HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-23; Clean Energy Alliance JPA; ; Clean Energy Alliance Inclusive & Sustainable Workforce PolicyClean Energy Alliance
JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY
Staff Report
DATE: July 23, 2020
TO: Clean Energy Alliance Board of Directors
FROM: Barbara Boswell, Interim Chief Executive Officer
ITEM 5: Clean Energy Alliance Inclusive & Sustainable Workforce Policy
RECOMMENDATION:
Review, provide input and approve Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) Inclusive & Sustainable Workforce Policy.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
At its special meeting on May 7, 2020, the CEA Board of Directors provided input to staff regarding
drafting of an Inclusive & Sustainable Workforce Policy (Policy) (Attached) to be brought back to the
Board for consideration at its July meeting.
The draft CEA Policy was brought to the CEA Board for consideration at its July 16, 2020 meeting. After
discussion, the Board requested the Policy to be brought back to this meeting for consideration of
adoption, in order to provide more time for the Board to review the draft Policy.
At the July 16 meeting, CEA's General Counsel suggested two additional edits to the policy, these
included:
Page 2 - Updating language in the Non-Discrimination Pledge Section to require in its contracts
with suppliers that the suppliers will not discriminate;
Page 3 - Deleting the specific licenses in the CEA Power Purchase Agreements with Third Parties
Section
The proposed Policy attached reflects these two changes.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact by this action.
ATTACHMENTS:
Clean Energy Alliance Inclusive & Sustainable Workforce Policy
July 23, 2020 Itemi#5 Page 1 of 5
Clean Energy Alliance
JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY
INCLUSIVE & SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE POLICY
The Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) Board of Directors desires to establish a policy that supports
local jobs, sustainable and inclusive workforce opportunities, local economic sustainability, and
diversity through contracting for power sources, procuring goods and services, and
implementing hiring initiatives where appropriate, without limiting fair and open competition
for projects or programs implemented by CEA.
CEA Staff
CEA relies on its employees to provide clean, cost-effective, alternative energy to its customers.
These customers live in diverse communities and an inclusive workforce of staff who reflect and
are invested in these communities allows CEA to serve them more effectively. An inclusive staff
also provides good jobs for people from diverse communities.
To help maintain and strengthen CEA's inclusive staff, CEA will strive to:
1. Engage in broad outreach efforts in diverse communities, including disadvantaged and
low-income communities, to ensure a diverse pool of candidates for open positions;
2. Provide fair compensation that aligns with regional market indicators for compensation
levels for each position;
3. Be transparent about these practices and lessons learned; and
4. Provide contact information for staff who can answer questions about this policy.
Supply Chain
CEA also strives for inclusion in its supply chain. Where and from whom CEA purchases good
and services have important consequences for businesses, customers, and their communities.
Where appropriate, an inclusive supply chain is an important driver for successful delivery of
CEA's services to its customers, and of fair and equitable economic development generally.
Where appropriate, and without limiting fair and open competition, to support an inclusive
supply chain, CEA will strive to:
1. Use local businesses and provide fair compensation in the purchase of services and
supplies;
2. Proactively seek services from local businesses that are taking steps to protect the
environment;
City of Carlsbad I City of Del Marl City of Solana Beach
July 23, 2020
Item 5 Attachment
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3. Engage in efforts to reach diverse communities to ensure an inclusive pool of potential
suppliers;
4. Collect information from suppliers and contractors on the inclusivity of their workforce;
5. Include questions about supplier inclusivity in requests for proposals (RFPs) for services;
6. Encourage reporting from developers and vendors on inclusivity in business ownership
and staff;
7. Be transparent about these practices and lessons learned; and
8. Provide contact information for staff who can answer questions about this policy.
Inclusive Business Practices
To fulfill its goals of providing a range of energy product and programs, available to all CEA
communities and customers, that best serve their needs and their local communities, and
support local sustainability efforts, CEA will strive to:
1. Provide information in the multiple languages commonly spoken in CEA's service area
(including mailers, tabling materials, customer service, call center, workshops and
outreach events, advertisements, and other means of customer engagement);
2. Conduct marketing and outreach in diverse communities to increase awareness of CEA's
services and programs;
3. Attend multi-cultural community events with multi-lingual materials and speakers;
4. Share information about activities and initiatives that promote inclusion, access, and
diverse engagement in the community.
Non-Discrimination Pledge
CEA will not discriminate, and will Ltrivc to workrequire in its contracts with suppliers that el-er
they will not discriminate, on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability
(physical or mental), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or domestic partner
status, religion, political beliefs or affiliation, familial or parental status (including pregnancy),
medical condition (cancer-related), military service, or genetic information.
Sustainable Workforce
Support of local businesses, fair compensation, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship
programs that create employment opportunities, without limiting fair and open competition,
are important components of building and sustaining healthy and sustainable communities. It is
in the interest of CEA to provide fair compensation and sustainable workforce opportunities,
within a framework of fair and open competition and the promotion of renewable energy,
energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction.
CEA recognizes the importance of locally-generated renewable energy (local is defined as
within the San Diego County region) in assuring that California is provided with (1) adequate
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supplies of renewable energy for economic growth, (2) sustained local job opportunities and
job creation, and (3) effective means to reduce the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. CEA
also recognizes the opportunities that energy efficiency programs provide for local workforce
training and employment.
CEA encourages fair compensation in direct hiring, renewable development projects, energy
efficiency programs and in procurement of CEA services and supplies. CEA also encourages use
of State of California approved apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training programs in
construction craft occupations to foster long-term, fairly compensated employment
opportunities for program graduates.
Where appropriate, without limiting fair and open competition, CEA will strive to accomplish
the following objectives:
1. Support for and direct use of local businesses;
2. Support for and direct use of green and sustainable businesses;
3. Encourage the use of skilled and trained workers who receive fair compensation;
4. Encourage the use of State of California approved apprenticeship programs, and pre-
apprenticeship programs within CEA's service territory.
CEA Power Purchase Agreements with Third Parties
CEA will encourage the submission of information from respondents to any bidding and/or
RFP/RFQ process regarding planned efforts by project developers and their contractors to
achieve the following goals:
• Employ workers and use businesses from the San Diego county area.
• Employ properly licensed A, B, C10, C7, C46} contractors and California Certified
electricians.
• Utilize local apprentices, particularly graduates of San Diego County pre-apprenticeship
programs.
• Pay workers prevailing wage for each craft, classification and type of work performed.
• Display a poster at jobsites informing workers of prevailing wage requirements.
• Provide workers compensation coverage to on-site workers.
• Support and use State of California approved apprenticeship programs.
Relevant information submitted by proposers will be used to evaluate potential impact on local
jobs and workforce of the planned project.
CEA Owned Generation Projects
Each construction contractor or subcontractor performing work on any CEA-owned project is
encouraged to use local labor and apprenticeship programs and follow fair compensation
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practices including proper assignment of work to crafts that traditionally perform the work.
Contractors and subcontractors shall pay at least prevailing rate of wages, as defined in Article
2 (commencing with Section 1770) of Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the California Labor
Code and encouraged to use a skilled and trained workforce, as defined in Chapter 2.9
(commencing with Section 2600) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the California Public Contract Code.
CEA Feed-In Tariff Projects
CEA will encourage construction contractors or subcontractors performing work on any CEA
Feed-In Tariff project utilize local businesses and local apprenticeship programs, and fair
compensation practices including proper assignment of work to crafts that traditionally perform
the work.
CEA encourages contractors and subcontractors performing work on any CEA Feed-ln-Tariff
project to pay at least prevailing rate of wages, as defined in Article 2 (commencing with
Section 1770) of Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the California Labor Code and encouraged
to use a skilled and trained workforce, as defined in Chapter 2.9 (commencing with Section
2600) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the California Public Contract Code.
CEA Energy Efficiency Projects
CEA will strive to support local businesses and apprenticeship programs, in the implementation
of its energy efficiency programs. CEA will encourage construction contractors or
subcontractors performing work on any CEA energy efficiency program utilize local businesses
and apprenticeship programs and fair compensation practices including proper assignment of
work to crafts that traditionally perform the work.
Union Neutrality Pledge
CEA will remain neutral regarding whether its employees choose to join or support labor unions
and will not interfere with decisions by its contractors' and suppliers' employees about whether
to join or support labor unions.
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