MINUTES
Board of Directors of the
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Thursday, October 10, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
Meeting videos are available on CPA's YouTube Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/@CPApublicmeetings
Board members participated from the following locations:
Calabasas City Hall
Council Conference Room
100 Civic Center Way
Calabasas, CA 91301
Clean Power Alliance
Diana Mahmud Board Room
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Whittier City Hall
Admin Conference Room
13230 Penn Street
Whittier, CA 90602
Ventura County Government Center
Point Mugu Conference Room, 4th Floor
Hall of Administration
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Conference Room
2355 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 125
Torrance, CA 90501
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Klein Lopez called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and Gabriela Monzon, Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director Parkhurst led the pledge of allegiance
Roll Call
1 Agoura Hills Deborah Klein Lopez Chair Present
2 Alhambra Absent
3 Arcadia Michael Cao Alternate Present
4 Beverly Hills Julian Gold Alternate Present
5 Calabasas Ed Albrecht Director Remote
6 Camarillo Absent
7 Carson Cedric Hicks Director Remote
8 Claremont Corey Calaycay Director Present
9 Culver City Yasmine-Imani
McMorrin Director Present
10 Downey Absent
11 Hawaiian Gardens Absent
12 Hawthorne Alex Monteiro Director Present
13 Hermosa Beach Justin Massey Director Present
14 Los Angeles County Rita Kampalath Alternate Present
15 Malibu Absent
16 Manhattan Beach David Lesser Alternate Remote
17 Monrovia Absent
18 Moorpark Renee Delgado Director Remote
19 Ojai Michelle Ellison Alternate Remote
20 Oxnard Bert Perello Director Remote
21 Paramount Michelle Muller Alternate Remote
22 Redondo Beach Absent
23 Rolling Hills Estates Jeannie Naughton Alternate Remote 24 Santa Monica Absent
25 Santa Paula Jenny Crosswhite Director Remote
26 Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Director Present
27 Simi Valley Rocky Rhodes Director Remote
28 South Pasadena Jon Primuth Director Present
29 Temple City Absent
30 Thousand Oaks David Newman Director Remote
31 City of Ventura Absent
32 Ventura County Vianey Lopez Vice Chair Remote
33 West Hollywood Chelsea L. Byers Alternate Present
34 Westlake Village Absent
35 Whittier Mary Ann Pacheco Director Remote
All votes are unanimous unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: 1
Nancy Whang, General Counsel, stated that no reportable action was taken.
CONSENT AGENDA
2. Approve Minutes from the September 5, 2024, Board of Directors Regular Meeting
3. Approve Appointment of One New Member to the Community Advisory Committee for the Open Position in East Ventura/West L.A. County Region for a May 2024 –April 2026 Term
4. Approve the Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement with SunZia Wind PowerCo LLC and Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute the Agreement
5. Receive and File Bill Positions October 2024 Monthly Report
6. Receive and File Monthly Community Advisory Committee Report Director Perello pulled Item No. 3 and received clarification from staff and Director Newman about an applicant's job title for the Community Advisory Committee.
Motion: Director Gold, Beverly Hills
Second: Director Byers, West Hollywood
Vote: Consent agenda Item Nos. 2 and 4-6 were approved by roll call vote Motion: Director Parkhurst, Sierra Madre
Second: Director Gold, Beverly Hills
Vote: Consent agenda Item No. 3 was approved by roll call vote
REGULAR AGENDA
Action Item
7. Adopt Resolution No. 24-10-075 to Approve Amendments to the Non-Energy Contracting Policy
Scott Gropp, Strategic Sourcing Manager, presented the non-energy contracting policy adopted by the Board in 2019 and the suggested amendments. Mr. Gropp also reviewed the CEO’s delegated expenditure authority, currently at $125,000, and proposed to increase it to $250,000 for any single contract in a 12-month period or for any single vendor within a single fiscal year. Further, Mr. Gropp described the solicitation categories for goods and services within the contracting policy and the changes to the expenditure authority triggering the various solicitation categories and presented comparison figures of other CCAs and government agencies.
Director Massey inquired about what goods would be purchased with the increase in the expenditure amount that triggers a solicitation. Staff responded that CPA purchases more services than goods, and examples of goods would be items such as printing and mailing CPA’s enrollment notices and computer equipment.
Motion: Director Gold, Beverly Hills
Second: Director Byers, West Hollywood
Vote: Item No. 7 was approved by a roll call vote
Information Item
8. Receive Presentation on Energy Team & Efficient Cooling for Low-Income Customers
Joanne O'Neill, Director of Customer Programs, provided an update on the Energy Team program and shared that the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced the initial deployment of funds under the Inflation Reduction Act for home electrification, which could help CPA customers. The Energy Team program provides personalized energy solutions for efficiency and electrification for residential and business customers. Staff will conduct assessments and provide personalized technical assistance and information about contractors, rebates, tax credits, maximizing electrical panel capacity, and other CPA programs.
Customers are encouraged to visit CPA’s website and complete a Welcome Form; however, they can also call, email, or use the chat feature to communicate with staff. Ms. O’Neill encouraged Board members to familiarize themselves with the Energy Team factsheet and speak to their communities about the new resource.
Regarding the Efficient Cooling for Low-Income Customers program, Ms. O’Neill recapped that earlier this year, CPA and Los Angeles County agreed to bring CARE customers to CPA’s 100% Green rate product by 2027, freeing approximately $6 million to increase access to energy-efficient air conditioning.
Energy-efficient air conditioning improves public health, creates cost savings, and responds to extreme heat caused by climate change. This program will offer consumers instant rebates, technical assistance, and incentives for property owners. In partnership with Golden State Rebates, the program gives customers a $300 point-of-sale discount. CPA’s allocation of $3.3 million is expected to incentivize 15,000 new room/window air conditioners.
In response to Director Parkhurst’s question about rebates, staff stated that the Inflation Reduction Act provides grants ranging from $1,000 to $8,500 for electrification and that CPA’s vendors will know all available rebate sources and information about tax credits. Director Massey expressed concern that putting more air conditioners into service would add to greenhouse gas emissions and may run counter to CPA’s mission and asked that marketing be focused on low-income customers who receive 100% Green Power. Staff responded that CPA has some of the cleanest energy in the nation and that property owners would be informed about passive alternatives to air conditioning, such as cool roofs and better insulation. Mr. Bardacke added that most rebates are used to replace older inefficient room air conditioners with Energy Star units, reducing electricity usage.
Director Kampalath stated that Los Angeles County found that extreme heat resulted in increased ER visits, fatalities, and violent offenses in low-income communities.
Director Monteiro asked staff to create outreach materials that are clear about the income restrictions, and Director Crosswhite encouraged staff to find ways for the Energy Team to work with seniors and others who are challenged using computers or smartphones. Director Ellison shared her home electrification experience and expressed satisfaction that this program would help people find contractors and rebates.
COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES
Director Parkhurst, Chair of the Energy Committee, reported on the results of the 2024 RFO, stating that six projects were placed on the shortlist and another six on the waitlist.
Director Parkhurst also reported on his recent visit to the SunZia project site and described the process of converting AC to DC.
MANAGEMENT REPORT
Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer, noted that CPA is the top green energy supplier in the nation for the second year. Mr. Bardacke acknowledged the city of Columbus, Ohio, for its success in launching a CCA and stated that CPA sets an example for new CCAs throughout the country. Additionally, CPA hired a federal lobbyist with the goal of getting tax dollars back to local communities, and Gina Goodhill, Senior Director of Government Affairs, was in Washington, D.C., meeting with members of Congress. CPA successfully issued its third prepay bond transaction, and the three issued so far amount to a savings of $25 million per year on renewable energy purchases.
Mr. Bardacke elaborated on SCE’s rates and how they affect bill comparisons with CPA.
SCE had a one-time, temporary 12 percent rate reduction noting that these true-ups can affect CPA’s rate competitiveness even though the changes do not impact CPA customers. CPA decided not to chase rates to avoid these kinds of wild fluctuations.
However, changes in the PCIA, scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, will impact CPA customers and that the Board will receive a presentation about those potential impacts at the November meeting.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
None
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Chair Klein Lopez echoed Director Parker’s positive remarks on the SunZia visit, noting the enormous size of the wind turbines. She reported that the group discussed environmental impacts, power generation, and the eventual connection to the CAISO system.
ADJOURN
Chair Klein Lopez adjourned the meeting at 3:58 p.m.