Retired banking executive Pat Kilkenny convened 45 Sonoma County business leaders at the offices of GHD engineering on October 24 to hear presentations on the economic advantages of Sonoma Clean Power. Kilkenny invited the attendees to join Business for Sonoma Clean Power and to urge Sonoma County policy makers to create a local electricity provider that will achieve bold goals.
Co-hosts were Marlene Soiland of Soiland Management, Brad Baker of Codding Enterprises, Dennis Hunter of Ygrene Energy, and Dick Dowd of the Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities. Presenters included Rep. Mike Thompson, Marin Clean Energy Chair Damon Connelly, BoDean CEO Dean Soiland, Dennis Hunter, and Dick Dowd. Exchange Bank, Kendall-Jackson, and Memorial Hospital were among the businesses represented at the gathering supported by the Climate Protection Campaign.
“It’s great to bring the business community together so they can learn about the opportunities with Sonoma Clean Power,” remarked Dean Soiland.
Sonoma Clean Power is a proposed program to buy and generate electricity for business and residents. This local program will introduce choice and competition in our electricity market where now only PG&E exists.
Business engagement in Sonoma Clean Power is a key objective of the Climate Protection Campaign to ensure that the power provider is financially successful and boosts the local economy as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Sonoma Clean Power’s goal is for at least 50 percent of electricity to come from renewable energy sources.
The County and cities are now developing a joint powers authority to oversee the power provider. Some cities are expected to join from the start and some will join later. Sonoma Clean Power is expected to go live in 2013.
