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SFPUC to negotiate Marin‑style Community Choice Aggregation, adds local build‑out requirements
Summary
The commission authorized staff to negotiate a CCA implementation agreement using the Marin Clean Energy model as a base, added amendments to prioritize concurrent local renewable build‑out and a July status report, and directed staff to pursue procurement and local development tracks in parallel.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission authorized the general manager to negotiate a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) implementation agreement using the Marin Clean Energy model as a starting point and adopted amendments directing staff to prioritize a concurrent local renewable build‑out.
Assistant General Manager Barbara Hale told commissioners the Marin model is a proven, operational approach and recommended using its contract and procurement mechanics as a floor for negotiations. The commission added several amendments before voting: clarification that the city’s policy goal is to develop 360 megawatts of new energy resources and prioritize development located within the city and Northern California; a finding that two prior RFP processes failed to yield acceptable offers and a determination that the General Manager could pursue negotiations; and a directive for staff to develop a scope of work to request bids for renewable generation and to report on progress to the commission by July 2011.
Public commenters representing environmental organizations, job‑training advocates and community groups strongly endorsed the amendments, stressing simultaneous procurement and local build‑out to capture local jobs and meet the ordinance’s renewable targets. Eric Brooks of the San Francisco Green Party urged a “big build‑out” to rapidly expand local clean generation; other advocates referenced Marin’s RFP that returned robust interest from multiple developers.
Commissioners discussed sequencing and risk management: without a legal JPA barrier like Marin’s, San Francisco will manage exposure through phased procurement and substitution rights in the negotiated contract so that, over time, locally procured resources can be assigned to the city’s CCA portfolio. Commissioners asked staff to return with administrative details and an implementation plan that balances third‑party provider responsibility and incremental internal capacity building.
Next steps: staff will begin negotiations with a creditworthy counterparty using the Marin model as a reference, proceed on a parallel track to develop a local resource procurement scope and report back on status by July 2011.
