Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
7:00 pm
Cupertino Community Hall
10350 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA
MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order:
Chair Walia called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Roll Call
Present:
Tina Walia (Chair), Saratoga
George Tyson (Vice Chair), Los Altos Hills
Elliot Scozzola, Campbell
Sheila Mohan, Cupertino
Sally Meadows, Los Altos
Maria Ristow, Los Gatos
Bryan Mekechuk, Monte Sereno
Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Morgan Hill
Pat Showalter, Mountain View
Larry Klein, Sunnyvale
Absent:
Zach Hilton, Gilroy
Evelyn Chua, Milpitas
Otto Lee, Santa Clara County
Public Comment on Matters Not Listed on the Agenda
No speakers.
Consent Calendar
There were no questions or comments from the Board; there were no requests from the public to speak on any matter on the Consent Calendar.
1a) Approve Minutes of the April 10, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting 1b) Receive March 2024 Treasurer Report
1c) Receive FY24 Q2 Decarbonization Strategy and Programs Quarterly Report 1d) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute an Agreement with Rock Rabbit, Inc. to Pilot a Customer Incentive and Contractor Management Tool with a Not to Exceed Limit of $190,000 for an 18-month Term
DocuSignEnvelopeID:D1914251-25C5-4240-AD1A-78F84BE69CF6
1e) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute a Long Form Resource Adequacy Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements for Resource Adequacy Capacity from High Desert Power Project, LLC
1f) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute an Agreement with Strategic Energy Innovations to Host Three Climate Corps Fellows with a Not to Exceed Limit of $216,750 for the 2024-2025 Fellowship Cycle
1g) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute Engagement Letter with Hall Energy Law PC for Legal Services Related to Energy and Capacity Transaction Needs and Long-term Power Purchase Agreements
1h) Executive Committee Report
1i) 2024 Legislative Responses to Industry Transition Ad Hoc Committee Report 1j) California Community Power Report
1k) Additional Committee Reports
MOTION: Director Klein moved and Director Mekechuk seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar, Items 1a through 1k.
The motion carried unanimously with Directors Chua, Hilton and Lee absent.
Regular Calendar
2) CEO Report (Discussion)
CEO Monica Padilla reported the following:
1) Highlights from the CEO Report, including the new format; 2) Congratulations to Sophia Zhang on her promotion from Power Supply Climate Corp Fellow to Associate Power Analyst;
3) Announcement of Director of Energy Services and Community Relations, Adam Selvin, would be leaving SVCE;
4) Acknowledgement of SVCE’s Community Impact Award, which was received at the CalCCA Annual Conference;
5) An update on an EPA grant submission, noting a Memorandum of Agreement would be brought to the June Board of Directors meeting for approval;
6) An update on the Income Graduated Fixed Charge from Bena Chang, Director of Government and Legislative Affairs, and Citlalli Sandoval, Senior Regulatory Advisor.
Staff responded to board member questions on the Income Graduated Fixed Charge regarding the 2026 start date; who would be responsible for monitoring who fits into the income-based CARE and FERA programs; and outreach to CARE and FERA customers.
CEO Padilla ended her report by highlighting the look-ahead document in the CEO report.
Chair Walia thanked SVCE staff for their work during Earth Month, noted SVCE was well represented at the CalCCA Annual conference, and commended SVCE’s impact in the community.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
3) Adopt Resolution Approving the Hanford Hybrid Plant Emissions Mitigation Guidelines (Action)
Senior Regulatory Advisor Sandoval presented the item requesting the Board of Directors approve the Hanford Hybrid Plant Emissions Mitigation Guidelines via adoption of Resolution 2024-09. The DocuSignEnvelopeID:D1914251-25C5-4240-AD1A-78F84BE69CF6
presentation included background information on the request, which stemmed from the adoption of Resolution No. 2023-06 in April 2023 approving a 12-year power purchase agreement with Middle River Power for energy and reliability products from its Hanford Hybrid Natural Gas Power Plant and Battery Energy Storage System. The proposed guidelines included the following key elements:
· Establish the Hanford Hybrid Plant Emissions Mitigation Fund (“Hanford Fund”) · Specify that the Hanford Fund will be used to fund existing local programs to help reduce emissions from greenhouse gases through electrification activities in disadvantaged or low-income communities in Kings County · Recommend a one-time funding allocation of $750,000 to $1.8 million– for the entire duration of the Hanford contract (12 years)
· This represents 0.6% - 1.5% of SVCE’s total Programs Budget Allocation · Specify that the Hanford Fund will be used to pay for activities led by organizations working in Kings County
· Require the collection of feedback be used to determine best course of action for utilizing Hanford Hybrid Plant Emissions Mitigation funds as well as the final funding amount · Require SVCE staff to evaluate the effectiveness of fund disbursements and report on progress to the Board in the Board Information Packet on an annual basis following the first disbursement and until the entire Hanford Fund has been disbursed, if necessary · All funds in the Hanford Fund must be disbursed by June 1, 2036 Staff responded to questions regarding the proposed guidelines, the Hanford Hybrid Plant, similar initiatives from other CCAs, reaching a variety of community members and a suggestion to electrify public spaces, how many of the local people in Kings County work at the Hanford Hybrid Plant, and if the money disbursement would be split equally from year to year.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
Bruce Karney, Mountain View resident, shared results from the Mountain View Environmental Sustainability Task Force from 2017/2018, which identified what a city could do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Karney noted he would share the list of projects with the Board of Directors and staff.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Director Martinez Beltran moved and Director Scozzola seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 2024-09 approving the Hanford Hybrid Plant Emissions Mitigation Guidelines, which provides for the following:
· Specifies the types of programs and projects that will be funded to help to mitigate the emissions associated with energy produced by the Hanford Hybrid Natural Gas Power Plant and Battery Energy Storage System during the 12-year term of the power purchase agreement;
· Establishes a fund of no less than $750,000 and no more than $1.8 million; · Authorizes the Chief Executive Officer to disburse the funds; and · Requires staff to report back to the SVCE Board of Directors on the effectiveness of the fund one year after the first disbursement and on an annual basis thereafter, if necessary.
The motion carried unanimously with Directors Chua, Hilton and Lee absent. 4) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute an Agreement with CLEAResult for the SVCE Commercial and Industrial Decarbonization Program with a Not to Exceed Limit of $2,489,087 through December 31, 2027 (Action)
Joey Lande, Energy Services Principal, and Justin Zagunis, Director of Decarbonization Programs and Policy, presented the request to the Board of Directors to authorize the CEO to execute an agreement for the SVCE Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Decarbonization Program with CLEAResult. The presentation included the following:
· Outline of the key elements of the program;
· SVCE C&I Decarbonization budget;
· Target market (large customers, annual usage >10 million kWh and 250,000 therms); DocuSignEnvelopeID:D1914251-25C5-4240-AD1A-78F84BE69CF6
_____________________________
Andrea Pizano, Board Secretary
DocuSignEnvelopeID:D1914251-25C5-4240-AD1A-78F84BE69CF6 · A recap of the SVCE portfolio of programs;
· Engaging commercial and industrial customers;
· Building on Strategic Energy Management (SEM);
· Emissions avoidance;
· Trust building with customers; and
· Timeline and next steps.
Staff responded to board member questions regarding program evaluation, external funding, group cohort format, customer education on new facilities, decarbonization without strictly electrification, CLEAResult’s role in the program, estimated staff time on the program, information on the recognition system, an outline of the finances requested, and impact of GHG reductions in comparison to program cost.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Director Mekechuk moved and Director Showalter seconded the motion to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute an agreement with CLEAResult for the SVCE Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Decarbonization Program, from the date of contract execution through December 31, 2027 and for an amount not to exceed $2,489,087.
The motion carried unanimously with Directors Chua, Hilton and Lee absent.
Board Member Announcements and Future Agenda Items
Director Klein congratulated SVCE for the CalCCA Community Impact award, and thanked SVCE for their attendance at the City of Sunnyvale Earth Day event.
Director Mohan complimented SVCE for the portable EV charging station, and shared she attended an induction cooking session with Chef Martin Yan.
Chair Walia announced the City of Saratoga’s Cooper-Garrod Vineyards were honored for their commitment to going green.
Public Comment on Closed Session
No speakers.
Closed Session
The Board of Directors convened to Closed Session at 8:46 p.m.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
(California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1))
Name of case: Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority; Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority, a California joint powers authority v. Big Beau Solar, LLC, et al, Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 22CV398156
The Board of Directors returned from Closed Session at 9:16 p.m.
Report from Closed Session
Chair Walia announced there was nothing to report from Closed Session.
Adjourn
Chair Walia adjourned the meeting at 9:18 p.m.
ATTEST: