MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2024
9:00 A.M.
___________________________________________________________
CALL TO ORDER
(9:02 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:04:16)
Vice Chair Barnacle called the meeting to order.
Board Members present: Vice Chair Barnacle, Directors Lands, Lemus, Elward, Rogers, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Fudge, and Gjerde. Chair Hopkins was absent with prior notice.
Staff present: Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer; Garth Salisbury, Chief Financial Officer; Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations; Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs; Felicia Smith, Senior Program Manager; Carolyn Glanton, Programs Operations Manager; and Josh Nelson, Special Counsel.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR
(9:03 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:04:56)
1. Approve July 11, 2024, Draft Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
2. Ratify Generation Rates Effective August 1, 2024, Consistent with Prior Board Direction
Public Comment: None
Motion to approve the August 1, 2024, Board of Directors Consent Calendar by Director Lands
Second: Director Rogers
AYES: Lands, Lemus, Barnacle, Rogers, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Fudge, Gjerde
ABSENT: Elward, Hopkins
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR CALENDAR
3. Receive Internal Operations and Monthly Financial Report and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(9:04 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:05:30)
9:05 a.m. Director Elward entered the meeting.
Chief Executive Officer Geof Syphers introduced Garth Salisbury as SCP’s new Chief Financial Officer and CFO Salisbury gave a few words of introduction.
Director Farrar-Rivas encouraged SCP to invest its reserve funds in ways that support its mission; CFO Salisbury agreed.
Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations, discussed SCP’s community engagement. Director Reynolds then invited Felicia Smith, Senior Program Manager, to discuss the Calpine Community Benefits Grant.
Director Lemus asked if the grant was awarded annually, and asked how much was given. Ms. Smith answered that $76,000 was given with a $20,000 cap per grantee; she added that this was the second year of the grant.
Director Reynolds then discussed SCP’s customer participation rates and investment summary. She also asked the Board if they wanted to cancel the tentative September Board meeting, and the Board agreed.
Public Comment: None
4. Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates, Approve Legislative Positions, and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(9:21 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:22:22)
Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs, gave a regulatory update where he discussed enhanced geothermal and a need for SCP to ensure no duplicative procurement. CEO Syphers mentioned that SCP’s sponsored bill, AB 1359 (Pappan), which deals with geothermal permitting, was moving along and gave some background on how the GeoZone initiative came about. He then discussed SB 1298 (Cortese), which regulates data center generators, and added that SCP continues to oppose it.
Director Farrar-Rivas stated that data centers could have multiple large generators under SB 1298, and CEO Syphers added that after this bill’s fate is decided he would work to get technology companies to aid in pressing for my transmission and baseload clean power to make fossil fuel generators unnecessary.
Public Comment: None
There were no legislative positions to approve and there was no vote taken on this item.
5. Receive Geothermal Opportunity Zone Update
(9:30 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:31:45)
CEO Syphers thanked SCP staff for delivering a great town hall on the GeoZone initiative and added that there were over 100 participants between the in-person and online attendance.
Director Lemus echoed that it was a great town hall and would like to see more information made available to the Spanish speaking community. Director Farrar-Rivas thanked staff for their presentations. Director Lemus asked if the Spanish translations were available, and CEO Syphers answered they would be shortly.
Public Comment: None
6. Receive Residential and Commercial Community Needs Assessment Final Report
(9:37 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:38:46)
Carolyn Glanton, Programs Operations Manager gave a presentation on the Residential and Commercial Community Needs Assessment Final Report.
Director Zollman asked if it was the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s policy to keep the partners used in the study confidential; Ms. Glanton responded affirmatively and added that it was because confidentiality helped ensure honest feedback, particularly in groups that have been historically underrepresented in leadership positions. Director Farrar-Rivas stated that it would be helpful to know what criteria were used to select the partners and Ms. Glanton mentioned that the report includes the type of service, the population, and geographical region served. Director Fudge mentioned she would like the community to be educated on time-of-use rates and would like to see EverGreen Customers in Empower communities receive discounts.
Director Rogers said he would like to see urban greening discussed. Director Gjerde asked if the community asked about SCP’s line item on billing and Ms.
Glanton answered that it is the subject of many customer calls. Director Strong asked if there were resources that the Board could point to which would clear up customer confusion about billing. Vice Chair Barnacle asked if the partners that facilitated the assessments were given compensation and Ms. Glanton answered that they were. Vice Chair Barnacle added that a real-time chatbot on SCP’s website could be helpful to answer questions, but Director Lemus warned that an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot would pull a lot of energy and maybe a QR code could better suit SCPs needs. Director Farrar-Rivas would like the presentation to be given to the Climate Action Commission in Sonoma and Director Elward would like it shown to the Rohnert Park City Council.
Public Comment: None
10:28 a.m. Director Rogers exited the meeting.
7. Approve Fifth Amendment to Agreement for Personal Services and Annual Contract Goals for Chief Executive Officer Syphers; Receive Report on Prior Year Goals
(10:30 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:31:12)
CEO Syphers gave a presentation on prior year goals.
Vice Chair Barnacle expressed appreciation for SCP’s budget and the fact that transparency is a core value at SCP. Director Strong asked for clarification on how SCP can affect transmission with a transmission planner, given that SCP does not control transmission lines. Director Farrar-Rivas appreciated that SCP uses strategic thinking in its goal setting. Directors Fudge, Lemus and Elward expressed their appreciation for CEO Syphers and staff.
Public Comment: None
Motion to approve Fifth Amendment to Agreement for Personal Services and Annual Contract Goals for Chief Executive Officer Syphers by Director Farrar-Rivas Second: Director Elward
AYES: Lands, Lemus, Barnacle, Elward, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Fudge, Gjerde
ABSENT: Rogers, Hopkins
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
(11:07 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:08:14)
Director Lemus announced that the City of Cotati would be holding their Accordion Festival. Director Farrar-Rivas announced the City of Sonoma would be holding its annual City Party. Director Elward announce that Rohnert Park would be having their African Soul Festival on August 31, 2024.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
(11:09 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:10:54)
Public Comment: Tom Conlon sent a written comment on Item 3 after the item was heard discussing low EverGreen enrollment and his concerns about effectiveness.
Deb Emerson discussed the Sonoma City Party, for which SCP was sponsoring a bike valet.
ADJOURN
(11:12 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:11:40)
The meeting was adjourned to Closed Session by unanimous consent.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darin A. Bartow, JD
Clerk of the Board
Public Comment Regarding 8/1 Operations Report - Item 3 Dear Board Members,
Thank you for this opportunity to comment remotely in writing.
First, specific to the EverGreen Enrollment Statistics reported on page 13 of the packet:
Enrollments in EverGreen are still quite low at 1.9% (and though no trend appears to be reported in this Operations Report, EverGreen enrollments have long been stagnant, and may even be dropping).
Considering our structural budget deficit at the City of Sonoma, and its likely negative impact on our ability to fund local climate action, members of our Climate Action Commission have begun to question the cost effectiveness of customers participating in the EverGreen program, as municipalities, businesses, residents, and other ratepayers. The City of Sonoma was the first municipality to opt-up to EverGreen in 2016. However, now the concern is that as the CleanStart portfolio has gotten much cleaner, the GHG performance differential between the two product offerings may no longer be big enough to justify the extra amount EverGreen costs customers each month.
To help address these concerns, I respectfully ask:
Has SCP recently evaluated the cost effectiveness of investing in GHG mitigation using EverGreen, especially relative to other cost effective options like efficiency and decarbonization upgrades? If so can these results be provided to the City of Sonoma (ideally prior to our next scheduled committee meeting on 8/14, where this topic is likely to come up).
If not, any data or guidelines that might assist us in exploring this issue would be appreciated.
Finally, a general comment.
I want to let you all know that from what I am hearing, many members of the region-wide environmental community are pleased to see the progress SCP is making on weaning our default CleanStart portfolio off its still disproportionately high dependence on dirty biomass energy (relative to PG&E and other statewide portfolios).
We applaud all your efforts to date.
Most Respectfully,
- Tom Conlon
From:
To:
Subject: City Party in Sonoma
Date: Thursday, August 1, 2024 11:11:19 AM
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SCP is sponsoring the bike valet at the Sonoma City Party! Ride on over and join us
Deb
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