MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025
9:00 A.M.
___________________________________________________________
CALL TO ORDER
(9:03 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:01:40)
Vice Chair Elward called the meeting to order.
Board Members present: Vice Chair Elward, Directors Lemus, Laskey, Albin-Smith, Zollman, Fleming, Farrar-Rivas, and Haschak. Chair Barnacle, Directors Potter and Hopkins were absent.
Staff present: Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer; Michael Koszalka, Chief Operating Officer; Garth Salisbury, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; Ryan Tracey, Chief Strategy Officer; Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Adam Jorge, Senior Decarbonization Policy Manager; Miles Horton, Legislative Policy & Community Engagement Manager; Scott Salyer, Senior Program Manager, Decarbonization Strategy; and Karen Flores, Clerk of the Board.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR
(9:03 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:02:47)
1. Approve October 2, 2025, Draft Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
2. Receive Monthly Financial Report
3. Approve the Deferral of Funds into the Rate Stabilization Fund
4. Approve Update to the NetGreen 2.0 Tariff to Remove the Bonus Penny Adder from the Net Surplus Compensation Rate Calculation and Rename Tariff to Net Energy Metering
5. Receive Internal Operations Report and Provide Direction as Appropriate Vice Chair Elward requested to pull item 5 for further updates from Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer. The following updates were shared:
The department previously known as “Programs” has been changed to “Customer Energy Solutions”
Ryan Tracey has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Caludia Sisomphou has been promoted to Director of Community & Governmental Relations
Community Advisory Committee applications deadline has been extended to November 20th.
Motion to approve October 2, 2025, Board of Directors Consent Calendar by Director Farrar-Rivas
Second: Zollman
Motion passed by roll call vote
AYES: Laskey, Lemus, Albin-Smith, Elward, Fleming, Zollman, Farrar- Rivas, Haschak
ABSENT: Barnacle, Potter, and Hopkins
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR CALENDAR
6. Receive Legislative and Regulatory Updates, Approve Legislative Positions, and Provide Direction as Appropriate
(9:13 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:11:55)
Neal Reardon, Director of Regulatory Affairs, provided two key updates. First, regarding the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a proposal that changes how resources are valued for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) customers, despite some associated risks. In response, the County of Sonoma submitted a Public Records Act (PRA) request to understand the basis of the decision, but the CPUC replied that the requested information was not available. Director Reardon’s second update clarified an error in the written item: the title within the staff report “California Public Utilities Commission Issues Proposed Decision Removing Barrier for CCA Customers to Receive Incentives for Heat Pump Water Heaters and Storage” should reference only energy storage, not heat pump water heaters. Background was provided explaining that the CPUC changed rules for customers receiving Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) benefits, primarily affecting those installing batteries and, more recently, heat pump water heaters on-site. The CPUC has since proposed removing a rule that required customers to join a “Qualified” demand response program to access SGIP incentives for energy storage. This change follows 18 months of advocacy by SCP and other CCAs.
Miles Horton, Legislative Policy & Community Engagement Manager, shared updates on SCP’s sponsored geothermal bills: AB 527 (Papan), which exempts exploration wells from CEQA, and AB 531 (Rogers), which streamlines approval for geothermal projects under 50 MW. Mr. Horton explained that AB 527 was vetoed, however, AB 531 has been signed into law. Discussion ensued regarding future opportunities to work with Cal Cities on legislative work.
Public Comment: None
7. Receive Geothermal Opportunity Zone Update and Delegate Authority to the Chief Executive Officer or his Designee to Terminate the Geothermal Opportunity Zone Cooperation Agreement with Chevron New Energies and Execute the Memorandum of Understanding with Chevron New Energies for Collaborating to Develop Geothermal in the Western Interconnection (9:32 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:31:13)
Ryan Tracey, Chief Strategy Officer, provided some background on GeoZone agreements which included milestone deadlines. Of these deadlines, Chevron’s was set at the latest, for March 2026, however, Chevron has indicated over the past year that it will not meet all required milestones. Due to Chevron’s delayed progress and uncertain timeline, SCP staff has recommended terminating the existing cooperation agreement with Chevron New Energies for geothermal development in the GeoZone, while proposing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to maintain collaboration on broader geothermal efforts in the Western U.S. The termination preserves SCP’s right of first refusal and ensures continued communication and stakeholder engagement for any future activity in the GeoZone. Additionally, CSO Tracey shared that the County of Sonoma, working closely with SCP, has been awarded a California Energy Commission (CEC) grant of $1.36 million.
This grant will help fund regional geothermal planning projects with Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties, aimed at improving data and permitting processes for future geothermal development. CSO Tracey addressed questions from the Board members regarding this item and clarified that the MOU does not have an expiration date, but that the termination letter’s stipulations will last for 2 years.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Delegate Authority to the Chief Executive Officer or his Designee to Terminate the Geothermal Opportunity Zone Cooperation Agreement with Chevron New Energies and Execute the Memorandum of Understanding with Chevron New Energies for Collaborating to Develop Geothermal in the Western Interconnection by Director Haschack
Second: Farrar-Rivas
Motion passed by roll call vote
AYES: Laskey, Lemus, Albin-Smith, Elward, Fleming, Zollman, Farrar- Rivas, Haschak
ABSENT: Barnacle, Potter, and Hopkins
Item 10 was taken out of order at the direction of Vice Chair Elward
10.Approve Parameters for Customer Rate Reductions on January 1, 2026, Approve a Second Set of Parameters for Rate Adjustment for February 1, 2026, and Waive Prior Board Decision to Allocate 2% of Revenues from Calendar Year 2025 to the Local Investment Fund
(9:55 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 00:53:38)
CEO Syphers introduced the need for rate changes. He explained staff’s recommendation on reducing customer rates starting January 1, 2026, targeting total bills at 3% above PG&E’s bundled service, despite a sharp increase in PG&E’s Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) fee. To manage forecast uncertainties, a second rate adjustment is proposed for February 1, 2026, once PG&E’s actual rates and fees are confirmed. SCP would automatically adjust rates for all customers on January 1st, 2026, meaning that the average households would see about a $11 per month savings on their total electric bill. Staff also recommended returning $5 million in planned capital project funds to ratepayers to further reduce energy costs.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Approve Parameters for Customer Rate Reductions on January 1, 2026, Approve a Second Set of Parameters for Rate Adjustment for February 1, 2026, and Waive Prior Board Decision to Allocate 2% of Revenues from Calendar Year 2025 to the Local Investment Fund by Director Zollman Second: Lemus
Motion passed by roll call vote
AYES: Laskey, Lemus, Albin-Smith, Elward, Fleming, Zollman, Farrar- Rivas, Haschak
ABSENT: Barnacle, Potter, and Hopkins
8. Receive Update on Sonoma Clean Power Authority Decarbonization Research Efforts
(10:09 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:08:36)
Scott Salyer, Senior Program Manager, Decarbonization Strategy along with Adam Jorge, Senior Decarbonization Policy Manager, gave a presentation on SCP’s decarbonization research efforts.
Public Comment: None
9. Receive Update on Lake County
(10:38 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:37:05)
Geof Syphers, Chief Executive Officer, provided an update on the progress of the potential expansion to Lake County. On October 21st, the Lake County Board of Supervisors decided to table the decision about joining SCP and did not vote. Over the past decade, Sonoma Clean Power has engaged in ongoing discussions with Lake County regarding service expansion. Lake County has requested an offer of service three times, prompting two detailed feasibility studies in 2019 and 2025, costing approximately $90,000 in ratepayer funds.
CEO Syphers shared that ultimately the County Board of Supervisors decided not to vote on the item, leaving no opportunity for the City of Lakeport to consider joining, as that city is too small to implement a rollout independently.
Public Comment: None
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
(10:44 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:42:55)
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
(10:43 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:42:32)
Public Comment: None
ADJOURN
(10:44 a.m. - Video Time Stamp: 01:42:59)
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen Flores
Clerk of the Board