The Clean Energy Alliance, while delivering a lower proportion of green energy, is thinking about proposing a package targeted at low-income households as well as small businesses. The CEA is expected to begin servicing residents in its 3-member cities of Solana Beach, Del Mar and Carlsbad in the month of May as among the latest Community Choice Energy programs providing households and companies more renewable energy at small discounts relative to their conventional service suppliers. In addition to offering the long-planned 50 percent and 100 percent renewable energy alternative to consumers, the CEA is now proposing a 36 percent option for the low-income consumers and small companies who are very careful about their own energy choices costs as a result of the pandemic.
The Carlsbad City Council decided 3-2 on January 12 against adopting a 36 percent green energy tier. Cori Schumacher, City Councilwoman, who is now an exiting member of the CEA board, and Mayor Matt Hall, currently an outgoing alternative member of the CEA board, cast their ‘no’ ballots. Solana Beach City Council voted to leave open the chance for residents to obtain 36 percent green electricity in their proposed contracts at a January 13 meeting. In addition to the 50 percent and 100 percent alternatives. The higher the proportion of renewable energy a consumer prefers, the higher their costs would be.
Councilwoman Kristi Becker of Solana Beach City, who does represent the city on the board of directors of the Clean Energy Alliance, stated that considering the financial challenges many residents and companies face, a 36 percent alternative might be beneficial. At last week’s meeting, she stated, “We are in the center of a growing pandemic that has caused a serious economic recession.” “Many of our inhabitants and companies struggle to survive.” “I believe we have to align our optimistic targets for climate change with the realities of today’s environment,” she continued. Other council members believe it is a tough choice since their main aim in the CEA is to make more use of green energies, and an alternative of 36 percent will scale back the target.
City Councilwoman Kelly Harless added, “This is a different period.” “I struggle with (to either support an option of 36 percent).” Interim Chief executive Barbara Boswell of the Clean Energy Alliance, who has given presentations to the town councils of all 3-member agencies over the past few weeks, stated that exit fees paid by SDG&E would also have an effect on consumer prices for CEA. In the next few weeks, the CEA will be presenting detailed forecasts. When it starts supplying power, clients will be immediately enrolled in the CEA, but they can be able to opt-out and continue with SDG&E if they choose. Del Mar City Council was indecisive on introducing a 36 percent renewable energy tier at a January 19 special meeting.
