VCEA Minutes April 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 1 of 4
MINUTES OF THE VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026
The Board of Directors of the Valley Clean Energy Alliance duly noticed their regular meeting for Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to be held at City of Davis Community Chambers located at 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, California 95616. Board Chair Jesse Loren established that there was a quorum present and began the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Board Members Present: Jesse Loren (Chair), Tania Garcia-Cadena (Vice Chair), Richard Casavecchia, Donna Neville, Sheila Allen, Bapu Vaitla (arrived at 5:32 p.m.), Tom Stallard (arrived at 6:03 p.m.)
Members Absent: Lucas Frerichs
Item 1: Welcome
and Approval of the
Agenda
Chair Loren welcomed everyone. (Director Vaitla arrived at 5:32 p.m.) Director Neville made a motion to approve the April 9, 2026 Agenda, seconded by Director Allen. Motion passed unanimously.
Item 2. Public
Comment –
General and
Consent Items
There were no written or verbal public comments not on the agenda or on consent items.
Items 3-13.
Approval of the
Agenda and
Consent Agenda
Items / Resolutions
2026-007 through
2026-009
Motion made by Director Casavecchia to approve the Consent agenda items, seconded by Vice Chair Garcia-Cadena. Motion passed unanimously. The following items were:
3. Approved February 12, 2026 Board meeting Minutes;
4. Received 2026 long range calendar;
5. Received legislative update provided by Pacific Policy Group;
6. Received March 2026 regulatory update dated April 1, 2026 provided by Keyes & Fox;
7. Received Community Advisory Committee March 26, 2026 meeting summary;
8. Received Customer Participation update (Quarter 1 2026);
9. Received Enterprise Risk Management Report (Bi-Annual);
10. Approved updates to VCE’s Conflict of Interest Code as Resolution 2026-007;
VCEA Minutes April 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 2 of 4
11. Approved updates via Resolution to Exhibit C – Annual Energy Usage and Exhibit D – Voting Rights to VCE’s Joint Powers Authority as Resolution 2026-008;
12. Received process and schedule of Integrated Resource Plan update; and,
13. Received Treasury and financial update; ratified Investment Policy; and, approved via Resolution 2026-009 a one year extension of Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with River City Bank.
Item 14. Approve
Second
Amendment and
Restated Power
Purchase
Agreement for the
Gibson Project.
(Discussion/Action)
Resolution 2026-
010
VCE Chief Executive Officer Mitch Sears introduced this item. VCE Staff Chad Curran provided the background and history of the Gibson project since VCE signed the original Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in 2020.
Mr. Curran highlighted the terms of the 2
nd Amended and Restated PPA,
including their support of VCE’s Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) grant application which provides funds to support the development of microgrids to increase resiliency. Mr. Curran informed those present that the proposed microgrid location is within Gibson’s site area of Esparto and the surrounding areas.
The Board and Staff discussed: the project’s photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) capabilities; site and surrounding area site capabilities; and project economics, including prices. (Tom Stallard arrived at 6:03 p.m.) Mr. Curran commented that the Gibson project supports VCE’s Strategic Plan local procurement and resiliency goals. There were no verbal or written public comments.
Motion made by Director Allen to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute a second amended and restated power purchase agreement (PPA) and any necessary ancillary documents for the Gibson renewable photovoltaic (PV) plus battery energy storage system (BESS) project.
Motion was seconded by Director Vaitla. Motion passed with the following vote:
AYES: Garcia-Cadena, Casavecchia, Neville, Allen, Vaitla, Stallard, Loren
NOES: None
ABSENT: Frerichs
ABSTAIN: None
Item 15. Ratify
Valley Clean
Energy’s positions
Mr. Sears introduced this item and provided a brief description of the legislative bills: AB 1761 (Improving PCIA Transparency); SB 1138 (Resource Adequacy Transactability); and, AB 2383 (Large Load Rate VCEA Minutes April 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 3 of 4 on the following
bills: A. support AB
1761 (Rogers); B.
support SB 1138
(Padilla); and, C.
oppose unless
amended AB 2383
(Zbur).
Setting Authority). Mr. Sears reminded those present that CalCCA is the sponsor of legislative bills AB 1761 and SB 1138. VCE Staff Yvonne Hunter provided a brief overview of AB 1761 and Mark Fenstermaker of Pacific Policy Group, VCE’s lobby consultant, provided the current status of this bill. VCE supports this bill.
Ms. Hunter provided brief overview of SB 1138 and Mr. Fenstermaker provided the current status of this bill. VCE supports this bill.
Ms. Hunter provided brief overview of AB 2383 and Mr. Fenstermaker provided the current status, noting that 5-6 Committee Members expressed support of their CCAs within their district. Mr. Fenstermaker informed those present that he expects this bill to go through amendments. VCE opposes unless amended AB 2383.
The Board and Staff discussed AB 2383 (Large Load Rate Setting Authority). There were no verbal or written public comments. Director Vaitla requested that two (2) separate motions be made, one motion for support of AB 1761 and SB 2238 and a second motion for AB 2383 oppose unless amended.
Director Vaitla made a motion to ratify VCE’s positions on the following bills: A) support AB 1761 (Improving PCIA Transparency) and B) support SB 1138 (Resource Adequacy Transactability), motion seconded by Director Neville. Motion passed with the following vote:
AYES: Garcia-Cadena, Casavecchia, Neville, Allen, Vaitla, Stallard, Loren
NOES: None
ABSENT: Frerichs
ABSTAIN: None
Chair Loren made a motion to ratify VCE’s position on C) oppose unless amended AB 2383 (Large Load Rate Setting Authority), motion seconded by Director Allen. Motion passed with the following vote:
AYES: Garcia-Cadena, Casavecchia, Neville, Allen, Stallard, Loren NOES: Vaitla
ABSENT: Frerichs
ABSTAIN: None
VCEA Minutes April 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 4 of 4 Item 16. Board
Member and Staff
Announcements.
A Board Member mentioned that the large load subject is a broader discussion that should include Yolo County.
Mr. Sears announced that VCE will be participating in the Winters Youth Day scheduled for Saturday, April 25th and at the California Honey Festival for two (2) days on May 16 – 17 at the Yolo County Fairgrounds.
At the CalCCA Conference, VCE is cohosting with Pioneer Community Energy a breakfast on Wednesday, May 13th. VCE Staff Rebecca Kuczynski informed those present that recruitment of VCE customers continues for the CHARGE Program (formerly known as REACT).
Item 17:
Announcement /
Adjournment
Chair Loren announced that there will be no May meeting due to the CalCCA Conference being held on May 12-14, 2026. The Board’s next regular meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the City of Davis Community Chambers. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Alisa M. Lembke
VCEA Board Secretary