Lake County hears Sonoma Clean Power plan; officials debate joining, geothermal GeoZone

Sonoma Clean Power on Sept. 30 asked the Lake County Board of Supervisors and the councils of Lakeport and Clear Lake to approve joining the community-choice electricity supplier and to participate in a regional geothermal planning effort known as the GeoZone.

The nonprofit community choice aggregator’s chief executive officer, Jeff Siefers, told the joint meeting that joining would “capture a stream of revenues from generating power” that local jurisdictions could use for projects and to lower customer rates. He said Sonoma Clean Power has issued $775,000,000 in municipal bonds and has used bond proceeds to prepay supply contracts to lower rates for customers.

Supporters framed the proposal as a chance for local control, modest price protection and new local energy projects. Opponents — both elected officials and members of the public — urged caution over long-term contracts, land‑use impacts from geothermal development and the level of tribal and community engagement.

SCP proposal and timeline

Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) representatives presented a feasibility summary and a regulatory timeline. SCP recommended that the jurisdictions vote in October to begin the CPUC-required regulatory process that, if approved and completed, would allow SCP to begin service to Lake County customers in May 2027. SCP offered Lake County two seats on its board (one county seat and one shared seat for the cities) and said that, if Lake County joins, the SCP board would expand from 11 to 13 members.

“We've already issued $775,000,000 in municipal bonds,” Jeff Siefers, chief executive officer of Sonoma Clean Power, said. “Joining a CCA gives you local control over finances in a way that is unusual.”

SCP staff described enrollment, customer options and likely bill impacts. Erica Torgerson, managing director of customer service, said residents and businesses would be automatically enrolled at launch unless they opt out. “All residents and…