Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Ren Jpa topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MCOG updates Northern Rural Energy Network participation, adopts JPA amendment to add energy and climate powers
Summary
Mendocino Council of Governments received an update on the Northern Rural Energy Network and approved an amendment to its joint powers agreement to add energy and climate-related programs as explicit powers, subject to each member jurisdiction’s separate authorization.
The Mendocino Council of Governments on April 7 heard an update on the Northern Rural Energy Network and adopted a resolution amending the agency's joint powers agreement to add energy and climate-related programs to the list of authorized powers.
Chair Hascheck opened the item, calling the Northern Rural Energy Network "very exciting" and turning the update to staff. Staff explained the program launched from a California Public Utilities Commission approval and will include seven program areas such as residential equity, nonresidential (commercial) equity, public agency equity, workforce education and training, codes and standards, finance, and residential resource acquisition. New MCOG staff for the program, Orion Walker (Energy Program Manager) and Rich Felice (Energy Program Specialist), were introduced as dedicated to implementing the regional program.
The nut graf: the JPA amendment would formalize MCOG's participation in the Northern Rural Energy Network and broaden the agency's authorized activities to include energy programs and potential climate resilience activities; the amendment requires each of the five member jurisdictions to separately authorize the change before it takes effect.
Board members discussed precise wording for the JPA amendment. Staff proposed language to "implement energy and climate programs, including partnership in the Northern Rural Energy Network, potentially form a regional climate resilience or protection authority, and similar activities." Directors debated whether "energy" and "climate" should be separate bullets so future activities that are only energy related would not be constrained, and staff agreed to split the item into two specific bullets (implement energy programs; implement climate programs) and add a new inventory bullet that explicitly lists housing, energy efficiency and climate programs.
After tabling the item earlier in the meeting for further drafting, the board returned to the item later in the agenda and voted to approve the amended resolution and to authorize staff to circulate the revised draft resolution to the five member jurisdictions for their approval. The board asked staff to update the sample resolution text before sending it, and staff committed to doing so.
The staff update also noted near-term outreach and program elements: a draft website scheduled for launch April 12, an energy-efficiency kit (LED bulbs, weather stripping, smart strips) to be available free by request, and phone-based residential energy assessments with staff-trained assessors. The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) serves as the lead administrator for the REN and contracted the branding and marketing work for program rollout.
Ending: Staff will revise the draft resolution to reflect the board's changes and send the amended template to the five member jurisdictions for their separate legislative authorization; the item is contingent on each jurisdiction's approval and is not final until all parties act.
