Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, December 11, 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 7:00 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
Sheila Mohan, Cupertino
Zach Hilton, Gilroy
Sally Meadows, Los Altos (participated remotely)
Rob Rennie, Los Gatos
Carmen Montano, Milpitas
Bryan Mekechuk, Monte Sereno
Tanya Carothers, Morgan Hill
Pat Showalter, Mountain View
Larry Klein, Sunnyvale
Otto Lee, Santa Clara County
Absent:
None.
Chair Walia acknowledged Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) staff for hosting the Holiday Mixer community event prior to the board meeting.
Public Comment on Matters Not Listed on the Agenda
No speakers.
Director Klein announced the need to recuse himself from the Closed Session item related to the property on 333 W. El Camino Real in Sunnyvale, CA due to owning property within 300 feet of that location and exited the council chambers.
Public Comment on Closed Session
No speakers.
Docusign Envelope ID: CF44A9AE-42CF-48BE-8905-4187AB44587B
Closed Session
The Board of Directors convened to Closed Session at 7:04 p.m.
Conference with Real Property Negotiators
Property: 333 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA
Agency Negotiator: Monica Padilla, CEO
Negotiating Parties: Biagini Property Company
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
Following completion of the first item, Director Klein joined the Board of Directors in Closed Session at 7:22 p.m.
Conference with Real Property Negotiators
Property: 298 S. Sunnyvale Ave, Sunnyvale, CA
Agency Negotiator: Monica Padilla, CEO
Negotiating Parties: CBRE Northern California Capital Markets Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
The Board of Directors returned from Closed Session at 7:42 p.m.
Report from Closed Session
Chair Walia announced that the Board met in Closed Session and there was nothing to report.
Consent Calendar
There were no questions from the Board; there were no requests from the public to speak on any matter on the Consent Calendar.
1a) Approve Minutes of the November 13, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting 1b) Receive October 2024 Treasurer Report
1c) Approve Cancellation of the July 9, 2025 Board of Directors Meeting and Receive 2025 Board of Directors Regular Meeting Schedule
1d) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute Agreements with Calpine Community Energy for Data Management and Billing Services
1e) Receive Update on Non-Standard Pricing Policy
1f) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Execute and Submit Letters of Support Committing Matching Funds for Member Agencies Submitting Grant Applications to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Climate Program Implementation Grant for Charging Infrastructure
1g) Adopt Resolution Amending SVCE Conflict of Interest Code to Add Director of Customer Success, Director of Decarbonization Policy and Community Strategies, and Power Settlements Planner as Designated Positions for Filing Statements of Economic Interests 1h) Receive Executive Committee Report
1i) Receive Closing Report from the 2024 Legislative Ad Hoc Committee of the Board 1j) Receive Closing Report from the CEO Transition Ad Hoc Committee 1k) Receive Finance and Administration Committee Report 1l) Receive California Community Power Report
1m) Receive California Community Choice Financing Authority Report Docusign Envelope ID: CF44A9AE-42CF-48BE-8905-4187AB44587B
MOTION: Director Lee moved and Director Mekechuk seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar, Items 1a through 1m.
The motion carried unanimously by verbal roll call vote. 2) CEO Report (Informational)
CEO Monica Padilla reported the following:
1) Introduction of new staff member Marlena Lopez, Human Resources Administrative Assistant, who provided brief welcome comments;
2) Announcement of staff promotions for Zoe Elizabeth, Peter Mustacich, Joseph Lande, and Peyton Parks;
3) Announcement of completion of SVCE organizational realignment; and 4) Announcement of the annual SVCE office closure from December 25, 2024 to January 1, 2025.
Chair Walia congratulated SVCE staff members on their promotions, acknowledged receiving an update regarding organizational realignment, and noted SVCE’s new program launches.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
3) Approve Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Update and 2025 Customer Rate Setting (Action) Amrit Singh, CFO and Director of Administrative Services, provided information relating to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Update and 2025 Customer Rate Setting, which included:
• An update to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 operating budget that projects depositing $96.75 million into the reserves, considering updated revenues, power supply expenses, and investment-earning forecasts; and the following additional allocations:
a) $0.96 million towards bill credits for CARE/FERA customers b) $1.7 million to the Programs Fund
• A request for the Board of Directors to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to implement SVCE generation rate changes, establishing a 4% discount to PG&E’s applicable generation rates when PG&E implements updated rates in January 2025, or allocation of a sufficient time window to implement the new generation rates in SVCE’s billing system, expected to be within three weeks of PG&E’s release of the new 2025 rates.
Staff responded to questions from board members regarding 2025 PG&E rates, bill credits for low-income customers, and future staff presentations relating to affordability.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Director Mekechuk moved and Director Showalter seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 2024-16 approving customer generation rates and the fiscal year 2024-2025 updated budget.
The motion carried unanimously by verbal roll call vote.
Docusign Envelope ID: CF44A9AE-42CF-48BE-8905-4187AB44587B
4) Proposal to Establish the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Community Fund (Discussion) Zoe Elizabeth, Director of Decarbonization Policy and Community Strategies, provided information relating to the establishment of the SVCE Community Fund for funding long-term mission-aligned strategic priorities, and outlined the following three funding priority areas:
• Discount stabilization and bill affordability
• Scalable support for pollution-free appliances
• Support for local and emerging power supply technology Staff responded to questions and comments from Director Rennie regarding supporting customer transitions to induction stoves.
Board members provided supportive comments on the establishment of a future SVCE Community Fund; staff noted they would return to the Board of Directors in the February or March timeframe with a formal recommendation.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
5) Approve 2025 Legislative Policy Platform and Formation of 2025 Legislative Ad Hoc Committee (Action)
Bena Chang, Director of Government and Legislative Affairs, presented the item with a request to support staff’s recommendation to approve SVCE’s 2025 Legislative Policy Platform and create a 2025 Legislative Ad Hoc Committee. The presentation included a status update on the 2024 legislative year at the state and federal level, and further provided a forecast for topics in 2025 that included:
• Regionalization
• Affordability
• Defense of federal funding, and
• Permitting streamlining
Director of Government and Legislative Affairs Chang reviewed the proposed main guiding principles for the 2025 Legislative Policy Platform which included:
Affordability and Rates
Climate Change Mitigation/Fuel Switching
Clean, Reliable Grid
Competitive Equity/Do No Harm
Health Impact/Safety, and
Equity
In addition to reviewing the guiding principles above, staff requested the Board approve to establish a 2025 Legislative Ad Hoc Committee to facilitate engagement between the SVCE Board and staff on legislative issues, focusing on the 2025 Legislative Policy Platform.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
Director Mekechuk acknowledged staff for their supportive role on legislative policy work.
MOTION: Director Klein moved and Vice Chair Tyson seconded the motion to approve the SVCE 2025 Legislative Policy Platform and the Formation of the 2025 Legislative Ad Hoc Committee.
The motion carried unanimously by verbal roll call vote Docusign Envelope ID: CF44A9AE-42CF-48BE-8905-4187AB44587B
6) Approve SVCE’s Policy Updates as Part of the Agency Policies Streamlining Project (Action)
Michael Callahan, General Counsel, introduced Demarie Weber, Regulatory and Compliance Manager, and presented the item with a request to support staff’s recommendation to approve SVCE’s Policy Updates as part of the agency policies streamlining project. The presentation included information regarding implementation of the proposed new structure for policies, standards and procedures relating to Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, and General and Administrative policies.
Staff’s recommendation included the following:
Board members acknowledged staff for their efforts in finalizing the SVCE Policies Streamlining Project.
MOTION: Director Mekechuk moved and Director Mohan seconded the motion to approve SVCE’s Policy Updates as Part of the Agency Policies Streamlining Project.
The motion carried unanimously by verbal roll call vote. 7) 2025 SVCE Elections (Informational)
Andrea Pizano, Senior Executive Assistant and Board Clerk, provided information regarding the 2025 SVCE Board appointments process and requested that Board members interested in serving as the Board Chair or Vice Chair for 2025 submit a letter of interest for consideration, and those interested in Docusign Envelope ID: CF44A9AE-42CF-48BE-8905-4187AB44587B
serving on the Executive Committee inform her. Board Clerk Pizano noted remaining SVCE Committee appointments are slated for February 2025.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
Board Member Announcements and Future Agenda Items
Chair Walia expressed her gratitude to SVCE staff for their contributions in 2024 and for providing a tour of the Dream Home.
Director Lee announced that he attended the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan.
Adjourn
Chair Walia adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Andrea Pizano, Board Secretary
Docusign Envelope ID: CF44A9AE-42CF-48BE-8905-4187AB44587B