Entry No. 1
PIONEER COMMUNITY ENERGY
GOVERNING BOARD
March 16, 2023
Minutes
Heard General Administration Functions, Part I.
Call to Order
Pioneer Community Energy Governing Board met in open session at 3:01 PM on March 16, 2023. Pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e) and other applicable provisions of the Brown Act, the Members convened in person and the meeting was accessible to the public at Pioneer Community Energy, 2510 Warren Drive, Su ite B, Rocklin, California, 95677; was accessible for viewer participation on the Zoom platform at the following link at: httos://us06web.zoom.us/j/89967227073; and, was live streamed for viewing on the Pioneer website at: httos://oioneercommunityenergy.org/about-us/meetings-and-agendas/.
Roll Call
p A Agency Primary Member
X City of Auburn X Chair
Alice Dowdin Calvillo
X County of El Dorado X Vice Chair
John Hidahl
X City of Colfax X Wes Heathcock
X City of Lincoln X Holly Andreatta
X Town of Loomis X Amanda Cortez
X County of Placer X Jim Holmes
X County of Placer X Suzanne Jones
X City of Placerville X David Yarbrough
X City of Rocklin Greg Janda
Alternate Director Bass attended for City of Rocklin.
Chair Dowdin Calvillo presided over the meeting.
Agenda Review
or Alternate Member
Rachel Radell-Harris
Lori Parlin
Kim Douglass
Dan Karleskint
Danny Cartwright
Bonnie Gore
John Clerici
X David Bass
Reviewed and made no revision to the meeting agenda for March 16, 2023.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public on items not listed on this agenda.
Entry No. 2
Acted on the Consent Agenda as follows:
Approved minutes of the December 15, 2022, and January 19, 2023, regular meetings.
Received Draft Financial Reports for January 2023 .
MOTION: Holmes/ Hidahl. Vote: 9:0:0
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Bass, Cortez, Heathcock, Hidahl, Holmes, Jones, Yarbrough, Dowdin Calvillo.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
Governing Board Minutes
March 16, 2023
Entry No. 3
Follow-up to Implementation of Senate Bill 1383
Received follow-up report and informed Pioneer Community Energy staff whether their jurisdictions are interested in pursuing procurement of organic waste materials with Pioneer as a facilitator.
Discussed the timeline for April 15, 2023 agency reporting to CalRecycle for the year 2022 as to what jurisdictions are doing to meet requirements.
Provided a sample term sheet for review by Member Agencies; and, requested decisions to Pioneer Community Energy by April 6, 2023, which will allow time to schedule presentations with Member Agency Boards and Councils.
Board Chair Dowdin Calvillo reminded the Board that this requirement is not Pioneer's responsibility, they are only acting as a facilitator on behalf of the Member Agencies which are interested in pursuing this opportunity.
Director Heathcock suggested that the associated attorney fees be divided evenly among all participating agencies; and confirmed that City of Colfax is interested in moving forward with pursuing procurement of organic waste materials with Pioneer as a facilitator.
Director Holmes confirmed that County of Placer is not opposed to further pursuing information regarding this procurement of organic waste materials.
Chief Operating Officer Kang informed the Board that the pricing, $32.50/ton, is still an estimated cost; Grass Valley and Nevada City have agreed to move forward with Greenleaf for negotiations and approval of contract; and, that those other Member Agencies who wish to participate will need to notify Pioneer to schedule presentations to their Boards and Councils.
Chair Dowd in Calvillo commented that it behooves all to move quickly to discussion and decision in individual agencies; and inquired if an agreement with a shorter term (3 years) was available.
Procurement cost depends on the amount purchased and how many attributes are available.
Most Member Agencies confirmed interest, but need time to present to their jurisdictions. Pioneer staff will be available to present at Member Agency Boards and Councils.
Chair Dowdin Calvillo and Vice Chair Hidahl expressed appreciation for Pioneer staff on this procurement piece of SB 1383.
Entry No. 4
Presentation on Legislative Updates
Received presentation from Pioneer Community Energy's Lobbyist Chris Micheli on legislative updates.
Legislative and Regulatory Manager Kirstin Kolpitcke informed the Board that staff will provide fact sheets to the Member Agencies regarding biomass bills AB 625, to extend the sunset date allowing CCAs to participate; and SB 488, allowing CCA participation in the Bio-RAM program.
Entry No. 5
2023 State of the Utility
Received report from Executive Director Eckert on the State of Pioneer Community Energy.
In summary, Pioneer Community Energy is in a position of strength and financially stable; creating value beyond rates with programs and SB 1383 solutions; continuing expansion efforts and preparing for 2024 launch of Nevada City and Grass Valley; and meeting challenges to continue managing power supply and building trust with ratepayers through outreach.
Governing Board Minutes
March 16, 2023
Entry No. 6
Heard General Administration Functions, Part II.
A. Board Member Communications
Committee Chair Hidahl reported that he, Director Dowdin Calvillo, Director Janda, along with key Pioneer staff and support attended the Ad Hoc Energy Procurement Review Committee on March 1, 2023.
The Committee reviewed, discussed, asked questions, and approved the Executive Director's execution of a long-term solar plus battery storage contract with Lockhart Solar, LLC, which will enable Pioneer to be compliant with the long-duration storage component of the Mid-Term Reliability Decision.
Vice Chair Hidahl complemented staff on work being done in this area .
B. Executive Director Communications
Executive Director Eckert introduced Pioneer's newly hired Customer Care Coordinator, Nicole Sena; and informed the Board that appointed Members for Grass Valley and Nevada City will be joining the Board in April or May.
Legislative and Regulatory Manager Kirstin Kolpitcke discussed presenting at tomorrow's CPUC workshop regarding Fast-Trips, recognizing impacts and lack of notification. 25% of customers in Pioneer territory are affected with more than ten outages per year - 20 or more outages in El Dorado County.
Chair Dowdin Calvillo expressed appreciation for Pioneer's involvement.
Executive Director Eckert reported that Pioneer's bank, Umpqua, is in good standing, and has acquired Columbia Bank in a merger earlier in March. As the merger went through without any red flags, Pioneer is confident that the bank is in solid standing.
Lastly, Executive Director Eckert announced that staff are in the process of scheduling Pioneer's 5-Year Anniversary Celebration.
C. Informational Items
Received the Glossary of Terms.
ATTEST:
Minutes approved as presented by a majority vote of
the Governing Board on April 20, 2023.
Teresa Willock, Board Secretary