HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupport Letter - SB 100 (de Leon) - 04.03.2018CITY OF
CUPERTINO
April 3, 2018
MAYOR DARCY PAUL
dpaul@cupertino.org
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3195 • FAX: (408) 777-3366
CUPERTINO.ORG
The Honorable Kevin de Leon
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 100 California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program Notice of Support
Dear Senator de Leon,
The City of Cupertino applauds your effort to accelerate the timeline of California
achieving 100 % carbon-free electricity. It is essential that local governments and the State
aggressively implement strategies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, take
leadership on climate action and move to rapidly decarbonize.
Currently, the Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) in California have an average of 30 %
Resource Portfolio Standard (RPS). The CCAs operating in the State have an average RPS
of 50 % cumulatively, well exceeding any other load-serving entities within the State.
The City of Cupertino is in support of the concept of moving towards 100% carbon free
electricity outlined by SBlOO, yet we believe it can happen sooner than 27 years from
now. Currently, the City of Cupertino's default electricity provider is Silicon Valley Clean
Energy (SVCE), which provides 100 % carbon free electricity, well exceeding the average
in the State. As a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), SVCE has rapidly procured clean
electricity during its first year of service and is currently looking to procure a combined
$1 billion dollars' worth of all new renewable energy plus storage for 15-20 years to
address the timing imbalance between peak demand and renewable energy production,
also known as the duck curve. Also, at the end of its first year of operation, the agency is
cash flow positive, with customers paying less than they would to PG&E. SVCE is proof
that 100 % carbon free electricity can be achieved today in a cost-effective and efficient
manner.
As SB 100, and any other bills surrounding this agreement are being considered, the City
of Cupertino is in alignment with the stance of CalCCA and the following points which
would caus e the City to withdraw support for SB100 .
• Provisions of the bill must not undermine the CCA local governance and
procurement authority governing boards. Any attempt to undermine CCA local
governance by their publically elected board members will be vigorously opposed
by the City of Cupertino.
• Any attempt to create an uneven playing field or unfair cost allocation between
CCAs must not occur. This particularly affects low-income customers in CCA
communities, who are offered universal, affordable access to renewable energy
products through their CCAs.
• We will oppose amendments that would give IOUs control of the Distributed
Energy Resources (DER) market, including storage and other innovative
technologies. Such proposed amendments shut out competition, are unrelated to
the clean energy goals of SB 100, and undermine the innovation that will lead to a
carbon-free California.
• We will oppose any concept requiring the IOU s to procure more renewable energy
resources and pass the costs onto CCA customers.
The City of Cupertino is committed to swift and rapid efforts to take action on climate,
reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize our energy load. As a small
jurisdiction, we depend on the State to take leadership to help us achieve our goals across
all sectors. The City is in support of the concept of moving towards 100% carbon-free
electricity outlined by SBlOO, and we believe this should happen while allowing CCAs to
continue grow and form throughout the State.
Sincerely,
(:~___o
Mayor, City of Cupertino
Cc: Assembly Member Evan Low
Senator Jim Beall