maria Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, is a public electric generation provider Bob McCaskill that gives customers two new choices for their power supply: Light Green City of Belvedere 50% renewable energy and Deep Green 100°% renewable energy. Power sources include solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal and hydroelectric at Sloan C. Bailey Town of Corte Madera competitive rates. Larry Bragman Since launching service in 2010, MCE has been able to steadily increase Town of Fairfax the amount of renewable energy offered to customers while keeping Len Rifkind costs competitive with PG&E. The Light Green power content increased City of Larkspur from 27% renewable in 2010 to 33% in 2011 and 50% in 2012. MCE's renewable power supply has reduced more than 28,000 tons of Ken Wachtel greenhouse gas emissions which has helped our member cities and towns City of Mill Valley to meet their climate action plans. Denise Athas City of Novato MCE Light Green rates are currently lower than comparable PG&E rates Tom Butt for all commercial customers and most residential customers. With the City of Richmond added cost of the PG&E exit fee (Power Charge Indifference Adjustment), the average cost for MCE commercial customers is still lower than PG&E, Carla Small resulting in an overall savings with MCE. The average MCE residential Town of Ross customers' cost is currently about $0.90 more per month. However, cost Ford Greene comparisons vary throughout the year depending on rate changes. Over Town of San Anselmo the course of the last year, the average cost increase for MCE residential Ray Withy customers was only $4. City of Sausalito Customers can also choose MCE's "Deep Green" 100% renewable energy Emmett O'Donnell product for a premium of just $0.01 per kWh, which is about $5 per Town of Tiburon month for an average residential customer. Customers who choose Deep Green 100% renewable power directly 781 Lincoln Avenue support new local renewable energy projects. Half of the revenue Suite 320 San Rafael, CA 94901 1 (888) 632-3674 CieanEnergy. con) Page 2 generated from Deep Green is allocated to the development of local projects to be owned by MCE. MCE customers also help support new in -state renewable energy generation. MCE currently has 54 megawatts (MW) of new renewable California -based energy under development for our customers. This includes 46 MW of solar and 8 MW of biogas — enough clean energy to power more than 28,000 homes per year. MCE has also launched a $4.1 M energy efficiency program focused on energy assessments and retrofits in multifamily, single family, and small commercial buildings with the goal of reducing customer bills and energy related greenhouse gas emissions. In order to help alleviate the up -front costs associated with energy efficiency improvements, MCE is also offering a Green Loan financing program in partnership with First Community Bank and River City Bank. Customers can take a low -interest loan out through the bank to fund the improvement and pay it back directly on their PG&E bill. That creates a direct tie between the cost of the project and the utility dollar savings associated with the energy efficiency improvements. MCE also benefits our local economy. In 2012, MCE partnered with local businesses to build the largest solar project in Marin County. A local bank helped finance the project and 20 jobs were created during the construction period. To support its energy efficiency program, MCE has contracted almost $200,000 with local jobs development and training organizations. The City of Richmond requested to join MCE in 2011 with the interest of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting its local economy, and providing more choices to residents and businesses. MCE is also considering requests for membership from the County of Napa and City of Albany. Today MCE serves approximately 125,000 customers, 80% of its customer base, in Marin County and the City of Richmond. MCE has a long-term goal of providing 100% renewable power for all of its customers, and steadily increasing local renewable power supply, thereby further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We strongly encourage the City of San Luis Obispo to explore implementing a CCA program. The benefits are immense, ranging from environmental and economic benefits and beyond, and can be tailored to meet the needs of your own communities. Sincerely, Jarnie Tuckey Communications Director Marin Energy Authority 1 781 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 320 1 San Rafael, CA 94901 11 (888) 632-3674 1 mceCleanEnergy.com