SONOMA CLEAN POWER
It’s initiatives like the Customer Center that keep SCP ahead of the game, he says. Slayter credits Sonoma Clean Power’s reputation as a leader and innovator within the industry, in large part, to its “world-class staff.” “Experts with decades of experience in energy procurement, programs, energy industry analysis, marketing and management are members of the Sonoma Clean Power team, led by their CEO,” says Slayter. Susan Gorin, who served as 1st District Sonoma County Supervisor in the early days of the agency, knows first-hand the impact
County Water Agency (now Sonoma Water) formed a steering committee to study the risks and benefits of operating a CCA. Two years later, in December of 2012, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of Sonoma Clean Power. By 2013, a board of directors was established and Geof Syphers was named CEO—the switch to cleaner energy was about to be flicked. Lights on! On May 1, 2014, a makeshift sign lined with LED lights commemorating the start of service was plugged in—and the era of Sonoma Clean Power was born. Geof Syphers, CEO of SCP, has been with the agency since its planning stages. Among its most important accomplishments, he says, are allowing customers to save on electricity costs about 80% of the time—compared to what they would pay using PG&E—and launching service to customers in 2014 with an option to choose SCP’s innovative EverGreen service, the nation’s first 24/7, 100% local, 100% renewable electric service. He is also proud that SCP has been instrumental in getting state power providers to promote electric vehicles. “Sonoma Clean Power was the first power provider in California to work with local dealerships to provide a bulk discount program,” says Syphers. “Over three years, the Drive EV program has helped customers lease or buy more than 1,250 electric cars and distributed over 4,000 free home chargers.” Former Petaluma City Councilmember Dave King served as that city’s first representative on the SCP board. He asked for the assignment because he thought it was an excellent opportunity to work toward countering climate change locally, he recalls. “I believe SCP has been instrumental in California's attempt to reduce carbon and combat climate change,” says King. And, like many supporters, he understands the importance of that work continuing through the years to come. New initiatives Funded by a $9.7 million grant from the California Energy Commission, the 10,000-square-foot SCP Customer Center opened in 2021 in downtown Santa Rosa as an interactive educational space that showcases energy-saving solutions and offers free classes on home renovations and cooking without using gas—all with a goal of helping customers transition away from fossil-fuel appliances in their homes. Architect Patrick Slayter, an early SCP board member representing Sebastopol, today sends many clients to the SCP Customer Center to get information about clean energy appliances, HVAC systems, information about EVs, rebates and incentives, and more.
Carole Migden, author of AB 117, the community choice aggregation law.
SCP can have on customers. Gorin lost her home in the 2017 wildfires and used the Advanced Energy Rebuild incentives offered by SCP to rebuild her home, making it 100% electric. Gorin served as the first board chair of SCP and remains a vocal champion of the agency. “I have been an EverGreen customer since the beginning,” she adds. Over the next two years, SCP is forecasting the agency will help Sonoma County residents save over $100 million on electricity, equating to about $450 saved per household in that timespan. Syphers says upcoming initiatives include the GeoZone project which aims to build 600 megawatts of new, renewable power for the community while demonstrating the viability of geothermal technologies which can be used worldwide. He also says SCP is focused this year on three pieces of legislation to lower risks associated with new geothermal construction, and ensure California gets its fair share of jobs, tax revenues and more. Perhaps most important of all, Syphers says after years of paying other companies to construct renewable energy sources, “In the coming decade, SCP will start to build our own.” With energy demand increasing, SCP’s focus on affordability, meeting the energy needs of customers, and the continued transition to affordable cleaner energy is an investment in communities that benefits everyone. n
2024: SCP celebrates 10 years
2021: GeoZone launches
2017: Mendocino County joins
2021: Customer Center opens
2021: Geothermal Opportunity Zone, aka GeoZone, is launched
2022: SCP and eight CCAs form California Community Power joint powers agency
2017: SCP begins serving Mendocino County
2021: SCP Customer Center opens in Santa Rosa
2024: SCP celebrates 10 years of providing clean electricity to Sonoma and Mendocino counties
2025
NorthBaybiz 3
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