Just a few months ago things looked shaky, with both the city of Salinas and Monterey County contemplating bowing out of a plan to break Pacific Gas & Electric’s local monopoly.
The plan was to do it with clean energy.
But now, 19 local government have announced their intention of joining Monterey Bay Community Power to create a Community Choice Energy program—including the city of Salinas and Monterey County.
Santa Cruz and San Benito counties have taken action as well as the following cities: Capitola, Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, San Juan Bautista, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Seaside, Soledad and Watsonville.
The next step is for cities to pass ordinances in January and February 2017 to establish a joint power authority and formally create the MBCP.
The governments will have to put up $2 million to start making clean energy purchases on the open market.
MPEP hopes to start selling energy to Monterey Bay area residents by the spring of 2018, at prices equal to what PG&E charges.
Once the initial investment is paid back to local governments, profits will be investing in local renewable energy projects including wind, solar, geothermal and biomass sources, among others.
(2) comments
There are a lot of things left out of this article that would be good subject for a whole 'nother article.. As I read between the lines this is about electricity .. What about gas.? What about the underground pipes.. PG&E owns the big transmission Towers from Moss Land to the sub stations and the distribution wires that go to the "drop" at my meter... What is gonna happen with that . how do the cities figure to make a profit. Some years back we had an option of buying "politically correct" electricity... for a higher price I might add... how many takers where there for that?.. What ever became of that? it seems to have quietly dissappeared.
How are they gonna make a profit on this.. what does this do ...or not do... for PG&E ? How does this compare with another joint powers agreement.. the MST Transit outfit What about large industrial users.. like packing plants..
Is this gonna make my $100 electric bill into a $90 bill.. if not.. than this is a hidden tax going to city hall.. huh! how 'bout you researching that angle and let me know what you find... I for one am skeptical
thanks
Marc Goldman
Seaside
Those are some very good questions Marc. I wonder if those workers will get Cal-PERS? If so, I'm concerned we will have added to our pension mess. The state is in big trouble on pensions and it has been getting steadily worse, not better...
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