Community choice aggregators (CCAs) have become a formidable player in California’s electricity markets,
taking over the role of supplying electricity to millions of customers from the state s investor-owned utilities, announcing big-time clean energy contracts and pushing regulators to add flexibility to state rules that stymie the growth of CCAs.
A Monday announcement again underlines that expanding influence: eight CCAs have teamed up on a joint powers authority, an entity joining public agencies in service of a common goal. In this case, the goal is buying larger amounts of clean energy; many of California’s CCAs have renewables targets more aggressive than those of the state at large.
Clean energy agencies Peninsula Clean Energy and Silicon Valley Clean Energy announced Monday that they will join six other community choice aggregators to form a new entity called California Community Power.
Peninsula Clean Energy is to procure 245MW from three California wind projects as part of its goal of providing reliable all-renewable, emission-free power by 2025.
The deals include a seven-year extension until 2030 of an existing 150-MW wind project in Solano County with Avangrid Renewables.
The current five-year term ends in December 2023.
An additional eight years has been agreed with Shell Energy North America (US) for half of the capacity and renewable energy generated by the existing 130MW wind project near Mojave.
The final source will be half of the expected 60MW generated for 20 years from this project being repowered by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources near Bakersfield in Kern County.
Written by Eric He
During last week’s Los Altos City Council reorganization meeting, outgoing Mayor Jan Pepper asked for a motion to approve the consent calendar.
After a few seconds of silence, Pepper said, “I will move it then.”
Ellie Van Houtte/Town Crier File Photo
Jeannie Bruins is termed out after serving eight years on the Los Altos City Council.
“And I will second,” chirped outgoing Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins, laughing.
“Our last motions, right, Jeannie?” Pepper said. “Moved by Pepper, seconded by Bruins may we please have a roll call vote?”
With smiles on their faces, the two outgoing council members departed the dais after eight years. They were the only two council members to serve consecutive terms that started in 2012 and ended last week, after Sally Meadows and Jonathan Weinberg were sworn in at the meeting.