Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Clean Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Peninsula Clean Energy outlines new projects, local grants and programs for Woodside
Summary
Peninsula Clean Energy presented to the Woodside Town Council on Jan. 14, summarizing generation portfolio growth, local programs (EV charger support, loans for electrification), a $113,000 member agency grant to Woodside and plans for town solar panels.
Mark Hirschman, director of government affairs for Peninsula Clean Energy, briefed the Woodside Town Council on Jan. 14 about the agency's recent procurement and local programs. Peninsula Clean Energy described itself as a joint powers authority launched in 2016 to provide cleaner generation at lower customer rates than the investor-owned utility.
Hirschman said the agency has reduced emissions 94% relative to prior levels, has returned more than $100 million to customers in savings since 2016, and recently secured its largest wind contract to date, adding more than 200 megawatts to its portfolio. He said Peninsula expects multiple projects to come online soon that will add roughly 300 megawatts of capacity and move the agency closer to a 100% renewable goal.
Local programs described to the council included an EV Ready installation program (Hirschman said his slide showed 29 outlets installed in the program's early phase and an average installed cost of about $4,000 per charger), a loan program offering 0% loans up to $10,000 for heat-pump appliances repayable through PG&E bills (about 600 applications filled since the program began), and a new concierge one-stop service to help customers identify rebates, contractors and program pathways. Hirschman shared the concierge contact (info@pencleanenergy.com and (866) 966-0110).
Hirschman said Peninsula Clean Energy awarded Woodside $113,000 in member agency grant funds, which the town plans to put toward electric landscaping equipment. He added that Woodside has a participation rate of about 98% in Peninsula Clean Energy and that generation-rate discounts have saved Woodside customers roughly $2 million since the joint powers authority launched.
Hirschman also described programs for government rooftop and parking projects (government PV), used-EV rebates for income-qualified customers, and an ebike rebate program for consumers. Council members asked about avian impacts of wind and about organizational leadership changes; Hirschman said avian concerns are addressed by avian-focused organizations and that the authority has had C-suite changes but remains committed to customer affordability.
