Marin Clean Energy charges forward towards contracts
Marin County is forging ahead with its plans to obtain a much greater percentage of its electricity from clean, renewable energy sources. Now that county, city, and town boards representing about 70% of Marin's electrical usage have voted in the past several months to join Marin Clean Energy, the county is working on a request-for-proposals (RFP) for its first energy-purchasing contract independent of PG&E.
The initiative, known as Marin Clean Energy, has been supported by the Sierra Club's Bay Chapter and Marin Group since its early planning stages. MCE is one of the best ways for local governments in California to move more aggressively than investor-owned utilities to reduce greenhouse gases and to fight global climate change, the Sierra Club's top national priority since 2005.
The county has formed a joint purchasing authority called the Marin Energy Authority, whose board is chaired by Marin County Supervisor and former Sierra Club Marin Group Executive Committee member Charles McGlashan. The board consists of representatives from the nine jurisdictions that have voted to join MCE - the county, the cities of Belvedere, Mill Valley, San Rafael, and Sausalito, and the towns of Fairfax, Ross, San Anselmo, and Tiburon.
The Authority's monthly board meetings, on the first Thursday of each month and open to the public, began in February. The Authority has engaged energy consulting firm Navigant and the law firm of Richards, Watson & Gershon to assist with the RFP. The county Board of Supervisors has allocated $330,000 to the Authority to fund those contracts and cover other expenses. The Authority aims to choose one or more energy-services providers and draft a contract by October of this year. "We're moving ahead at a good clip, and we have tremendous people working with us," says McGlashan aide Leslie Alden. A complete timeline and other relevant information is available at www.marincleanenergy.info
The Authority is also seeking federal stimulus money through a U.S. Department of Energy grant to help support its eventual goal of 100% clean energy for Marin County's 247,000 residents. The Authority also considers energy efficiency a top priority, since the cleanest (and cheapest) power is that which never has to be generated at all. "Efficiency is the best way to reduce greenhouse gases and we haven't lost sight of that," says Alden.
Although Marin Clean Energy supporters were disappointed in February when the City Council of Novato (Marin's second-largest city, after San Rafael) voted not to join at that time, the Authority is still proceeding apace. Novato (and Corte Madera and Larkspur, the other communities that have not yet taken action) can still join, but the official sign-up period ends June 16, and the Authority will proceed with its RFP based on the power needs of its members at that time.
The Authority's ultimate goal is to greatly increase the amount of clean energy generated locally, most likely from solar installations. The initial RFP bids this year, however, will likely come from providers offering clean power generated from wind, geothermal, solar, and biomass in various locations.
WhatYouCanDo
As MCE advances to full implementation there will be further votes by cities and towns, and we will need your help. To get involved, contact Bay Chapter conservation organizer or call (510) 848-0800, ext. 307