Redwood Coast Energy Authority
633 3rd Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 269-1700 Toll-Free (800) 931-7232 Fax: (707) 269-1777 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.redwoodenergy.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
Wharfinger Building, Bay Room March 27, 2025
1 Marina Way, Eureka, CA 95501 Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Vice Chair Sheri Woo called a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority to order on the above date at 3:30 p.m. Notice of this meeting was posted on March 21, 2025.
PRESENT: Natalie Arroyo, Skip Jorgensen, Jason Ramos, Elise Scafani, Sarah Schaefer, Jack Tuttle, Frank Wilson, Vice Chair Sheri Woo. ABSENT: Chair Scott Bauer, Michael Gerace.
STAFF AND OTHERS PRESENT: Business Planning and Finance Director Lori Biondini, Infrastructure Planning and Operations Director Dana Boudreau, Executive Director Elizabeth Burks, Power Resources Director Richard Engel, Demand Side Management Director Stephen Kullmann, Board Clerk Lori Taketa, Deputy Executive Director Eileen Verbeck.
REPORTS FROM MEMBER ENTITIES
Director Arroyo was deployed with the Coast Guard Reserves to Los Angeles after the recent wildfires. She witnessed hazmat waste disposal challenges while cleaning up burnt electric car and home power wall lithium-ion battery waste. Director Schaefer participated in the CivicWell conference focusing on disaster preparedness and resilient response to current federal administration actions. RCEA’s work is well-known within the Community Choice Energy community.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4.1 Approve Minutes of February 27, 2025, Board Meeting.
4.2 Approve Disbursements Report.
4.3 Accept Financial Reports.
4.4 Reappoint Norman Bell to the Community Advisory Committee for a 2-Year Term Ending March 31, 2027.
4.5 Accept Community Advisory Committee 2024 Annual Report.
4.6 Accept RCEA’s 2024 Supplier Diversity Report and 2025 Annual Plan.
4.7 Accept Quarterly Regulatory & Legislative Policy Engagement Report.
4.8 Approve Payment of California Community Choice Association Annual Dues up to $131,835 for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
4.9 Hold Regular RCEA Board Meetings:
With a Study Session on Affordability on April 24, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. at Jefferson Community Center, 1000 B Street, Eureka, and
Beginning May 22, 2025, at Wharfinger Building Upstairs Great Room, 1 Marina Way, Eureka, at 3:30 p.m.
RCEA March 27, 2025, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
4.10 Approve Task Order Services Agreement with Schatz Energy Research Center for Programmatic Research and Development Technical Support Services For $250,000 Through June 2028 and Authorize the Executive Director to Execute All Applicable Documents.
M/S: Scafani, Schaefer: Approve Consent Calendar items.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Jorgensen, Ramos, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson, Woo. Noes: None. Absent: Bauer, Gerace. Abstain: None.
Vice Chair Woo confirmed that a Community Choice Energy (CCE) quorum was present.
OLD CCE BUSINESS
6.1. Weighted CCE Voting
Executive Director Burks reported on how state law limits Community Choice Aggregation participation to cities and counties. Prior to RCEA’s formation, member agencies deliberated at length and agreed on partially weighing votes for CCE business items, which is reflected in RCEA’s Joint Powers Agreement. All members are encouraged to participate in CCE business discussion, regardless of whether they can vote on the item. All contracts are brought to the full Board for consideration. Categories of CCE and non-CCE business are outlined in the Board Operating Guidelines. There was Board member support to work toward revising state law to allow Tribal nations to participate fully in Community Choice Energy agency boards. There were no public comments on this item.
M/S: Schaefer, Arroyo: Accept updated and unchanged Community Choice Energy weighted Board vote distribution.
Direct staff to revise the RCEA Board Operating Guidelines to require a full Board, non-CCE business vote for:
1. Setting of overall CCA program objectives,
2. Determining power content targets,
3. Procurement strategy and procedures,
And to allow the Chair to call for a roll call vote in randomized order for CCE business items, at their discretion.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Jorgensen, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson. Noes: None. Absent: Bauer, Gerace. Abstain: None. Non-Voting: Ramos, Woo.
OLD BUSINESS
8.1.RePower Humboldt, RCEA Strategic Plan Update
Directors from RCEA’s departments (Power Resources, Demand-Side Management, Infrastructure Planning, Business Planning and Finance, Administration) reported on work toward RCEA’s strategic plan goals accomplished in 2024. The directors also described current year strategic plan priorities. There was no public comment on this agenda item.
RCEA March 27, 2025, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
8.2.Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) Update Presentation Demand-Side Management Director Kullmann described programs the NREN will offer. Staff requested an additional Demand-Side Management Program Specialist to focus on over-the-phone energy assessments and to assist with NREN programs. NREN funds would pay for the position. There was no public comment on this item.
M/S: Arroyo, Jorgensen: Receive an update on the NREN program and approve the addition of a Demand Side Management Program Specialist to the RCEA organizational chart.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Jorgensen, Ramos, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson, Woo. Noes: None. Absent: Bauer, Gerace. Abstain: None.
NEW BUSINESS
9.1.Annual Regulatory & Legislative Policy Platform Review and Federal Activity Update Executive Director Burks presented proposed changes to RCEA’s Policy Platform to streamline language and processes, reflect NREN’s establishment, add language regarding Diablo Canyon decommissioning and nuclear waste storage, and to address increased affordability concerns, energy efficiency program funding scrutiny, and changing federal policy. The draft reflects Community Advisory Committee recommendations. The Board discussed adding language to support full Tribal Nation membership and participation in community choice aggregation decision-making. Director Ramos described how the state considers Tribal nations to be public agencies while the CPUC does not, which limits Tribal nations’ grant funding pursuits. Director Ramos did not prioritize lobbying the CPUC to change this definition, but others expressed that adding such policy platform language could be helpful should other Tribal nation councils join RCEA. The Board directed staff to incorporate suggested changes to the 2025 Policy Platform for Board approval at a future meeting. There were no public comments.
9.2. Update on Offshore Wind
Executive Director Burks reported on RCEA’s role in offshore wind development as outlined in RePower Humboldt, the agency’s strategic plan, RCEA’s current engagement, and other potential engagement opportunities based on discussions with involved community entities and staff. The Community Advisory Committee prioritized RCEA’s support of a small-scale offshore wind pilot project similar to the CADEMO Project being developed in state waters off Lompoc, CA.
Board directors supported RCEA involvement in: offshore wind small pilot project development; joint public outreach with organizations such as Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Oregon State University supporting Humboldt port development; regional electricity transmission planning; developing centralized procurement for locally-generated offshore wind energy; education and training through partnerships and a learning center; and ensuring local community benefits for locally-sourced energy. Directors requested RCEA messaging on what offshore wind development will mean for customer electricity bills, energy reliability, and what benefits customers will experience. There were no public comments.
RCEA March 27, 2025, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
STAFF REPORTS
10.1 Executive Director’s Report (Information only)
Executive Director Burks reported on the Tribal Energy Resilience and Sovereignty microgrid project’s federal funding status, and project partners’ contact with stakeholders at a tribal energy summit and with state agencies that identified potential alternative funding sources should previously encumbered federal funds not materialize. The May Community Advisory Committee meeting will focus on committee goal setting and working groups. There were 119 customer phone calls in February, most of them regarding net billing tariff solar payments.
Sixteen customers asked to leave RCEA electricity service. All but one chose to stay with RCEA after learning how the agency works. Executive Director Burks shared information about upcoming California Air Resources Board and Humboldt County workshops on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and offshore wind, respectively. There were no public comments.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Director Arroyo requested a presentation by the Humboldt Transit Authority on the status of hydrogen projects in the region.
Vice Chair Woo adjourned the meeting at 5:27 p.m.
Lori Taketa
Board Clerk