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Larkspur mayor urges broad response to Marin Clean Energy grand jury findings
Summary
Larkspur's mayor, the city's representative on the Marin Clean Energy board, told council she supports the grand jury's findings that cite governance lapses and management failures at MCE and said she will draft an expanded city response endorsing stronger oversight measures.
Mayor Andre, Larkspur's representative to Marin Clean Energy (MCE), opened a council discussion July 1 by urging the council to broadly endorse a Marin County civil grand jury report that documents governance failures at the regional public power agency.
The grand jury’s review criticized MCE management and board practices, citing repeated delegations of board authority to management, failures to follow board‑mandated processes and late disclosure of multiyear energy contracts that were signed at market peaks in 2024. The report states those decisions contributed to approximately a $200 million increase in MCE’s energy costs, which continue to affect ratepayers.
Mayor Andre said she ‘‘fully support[s] the grand jury’s findings and will aim to implement many of their recommendations,’’ and proposed preparing a cover letter for the council’s formal response that endorses the report’s governance, transparency and oversight recommendations. Several council members urged an expanded response rather than the minimal comments requested by the grand jury process.
What the council discussed: Councilors asked whether the recent change in MCE leadership (the prior CEO has left and an acting CEO has engaged more with board members) alters the council’s posture. Mayor Andre said the acting CEO’s outreach and public workshops are a positive sign but that institutional reforms remain necessary to restore trustee oversight and ratepayer protections.
Next steps: Mayor Andre will draft an expanded response for council consideration before the September 16 response deadline. Council members said they want a concise, public‑facing summary that highlights the report’s central recommendations while avoiding commentary on individual board members’ qualifications.
Context: The grand jury singled out management’s evasive responses to board inquiries and public criticism, and raised questions about the use and environmental value of some renewable energy credit contracts. The report noted that MCE has expanded from a small local program into a 38‑member, multi‑county agency with nearly $800 million in revenues, increasing the importance of governance reforms.
Public comment: Residents at the meeting praised Mayor Andre for raising the issue and urged that the council’s response be substantive and public. The mayor and several councilors said they would work on a draft to present at a future meeting.
Ending: The council expects to see a draft response at a subsequent meeting and to weigh language that endorses the grand jury’s governance and transparency recommendations while steering clear of factual claims outside the city’s direct knowledge.
