A big piece of the story was missing in the article about the modest increase in electricity rates due to the decrease in natural gas costs (“Small hike expected in PG&E bills,” Dec. 31). Natural gas prices have fallen recently largely because hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, is increasing gas supplies. Because much of Sonoma … Read more
Close to Home, Press Democrat January 1, 2012 Vineyards cover only 6% of Sonoma County’s one million acres, but the county’s $400 million wine industry plays a major role in climate protection. So it is heartening to read that Jackson Family Wines recently received a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. … Read more
Thank you for publishing comments from Jack Hayes, National Weather Service (“In 2012, let’s plan for worst weather”). Hayes calls for us to prepare for extreme weather events. Adaptation to greenhouse gas impacts from emissions we’ve already put in the atmosphere is a prudent, minimum response in the wake of record weather disasters this year. Unfortunately, … Read more
Today the Sonoma County Water Agency voted unanimously to continue evaluating community choice aggregation (CCA) for Sonoma County, now officially dubbed “Sonoma Clean Power.” The Board Actions include: Developing more detailed information about governance structures Investigating the incorporation of significant new energy efficiency in order to reduce rates Evaluating varying “power mixes” to optimize the … Read more
For Immediate Release Contact: Woody Hastings Climate Protection Campaign October 10, 2011 (707) 525-1665 x117 A Boost for Local Clean Power from Sacramento Governor Brown signs SB 790 supporting community-based energy programs On Oct. 8 Governor Brown signed legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 790, that will significantly improve the ability of … Read more
Today Governor Brown signed SB 790 (Leno) that strengthens the original 2002 law that enables California communities to establish their own clean power programs known as community choice aggregation (CCA). This is great news for Sonoma County’s prospective CCA, Sonoma Clean Power. The law establishes a “code of conduct” that the electric utility must abide … Read more
On October 18th the Sonoma County Water Agency will receive a report on the results of a six-month Feasibility Study for community choice aggregation, also known as Sonoma Clean Power, in Sonoma County. Sonoma Clean Power, once established, will offer Sonoma customers a choice about the source of their electrical power. One of the primary … Read more
We are pleased to announce two new staff members, Lisa Murgatroyd and Alex Dolginow. Alex Dolginow is the Implementation Manager for the agriculture, forestry, open space and adaptation sector. Alex is a Harvard Fellow who recently graduated with a B.A. in neurobiology with additional coursework in environmental science and public policy, ecology and land use … Read more
Sonoma Clean Power was featured in an interview with Woody Hastings in the North Bay Report on July 12th on KRCB: “Using the money we pay for electricity to fund the creation of renewable power sources is the concept behind Sonoma Clean Power. From chicken manure to geothermal steam, Sonoma County is ripe with renewable energy … Read more
Implementation Manager Woody Hastings last month helped mobilize a broad coalition to oppose Assembly Bill 976, a serious threat to Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) – known here as Sonoma Clean Power. CCA is the most powerful solution under local control to develop renewable power and create green jobs. AB 976 would have prohibited a newly-formed CCA from contracting with … Read more