Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Wharfinger Building, Bay Room (downstairs)
1 Marina Way, Eureka, CA 95501
Thursday, April 23 2026
3:30 PM
Attendance
Present
Natalie Arroyo (Alt. Director, remote, just
cause, illness) Heidi Moore-Guynup (Alt. Director, left 4:58 p.m.) Scott Bauer (arrived 3:36 p.m.) Elise Scafani
Carlos Diaz Sarah Schaefer, Vice Chair
Michael Gerace, Chair Jack Tuttle
Skip Jorgensen Frank Wilson
No Absences
Staff and Others Present
Name Title
Ken Beals Information Technology Technician
Lori Biondini Business Planning & Finance Director
Elizabeth Burks Executive Director
Ronnie Chaussé Interim Finance Manager
Matias Concoby Power Resources Analyst
Nancy Diamond Legal Counsel
Richard Engel Power Resources Director
Forrest Novotny Power Resources Specialist
Kristy Siino Senior Human Resources Manager
Lori Taketa Board Clerk
Eileen Verbeck Deputy Executive Director
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Open Session (Call to Order)
Chair Gerace called a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority to order at the above location and date at 3:33 p.m. Notice of this meeting was posted on April 17, 2026. The Chair reminded the directors of attendance responsibilities and notification procedures. Executive Director Burks invited Board members and alternates to contact her for agenda topic background information if helpful.
4. Staff Reports
4.1. Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Burks provided the following update:
• A group of directors and staff will visit the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in May. Staff will notify interested directors of the Burney, CA, West Biofuels facility tour date pending finalized arrangements.
• The staff-level Regional Climate Action Plan group agrees on housing the RCAP Administrator position at RCEA. Discussions continue on the position’s funding. Staff will ask the Board to approve the description after it is finalized.
• Budget discussions will begin at the May Board meeting. • As of the meeting, RCEA had about 208 days’ cash on hand. The Board requested notification if the reserves reached the 180-day mark so they could discuss rate changes. • Regulatory and Legislative Intern Kyle Groben thanked the Board and staff for experiences gained while working at RCEA. Mr. Groben leaves RCEA to be the National Wildlife Federation’s North Coast Offshore Wind Outreach Coordinator.
5. Consent Calendar
5.1. Approve Minutes of March 26, 2026, Board Meeting.
5.2. Accept Disbursement Report for February 2026, and Financial Reports for This Fiscal Year Through February 2026.
5.3. Receive Regulatory and Legislative Report.
5.4. Approve the Single Source Procurement of Up to 1,000 Residential Energy Efficiency Kits from AM Conservation for a Total Cost Not to Exceed $110,000 and Authorize the Executive Director to Execute All Applicable Documents.
No member of the public nor the Board requested discussion of these items.
M/S: Moore-Guynup, Schaefer: Approve all Consent Calendar items.
The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Bauer, Diaz, Gerace, Jorgensen, Moore-Guynup, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, F. Wilson. Noes: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
7. Old Business
7.1. Analysis of RCEA’s CCE Customer Load Changes (Information only) 4/23/26
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Power Resources Specialist Novotny and Analyst Concoby presented an analysis of RCEA's customer load showing a 19% decrease since 2021. Residential customers make up RCEA’s largest load share and experienced the steepest decline. Opt-outs remain stable and did not contribute significantly to the decline. Closing of large, key electricity accounts including industrial and cannabis accounts and Humboldt’s decreasing population contributed to the decreased load. Some large industrial development projects such as the Nordic Aquafarm and the offshore wind heavy lift terminal and their associated electricity load have either failed to materialize or are delayed. The board discussed how declining load impacts RCEA's financial health and procurement requirements, which are based on forecast models which assume that Humboldt’s load and population will increase. The directors discussed ways to increase the electricity load in Humboldt County, including producing hydrogen through electrolysis, how to adjust RCEA’s procurement requirements, and whether new housing developments will affect load.
There were no public comments on this agenda item.
7.2. Sandrini Battery Storage Community Benefits Fund
Power Resources Director Engel reported on the Community Benefits Fund which was negotiated with Sandrini Solar project developer EDP Renewables when battery storage was added to the project.
Director Engel shared the Community Advisory Committee’s preferences for fund use. The Board discussed different scenarios for allocating the $250,000 fund between Humboldt and Kern Counties, including a one-time disbursement as opposed to creating an endowment, and different uses for the funds, including leveraging efforts of regional groups already engaged in workforce development efforts and adding funding to customer energy-efficiency and electrification programs, particularly for income-qualified customers. The directors favored a split approach with funds going to both Kern County and Humboldt County for energy-related career and technical education, or to fund customer program incentives for lower-income residents. The directors asked staff to develop a proposal for their consideration on distributing the community benefits funds based on their discussion. There was support for more discussion on RCEA’s approach to community benefits in light of future offshore wind development locally. There was no public comment on this agenda item.
8. New Business
8.1. Status of Vacant Positions as Required by AB 2561
Senior Human Resources Manager Siino reviewed current staff vacancies, recruitment activities and RCEA retention efforts as required by California Government Code Section 3502.3. Chair Gerace opened the public hearing. There was no public comment. The Chair closed the public hearing.
9. Future Agenda Items
The Board requested reports exploring strategies to increase customer electricity load in Humboldt County; potential municipalization options for RCEA and study of precedent models and cost-cutting options, and a 6-month review of RCEA’s reduced-hour work week.
Closed Session
10.1. Real Property Negotiations Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 in re: APN 001-135-007; RCEA negotiator: Executive Director; Owner’s negotiating party: Wells Commercial; Under negotiation: price and terms.
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There were no public comments on this closed session item. The Board adjourned to closed session at 4:48 p.m. and reconvened in open session at 5:17 p.m. Chair Gerace stated there were no closed session reports and adjourned the meeting at 5:17 p.m.
Lori Taketa
Clerk of the Board