Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Executive Committee Meeting
Friday, May 26, 2023
10:00 a.m.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Office
333 W El Camino Real, Suite 330
Sunnyvale, CA
400 Fairview Avenue #172
Incline Village, NV
MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order
Chair Walia called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.
Roll Call
Present:
Chair Tina Walia, City of Saratoga
Vice Chair Bryan Mekechuk, City of Monte Sereno
Director George Tyson, Town of Los Altos Hills
Director Rob Rennie, Town of Los Gatos (participated remotely) Director Larry Klein, City of Sunnyvale
Absent:
Director Yvonne Martinez Beltran, City of Morgan Hill
Public Comment on Matters Not Listed on the Agenda
No speakers.
Consent Calendar
Chair Walia opened public comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed public comment.
MOTION: Vice Chair Mekechuk moved and Director Tyson seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Director Martinez Beltran absent. 1) Approve Minutes of the April 28, 2023, Executive Committee Meeting DocuSign Envelope ID: A1CAB7A1-2BF6-402C-8F8A-7DB57A785433 Regular Calendar
2) CEO Update (Discussion)
CEO Girish Balachandran announced that SVCE received two runner-up awards at the CalCCA Annual Meeting: 1) for the online contractor training program, FutureFit Fundamentals, under the equity category, and 2) a joint award with PCE and EBCE for the Bay Area Reach Codes initiative. 3) Workforce Development Strategy Update (Discussion)
Bena Chang, Senior Government Affairs Manager, presented an update on workforce development. Senior Government Affairs Manager Chang’s presentation included how workforce fits into SVCE’s mission, where SVCE has been focused, and where SVCE might want to go. Next steps identified were to conduct additional stakeholder conversations, explore partnership opportunities, and to refine the workforce development strategy and bring ideas back to the Board.
Staff responded to committee member questions regarding potential challenges, working with other CCAs and organizations for leverage, efforts on workforce education and training, SVCE’s involvement in workforce development at the local level, and follow-up with contractors who have finished the FutureFit Fundamental Contractor Training program.
Committee members shared their experience in the process of heat pump water heater and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) installation.
Chair Walia opened public comment.
Bruce Karney commented he felt it would be unusual to find a plumbing company owner that really wanted to transform their business into one that was focused on heat pump water heaters or even heat pump water heaters plus gas, as it is a different business mindset that may have different capital requirements and has different focuses on labor force. Mr. Karney commented he doesn’t think training is the core of the issue, but business ambition and perhaps access to capital to fund the rapid growth that we are hoping to achieve.
Chair Walia closed public comment.
Chair Walia summarized comments that SVCE is continuing to monitor workforce development on a larger scale, is open to partnerships and advocating and influencing where we can, but the main focus remains at the local level.
4) Intro to 2024 Strategic Plan (Discussion)
CEO Balachandran provided a presentation updating the Executive Committee on the Strategic Plan. CEO Balachandran’s presentation included the Strategic Plan and Budget timeline, the SVCE planning and budgeting process, and an overview of the Strategic Work Plan and Focus Areas. CEO Balachandran reviewed the Focus Areas from FY 23, and presented the first draft of FY 24 Strategic Focus Areas which included: Clean and Renewable Grid, Accelerate Building and Transportation Electrification, Finance, and Employee.
Committee members discussed and provided feedback on the draft Strategic Focus Areas.
Chair Walia opened public comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed public comment.
DocuSign Envelope ID: A1CAB7A1-2BF6-402C-8F8A-7DB57A785433 5) FY 2023-24 Budget Framework (Discussion)
Amrit Singh, CFO and Director of Administrative Services, presented the assumptions and principles used to build the FY 23-24 budget. The presentation included the budget timeline, revenue modeling, reserve targets, customer discount rate, power supply costs, and other cost drivers like potentially purchasing office space. CFO and Director of Administrative Services Singh noted methodologies could be tweaked if the results from the actual numbers in July do not align with expectations.
Staff responded to questions from committee members regarding PG&E’s rates, rate setting, and outreach to potential customers.
Committee members provided comments and feedback on leasing versus buying an SVCE office space; Director Klein shared his experience with the newly opened LEED platinum Sunnyvale City Hall.
Chair Walia opened public comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed public comment.
7) Programs Snapshot: FutureFIt Homes Program (Presentation – Information Only) Nupur Hiremath, Manager of Decarbonization Programs and Policy, introduced the item and Jessamyn Allen, Senior Programs Specialist. Senior Programs Specialist Allen provided a presentation to the committee on the FutureFit Homes Program, which provides rebates for heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, panel upgrades, pre-wiring for future electric appliances, and removal of gas meters.
Staff responded to questions from the committee regarding rebates reserved and the application process.
Chair Walia opened public comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed public comment.
Committee/Staff Remarks
Director Mekechuk commented he attended the CalCCA Annual Meeting in San Diego and found it very valuable, and encouraged other board members to attend next year.
Director Tyson agreed with Director Mekechuk’s comments and noted there were a lot of networking opportunities.
Adjournment
Chair Walia adjourned the meeting at 12:03 p.m.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Andrea Pizano, Board Secretary
DocuSign Envelope ID: A1CAB7A1-2BF6-402C-8F8A-7DB57A785433