MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2023
9:00 A.M.
___________________________________________________________
CALL TO ORDER
(9:03 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:03:02)
Vice Chair Hopkins called the meeting to order.
Board Members present: Vice Chair Hopkins, and Directors Bagby, Elward, Rogers, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Gjerde, and Alternate Director Lemus.
Chair Fudge and Directors Barnacle and Ford were absent with prior notice.
Staff present: Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer; Michael Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer; Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations; Hannah Rennie, Portfolio Manager; and Josh Nelson, Special Counsel.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR
(9:04 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:04:16)
1. Approve May 4, 2023, Draft Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
2. Receive Geothermal Opportunity Zone Update
3. Approve and Authorize the CEO to Execute a New Contract with Sonoma Water for the Continuation of the Energy Education Program through June 30, 2025, with an Annual Not-To-Exceed Amount of $300,000 and Aggregate Contract Value of $600,000
4. Adopt an Ordinance of the Sonoma Clean Power Authority Electing to Become Subject to the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act and Establishing Bidding Procedures in Accordance with the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act
5. Approve the Load Management Standards Compliance Plan
6. Delegate Authority to the CEO, or his Designee, to Finalize Negotiations and Execute a Legal Services Agreement with Keyes & Fox for up to $200,000 Public Comment: None
Motion to approve the June 1, 2023, Board of Directors Consent Calendar by Director Farrar-Rivas
Second: Director Bagby
AYES: Bagby, Lemus, Elward, Rogers, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Gjerde, Hopkins
ABSENT: Barnacle, Fudge
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR CALENDAR
7. Receive Internal Operations and Monthly Financial Report and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(9:06 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:06:35)
Geof Syphers, CEO, discussed the CalCCA 2023 Annual Conference held in San Diego May 17 – 19 and mentioned that SCP had won an award for the Advanced Energy Center. Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations, invited Hannah Rennie, Portfolio Manager, to give an update on two new power purchase agreements (PPA) to the Board. Ms. Rennie stated that the two new agreements are the Azalea project, a 60 MW solar + 38 MW battery storage project in Kern County, and the Pome project, a 100 MW battery storage project in San Diego County.
Vice Chair Hopkins asked for a discussion on battery storage and CEO Syphers mentioned that storage would be a priority going forward and he added that lithium will soon be mined in the Salton Sea region of California which will facilitate domestic battery production. Vice Chair Hopkins then asked if there was a concern for the disposal of lithium-ion batteries and CEO Syphers answered there is an existing recycling process, but his concern is that the number of batteries that will need recycling in the future is growing very rapidly. Director Bagby then asked what the main problem was for recycling these batteries and CEO Syphers answered that it was scaling because of EVs.
Director Reynolds then stated that GridSavvy Rewards customer enrollments were now over 6,500 customers, exceeding the original enrollment goal. She stated SCP would keep advertising the program .
Director Gjerde asked for more information on the donations to community partners from the GridSavvy program and Director Reynolds stated she would gather that information to present at an upcoming meeting.
Public Comment: None
8. Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates, Provide Direction and Approve Positions on Bills as Appropriate
(9:26 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:26:34)
CEO Syphers gave a regulatory update stating that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has decided that the Stockton Atascadero region will be unable to receive CCA service until 2025 or possibly later. He mentioned that SCP had helped identify some PG&E expenses that should not be charged to ratepayers, and added that this is an example of how SCP works as a ratepayer advocate. He then discussed the Governor’s Budget Trailer Bill.
Director Bagby asked if the Directors could call legislators regarding the Budget Bill and CEO Syphers recommended they reach out to members they know well who work closely around the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees. Director Bagby then asked if staff could put together a list of talking points which Director Gjerde seconded.
Public Comment: None
No bill positions were presented during the discussion therefore no vote of the Board was required for this item.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
(9:41 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:41:28)
Director Farrar-Rivas announced that the City of Sonoma would be holding a Pride event June 1, 2023, and added that the City of Sonoma was discussing a climate action plan. Director Rogers stated that the City of Santa Rosa would be hosting a Pride event on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Alternate Director Lemus said that Cotati would be raising their Pride flag at 11:00 am, June 1, 2023.
Director Elward announced Rohnert Park’s first Progress Flag being raised June 1, 2023, at the library, and announced a Juneteenth event on June 19, 2023, in coordination with Sonoma State University. Vice Chair Hopkins announced a climate change funding program between the County of Sonoma and the City of Santa Rosa. Director Strong announced that the City of Willits had authorized changes to their water and sewer rates. Director Gjerde mentioned an upcoming meeting with a new CPUC representative on June 22, 2023, and requested SCP staff provide relevant talking points to aid the discussion and mission.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
(9:47 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:47:37)
Public Comment: None
ADJOURN
(9:48 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:48:00)
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darin A. Bartow, J.D.
Clerk of the Board