MINUTES
Energy Planning & Resources Committee
of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 12:15 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:
Manhattan Beach City Hall
City Manager Conference Room
1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Clean Power Alliance Office
Executive Conference Room
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Alhambra City Hall
Conference Room A
111 S. First Street
Alhambra, CA 91802
City of Oxnard Service Center 1
East Conference Room
214 South C Street
Oxnard, CA 93030
West Hollywood City Hall
3rd Floor Conference Room
8300 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Arcadia City Hall
Council Chambers Conference Room
240 W. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91007
Carson City Hall
Executive Conference Room
701 East Carson Street
Carson, CA 90745
Temple City City Hall
City Hall Conference Room
9701 Las Tunas Drive
Temple City, CA 91780
L.A. County Sanitation District
Conference Room D
1955 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Parkhurst called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. and Gabby Monzon, Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
ROLL CALL
Alhambra Jeff Maloney Committee Member Remote
Arcadia Michael Cao Committee Member Absent
Carson Reata Kulcsar Committee Member Remote
Manhattan Beach David Lesser Committee Member Remote
Oxnard Kathleen Mallory Committee Member Remote
Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Chair Remote
South Pasadena Diana Mahmud Committee Member Remote
Temple City Ed Chen Committee Member Remote
West Hollywood Chelsea Byers Committee Member Remote
All votes are unanimous, unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from the May 28, 2025, Energy Committee Meeting
2. Receive and File May 2025 Risk Management Team Report Motion: Committee Member Byers, West Hollywood
Second: Committee Mahmud, South Pasadena
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote, with Committee Member Lesser abstaining on the Minutes
REGULAR AGENDA
3. Oral Update from the Vice President of Power Supply
Lindsay Descagnia, Vice President of Power Supply, and Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer, presented a policy update. Mr. Bardacke reported on the federal bill impacting tax credits used for CPA projects and compared the Senate and House versions.
Chair Parkhurst asked how changes to tax credits would affect rates, and staff responded that the power purchase agreements would help stabilize rates in the near term, noting that there is greater concern about projects coming online after 2030. Committee Member Lesser commented that he was recently asked why is there an aggressive effort to remove green capacity from our grid when there’s a shortage of energy, and Mr. Bardacke responded that there’s a misunderstanding that natural gas can meet all energy needs and added that in the effort to save tax credits, the renewable energy industry is emphasizing jobs and prices rather than talking about climate change. Committee Member Mahmud asked how natural gas and solar costs will compare without tax incentives. Mr. Bardacke said it is unknown because of profit margins and tariffs. However, projects typically get a tax credit of 30%.
4. Authorize CPA Staff to Enter Contract Negotiations for a Bilateral Power Purchase Agreement for 125 MW at the SunZia Facility as Recommended by the Review Team
Ms. Descagnia reported that on June 15, 2025, four members of the Energy Committee reviewed a bilateral proposal for a 15-year incremental 125 MW portion of the SunZia project. The review team recommended that staff bring the proposal to the Energy Committee to authorize contract negotiations for a bilateral Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Ms. Descagnia presented a project overview, evaluation summary, and rationale for approval, including wind delivery profile, renewable energy value, Resource Adequacy (RA) value, and project certainty.
Ms. Descagnia explained that wind energy is essential to CPA’s portfolio because it complements the solar energy generating profile and provides renewable energy in the evening and at night. Baseload renewable technologies like geothermal and biomass can also fill the need for energy in the evening and at night, but availability is limited, and cost is high. Other considerations for the Committee include limited opportunities to procure wind resources, the SunZia proposals are priced lower than other recently received wind proposals, and SunZia is a mature project with no complications from tariffs or tax credits.
Staff clarified for Committee Member Mahmud that it would be challenging to extend the original PPA with SunZia as that portion of the project has gone through its financing and permitting processes; however, the company does have flexibility as to the contract and the new proposal. Committee Member Kulcsar asked about the contract term, and staff stated it will start in October 2026 and end in 2041.
Committee Member Lesser suggested that staff emphasize the arguments in favor of wind in the presentation to the Board. Committee Member Mahmud motioned to enter into contract negotiations for the new contract, adding that staff explore an extension to the original PPA.
Motion: Committee Member Mahmud, South Pasadena
Second: Committee Member Lesser, Manhattan Beach
Vote: The item was approved by a roll call vote
5. Recommend Approval of the Proposed Amendments to the Energy Risk Management Policy to the Board of Directors
David McNeil, Chief Financial Officer, reported that staff conduct an annual review of the Energy Risk Management Policy (ERMP) that governs the framework by which the CPA conducts power procurement and related business activities. The proposed amendments account for emerging risks, changing business conditions, and/or regulatory requirements. The Energy Committee was asked to recommend approval of the proposed amendments for the Board to consider at its July 10 meeting.
Mr. McNeil described proposed amendments to the minimum and maximum hedge limit percentages for Energy Hedges, Resource Adequacy (RA), and Carbon Free Energy (CF). Other amendments include clarifying the method of counting energy storage in RA hedge positions, clarifying authority for Exigent Exclusivity Agreements, adding Trade Capture and Quality Assurance to the list of Business Practices, and other administrative changes.
Committee Member Mahmud asked if CPA’s increasing number of energy contracts would resolve the hedges issue, and Mr. McNeil responded that more long-term agreements would not help gaps in the load. Ms. Mahmud suggested that CPA use the term Exigent Exclusive Negotiation Agreement instead of Exigent Exclusivity Agreement for clarity, and General Counsel Whang stated she would incorporate that language change. Staff clarified for Committee Member Lesser that identifying how other CCAs manage their risk would be difficult. Committee Member Kulcsar supported adding Trade Capture to CPA’s Business Practices.
Motion: Committee Member Mahmud, South Pasadena
Second: Committee Member Mallory, Oxnard
Vote: The item was approved by a roll call vot
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Committee Member Lesser commented on a news article about the significant energy needs at Amazon’s new data center involving artificial intelligence systems. Committee Member Mahmud noted that some states require data centers to pay for costs when their energy use impacts the grid. Mr. Bardacke responded that there are currently data center bills in the California legislature. Chair Parkhurst reported on the day’s CAISO readings; 84% of the energy on the grid was renewables, and 89.9% of that was solar.
ADJOURN
Chair Parkhurst adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m.