Form Name:
Unique ID:
Boards and Commissions Applicat ion
14516832 42
Applicant Information
Name
Are you a Sunnyvale resident?
How long have you lived in
Sunnyvale?
Suparna Bhatta charya
Yes
10 years
Suparna Bhattacharya
- - Page 1 of 8
4/15/26
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ey: _ _ M_H _
Description Area Residence Notice:Unless otherwise noted , your principal place of residence must be in Sunnyvale . You must live in Sunnyvale at t he time of appo intment and at all ti mes during service on a board or comm ission.
Current Main Residence
Email
Phone
Description Area Employment NoticeCity of Sunnyvale emp loyees may not serve on a board or comm ission.
I am a current City of Sunnyvale No
employee.
Have you ever served on a City of No
Sunnyvale board or commission?
Have you attended a meeting of No
the City Council, or a board or
commission?
Have you attended meetings of No
the board(s) or commission(s) for
which you are applying?
Board or Commission Selection
First Choice Sustainability Commis sion
Applicant Qualifications
What motivated you to apply for
this board or commission?
My motivation to join the Sustainability Commission is driven by a desire to apply my career as an Energy Economist to Sunnyvale's specific climate targets. Having served as a Senior Economist for both the Oregon Public Utility Commission and California Water Service, I have spent years managing the "mechanics" of sustainability: rate design, cost-benefit analyses for conservation, and decarbonization modeling. I believe the success of
environmental policy relies heavily on equitable economic frameworks, and as Sunnyvale implements its "Game Plan 2028," I am eager to help the city navigate the financial complexities of building electrification and clean energy transitions. I want to ensure our local initiatives are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable and transparent for all residents, marking my first formal step into dedicated municipal volunteer service.
Suparna Bhattacharya
What skills or attributes can you
bring to this board or
commission?
1. Data-Driven Policy Advice
I can bring the analytical expertise needed to evaluate complex reports-from demand forecasts to capital project expenses-and translate them into clear, actionable policy advice. I will utilize my professional background in utility revenue requirements and my experience in Oregon-where I engaged with diverse stakeholders and provided formal recommendations in public commission meetings-to provide the Council with an objective financial perspective. By reviewing these pathways for fiscal consistency, I can help the Commission ensure that Sunnyvale's environmental targets are supported by sound and sustainable financial frameworks.
2. Strategic Rate Advocacy
I can offer a specialized understanding of utility rate design to support Sunnyvale's partnership with Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE). I will leverage my experience with cost-of-service modeling to help the city navigate rate structures that incentivize building electrification. My goal is to provide the technical oversight necessary to ensure that "going green" aligns with long-term energy savings for our residents and the broader community.
3. Regulatory Literacy
I can navigate complex state mandates and CPUC rules to ensure our local recommendations align with broader California energy policies. I will use my experience with state-level regulatory filings to help the Commission anticipate how shifting state
requirements might impact Sunnyvale's long-term sustainability goals.
4. Community-Centric Communication
I can translate complex bill impacts and tariff changes into clear, transparent information for the public. I will apply the communication skills gained throughout my career to help maintain community trust as we transition to clean energy, ensuring that residents understand the practical impacts of new sustainability initiatives.
Suparna Bhattacharya
The primary role of a board or
commission member is to provide
advice to City Council on policy
issues that are within the scope
of the board or commission. What
steps would you take to
effectively exercise this specific
board or commission role?
Community Listening
I will actively participate in public meetings to listen to the perspectives of Sunnyvale residents and stakeholders. This ensures that when I evaluate policy options, I can weigh technical data against the real-world needs and concerns of the community members we serve.
Evidence-Based Technical Review
I will thoroughly analyze the technical studies and staff reports provided in commission packets to provide informed
recommendations to the Council. My goal is to ensure that the advice I offer is grounded in the data and financial frameworks presented by City Staff.
Education – List college degrees,
majors and any relevant training
or experience that demonstrates
your ability to effectively serve
on this board or commission.
Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Focus: Market and Welfare Effects of Energy Policies in the U.S.
Electricity Market. This research provides a deep theoretical and practical understanding of how energy policy shifts impact market stability and consumer welfare.
M.S. in Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Focus: Multi-market analysis of energy impacts (Ethanol) on related sectors, establishing a foundation for analyzing complex, interconnected resource systems.
As a Senior Economist, I have a proven ability to represent a commission's interests in settlement conferences and public workshops. I served as a lead technical witness and published formal testimony on behalf of the Oregon Public Utility Commission for multiple utility rate cases (including UE 283, UE 294, UG 284, UG 287, and UG 288). This role required defending data-driven recommendations and answering technical inquiries in formal, public legal settings.
Furthermore, I evaluated and filed formal comments on
Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filings (LC 61 and LC 59), which involve long-term energy procurement and sustainability strategy.
I have participated in numerous load forecast workshops and settlement conferences, working alongside diverse stakeholders to build consensus on complex utility rates and conservation programs.
Suparna Bhattacharya
Describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer
and civic organizations.
Environmental Stewardship & Nature Videography
I am an active nature enthusiast and videographer focusing on the local ecosystems of the South Bay. I manage a nature-focused digital platform where I produce cinematic content featuring local preserves, such as Coyote Ridge and the Cowell-Purisima Trail.
Through this work, I aim to increase community awareness of our local biodiversity and the importance of preserving the "Silent Hills" and coastal landscapes that define our region's natural beauty.
Cultural Engagement & Musical Performance
As a vocalist and musician, I am deeply involved in preserving and sharing cultural heritage through music. By performing at local events and sharing my work on digital platforms, I engage both our local and global communities to celebrate cultural diversity. I believe in the healing power of music and its ability to strengthen the rich cultural fabric of the Bay Area.
Professional Civic Contribution
In my professional capacity, I have been deeply involved in the civic process through public service at the state level. My career has been dedicated to ensuring that utility policies are fair, transparent, and aligned with the public interest. By participating in public workshops and settlement conferences, I have
successfully bridged the gap between complex technical data and real-world community needs, ensuring that essential services remain accessible, fiscally sound, and sustainable for all residents.
Description Area The City has a Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials and an Attendance Policy (7.2.19), 2 G (II) that appointed members are required to follow.
Do you have any concerns related
to the above code and policy?
No
Are you willing to accept a
temporary appointment for the
remainder of an unexpired term?
Yes
Board or Commission-Specific Questions
Sustainability Commission
Suparna Bhattacharya
Category One: I’m a Sunnyvale
resident.
Yes
Category Two: I’m a Sunnyvale
business community member.
No
Sustainability is a new and
emerging concern in many
communities. What do you think
are the primary sustainability
policy issues this commission will
be addressing over the next few
years?
Equitable Building Decarbonization
As Sunnyvale implements its Climate Action Playbook (Game Plan 2028), a primary challenge will be transitioning existing buildings-particularly multi-family housing-from natural gas to electric heat pumps. This creates a disconnect between the parties involved: while high-efficiency electric upgrades significantly reduce monthly utility bills for residents, the substantial upfront installation and electrical infrastructure costs fall on property owners. Without a clear return on investment, these essential upgrades are often deferred. I believe that by leveraging on-bill financing and layered rebate programs, the city can help owners cover the "green premium," ensuring that decarbonization is both affordable for residents and fiscally viable for property owners.
Grid Resilience and Local Energy Storage
With the rapid electrification of buildings and transportation, Sunnyvale's local electrical grid faces unprecedented demand. I believe that by integrating storage with local generation, we can ensure Sunnyvale remains reliable during peak demand and extreme weather, securing a stable and equitable energy future for all residents.
Sustainable Resource Management & Zero Waste
Organic waste and single-use plastics remain significant hurdles to achieving our long-term diversion goals. I believe prioritizing policies that modernize our waste-sorting infrastructure and enhance organic waste recovery will significantly reduce methane emissions, fostering a more sustainable and resilient Sunnyvale.
Description Area View the Climate Action Playbook
Have you read the above version
of the Climate Action Playbook?
Yes
Suparna Bhattacharya
What are your thoughts on the
Playbook? How might the actions
("Plays") be improved?
Bridging the Split-Incentive (Play 2.A): Play 2.A focuses on energy benchmarking and encouraging upgrades, but for existing multi-family housing, there is a significant disconnect where property owners pay for upgrades while tenants receive the utility savings. I believe we can improve these "Moves" by developing On-Bill Financing models-similar to the inclusive utility investment pilot launched by Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE). This allows high-efficiency equipment to be paid for via energy savings over time, removing the upfront capital barrier and making
decarbonization a "win-win" for both landlords and renters.
Prioritizing Localized Grid Resilience (Strategy 1): Under Strategy 1, we continue to steer SVCE toward a 100% carbon-free
electricity supply. We can enhance our resilience by prioritizing distributed energy resources (DERs) and community-scale storage. The city can incentivize decentralized storage to ensure Sunnyvale remains reliable during peak demand and extreme weather, securing a stable and equitable energy future for all residents.
Modernizing Resource Recovery (Play 4.1): Our zero-waste "Plays" currently rely heavily on community awareness and behavior change. Modernizing our infrastructure with advanced sorting technology ensures that organic waste and recyclables are recovered even when sorting at the curb is imperfect. By prioritizing these technical upgrades, we can move closer to our 90% landfill diversion goal.
Your Agreement
Description Area IMPORTANT NOTICE – READ BEFORE SIGNING:By selecting both “Yes” and “Submit Form” below I am adding my digital signature to this application. I am also agreeing with the following statements:All statements I have made on this application are true and correct.I authorize the City of Sunnyvale (City) to investigate the accuracy of this information.I release the City from all claims and liabilities arising from such investigation.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application will be grounds for the City to deny my appointment. A false statement discovered later, will be grounds to dismiss me from my appointment at any time.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application could lead to criminal charges. Charges could fall under California Penal Code, Section 115 or other applicable law.
Suparna Bhattacharya
I agree Yes
Your full name Suparna Bhattacharya
Date Apr 15, 2026
Suparna Bhattacharya