Switzer, Donna
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2022 12:27 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: item 18 (22-074) on the February 1, 2022 agenda (OCA Default Rate) From: info amigosdebolsachica.org <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2022 11:57 AM
To: Delgleize, Barbara < [email protected]>; Carr, Kim <[email protected]>; Peterson, Erik <[email protected]>; Bolton, Rhonda <[email protected]>; Posey, Mike <Mike. [email protected]>; Moser, Natalie <Natalie. [email protected]>; [email protected]; Joyce, Sean <[email protected]>; Dills, Ken <[email protected]> Cc: CITY COUNCIL <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: item 18 (22-074) on the February 1, 2022 agenda (OCA Default Rate) Dear Mayor Delgleize and City Council:
The Amigos de Bolsa Chica urge the council to select the 100% Renewable alternative as the default rate for Huntington Beach.
The Amigos de Bolsa Chica is one of the oldest environmental organizations in this area, with roots in Huntington Beach going back to 1976. We care deeply about this city, its people, and its natural riches. For society to move quickly in the direction of renewable energy sources is one of the most powerful ways to ensure the health of people and wildlife alike.
Continued burning of fossil fuels pollutes our air locally and globally, with negative impacts on human health, climate, and ocean conditions. As a coastal community, Huntington Beach must be especially concerned with sea level rise and its impacts. The Bolsa Chica Wetlands are especially sensitive to this threat. 100% Renewable energy is clearly the way of the future. For a small extra increment on every monthly electricity bill, we could get there without waiting!
Mel Nutter
President
Shirley Dettloff
Outreach Coordinator
Amigos de Bolsa Chica
[email protected]
www.amigosdebolsachica.org
714-840-1575 SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
CHICA 2/1/22
Meating Date: _
Agenda Hem No: 18(22-074,
Since 1916
1 Switzer, Donna
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2022 1:51 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: CCE
From: Ed Bush <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2022 9:32 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL <[email protected]>
Subject: CCE
Members of the City Council of Huntington Beach,
Is someone representing the City of Huntington Beach asking the question about the effect the CCE would have on city residents that have installed solar paneling? I paid a great deal of money to respond to the use of electrical power and the need to conserve. Because of the solar panels I have reduced the usage considerably, and as a result it has helped me ameliorate the amount that I paid for the paneling. Since so many of the citizens of Huntington Beach have also responded to the need to conserve by installing solar paneling, I hope the City Council is taking that into consideration in exploring this move to the CCE.
Thank you,
Ed Bush
714/842-4954
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
Meeting Date... 2/1/22
Agenda lem Na: / 8/22-074)
1 Switzer, Donna
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2022 2:24 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: 100% renewable default SUPPLEMENTAL
CONMUNICATION
From: Michelle Ellison <[email protected]> 2/1/22 Mesting Date:
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2022 9:22 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL < [email protected]>
Subject: 100% renewable default Agenda Item No.: 18(22-074) Good evening, council.
Congratulations on being a founding member agency of Orange County Power Authority! My name is Michelle Ellison and I'm on the board of Clean Power Alliance, the CCA serving Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Our communities are enjoying the many benefits of community choice energy like more local control and programs, choice, competitive rates, and renewable energy. I'm pleased to share that now 18 of CPA's 32 member municipalities have made 100% renewable energy the default and in so doing virtually eliminate electricity related emissions for nearly 2 million people.
Huntington Beach now has the opportunity to lead the way on clean energy in Orange County. The 100% renewable default has proven to be one of the most significant, cost-effective, and immediate ways for cities to reduce their carbon footprint. With this one council action, your 200,000 residents can easily power their homes and businesses with clean energy. It'll take much more time, expense and effort to achieve this kind of progress otherwise. The optimal time to set the default at 100% is right from the start, when customers begin service with OCPA.
Climate scientists recently issued an alarming code red for humanity in the latest UN IPCC report, warning us that governments at all levels everywhere must take immediate and unprecedented action to cut emissions. How you, as leaders of Huntington Beach, respond matters and has an impact far beyond your city boundaries. The good news is that there are solutions like the 100% renewable default to help us get where we need to go, and local governments are responding. To date, 27 municipalities in California have adopted a 100% renewable default so you would be in good company.
Defaults have immense power to affect outcomes. Behavioral economics research shows that a vast majority of people stick with the default. If you set it at 100%, most will remain there. If you set it at a lower tier, most will remain there. There's very little movement up, down or out. That's proven true in Clean Power Alliance, all three of our default options have around a 95% participation rate.
With regard to cost, OCA's 100% renewable rate is currently projected to have just a 5.6% bill premium, the middle tier Smart Choice (69% renewable) a 3.7% premium, and the bottom tier Basic Choice (38.5% renewable) at parity with SCE's base rate. On a typical customer bill, the 100% option comes to just $6.38 more per month, a nominal investment for significantly more renewable energy and associated benefits. While Smart Choice has more renewable than Basic Choice, it still has 31% dirty energy and a bill premium. And it's important to consider the costs of externalities associated with more polluting emissions and unmitigated climate change. The perception of saving a dollar or two in the short term is a dangerous 1 illusion. For example, consider the billions of dollars in damages associated with our California wildfires. Industry studies reveal there is overwhelming public support for renewable energy.
A wonderful benefit of community choice energy is that customers have more choices. The 100% default isn't forcing anything on anyone, it's simply a suggestion, and customers have the freedom to choose another plan according to their own preferences and priorities. It's easy to opt down or opt out. Customers will receive several enrollment notices so they are informed of their choices.
I'm happy answer any questions or provide more information, as I've worked closely with many city councils in going to 100%, so feel free to call anytime.
Regards,
Michelle Ellison
414.915.4140
www.greenbydefault.org
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