SONOMA CLEAN POWER
“EverGreen is a convenient way to do the right thing.” —Steve May, owner of Surf Market
“EverGreen is a convenient way to do the right thing,” he says. “And the more people who do it, the more momentum it builds and inspires other businesses to say: We could do that too.” ‘One small thing we can do’ Naomi Crawford and Joel Baecker opened their farm-fresh, grab- and-go lunch spot, Lunchette, in Petaluma in 2017, with a mission to achieve zero waste as soon as possible. They wanted their business to commit to more sustainable choices, such as all-electric cooking in their kitchens. Signing up for SCP’s 100% renewable service was a natural, says Crawford. “If I owned our building, I'd install a solar array,” Crawford says. “As a tenant, this is the best we can do,” she says. Crawford and Baecker also installed solar at their home, among other energy efficient lifestyle choices. “Every time I look up at the roof, or plug a car in, I feel rewarded,” Crawford says. Profit margins are thin, so committing to EverGreen is a pinch, she says. But among the ways a small-business owner can be sustainable, Giving Back
Naomi Crawford, of Lunchette in Petaluma
“paying a little more every month is one small thing we can do.” Adds Crawford: “Sometimes doing something for the greater good costs us more. It's a choice we feel is better for us, better for our region.” Beyond EverGreen Veterinarian Diccon Westworth leads the Sustainability “Green” Team at the VCA Animal Care Center of Sonoma County, where energy-heavy MRI and CT machines run regularly. Westworth says his team became concerned after conducting a carbon calculation on the facility’s energy use, and “we realized we were causing substantial amounts of carbon to be emitted.” The eye-opening assessment spurred VCA to commit to a more sustainable veterinary practice. Enrolling in EverGreen was “the easiest way” to align with their sustainability goals, Westworth says. But, he adds, choosing the 100% local renewable service was but one of several ways the animal care center has partnered with Sonoma Clean Power to promote sustainability. For instance, he says, the sustainability team won an SCP grant for an E-bike workplace commuter, allowing the VCA to purchase four electric bikes for staff use. Not only that, but through support from SCP, the veterinary center is installing nine EV chargers for client and staff use—curbing the carbon impact of staff commute and client visits, which account for as much as 36% of VCA’s emissions footprint. Westworth says the animal-care center has a large banner celebrating their collaboration with SCP in the lobby of its offices at 6470 Redwood Drive in Rohnert Park. “Clients have commented on the banner, and they are pleased to see us leading the way,” says Westworth. “By [partnering with Sonoma Clean Power], we are doing our part to pave the way for California and the wider U.S. [toward] an ever-faster transition to local clean renewable electricity sources,” he says. n
n Since 2014, the agency has provided more than $5 million to nonprofits and other community groups, with a focus toward assisting basic needs such as food, housing, family support and community resilience. n Sonoma Clean Power fosters an in-house culture of service, with staff as a whole committing thousands of hours toward volunteer work in the community. n SCP highlights various state programs to help customers save money. These include the CARE Program, a potential 20% monthly discount for income-eligible residents; the FERA Program, a potential 18% income-qualified discount for households of three or more; and a Medical Baseline Program for households with someone dependent on live-support equipment or with other serious medical conditions. Source: Sonoma Clean Power Sonoma Clean Power’s commitment to the community goes beyond lowering its carbon footprint. Here are a few ways SCP gives back:
6 NorthBaybiz
2025
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