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Blue Lake council signs support letter for Redwood Coast Energy Authority program
Summary
The Blue Lake City Council voted unanimously Feb. 10 to sign a letter of support for the Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s Northern Rural Energy Network business plan, which seeks CPUC funding to expand local energy‑efficiency rebates, home assessments and contractor partnerships in rural Humboldt County.
The Blue Lake City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 10 to sign a letter of support for the Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s (RCEA) Northern Rural Energy Network business plan, a program RCEA says will expand energy‑efficiency services in rural Northern California. Councilmember Napier moved to sign the letter; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
Steven Coleman, RCEA’s director of customer programs, said the REN launched in 2025 and asked the council for a signed letter to accompany RCEA’s March business‑plan submission to the California Public Utilities Commission. "I am the director of customer programs at Redwood Coast Energy Authority, and I'm here to talk about . . . the Northern Rural Energy Network and to request a letter of support from the Blue Lake City Council," Coleman told the council. He described current offerings including rebates for appliances and heat pumps, free home energy kits and no‑cost home energy assessments.
Coleman said the program has, to date, distributed more than 600 energy‑efficiency kits and completed 87 home energy assessments, and that the REN’s funding comes from the CPUC public purpose program (PPP). He told council members the program currently relies on state utility‑collected funds and that RCEA had hoped to leverage federal dollars but that federal support is not part of this business plan. Coleman also outlined planned contractor partnership and commercial programs for small businesses and public entities.
Council members asked about eligibility and implementation. Coleman said no income qualification is required for basic rebates, though the program is exploring higher rebate levels for income‑qualified households; renters may participate but major installations require landlord permission. The council also discussed whether RCEA needed signed letters from elected officials; Coleman said several state elected offices had agreed to sign on as well.
Following the presentation, Councilmember Napier made a motion that the council sign RCEA’s requested support letter; the motion carried without recorded opposition. Coleman said staff would provide the signed letter after the vote.
