Item 3
1 VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
Staff Report – Item 3
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Alisa Lembke, Board Clerk / Administrative Analyst SUBJECT: Approval of July 9, 2026 Board meeting Minutes DATE: September 10, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Receive, review and approve the attached July 9, 2026 meeting Minutes.
Attachment: July 9, 2026 Board meeting Minutes
VCEA Minutes July 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 1 of 3
MINUTES OF THE VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2026
The Board of Directors of the Valley Clean Energy Alliance duly noticed their regular meeting for Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to be held at City of Woodland Council Chambers located at 300 First Street, Woodland, California 95695. Board Chair Jesse Loren established that there was a quorum present and began the meeting at 5:34 p.m.
Board Members Present: Jesse Loren (Chair), Tania Garcia-Cadena (Vice Chair), Lucas Frerichs, Donna Neville, Shiela Allen, Richard Casavecchia (arrived at 5:47 p.m.)
Members Absent: Bapu Vaitla, Tom Stallard
Item 1: Welcome
and Approval of the
Agenda
Chair Loren welcomed everyone. Vice Chair Garcia-Cadena made a motion to approve the July 9, 2026 Agenda, seconded by Director Frerichs. Motion passed with Directors Vaitla, Stallard and Casavecchia absent.
Item 2. Public
Comment –
General and
Consent Items
There were no written or verbal public comments on items not listed on the agenda and there were no written public comments on items listed on the consent agenda.
Verbal public comment on Item 11 [Indian Valley Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)]: Public comment was made by Christine Shewmaker:
She expressed that she was happy to see that the Indian Valley PPA was before the Board for approval and that she supports the 15 year Agreement, since this local resource provides diversity for VCE. She suggests that VCE tout our local energy projects and she would like VCE to consider emphasizing that VCE’s UltraGreen has all local resources, which may encourage Customers to participate in UltraGreen electricity services.
Items 3-11.
Approval of the
Agenda and
Consent Agenda
Items / Resolution
2026-013
Motion made by Vice Chair Garcia-Cadena to approve the Consent agenda items, seconded by Director Frerichs. Motion passed with Directors Vaitla, Stallard and Casavecchia absent. The following items were:
3. Approved June 11, 2026 Board meeting Minutes;
4. Received 2026 long range calendar;
VCEA Minutes July 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 2 of 3
5. Received Treasurer’s Report May 31, 2026;
6. Received legislative update provided by Pacific Policy Group;
7. Received June 2026 regulatory update dated July 1, 2026 provided by Keyes & Fox;
8. Received Community Advisory Committee June 25, 2026 meeting summary;
9. Received Customer Participation update (2nd Quarter 2026);
10. Ratified VCE’s position on AB 2383 (Large Load Rate Setting Authority) from Oppose Unless Amended to Neutral. (Action); and
11. Approved Indian Valley Long Term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) as Resolution 2026-013.
Item 12. Approve
VCE’s 2026
Integrated
Resource Plan (IRP)
to be submitted to
the California
Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC)
by August 10, 2026.
(Action) Receive
Summer
Preparedness
outlook.
(Information) /
Resolution 2026-
014
VCE Chief Executive Director Mitch Sears introduced this item. VCE Staff Chad Curran provided an overview and process of updating the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). He emphasized that updating the IRP is a valuable tool in informing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) of VCE’s planning and procurement. Mr. Curran informed those present that the draft IRP portfolio meets regulatory requirements, including RPS GHG reduction targets; and, that the portfolio positions VCE to meet customer load and regulatory requirements for the near future.
(Richard Casavecchia arrived at 5:47 p.m.)
Mr. Curran noted that the draft IRP portfolio models additional procurement as load, contracts and GHG reduction targets increase, and that the portfolio meets state RPS targets. Mr. Sears emphasized that updating the IRP is a “planning exercise”, not an outline of what power VCE will be purchasing. The Board and Staff briefly discussed small hydro. There were no verbal or written public comments.
Motion made by Vice Chair Garcia-Cadena to adopt a resolution establishing the following:
1. Approving the 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and the Preferred Conforming Portfolio and Action Plan included therein, for submission to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
2. Authorizing staff to make any non-substantial changes necessary to finalize the IRP as well as supplemental documents and work products to be submitted to the CPUC by August 10, 2026.
VCEA Minutes July 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 3 of 3 Motion seconded by Director Allen. Motion passed as Resolution 2026- 014 by the following vote:
AYES: Garcia-Cadena, Frerichs, Neville, Allen, Casavecchia, Loren NOES: None
ABSENT: Vaitla, Stallard
ABSTAIN: None
Item 13. Board
Member and Staff
Announcements
There were no announcements from the Board members.
Mr. Sears informed those present that VCE was not awarded the Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) grant which provides funds to support the development of microgrids to increase resiliency. Staff has a follow up meeting with PG&E to receive feedback on VCE’s application. VCE distributed Energy Advisor program public outreach inserts in VCE’s jurisdictional water bills. VCE received notification that a few customers who had previously opted out, contacted Customer Service to opt back in after receiving the information. VCE was invited to participate in a small pilot program by a Japanese government research firm. He attended the Ag Roundtable Event, where he made a few connections about water and electricity.
He informed those present that VCE Staff Rebecca Kuczynski attended in a June the Woodland State of the City luncheon. VCE updates to the County and City Boards are being scheduled. VCE Staff Daniel Alvarez is attending the Capay Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Expo representing VCE. Ms. Kuczynski is attend an Office of Emergency Services practice exercise in mid-July where an electricity emergency is being modeled. Mr. Sears informed those present that VCE is doing our own audit/analysis based on the Grand Jury Report that came out regarding MCE.
VCE was able to facilitate a month long contract for the Yolo County landfill to bridge the existing contract with the upcoming contract. This bridge contract prevented the landfill from flaring methane gas. Mr.
Sears attended the Tumbleweed (CC Power PPA) ribbon cutting event in Kern County. This project is the first in the U.S. that has 8 hours of battery storage capability in a grid situation.
VCEA Minutes July 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting Page 4 of 3 Item 14.
Announcement /
Adjournment
Chair Loren announced that the Board’s regular August 13, 2026 meeting has been cancelled. The Board’s next regular meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2026 at the City of Woodland Council Chambers located at 300 First Street, Woodland, California 95695. There being no further regular business to discuss, the regular meeting was convened at 6:05 p.m. into Closed Session.
CLOSED
SESSION
Item 16. Public
Comment on
Closed Session
Items
At 6:05 p.m., Chair Loren announced that the Board will be going into Closed Session and asked if there were any public comment on the Closed Session item. There being no verbal or written public comment, Director Loren announced that it is anticipated that no reportable action will be taken in Closed Session.
Item 17. CLOSED
SESSION: Public
Employee
Performance
Evaluation
[Government
Codes Sections
54957 & 54957(b)]
/ Reconvene in
Open Session to
Report from Closed
Session.
The Board convened into Closed Session at 6:15 p.m. and adjourned their Closed Session at 6:45 p.m. Chair Loren reconvened into open session to report from Closed Session at 6:46 p.m. and stated that there was nothing to report out. The regular meeting was adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
Alisa M. Lembke
VCEA Board Secretary