MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2024
9:00 A.M.
___________________________________________________________
CALL TO ORDER
(9:03 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:02:15)
Vice Chair Barnacle called the meeting to order.
Board Members present: Vice Chair Barnacle, Directors Lands, Lemus, Elward, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Fudge, and Gjerde. Chair Hopkins and Director Rogers were absent with prior notice.
Staff present: Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer; Michael Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer; Garth Salisbury, Chief Financial Officer; Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations; Sean Dalton, Events Manager; Felicia Smith, Director of Programs; Kate Kelly, Director of Public Relations and Marketing; Miles Horton, Legislative Policy & Community Engagement Manager; Claudia Sisomphou, Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager; and Josh Nelson, Special Counsel.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR
(9:05 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:04:32)
1. Approve October 3, 2024, Draft Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
2. Approve the Board of Directors Meeting Dates for the 2025 Calendar Year
3. Approve the Updated Financial Policy B.5 - Investments
4. Approve Resolution 2024-04 Attesting to the Accuracy of Sonoma Clean Power Authority’s 2023 Power Source Disclosure Annual Reports for CleanStart, EverGreen Products, and the 2023 Power Content Label
5. Receive Geothermal Opportunity Zone Update
6. Approve Resolution 2024-05 Authorizing Investment of Monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund
Public Comment: Michael Allen discussed the recent election.
Motion to approve the November 7, 2024, Board of Directors Consent Calendar by Director Zollman
Second: Director Lands
AYES: Lands, Lemus, Barnacle, Elward, Zollman, Farrar-Rivas, Strong, Fudge, Gjerde
ABSENT: Rogers, Hopkins
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR CALENDAR
7. Receive Internal Operations and Monthly Financial Report and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(9:09 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:08:37)
Michael Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer, announced the formation of the new Capital Projects & Engineering Department and Rebecca Simonson as the department’s new Director. Stephanie Reynolds, Director of Internal Operations, discussed SCP’s events season and had Sean Dalton, Events Manager, discuss upcoming events at the Customer Center. Felicia Smith, Director of Programs, discussed SCP being awarded the California Energy Commission (CEC) grant, Virtual Power Plant Flex, which will help low-income households take advantage of smart devices.
Vice Chair Barnacle asked when the grant would be rolled out and Director Smith answered either at the end of Quarter 1 or the beginning of Quarter 2 of 2025. Director Elward asked if SCP had reached out to the local black community for Kwanzaa events and Kate Kelly, Director of Public Relations and Marketing answered that SCP had reached out to the Black Chamber but would welcome any contacts the Board could give her.
Director Reynolds then discussed the quarterly investment report and financials. Director Smith then explained and shared SCP’s Energy Savings Boxes with the Board.
Public Comment: None
8. Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates, Approve Legislative Positions, and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(9:24 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:23:24)
Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs, discussed the CPUC opening proceedings to evaluate long-term gas system planning and he mentioned that the first workshop would be held on November 14, 2024. Director Reardon then discussed the Energy Resources Recovery Account (ERRA) Forecast Application which an administrative law judge ruled the utility’s proposal to increase CCA customer rates by reducing the credit paid to them was rejected as out of scope. Miles Horton, Legislative Policy & Community Engagement Manager, mentioned that the Legislature is out of session, but he mentioned that SCP would be looking into geothermal transmission issues in the new session.
Vice Chair Barnacle stated that long-term gas planning would be very consequential in the future.
Public Comment: None
There were no legislative positions taken; therefore, no vote was necessary.
9. Receive Update on Sonoma Clean Power Authority’s Tribal Engagement Efforts (9:30 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:29:52)
Claudia Sisomphou, Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager, stated that SCP has been prioritizing engagement with local native tribes and introduced Pamela Lopez of K St. Consulting who gave a presentation on SCP’s tribal engagement strategies.
Director Elward stated that SCP should learn from past generations what to do and what not to do with local tribes. Director Farrar-Rivas asked if SCP was reaching out to unrecognized tribes and Ms. Lopez answered yes, but it can be difficult to define just who those tribes are. Director Gjerde asked if there were any tips for initiating discussions with tribal leadership and Ms. Lopez stated that it depends on the request, but she said that establishing a relationship is very important and should be done with co-sovereignty in mind. Director Fudge discussed the Town of Windsor’s tribal relations and pointed out mistakes to watch for because once the mistake is made, it is hard to correct.
Public Comment: None
10.Receive Presentation and Provide Input on Guidelines to Inform Drafting a Future Policy on Selecting Energy Projects
(10:05 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:04:29)
Geof Syphers, CEO, gave a presentation on SCP’s resource selection policy and asked the Board for input in drafting the new policy.
Director Zollman asked if SCP could speak to shared goals with local community agencies and CEO Syphers responded that there are many projects in the process with most being solar, but he added that the challenge is SCP needs projects that provide energy in the evening. Vice Chair Barnacle asked if SCP had been abiding by similar policies and CEO Syphers responded that he would like to see higher standards but stated that this is the beginning stage. Vice Chair Barnacle then asked if SCP’s transmission study would show where plants should be built and CEO Syphers responded it eventually would help with that question. Director Farrar-Rivas asked if there was a priority order for the recommendations and CEO Syphers responded that feedback from the Board would determine priority, but also that there are tradeoffs between the priorities. Director Lemus asked if there was a way for CCAs to have their own guidelines and CEO Syphers responded that the current trend is with the CPUC issuing procurement orders. Director Gjerde stated that it is important for SCP to remain flexible. Director Elward asked how SCP was going to work with local labor and CEO Syphers responded that SCP is increasingly reaching out to local labor groups. Director Farrar-Rivas stated she would like to look at the overall landscape of choices together and see other CCAs scopes side by side.
Public Comment: Tim Frank, Jack Buckhorn, Woody Hastings, Stephanie Hall, and John McEntegart all expressed support for creating this policy. Local Allies, Leslie Austin, Eric Veium, and Max Bell Alpers’ public comments were read into the record and are attached to these minutes.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
(11:23 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:22:37)
Vice Chair Barnacle mentioned this was Director Gjerde and Director Fudge’s last meeting and CEO Syphers thanked them and presented each with a plaque. Vice Chair Barnacle mentioned that the Santa Rosa Junior College was opening a Construction Training Program and announced Petaluma would be holding its Veteran’s Day Parade. Director Strong announced that Willits completed its solar project for its wastewater plant.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
(11:34 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:33:24)
Public Comment: None
ADJOURN
(11:34 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 02:33:45)
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darin A. Bartow, JD
Clerk of the Board
Hello Darin,
I am writing on behalf of the Workforce & Environmental Justice Alliance regarding agenda Item 10 for the Sonoma Clean Power Board Meeting on November 7, 2024. We wish to submit a public comment on the proposed guidelines for developing a policy on energy project selection.
Attached, please find the following documents for the SCP Board of Directors:
1. Letter from the W&EJ Alliance addressing Workforce & Environmental Justice standards under consideration.
2. Principles for Integrating Workforce & Environmental Justice Selection Criteria in Clean Energy Projects outlining key best practices.
3. SCP Project Selection Policy Guidelines Analysis highlighting and comparing differences between SCP staff's proposed language and the W&EJ Alliance policy.
4. CCA Workforce and Environmental Justice for Clean Energy Project Selection Criteria proposed policy language.
NOTE: We ask that our letter be read into the public record, thank you.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need additional information.
Best regards,
~Leslie Austin
Co-Coordinator, W&EJ Alliance
November 7, 2024
Chair Hopkins and Honorable Directors
Sonoma Clean Power
431 E Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Re: Item 10, Support for Workforce and Environmental Justice Standards in SCP Policy Chair Hopkins and Honorable Directors,
On behalf of North Bay Jobs with Justice (NBJwJ), we thank Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) for your ongoing efforts to build policies that strengthen workforce protections, community resilience, and environmental justice throughout Sonoma and neighboring counties. As a coalition of over 30 labor and community organizations rooted in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin, we recognize that SCP’s mission-driven approach holds enormous potential to lead in supporting justice and equity within the clean energy economy.
As SCP deliberates on policies guiding workforce and environmental justice (W&EJ) standards, we urge you to adopt guidelines in alignment with the Workforce and Environmental Justice Alliance’s Principles for Integrating Workforce & Environmental Justice Selection Criteria in Clean Energy Projects. This framework ensures that all energy projects SCP supports contribute to fair treatment and meaningful benefits for local workers and communities. Strong W&EJ standards set clear priorities for fair wages, workforce protections, and equitable community benefits, which are foundational to building a sustainable and just future in our region.
SCP’s unique position as a mission-driven public agency allows it to set a powerful example for how clean energy projects can advance economic, racial, and environmental justice. We believe that adopting these standards will not only safeguard worker rights but also build resilience for frontline communities facing disproportionate impacts of climate change, including wildfire risks, drought, and floods.
We stand ready to support SCP in integrating these values into policy and would welcome further discussion with SCP leadership to ensure that our region’s clean energy future benefits all workers and communities equitably. Thank you for your leadership in this important effort.
Sincerely,
Max Bell Alpers
Executive Director
North Bay Jobs with Justice
CEO Syphers,
I appreciate your thoughtful explanation of the guidelines during the meeting. It was helpful to hear your perspective and insights.
From a place of continuous improvement and effective collaboration, it would have been helpful to have connected ahead of the meeting to have heard and understood your meaning and perspective so that we could most fairly analyze and comment on your proposed guidelines. Naming your guidelines in the staff report to summarize your intent would also have been helpful.
While our analysis and recommendations still stand, I think we could have supported and reinforced more of your points and been more targeted in our analysis and recommendations.
We look forward to working together even more closely in this next phase of development to deliver a strong, complete, leadership project selection policy to the SCP Board that receives unanimous community support and board approval, that we can all be proud of, and that we can promote as industry standard.
Thank you.
Eric Veium
Co-Coordinator, CCA Workforce & EJ Alliance