Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
7:00 pm
Cupertino Community Hall
10350 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA
Administrative Conference Room, Gilroy City Hall
7351 Rosanna St.
Gilroy, CA
Milpitas Police Department
Community Conference Room
1275 N. Milpitas Blvd.
Milpitas CA 95035
MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order:
Chair Walia called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Director Meadows announced she would be participating remotely pursuant to AB 2449 due to a physical disability qualifying under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and there was no one else 18 or over present in her remote location.
Roll Call
Present:
Tina Walia (Chair), Saratoga
George Tyson (Vice Chair), Los Altos Hills
Elliot Scozzola, Campbell
Zach Hilton, Gilroy (participated remotely)
Sally Meadows, Los Altos (participated remotely)
Rob Rennie, Los Gatos
Evelyn Chua, Milpitas (participated remotely)
Bryan Mekechuk, Monte Sereno
Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Morgan Hill
Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View (joined the meeting in-person at 7:15 p.m.) Otto Lee, Santa Clara County
Absent:
Sheila Mohan, Cupertino
Larry Klein, Sunnyvale
A quorum was present.
Docusign Envelope ID: 9DB6BFDB-7A74-40F4-9561-5588E71950EC
Public Comment on Matters Not Listed on the Agenda
No speakers.
Consent Calendar
There were no requests from the public to speak on any matter on the Consent Calendar. 1a) Approve Minutes of the October 9, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting 1b) Receive September 2024 Treasurer Report
1c) Approve SVCE 2023 Annual Power Source Disclosure Report Attestation 1d) Receive FY24 Q4 Decarbonization Strategy and Programs Quarterly Report 1e) Approve a Delegation of Authority Allowing the Chief Executive Officer to Purchase Carbon-Free Nuclear Energy for 2025-2027 1f) Approve GreenPrime Product and Rate Methodology
1g) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute Agreements with Tenaska Power Services for Scheduling Coordination Services
1h) Receive Executive Committee Report
1i) Receive Audit Committee Report
1j) Receive 2024 Legislative Response to Industry Transition Ad Hoc Committee Report 1k) Receive Finance and Administration Committee Report 1l) California Community Power Report
MOTION: Director Lee moved and Director Martinez Beltran seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar, Items 1a through 1l.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Directors Mohan, Klein, and Showalter absent and Director Meadows unable to vote due to technical difficulties.
Regular Calendar
2) CEO Report (Informational)
CEO Monica Padilla reported the following:
1) Announcement of staff promotions for Kathy Chai, Hannah Gustafson, Leanna Hyunh, Kaley Dodson, Leslie Madarang, Michaela Pippin, Brett Sirianni, Owen Milligan, and Adam Pearse; 2) Announcement of a site visit to SunZia Wind and Transmission in New Mexico, and attendance of a ribbon cutting event at Victory Pass; and
3) Bena Chang, Director of Government and Legislative Affairs, provided information relating to the 2024 election and retention of the Democratic majority at the state level, passage of the Climate Bond, Proposition 4, and participation with trade associations at the federal-level to identify additional opportunities.
Staff responded to questions from board members regarding previously allocated federal funds and the status of pending funding, EV charging station grants, and County-level advocacy for climate goals.
Chair Walia congratulated Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) staff members on their promotions and acknowledged staff members for their engagement in the Victory Pass ribbon-cutting event.
Alternate Director Abe-Koga joined the meeting in-person at 7:15 p.m. during Item No. 2.
Docusign Envelope ID: 9DB6BFDB-7A74-40F4-9561-5588E71950EC
3) Approve SVCE’s Participation in the California Public Utilities Commission Hourly Flex Pricing Pilots (Action)
Citlalli Sandoval, Senior Regulatory Advisor, and Beth Trenchard, Communications Consultant, provided information relating to the request to approve the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hourly flex pricing pilots, which included the following:
• Hourly Flex Pricing (HFP) pilot for eligible agricultural, residential, and commercial customers is CPUC-designed and is a PG&E administered 3-year pilot.
• Participation would benefit customers, help SVCE and regulators learn more about hourly rate implementation, and supports Load Management Standard (LMS) compliance. • Approval would allow staff to roll out the HFP pilot and take any contracting/implementation actions needed.
• If SVCE does not participate, then SVCE customers interested in enrolling in the CPUC pilot would need to opt-out of SVCE to participate.
Staff responded to questions from board members regarding PG&E’s hourly pricing automation, customer eligibility for HFP pilots and program enrollment, and maximizing customer participation.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Director Lee moved and Director Mekechuk seconded the motion to approve SVCE’s participation in the California Public Utilities Commission hourly flex pricing pilots.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Directors Mohan and Klein absent. 4) Adopt SVCE’s Long-term Clean Targets (Action)
Maren Wenzel, Director of Regulatory, Policy and Planning, provided information relating to the request from SVCE staff to adopt SVCE’s long-term clean targets and minimum Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) as follows:
• 2030-2034: 75% RPS retail sales/100% clean measured annually. • 2035-2045: 100% RPS retail sales/100% clean measured annually. • Allow for 10% margin of error on targets to help manage risk. If expected shortfall exceeds 10%, staff would return to the board of directors for additional guidance.
• Define clean energy resources to include RPS-eligible resources and carbon-free large hydroelectricity and nuclear energy.
• Include line losses as applicable.
Additionally, direct staff to return to the Board of Directors by March 2025 with recommendations regarding the following:
• Incorporate and inform the Board of Directors of the expected clean energy position and any expected shortfall;
• Incorporate hourly GHG reductions in assessment and approval of PPAs; and • Report on clean hourly progress.
Staff responded to questions and comments from board members regarding future solar contracts reduction, clarification relating to the 10% margin of error, offshore wind allocation, and the variability of demand and its impact.
Board members provided supportive comments on the proposed long-term clean targets.
Docusign Envelope ID: 9DB6BFDB-7A74-40F4-9561-5588E71950EC
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Director Mekechuk moved and Vice Chair Tyson seconded the motion to adopt Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s (SVCE) long-term clean targets.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Directors Mohan and Klein absent.
In response to an inquiry from Director Rennie, Director Mekechuk clarified that the motion for Item No. 4 included staff returning to the Board by March 2025 with recommendations as outlined by staff; the seconder of the motion, Vice Chair Tyson, concurred.
5) Local Agency Action Planning (Informational)
Zoe Elizabeth, Deputy Director of Decarbonization Programs and Policy, provided a status update on member agency electrification readiness planning, SVCE’s launch of two complimentary programs to provide $4M in technical resources and grants to enable sensible local policies and smoother local permitting of water heaters, and status updates on member agency action plans.
Staff responded to questions and comments from board members regarding required disclosures relating to gas appliances at a property’s time of sale.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
Board Member Announcements and Future Agenda Items
Director Mekechuk commented that he attended the VERGE Conference and toured the SVCE Dream Home.
Director Lee announced that he will attend the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan.
CEO Padilla announced SVCE will host a holiday mixer event at Cupertino Community Hall at 4:30 p.m. on December 11, 2024.
Adjourn
Chair Walia adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Andrea Pizano, Board Secretary
Docusign Envelope ID: 9DB6BFDB-7A74-40F4-9561-5588E71950EC