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Women's Energy Matters Calls Attention to Marin Community Choice Debate

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 May 2008, 12:00 CDT

Public meetings on Community Choice Energy were held recently in town council chambers in Mill Valley and Tiburon; the momentum builds with another debate at the Fairfax Town Council May 21st at 7:30pm. Marin County's Sustainability Team presented a PowerPoint presentation about Marin Clean Energy, the opportunity Marin residents will have to create a Joint Powers Authority that would obtain 50% or more renewable forms of energy to serve Marin citizens and businesses, instead of letting investor-owned Pacific Gas and Electric buy more fossil fuel and nuclear energy with ratepayer dollars. PG&E has 13% renewables and admits it will miss the State's deadline for 20% renewables by 2010.

Five states have Community Choice: Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, New Jersey and California. A quarter of California citizens enjoy the benefits of community-based energy systems, such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), successfully operating since 1947 with rates 40% lower than PG&E and a higher percent of renewables.

"Marin's Joint Powers Authority would purchase renewable energy (solar, wind and geothermal) just as PG&E currently purchases energy (mostly fossil fuel)," said Dawn Weisz of the County's Sustainability Team, who coordinates planning efforts for Marin Clean Energy. Weisz explained a fact not often perceived by the public -- that PG&E does not manufacture most of the energy it sells. Her presentation is available online at www.marincleanenergy.info.

PG&E representative Peter Griffiths gave the company's perspective in accordance to the PG&E "Playbook," a document with the mantra "too costly and too risky" created by consultants to fight any community that considers Community Choice.

Barbara George, President of Women's Energy Matters (WEM), says, "The MCE plan is the most powerful tool we presently have to cope with global warming. It goes far beyond anything PG&E offers." WEM reviews PG&E's record, as a public interest advocate in California Public Utilities Commission proceedings. (See www.womensenergymatters.org)

"PG&E's expensive advertising says it's green, but official documents show that it's missing the state's targets in energy efficiency and renewables," George commented. "It has made risky investments in liquefied natural gas and nuclear power."

The next meeting is at the Fairfax Town Council, Wednesday, May 21, 7:30 p.m. Details posted at http://www.wrightnow.biz/articles.asp.

Source: Business Wire

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