This summer, Concord, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, San Ramon, and unincorporated Contra Costa County all voted to join MCE, California's first Community Choice Energy program. Starting in Spring 2018, residents and businesses in these communities will have a cleaner energy choice. Customers' electric service will be automatically enrolled in the "Light Green" program, providing 50% renewable energy at rates that are competitive with PG&E's more fossil-fuel-intensive energy.
Customers will be able to choose to cut their carbon footprint from electricity to zero by opting up to 100% non-polluting wind and solar power produced in California. For most residential customers, the 100% renewable "Deep Green" program costs about $4 more per month.
On top of a cleaner electricity choice, Contra Costa energy customers will also benefit from new incentives to catalyze local sustainable development (such as renewable energy projects like solar arrays).
Local decision-making is central to MCE's mission and the Community Choice Energy model. To help MCE inform the public about these new options and opportunities, and to provide feedback on outreach strategies, you are invited to join MCE's Community Leader Advisory Groups (CLAGs). Once the dates are finalized, you will receive an email with meeting locations and dates. Please note: space may be limited due to the time, location, and other meeting logistics. Public feedback is always welcome at info@mceCleanEnergy.org. You can also give feedback on MCE's electricity service in this online questionnaire.
MCE electricity service to new Contra Costa customers will begin in the spring of 2018, but MCE is already delivering benefits to the new member communities, including:
- Signing a multi-trade project labor agreement for medium- and large-scale solar projects in Contra Costa, to be union-built and to create local jobs.
- Collaborating with Future Build in Pittsburg to establish MCE’s first local call center and train local workers in call center service, creating new jobs and growing the local economy.
- Working with the City of Concord to locate MCE’s East Bay office in the downtown area, adding economic and job benefits.
- Constructing a 49-acre solar project, using local labor and local businesses in Richmond, which will be the largest public solar array in the Bay Area. Over 340 jobs have been created and many are now filled by RichmondBUILD graduates and local businesses.
Future MCE customers can learn more about their energy options on the new Contra Costa-specific webpage: www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-contra-costa/.
Photo: MCE's Deputy General Counsel, Shalini Swaroop, jumps for solar joy at MCE's newest local renewable energy project, the Novato Cooley Quarry. Photo courtesy @mcecleanenergy on Instagram.