Repower America (Except in Novato)

What:  Marin Conservation League, Sierra Club Marin Chapter and Sustainable Novato team up to cohost a community forum on Marin Energy Authority

Where:  Wednesday, Dec 16th, Novato Unified School District Office, 1015  7th Street, Novato

When: 7pm until 9pm

 

Panel Speakers:  -      Supervisor Judy Arnold- Introductions

  • Dawn Weisz, Marin Energy Authority Interim Director

    Rick Fraites,  Boardmember, North Marin Water District
  • Jim Leland, Former Mayor of Novato and member of Novato’s Sustainability Committee
  • David Erickson, Principal, Local Power, Inc.,  Sonoma Climate Action Plan author
  • Supervisor Charles McGlashan, Chairman, Marin Energy Authority

 

Novato Council Refused to Hear MEA Update:

Recently, Novato’s City Manager recommended that the council schedule a public workshop on Marin Energy Authority (MEA) mid-December.  In his discussions with the agency’s Director, he felt there was new information that the council should consider when deciding whether to participate or not in Marin Energy Authority prior to the Feb 4th deadline.  If Novato City Council members do not approve joining, no residents of Novato will be allowed to have a choice of energy providers and will automatically remain with the current investor-owned monopoly.  But three of Novato’s councilmembers decided they wouldn’t schedule a community workshop to allow the public input in their prior decision not to offer another energy provider choice to residents and businesses. Several hours before the MEA workshop item was scheduled to be discussed, Councilmember Eklund made a motion, supported by councilmembers MacLeamy and Kellner, to remove the item from the agenda altogether. 

 

“Closing their ears to new information, and doing so even before the public had the opportunity to comment  was  undemocratic, and perhaps out of touch with their constituents’ desires” said Ed Mainland, Chair of Sierra Club’s State Energy Commission.  “At 81%, Novato had the highest level of support of all Marin districts for a choice of suppliers in the Godbe research survey commissioned by the County.  Hundreds of Sierra Club Novato residents have also sent cards and letters in support of joining MEA to the council.”  He added.

 

“We know Novato Councilmembers would like to make decisions based on the most up to date and accurate information, and are hopeful that by hosting the community workshop for them, they will schedule an update and decision on MEA in January.  Their prior decision to prohibit Novato residents and businesses a choice of more renewable energy at the same cost as their current provider is not one that should be taken lightly, and should be done with full information which can only happen if they bring MEA to the council for an update,  commented Marla Fields, Chair of Sustainable Novato’s Green Community Planning Initiative.  “The implications are huge, for example, North Marin Water District, one of the largest energy users in the County, won’t be able to choose MCE’s greener energy because of their Novato address unless the Council joins,”  she added.

 

One reason given for failing to hear the update from MEA was the council members didn’t feel they could both hold a public workshop and agendize the issue for a MEA update and action decision prior to the Feb 4th deadline without incurring a fee for writing an addendum to the MEA implementation plan.   

 

“We feel MEA has made significant progress and the people of Novato deserve to know about it.  We are hopeful the Council will agendize an update and decision on MEA  shortly after our public forum.”  commented Susan Stompe, Former Mayor of Novato and Boardmember of Marin Conservation League.

 

 “While delaying their decision this long does mean the council will have to pay a small fee to cover the cost of recalculating the energy load and preparing an addendum to the MEA implementation plan, that fee pales in comparison to the compliance savings potential and is comparable to the cost of staff time needed to work with PG & E on their proposed partnership.  It’s not a valid reason for refusing to hear an update and make an informed decision.”  added Donn Davy, Vice President of Sustainable Novato.

 

MEA Benefits the Local Community:

In the first year, Marin Energy Authority through its Marin Clean Energy program will offer 25% renewable mix of electricity, compared to the 14% currently available by PG & E.  But the real win comes in the near future as more and more local renewables are created, owned and operated by MEA, creating local jobs, price stability, and a healthier local economy.  In March, Requests for Proposals will be issued for local energy providers who can install renewable energy projects like solar paneled shade tents over parking structures, and hybrid/electric service refueling stations for new car technologies.  This is just a sample of the kind of local solar, wind, biomass and other renewable energy MEA will be developing, creating hundreds of local jobs in the green collar workforce while reducing our dependence on foreign oil. But not in Novato unless councilmembers agree to hear information about MEA before the door closes on February 4th.

 

The bottom line is MEA will provide cleaner energy, at same or lower cost as PG & E for customers in most Marin Counties, unless customers choose to opt out.  Navigant Consulting’s feasibility study concluded that if the County did not move forward with creating the Community Choice Aggregate (CCA) of Marin Clean Energy, in the long term ratepayers in Marin County would spend an additional $33-$442 million.  1 in 4 Californians already get their electricity from a municipal-owned energy provider.  One of the oldest municipal providers is Sacramento’s SMUD, which provides its residents and businesses with cleaner energy at 35% less cost than PG & E’s rate available in surrounding cities.