MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024
4:00 P.M.
___________________________________________________________
CALL TO ORDER
(4:02 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:02:21)
Vice Chair Barnacle called the meeting to order.
Board Members present: Vice Chair Barnacle, Directors Lemus, Elward, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Fudge, Gjerde, and Alternate Director Gorin. Directors Lands, Rogers, and Strong were absent.
Staff present: Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer; Michael Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer; Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations; Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs; Kimberly Beltran, Technical Programs Manager; Carolyn Glanton, Program Operations Manager; and Miles Horton, Legislative Policy and Community Engagement Manager.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR
(4:03 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:03:15)
1. Approve April 4, 2024, Draft Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
2. Receive Geothermal Opportunity Zone Update
3. Approve Update to Board Policy on Records Retention, Policy D.2
4. Approve the Proposed Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 4:04 p.m. Director Gjerde joined the meeting.
Public Comment: None
Motion to approve the April 4, 2024, Board of Directors Consent Calendar by Director Farrar-Rivas
Second: Director Elward
AYES: Lemus, Barnacle, Elward, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Fudge, Gjerde, Gorin ABSENT: Lands, Rogers, Strong
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR CALENDAR
5. Receive Internal Operations and Monthly Financial Report and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(4:05 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:05:27)
Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations, introduced Carolyn Glanton, Programs Operations Manager, to give an update on the community needs assessment and SCP’s equity framework. Ms. Glanton explained that SCP is conducting a commercial customer survey as part of the commercial customer community needs assessment, and that this data is needed to better understand SCP’s customer needs and will inform programs in the future.
Director Lemus asked how SCP determines what communities to survey and Ms. Glanton responded that SCP uses local data sets which she would forward to the Board of Directors (Board). Alternate Director Gorin added that SCP should work with the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) because they have local census data blocks. Director Lemus also asked if the area data that SCP collected could be shared with the Board. Director Farrar-Rivas mentioned she was on an advisory committee for the County of Sonoma Human Services, and they are doing a study on an aging and a disability action plan, and she encouraged SCP to connect with that department.
Director Reynolds then introduced Kimberly Beltran, Technical Programs Manager who gave an update on SCP’s GridSavvy Rewards Program. Ms.
Betran explained that the GridSavvy Rewards Alerts sign-up incentive runs through October 2024 and SCP’s goal is to reach 13,000 enrolled customers, which would be up from 9,000 current enrollments. Ms. Beltran mentioned that SCP had held community meetings in Fort Bragg and attended an Earth Day event in Round Valley.
Vice Chair Barnacle asked what the percentage of customers were receiving GridSavvy alerts in Spanish and Ms. Beltran said she would get the Board this information.
Director Reynolds gave a brief update on SCP’s investments and financial information. Geof Syphers, CEO, announced that SCP would be holding its Local Artist Showcase on June 6, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and invited the Board and public to attend. CEO Syphers then explained the Advanced Energy Center’s transformation into the Customer Center, and he invited the Board to point people to the Customer Center for any of their SCP needs.
Director Farrar-Rivas discussed the Bring Your Bill Day in Sonoma and asked how the Customer Center could incorporate this.
Public Comment: None
6. Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates, Approve Legislative Positions, and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(4:28 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:28:37)
Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs, gave a regulatory update and discussed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) decision on self-generation program incentives and demand response programs and stated that SCP planned on providing support comments for the rationale. Alternate Director Gorin asked if SCP was confident that the decision would be amended, and Director Reardon expressed optimism because all parties’ goals were aligned. Director Reardon then discussed PG&E’s application for a Pacific Generation spinoff and stated that the decision had been postponed a week and at that time PG&E had put out a press release promoting the sale.
Miles Horton, Legislative Policy and Community Engagement Manager, then gave a legislative update. He mentioned that the environmentalists had won in the D.C. Court of Appeals in the Ohio v. EPA case, but the case would likely continue to be appealed. He then declared victory in defeating SB 1305 (Stern – virtual power plants), which SCP had opposed because it would have obligated a specific technology solution to a very broad problem and removed some of SCP’s authority to select clean resources. Mr. Horton also provided updates on bills SCP either supports or opposes, including AB 2891 (Friedman – virtual power plants - support), AB 2292 (Petrie-Norris – transmission - support), SB 1006 (Padilla – grid-enhancing technologies - support), AB 2666 (Boerner – investor-owned utility revenues - support), and SB 1003 (Dodd wildfire risk reduction – support). He discussed in greater detail AB 1999 (Irwin), which would greatly limit the Income Graduated Fixed Charge, and said SCP was watching it closely. Finally, he provided an update on the Governor’s revised budget which would be out on May 13, 2024.
Vice Chair Barnacle asked if SCP was worried that energy efficiency and electrification funding would continue to be eroded and CEO Syphers answered that is a concern.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Approve Sonoma Clean Power Authority’s Legislative Positions by Director Zollman
Second: Director Fudge
AYES: Lemus, Barnacle, Elward, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Fudge, Gjerde, Gorin ABSENT: Lands, Rogers, Strong
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
(4:58 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:58:28)
Director Farrar-Rivas announced that Sonoma would be holding a Pride festival and that she had attended a Climate Reality Project event in New York.
Director Fudge announced Windsor would be holding a Repair Fair. Vice Chair Barnacle announced that Petaluma would be holding a monster truck event. Director Lemus announced the Cinco de Mayo event in Roseland.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
(5:01 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:00:57)
Public Comment: None
ADJOURN
(5:01 p.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:01:48)
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darin A. Bartow, JD
Clerk of the Board