MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2023
9:00 A.M.
___________________________________________________________
CALL TO ORDER
(9:05 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:04:02)
Chair Fudge called the meeting to order.
Board Members present: Chair Fudge, Vice Chair Hopkins, Directors Bagby, Ford, Barnacle, Elward, Rogers, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, and Gjerde.
Staff present: Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer; Michael Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer; Rebecca Simonson, Director of Programs; Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs; Carolyn Glanton, Programs Operations Manager; Claudia Sisomphou, Communications and Engagement Manager; and Josh Nelson, Special Counsel.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR
(9:06 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:04:58)
1. Approve August 3, 2023, Draft Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
2. Approve Resolution 2023-04 Attesting to the Accuracy of Sonoma Clean Power Authority’s 2022 Power Source Disclosure Annual Reports for CleanStart and EverGreen Products and 2022 Power Content Label
3. Approve an Update to the NetGreen Tariff to Adjust Sonoma Clean Power Authority’s Premium Net Surplus Compensation Rate
4. Approve Continued Use of Updated EM-TOU Rate Effective October 1, 2023
5. Receive Internal Operations and Monthly Financial Report and Provide Direction as Appropriate
6. Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates and Provide Direction as Appropriate
Geof Syphers, CEO, introduced Vanessa Coleman, SCP’s new receptionist.
Public Comment: Jenny Blaker discussed SCP’s Power Source Disclosure and biomass. Maya Khosla also discussed SCP’s Power Source Disclosure and biomass.
Written comments from Tom Conlon, Christine Hoex, Kimberly Burr, Teri Shore, John Johnson, Kevin Conway, Cynthi Stefenoni, Susan Bono, George Bono, Matt McGuire, Karen Petersen, Patti Trimble, Dena Allen, Michael Knappman, Anne Jacopetti, Forrest Gander, JJ Wilson, and Dave Seter were read into the record. The comments are attached to this document.
CEO Syphers responded to public comment by mentioning that while biomass is not a target of SCP’s power mix it is part of our recent and current supply since these short-term purchases helped save customers over $20 million and were from legacy power plants that all California electric customers must pay to operate. As a result, CEO Syphers noted that SCP’s purchase could not have any impact on air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions. He also noted that the amount of biomass supplied to SCP will decline in 2023 and 2024, and the agency has no contracts starting in 2025.
Motion to approve the October 5, 2023, Board of Directors Consent Calendar by Director Bagby
Second: Director Elward
AYES: Bagby, Ford, Barnacle, Elward, Rogers, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Fudge, Gjerde, Hopkins
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR CALENDAR
7. Receive Geothermal Opportunity Zone Update
(9:59 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:58:34)
CEO Syphers discussed the Lake County GeoZone Tour where seismic activity was a main discussion and he stated this was a good way to begin the Cloverdale Regional Workshop regarding the GeoZone held on September 18, 2023. He thanked the City of Cloverdale and Ryan Tracey, Director of Planning and Analytics, for the successful workshop.
Director Elward asked if this information was on the website and CEO Syphers said that it was.
Public Comment: None
8. Approve and Delegate Authority to the CEO or his Designee to Execute an Agreement with Enphase Energy for a Battery Storage Grid Services Manager program with a Not-To-Exceed Amount of $980,000 through November 30, 2029
(10:11 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:10:33)
Carolyn Glanton, Programs Operations Manager, discussed the agreement with Enphase for battery storage management. She explained that this is a pilot program that will allow customers to charge during the day and use energy in the evenings through the GridSavvy program.
Chair Fudge asked if SCP could partner with Tesla and Ms. Glanton answered if they were open to partnering. Director Barnacle asked if SCP could recoup its costs and Ms. Glanton answered that the request in this item is for administrative purposes and not incentive costs since the incentives are fully paid for by the benefits of operating the batteries.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Approve and Delegate Authority to the CEO or his Designee to Execute an Agreement with Enphase Energy for a Battery Storage Grid Services Manager program with a Not-To-Exceed Amount of $980,000 through November 30, 2029, by Director Barnacle
Second: Rogers
AYES: Bagby, Ford, Barnacle, Elward, Rogers, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Fudge, Gjerde, Hopkins
9. Receive Update on Empower and Programs Equity
(10:20 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:19:37)
Claudia Sisomphou, Communications and Engagement Manager discussed Empower which is an agency-wide initiative to improve SCP’s partnerships, sponsorships, programs, offerings, and outreach efforts.
Director Zollman asked if SCP staff had thought of offering a stipend for membership on the Community Advisory Committee (Committee) and CEO Syphers responded that SCP would bring a discussion item regarding stipends to the Committee and the Board. Vice Chair Hopkins mentioned she supported stipends as well and supports youth representation on the Committee and CEO Syphers responded that youth representation has been tried in the past, but it may be time to revisit the issue. Vice Chair Hopkins then added that SCP needs to also look at “rural areas” when discussing equities as census tract information doesn’t always give a full picture. Director Elward stated that SCP needed to analyze areas of deep poverty. Director Bagby stated that the North Sonoma County Health Care District would be giving a presentation on disadvantaged communities and encouraged SCP to attend.
Chair Fudge recommended that Board Members send Ms. Sisomphou micro-areas located in their respective jurisdictions known for extreme poverty.
Director Farrar-Rivas added that mobile home parks should be included, and she asked for a list of what categories the new organizations to partner with SCP as part of the program fell into. Ms. Sisomphou stated that she would get the categories to the Board. Director Gjerde stated that Family Resource Centers, Food Banks, and Senior Centers could be a focus of analysis efforts.
Vice Chair Hopkins asked what metrics were used for the analysis and Ms.
Sisomphou answered the Human Development Index was used.
Rebecca Simonson, Director of Programs discussed the Programs Strategic Action Plan and how SCP’s Equity Framework works together. Together they provide clear action and reporting and identify partnerships and communities in need. She mentioned that the Equity Framework is woven into everything SCP does.
Director Bagby stated that the Board needed to talk to their constituents about the reliability of the grid. Director Gjerde complimented SCP for its direct-to-customer model of program administration. Chair Fudge thanked SCP for its continuous improvements to customer programs. Director Barnacle encouraged the continued thought about equity when implementing programs. Director Zollman asked for a thorough discussion on the administration of programs.
Public Comment: Jenny Blaker discussed energy conservation and rebates for cool roofs.
10.Discuss and Provide Direction on Staff Proposed Customer Rate Reductions which would Establish Parameters Following Changes to Distribution Utility Rates and Fees on or After January 1, 2024, and Amendments to Financial Policy B2 to allow Local Investments with Excess Reserve Funds (12:07 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 03:06:26)
CEO Syphers stated that SCP had hit its reserve target and staff were asking for input from the Board on how to use extra funds for local investments. He also stated that this item would be brought back to the Committee and once more to the Board. He then stated that the second issue was a change to SCP’s Financial Policy to expressly allow for local investments.
Director Rogers asked what investments would qualify and CEO Syphers stated that he would like to research and provide options that may offer good investment opportunities.
Public Comment: None
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
(12:18 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 03:17:46)
Director Farrar-Rivas mentioned that the Sonoma Art Walk would begin that evening. Vice Chair Hopkins thanked staff for putting together a new public comment system that allows people to be heard while preventing harm to the community.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
(12:19 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 03:18:08)
Public Comment: Jenny Blaker and Maya Khosla, thanked the Board for listening to comments and urged them to look at the citations found in the written comments.
ADJOURN
(12:21 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 03:19:09)
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darin A. Bartow, JD
Clerk of the Board