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Board directs staff to favor greener power while limiting added costs as city joins Clean Power Alliance
Summary
Trusting staff to analyze account-level impacts, the La Cañada Unified board directed officials to pursue cleaner electricity procurement options after the city moves its accounts to Clean Power Alliance; staff will report back with account-by-account recommendations before an October transition.
La Cañada Unified Governing Board directed staff to evaluate electricity procurement options after the city’s municipal accounts transition to Clean Power Alliance (CPA) beginning in October and to favor greener power where fiscally feasible.
District staff and a Clean Power Alliance representative briefed the board on CPA product options: a default 100% renewable “green” product (at a reported premium), a 50% renewable “clean” product (rate‑neutral versus SCE base generation), and a “lean” product (about 40% renewable and slightly below SCE base generation). District staff said the city will default municipal accounts to the 100% green product unless account holders choose otherwise.
Why it matters: The board’s decision affects how the district’s 16 electricity accounts are procured, the district’s carbon footprint and potential operating costs. Board members expressed support for moving toward greener electricity but sought a practical, account‑by‑account approach to avoid unnecessary new costs for the general fund.
What the board directed - Staff was asked to return with a detailed analysis of all district accounts and recommended default choices by account (100% green / clean / lean / opt out) before the October transition dates so the board can finalize district selections. Staff said CPA allows some account-level tailoring and that several accounts (lighting/commercial) may be more cost‑sensitive. - District staff will attempt to identify accounts where a greener product produces minimal additional cost and accounts where remaining with Southern California Edison (SCE) or choosing CPA’s lean product is more prudent.
Public comment and outside input - Dahlia Gomez, Clean Power Alliance representative, explained the CPA rate-setting process and emphasized CPA’s stable, annual rate-setting approach and board governance by member jurisdictions. She offered to provide account-level comparisons for the district’s 16 meters. - City sustainability commissioner Julie Kane Rich urged the district to remain in CPA to be eligible for new programs, including a “Power Ready” grant program that can bring solar+battery resilience projects to municipal sites. - Resident David Haxton urged the board to act in the students’ long-term interest and push for 100% renewable power.
Next steps and timing District staff will analyze accounts and provide a recommendation to the board; staff emphasized they can change product selections later if needed but that certain transitional rate rules apply if accounts move back to SCE after CPA enrollment. The board indicated it supports an aggressive move toward green energy where the budget impact is small and asked staff to prepare a clear cost estimate for each account to inform the October decision deadline.
