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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-07; Clean Energy Alliance JPA; MinutesClean Energy Alliance - Board of Directors Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 — 2 p.m. Carlsbad City Hall — City Council Chamber 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008 CALL TO ORDER: 2 p.m. ROLL CALL: Schumacher, Haviland, Becker FLAG SALUTE Chair Schumacher led the Pledge of Allegiance. BOARD COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Vice Chair Haviland wished everyone well and expressed her appreciation for staff. PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Meeting held Jan. 16, 2020 Minutes of the Meeting held Feb. 20, 2020 Minutes of the Meeting held April 16, 2020 Motion by Vice Chair Haviland, seconded by Board Member Becker, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously, 3/0. NEW BUSINESS Item 1: Clean Energy Alliance Financial Pro-Forma Review; 5-year Goals & Vision Discussion Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) discussion of goals/vision for next 5 years to include discussion on CCA programs, citizen advisory committee, strategic plan and inclusive sustainable workforce policy. RECOMMENDATION Provide direction on CEA programs, economic revitilization opportunities, citizen advisory committee, strategic plan and inclusive sustainable workforce policy. Interim Chief Executive Officer Barbara Boswell and Consultants John Dalessi and Kirby Dusel of Pacific Energy Advisors presented the staff report and reviewed the PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the Board Secretary). In response to an inquiry from Board Member Becker, Mr. Dalessi explained that the goal is to refinance the initial funding from member agencies so that the funds can be returned to its' members. In response to an inquiry from Vice Chair Haviland, Interim CEO Boswell explained that the Board would select which option Portfolio Options to select 4-6 months prior to launch (fall of 2020). Chair Schumacher confirmed with staff that the option profromas will have a more detailed analysis when rate setting occurs. Vice Chair Haviland commented that the following are the programs she would like to see move forward sooner rather than later: • Local solar retail service offering • Solar rebates and incentives when CEA can affort to offer those • Launch with a 100% renewable energy option Board Member Becker stated that the following are the goals and programs she would like to see moving forward: • To be fiscally conservative and build up reserves • Net energy metering and offer maybe 2 cent more incentive than SDG&E • Launch with a 100% renewable energy option • Electric vehicle incentive program • Local solar retail service offering Chair Schumacher spoke in support of the following goals and programs: • Launch with a 100% renewable energy option • Solar rebates and incentives • Community investment partnership with residential and commercial customers to advance the stoarge and local solar energy generation without capital outlays • Net energy metering Mr. Dusel commented that any programs that are customer funded or would result in costs that would be incurred after project build-out occurs are programs that would typically launch shortly before commencing service. In response to Board Member Becker, Ms. Boswell stated that staff will monitor the grant opportunities for microgrids. Board Member Becker stated she would like to move the electric vehicle and charging incentives above the focus of community grants. Vice Chair Haviland commented that SDG&E has hot water heater and heat pump incentive programs already and that CEA may not need to match every program that SDG&E administers. Ms. Boswell summarized the following direction from the Board: 1. Work on bringing forward a Net Energy Metering Program 2. 100% renewable product offerings at launch 3. Interest in Local Solar Retail Program 2 The Board concurred to request that Mr. Dusel provide additional information regarding the Feed-In Tariff at a future meeting. Ms. Boswell provided an overview of options to form a Citizen Advisory Committee. Board Member discussion ensued regarding their preferences for the policy to govern the formation of a Citizen Advisory Committee. Ms. Boswell confirmed the following Board direction regarding the initial scope for the Citizen Advisory Committee: • Community Outreach and Public Information Strategy • CEA 5-Year Goals • Comment on the CEA Strategic Plan and complete an annual review of Strategic Plan • Review CEA programs to ensure program meets CEA goals of social equity, perspective of underrepresented community and innovation • Monitor progress being made towards Member Agency Climate Action Plan goals by CEA programs. The Board also directed that the make-up and membership criteria would be as follows: • Each Director would have two committee appointees and the full Board would select one Board Alternate to serve on the Committee for a total of seven members • Members would serve at the pleasure of the Board • The Committee would be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act • Applicants must be residents or business owners within the service area of CEA with priority given to applicants with relevant background or experience in the energy field, energy development, public education/outreach and/or assistance with social equity or disadvantage communities. • Applicants will submit an application to the Board member representing the community where the applicant resides or owns a business. Selected applicants shall be considered for appointment by the full Board. Ms. Boswell gave an overview of options for developing a Strategic Plan. Vice Chair Haviland spoke in favor of developing a Strategic Action Plan as soon as possible but to be realistic about what resources the Board has available to commit to the process of developing the Plan. Chair Schumacher stated that she has looked through some plans that are available and that she would be sharing the 2018 East Bay Community Energy Local Development Business Plan (on file in the Office of the Board Secretary) to the Board Members for their review. She further explained that she was impressed by the East Bay plan. Ms. Boswell gave an overview of the development of an Inclusive Sustainable Workforce Policy. Board Member Becker spoke in favor of developing a Sustainable Workforce Policy; however, since CEA is so new did not want to limit the fair and open competition for projects. 3 Vice Chair Haviland also spoke in favor of establishing a Sustainable Workforce Policy as long as the policy is consistent with the JPA agreement. In response to an inquiry from Chair Schumacher, Attorney Stepanicich confirmed that there is potential conflict between the proposed policy and Recital 6 (f) of the JPA agreement. Interim Board Secretary Sheila Cobian read comments from the following individuals into the record (on file in the Office of the Board Secretary): • City of Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall — expressing concerns regarding the conflict between the Clean Energy Alliance Joint Powers Agreement effective Nov. 4, 2019 Recital 6 (f) and what is now stated within the Peninsula Clean Energy Sustainable Workforce Policy, as currently defined under PCE Owned Generation Projects, PCE Feed-In Tariff Price Projects and PCE Energy Efficiency Projects. He suggested that any language different than what is stated in Recital 6(f) be eliminated. • Gregg Ferry - Requesting information on how to participate on Committees. • Mike McMahon on behalf of the Carlsbad Sierra Club — encouraged the Board to consider ways to benefit the local communities and work toward social equity. • Paige DeCino —Suggested that the CEA Board consider community solar. The Board concurred to direct staff to return with the Policy in July 2020, following review and legal analysis regarding Recital 6(f). Item 2: Clean Energy Alliance Board Policy Regarding Handling Unsolicited Proposals RECOMMENDATION Clean Energy Alliance Board provide direction on policy regarding handling of unsolicited proposals. Interim CEO Boswell gave the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the Board Secretary). Board discussion ensued regarding support for the development of a policy regarding handling of Unsolicited Proposals. Ms. Boswell explained it would be beneficial if the policy required a one-page executive summary of proposed projects. Motion by Board Member Becker, seconded by Vice Chair Haviland, directing staff to develop a policy regarding the handling of unsolicited proposals and return to the Board in July 2020, for consideration of the Policy. Motion carried unanimously, 3/0. BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Motion by Chair Schumacher to direct staff to return to with an agenda item to develop a Bid Evaluation Criteria and Scoring System. Motion carried unanimously, 3/0. 4 ADJOURNMENT: Chair Schumacher adjourned the duly noticed Meeting at 4:18 p.m. Sheila R. Cobian, MMC Interim Board Secretary 5