The City of Goleta is closer to achieving its sustainability goals. On December 4, 2019, the Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) Policy Board unanimously approved inclusion of the City of Goleta, along with 10 other jurisdictions, as new members to be served by MBCP, a not-for-profit agency established by local communities to source carbon-free electricity. In addition, City of Goleta Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards was sworn in as a new member of the Policy Board, representing both the City of Goleta and the City of Carpinteria’s shared seat. The partnership will help move the City towards its 100% renewable electricity goal and make it easier and quicker for residents and businesses to adopt clean energy technologies while providing a competitive rate.

Customers within the newly approved jurisdictions are set to begin receiving electric generation service from MBCP in 2021. This is also when customers within the City of Goleta will gain access to MBCP’s local energy programs that reduce local greenhouse gas emissions and help solve energy resiliency issues; incentives will also be available for customers.

With this action, MBCP is now the largest– geographically speaking – of all nineteen Community Choice Energy (CCE) agencies operating in California. In 2018, the agency:

• had a cost-savings of $4.4M
• saved 300k metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (which is equivalent to taking over 65,000 cars off the road in a year)
• invested $1.25M in local energy programs
• secured $6M in EV Charging station funds

The CCE model puts energy purchasing and pricing options into the hands of local decision-makers and allows the community to determine what type of energy mix serves its needs. The day-to-day experience for the customer is the same; the difference being that the energy is purchased through the CCE. This model gives customers the opportunity to be a part of the effort to put more clean energy on the grid and less greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Customers have the right to opt out of the CCE program and continue to receive service from the incumbent utility.

Learn more about Monterey Bay Community Power here: www.mbcommunitypower.org, and stay tuned for more details. Sign up to receive news from the City of Goleta on Community Choice Energy and other sustainable topics here.

Photo: Selfie of City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte and Mayor Pro Tempore Kyle Richards in front of  Monterey Bay Community Power Policy Board wall of members.