by Joe Mosca, CEO, Orange County Power Authority
There’s no doubt that Orange County is a top destination for travelers and Californians alike – beaches, theme parks, the outdoors, and great weather. But we are feeling the effects of climate change as acutely as the rest of the county. According to ClimateCheck, by 2050 Orange County could experience 25 days per year over 93.9 degrees, compared to 7 days per year in 1990.
Unfortunately, we are behind much of California in setting a firm strategy to tackle climate change. Few of our cities have designed and implemented climate action plans, and the ones that have lack urgency to combat worsening heat waves, rising sea levels, and wildfires.
While this challenge can seem overwhelming, it is far from insurmountable when we take individual and collective steps. I am proud to be a part of one of those critical steps for Orange County at Orange County Power Authority (OCPA).
OCPA is a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) that offers residential and commercial customers the choice of purchasing cleaner energy than the fossil fuel energy provided by legacy investor-owned utilities (IOUs). This is a critical component of California reaching its goal of net zero carbon pollution, and by offering this cleaner energy at competitive rates, OCPA is providing customers of all means the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and support a healthier, more sustainable future.
OCPA meets customers where they are, offering three plans that increasingly replace fossil fuels with renewable energy from solar, wind, biomass and geothermal. In our commitment to affordability, we partner with our local IOUs to honor low-income programs for eligible customers while ensuring that our Basic Choice Plan costs less than the IOU’s equivalent generation plan.
How OCPA is Greening the Grid
OCPA purchases the percentage of renewable energy in customers’ selected plans, and that energy gets integrated into the California electrical grid. Not only does this provide more green energy in the short term, but it also creates demand for more renewable energy over time, resulting in an even greener energy grid.
Since we started serving customers in 2022, we have purchased enough renewable energy on behalf of our customers to reduce CO2 emissions by more than two billion lbs. – the equivalent to removing 200,000 gas-powered vehicles off the road!
In 2023, OCPA purchased an aggregate portfolio of about 86% renewable energy on behalf of our customers, with approximately 81% coming from carbon-free resources. This significantly exceeded voluntary and mandatory state requirements for the purchase of renewable energy, as well as the state’s three largest IOUs (52% in 2022), and California’s Community Choice Aggregator average of 55%.
A Growing, Locally Run Movement
OCPA and Orange County share in this critical work. There are 14 million CCA customers in more than 200 communities throughout the state of California.
CCAs call themselves Community Choice Energy because the local community comes first. These communities choose cleaner energy not only to steer their own path toward lesser dependence on fossil fuels, but also to reinvest in themselves. CCAs are not-for-profit, meaning that the revenue we generate is put back into communities through green jobs, energy efficiency programs, and economic benefits.
OCPA and CCAs across the country save customers money and reduce energy consumption by incentivizing them to obtain smart home devices and energy efficient products. Tens of thousands of dollars in grants from CCAs support efforts by local non-profits, schools, and educators to inform communities about the benefits of renewable energy, with an emphasis on multilingual and underrepresented communities.
As an independent, locally controlled provider created and run by local leaders, OCPA like all CCAs can be nimble to design custom programs that meet a community’s specific needs. For businesses looking to meet Environmental, Social and Governance goals, OCPA can provide verification of the percentage of green energy that is purchased on their behalf.
Flipping the Switch to a Sustainable Future
Climate change may seem insurmountable, but there are steps we can take toward mitigating its effects. Community Choice Energy is a game-changing solution that every community member can participate in and make a difference in the fight.
And we are just getting started.
CCAs are a growing movement across California and the county. If you are interested in Community Choice Energy, connect with your local city council and start the conversation. The choice to take an accelerated path toward a cleaner, more sustainable future is ours.
Take that step and flip the switch to a cleaner, greener tomorrow and beyond.
About Orange County Power Authority
The Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is a not-for-profit public agency that offers clean power at competitive rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling reinvestment in local energy programs. OCPA currently serves over 175,000 residents and businesses across the cities of Buena Park, Fullerton, and Irvine. To learn more, visit www.ocpower.org.