A decade of electric results, with more to
come
SANTA
ROSA, Calif., May 8, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) marks a
significant milestone as it celebrates a decade of leadership in
delivering clean, affordable, and locally sourced energy to its
communities. Founded in response to the desire for a choice in a
customer-owned public utility, SCP emerged as California's second Community Choice
Aggregator (CCA) in 2014, and today generates the power for 87
percent of all homes and businesses in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Without relying on taxes,
it has since constructed 195 megawatts (MW) of new renewable power
and passed more than $100 million in
direct savings to its more than 500,000 customers. SCP pioneers
dozens of innovative programs and gives back to the community along
the way.
"After 10 years, we're proud that we can definitively say this
idea for a customer-owned utility providing cleaner energy at
competitive rates has worked," said CEO Geof Syphers. "Through natural disasters and
other challenges, we've consistently delivered cleaner,
cost-effective power, proving our resilience. Moving forward, there
is much work to do, and our incredible team and board members
remain committed to combating the climate crisis head-on, helping
customers cut their energy costs, and serving our communities."
"Over the past decade, Sonoma Clean Power has been fighting for
the climate AND saving customers money," added Lynda Hopkins, County of Sonoma fifth district Supervisor and SCP board
chair. "The agency has successfully gained the support and
resources we need to improve power reliability. SCP is dedicated to
energy equity and providing the tools and solutions for every
single customer to benefit from the cleanest energy available."
Prior to SCP's inception, California's energy crisis prompted
legislative action in 2002, empowering local governments to take
over procuring electricity for residents and businesses. By 2014,
SCP was operational in Sonoma
County and service was expanded to Mendocino County in 2017. With SCP paving the
way as an early example, there are now 25 CCAs in California serving more than 14 million
customers and building more than 14,000 MW of new renewable
power.
"Congratulations to Sonoma Clean Power on 10 years of serving
its community and bringing clean energy and electrification
mainstream," said David Hochschild,
chair of the California Energy Commission.
10 Years of Progress
Over the past decade, SCP has initiated many innovative
programs, setting a standard for sustainable power throughout the
state. In 2014, SCP debuted EverGreen, becoming California's sole – and still only – utility
offering 100 percent locally generated energy 24 hours per day,
seven days per week. Today, nine of SCP's member cities and
counties have switched all, or some, of their facilities to
EverGreen, along with more than 4,000 business and residential
customers. EverGreen is now a model for California's future as the first electric
service that complies with the state's climate goals for the year
2045.
Working to help make electrification more accessible, Drive EV
assisted more than 1,250 customers make the switch to electric
vehicles (EV) over its three year duration. Partnerships with
CALeVIP and the Bike Electric program have promoted clean
transportation solutions and supported California's goal of installing 250,000 public
EV charging stations by 2025, as well as facilitated electric bike
purchases for 423 low income customers. SCP's Advanced Energy
Center, which opened in 2021 in downtown Santa Rosa, offers resources and support for
customers transitioning to electric appliances and technologies,
boasting more than 10,000 visitors and providing millions of
dollars in rebates and incentives since opening. In 2022, SCP
unveiled its all-electric headquarters, the world's first
"GridOptimal" building, a milestone in energy consumption
optimization and decarbonization of the state's electric grid.
The Advanced Energy Rebuild Program supported the construction
of 344 new homes and provided over $1.8
million in total incentives to homeowners affected by the
area's devastating 2017 wildfires. Since 2018, the Nonprofit EV
Incentive Program has facilitated the purchase of 20 EVs for local
nonprofits, reducing emissions and supporting their essential
work.
In addition to directly serving its customers, SCP advocates on
behalf of all citizens of Sonoma
and Mendocino counties in the
California state legislature, as
well as at various regulatory agencies. This work includes
developing and pursuing policies that support the agency's mission
to combat the climate crisis, benefiting customers in its service
area and across the state. These successes have reduced
customers' bills by tens of millions of dollars. In 2020, SCP and a
coalition of CCAs found multiple accounting and math errors in a
PG&E proposal. A judge subsequently ordered PG&E to correct
its math, reducing charges to customers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties by $34 million dollars in 2021 alone.
Community partnerships and investment have always been a
cornerstone of SCP's values. Over the past 10 years, SCP has
provided more than $5 million in
donations and sponsorships to nonprofit organizations and groups,
with a particular focus on addressing the fundamental needs of its
community members.
A Look to the Future
At the forefront of SCP's mission is to end all reliance on
fossil fuels. To this end, SCP has initiated the Geothermal
Opportunity Zone (GeoZone) to accelerate the development of local
geothermal resources needed to meet the state's clean energy goals.
The ultimate aim of the GeoZone is to build 600 MW of new,
renewable baseload power to support the existing solar power
throughout Sonoma and Mendocino counties while showcasing the
potential of new geothermal technologies that can be used
worldwide.
Grid reliability continues to pose a major threat to the clean
energy transition, and SCP is building on its award-winning demand
response program launched in 2018 with GridSavvy Rewards. The
program offers cash rewards to customers who conserve energy when
SCP sends an alert. In 2023, over 7,600 households participated and
cut three MW on impacted summer days.
With energy bills reaching higher prices than ever, SCP remains
focused on affordability and meeting its customers' basic needs.
Its Advanced Energy Center will now be known as the Sonoma Clean
Power Customer Center. The reimagined Customer Center will educate
visitors on clean energy technologies and provide a place where
customers can speak to a knowledgeable staff member regarding
understanding their bills, strategies to lower costs, and programs
and incentives.
"As we head into our next decade, our focus remains clear: to
make the transition to cleaner energy not just a concept, but an
affordable reality," continued Syphers. "We stand as your ally,
dedicated to making the energy transition easier."
About Sonoma Clean Power
Sonoma Clean Power is the
public power provider for Sonoma
and Mendocino counties, serving
about half a million people. In downtown Santa Rosa, SCP operates its Customer Center,
dedicated to helping customers cut their energy costs and renovate
their homes. To learn more, visit sonomacleanpower.org or call 1
(855) 202-2139.
Kate Kelly, Director of Public
Relations, Sonoma Clean Power
kkelly@sonomacleanpower.org | 707.486.2952
Laura Lance / Reilly Payne, Studio PR
laura@studiopr.com / reilly@studiopr.com | 707.477.6606 /
415.686.2338
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SOURCE Sonoma Clean Power