Item 5
1 VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
Staff Report – Item 5
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Alisa Lembke, Board Clerk / Administrative Analyst SUBJECT: Approval of Minutes from January 19, 2023 Special meeting DATE: February 9, 2023
RECOMMENDATION
Receive, review and approve the attached January 19, 2023 special meeting Minutes.
VCEA Minutes January 19, 2023 Board Special Meeting via Webinar Page 1 of 3
MINUTES OF THE VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023
The Board of Directors of the Valley Clean Energy Alliance duly noticed their special meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 5:00 p.m., to be held via Zoom webinar. Chair Jesse Loren established that there was a quorum present and began the meeting at 5:04 p.m.
Board Members Present: Jesse Loren (departed at 5:46 p.m.), Tom Stallard, Gary Sandy, Lucas Frerichs, Will Arnold, Bapu Vaitla, Mayra Vega (arrived at 5:26 p.m.) Members Absent: Richard Casavecchia
Welcome and
Board Clerk
Administering the
Oath of Office
Chair Loren welcomed the Board and new members. The Board Clerk administered the Oath of Office to the following: Lucas Frerichs, Will Arnold, and Bapu Vaitla.
Elections of
Officers for 2023
Director Frerichs made a motion to nominate Tom Stallard as Chair and Gary Sandy as Vice Chair, seconded by Director Arnold. Both accepted the nomination. Motion passed with Vega and Casavecchia absent. Director Loren congratulated both.
Public Comment –
General and
Consent
Chair Stallard opened the floor for public comment on both the general and Consent agenda items. Board Clerk Alisa Lembke informed those present that a written public comment was received from James Skeen on January 14, 2023. Mr. Skeen’s public comment was read into the record. Ms.
Lembke informed those present that there are several verbal public comments.
Verbal Public Comments:
Mark Aulman Introduce himself as the new Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Chair for 2023.
Rahul Athalye introduced himself as the new CAC Vice Chair for 2023.
Approval of
Consent Agenda
Motion made by Director Frerichs to approve the consent agenda items, seconded by Director Sandy. Motion passed with Vega and Casavecchia absent. The following items were:
VCEA Minutes January 19, 2023 Board Special Meeting via Webinar Page 2 of 3
4. Authorized to continue remote public meetings as authorized by Assembly Bill 361;
5. Approved December 8, 2022 Board meeting Minutes;
6. Received 2023 Long Range Calendar;
7. Received Financial updates November 30, 2022 (unaudited) financial statement;
8. Received Legislative update provided by Pacific Policy Group;
9. Received December 2022 Regulatory update dated January 11, 2023 provided by Keyes & Fox;
10. Received Community Advisory Committee December 15, 2022 meeting summary;
11. Received quarterly Customer Participation update; and,
12. Board supported proposed 2023 legislation to remove Assembly Bill 843 Sunset Limit for Bioenergy Market Adjusting Tariff (BioMAT) program.
Item 13: Receive
update on VCE’s
long-term power
portfolio
(Information)
Executive Officer Mitch Sears introduced this item, and VCE Staff Gordon Samuel provided an overview of VCE’s long-term power portfolio. (Mayra Vega arrived at 5:26 p.m.)
Concerns were raised by the Board about security around the photovoltaic and battery storage systems -facilities that VCE purchases power from. Staff informed those present that it is up to the individual project owners to secure their facilities.
There were no verbal or written public comments.
Item 14: Receive
2022 Customer
year-end review
presentation.
(Information)
Mr. Sears introduced this item and VCE Staff Rebecca Boyles. Ms. Boyles thanked VCE Staff and both the CAC Outreach and Program Task Groups for all of their assistance and work this past year.
(Jesse Loren departed the meeting at 5:46 p.m.)
Ms. Boyles provided a 2022 customer year-end review by presenting slides.
There were no verbal or written public comments.
Item 15: Discuss
Board meetings
and Brown Act /
Assembly Bill 2449
rules regarding
teleconferencing
meetings.
Mr. Sears introduced this item. Staff is seeking a recommendation from the Board. Staff’s recommendation is to return to in-person meetings beginning in February 2023 and to explore options for “hybrid” public meetings to allow flexibility for remote participation by the public and agency staff/consultants.
Mr. Sears informed those present that the February 9th regular Board meeting will have a 30 minute reception prior to the meeting. The Board directed Staff to pursue hybrid meetings and to look into the possibility of VCEA Minutes January 19, 2023 Board Special Meeting via Webinar Page 3 of 3 (Discussion/
Action)
rotating the meetings around the County within Member jurisdictions. Chair Stallard confirmed with the Board Members present that the VCE Board will continue with monthly meetings on the second Thursday of the month starting at 5 p.m. He also announced the Board’s February 9th regular meeting will be held at the City of Davis Community Chambers. There were no verbal or written public comments.
Item 16: Board
Member and Staff
Announcements
Director Frerichs asked for a SACOG Electrify Yolo Grant Project update at the Board’s next meeting. He also suggested that the update include background information on the grant to bring new Board Members up to speed.
Mr. Sears reminded those present that CalCCA’s Annual meeting is scheduled mid-year to be held in San Diego. Staff will provide information to “save the date”. Mr. Sears noted that the Governor’s budget proposal came out last week. Although the news is not favorable to climate and energy activities planned, noting that they are looking at an approximate 10% cut across these programs. However, it was good to see a reference to strategic investments in agricultural and water sectors that reduce both peak electricity consumption and water use.
VCE has been participating in the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) process. He informed those present that CC Power, the Joint Powers Agency of several CCAs, is beginning to look at off shore wind can be incorporated into the overall portfolio for California and CC Power will be engaged in those discussions. Lastly, VCE has been invited to do a presentation to the Graduate School of Management at UC Davis, their energy tract, on CCAs and the AgFIT Dynamic Pricing Pilot program. VCE is also giving the same presentation on AgFIT program to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Lastly, he announced that VCE received a call from UC Davis law school, who are forming an Energy Society on campus and have asked VCE to talk to some of the students who are interested in energy law.
Announcement
and Adjournment
Chair Stallard adjourned the regular Board meeting at 6:16 p.m.
Alisa M. Lembke
VCEA Board Secretary