MINUTES
Executive Committee of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Thursday, October 19, 2023
1:30 p.m.
Meeting videos are available on CPA's YouTube Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/@CPApublicmeetings
Committee Members participated in this meeting from the following locations:
Agoura Hills City Hall CPA Office
Planning Conference Room Executive Conference Room
30001 Ladyface Court 801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Los Angeles, CA 90017
Beverly Hills City Hall Camarillo City Hall
Council Office, 4th Floor Office of the Mayor
455 N. Rexford Drive 601 Carmen Drive
Beverly Hills, 90210 Camarillo, CA 93010
Ventura County Government Center Carson City Hall
Channel Islands Conference Room, 4th Fl Executive Conference Room Hall of Administration 701 East Carson Street
800 South Victoria Avenue Carson, CA 90745
Ventura, CA 93009
Los Angeles County Hall of Administration Ojai City Hall Sybil Brand Conference Room, Room 372 Conference Room
500 West Temple Street 401 S Ventura St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Ojai, CA 93023
Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel South Bay Cities Council of Governments Business Center Conference Room
10000 West O’Hare Ave 2355 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 125
Chicago, IL 60666 Torrance, CA 90501
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Gold called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and Gabriela Monzon, Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
Roll Call
Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Committee Member Remote Beverly Hills Julian Gold Chair Remote
Camarillo Susan Santangelo Committee Member Remote
Carson Cedric Hicks Committee Member Remote
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October 19, 2023 Minutes
Hawthorne Alex Monteiro Committee Member Absent
Los Angeles County Lindsey Horvath Vice Chair Remote
Ojai Betsy Stix Committee Member Remote
Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Committee Member Remote
South Pasadena Diana Mahmud Immediate Past Chair Present Ventura County Vianey Lopez Vice Chair Remote
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from September 21, 2023, Executive Committee Meeting Motion: Committee Member Hicks, Carson
Second: Committee Member Santangelo, Camarillo
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote with an abstention from Committee Member Parkhurst.
REGULAR AGENDA
2. Oral Update from the CEO on CPA Operations
Ted Bardacke, CEO, announced that the three cities interested in joining CPA will consider ordinances in early November. The Daggett Solar project, which includes solar plus storage, has begun delivering renewable energy to customers. Mr.
Bardacke noted that CPA is currently halfway through the $4.8 million investment project to install new Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers in Ventura County.
3. Review Draft Agenda for the November 2, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting Mr. Bardacke discussed items on the Board consent agenda, including the expansion to three new cities. In response to Committee Member Hicks’ question about other prospective cities, Mr. Bardacke indicated that staff could follow up with a list of other cities that have sought information about joining CPA beyond the three new cities that the Board formally invited.
Mr. Bardacke briefly discussed items on the regular agenda. Matt Langer, Chief Operating Officer, provided a presentation on the SunZia Wind PPA, a planned 3,515-megawatt wind project in New Mexico, which will include a new transmission line for delivery to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). SunZia Wind is located in one of the windiest locations in the nation and is set to be online by 2026. Mr. Langer expressed gratitude for the staff’s hard work on this project.
In response to Committee Member Parkhurst’s question about the risks associated with project size, Mr. Langer clarified that the project’s unique delivery structure and megawatt level minimize risk. Vice Chair Horvath asked questions about Clean Power Alliance Executive Committee Page 3 of 3
October 19, 2023 Minutes
megawatt level and communications efforts to promote CPA’s role in the project.
Due to the increasing demand for renewable energy, staff raised the PPA maximum megawatt bid in the RFO from 400 MW to 500 MW in this RFO. Staff are carefully considering the balance of risk and reliance on a single project. In addition, staff will enhance communication about CPA’s role with the SunZia project as the online date approaches. Vice Chair Horvath suggested that the Board presentation should highlight the connection between the SunZia project and reaching CPA’s RA goals. Committee Member Klein Lopez referenced a lawsuit against SunZia’s transmission line; asked about its impact on the project’s online date and asked about project anchors. Staff clarified that the project was fully permitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the risk mitigation embedded in contract provisions address permitting and transmission delays.
Regarding other project offtakers, staff identified the University of California Regents and Peninsula Clean Energy. Committee Member Mahmud asked several questions about a transmission line route change the possibility of getting additional megawatts from the project, and the status of other shortlisted projects.
Mr. Langer explained that there is little chance the transmission route will change due to the proximity of tribal and National Park Service territories. The route has been carefully negotiated and designed with local stakeholders and BLM to minimize impact. Regarding shortlisted projects, Mr. Langer stated that some have signed exclusivity agreements and others have declined. Chair Gold inquired about project risks and potential liabilities associated with other project anchors.
Staff viewed the SunZia project as low risk, as it’s close to meeting major milestones. Regarding liabilities relating to third parties, staff clarified that the PPA is exclusively with CPA, so there is no risk.
Mr. Bardacke provided a presentation on the initial 2024 PCIA and SCE’s 2024 forecasted generation rate. Further PCIA reduction will lead to approximately 1.6% bill reductions for residential CPA customers starting in January 2024. Although CPA’s competitive position will slightly decrease, rates will still be better than the 2023/24 Board approved targets.
Vice Chair Horvath commented on the need to adjust customer communications considering SCE’s rate changes; asked for clarification on parity with SCE. Mr.
Bardacke indicated that CPA’s 100% Green energy rates will be 2% higher than SCE’s; CPA will no longer be at parity with SCE. Communications include Board-approved rate targets, and CPA’s rates remain better than targeted.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Committee Member Mahmud commented that scheduling a Board retreat promptly would be advisable and suggested that addressing future expansion would be a good subject to discuss.
ADJOURN
Chair Gold adjourned the meeting at 2:37 p.m.