Community Choice Aggregation in a Nutshell.

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a law that allows communities to take over the role of purchasing electricity for its residents and businesses. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously decided in 2004 to design a bold and pragmatic vision that meets our energy needs here in San Francisco. This plan will provide cheaper, cleaner and more reliable power by implementing rapid development of renewable energy and conservation that will meet 51% of the city's energy needs. The final Board vote on the implementation plan is expected in May 2007. CCA means stable, locally-generated, pollution-free energy at rates that meet or beat your current electricity bill. Implementing this law will triple our green power capacity and launch the largest green power project for a single city in the world. So what do you say San Francisco...What is your choice?

10 Reasons why SF needs Community Choice Aggregation:

Put San Francisco At the Forefront of Climate Solutions. In terms of greenhouse gas reductions in a single electricity contract, CCA takes the most significant step ever taken towards mitigating climate change. San Francisco’s current power causes 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the SF airshed, and CCA eliminates half of this. Additional policies – especially relating to electric cars and green building – are also needed. But by all criteria, CCA is a dramatic step towards a comprehensive climate solution. Cities around the country are watching San Francisco. If we show them that we can do this, the rest of the state and country will follow.

Invest in an Equitable, Just & Local Green Economy. The necessary construction for massive local renewable electricity generation and conservation facilities in San Francisco will provide new healthy jobs. The new green energy generation provides state regulators with a legally acceptable substitute for old fossil fuel plants that are endangering the health of low-income communities. Also, CCA will free energy conservation monies from PG&E’s grip and give them to publicly accountable agencies that will provide low-income residents with weatherization and other energy-saving services.

Prove That Nuclear is Not Necessary. PG&E argues that the state depends on the 23% nuclear energy that is created by PG&E’s Diablo Canyon and San Onofrio nuclear plants, and that an expansion of nuclear energy is the only way to address climate change. CCA proves that cities can create 40-50% of their energy by building renewable energy infrastructure. San Francisco’s CCA will create 1/6 of the energy capacity created by Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. This proves that if a handful of cities switch to CCA, it is completely unnecessary to support costly nuclear energy and its highly toxic waste.

No Extra Cost to Consumers. CCA requires all energy service providers who are bidding for the community’s contract to meet or beat PG&E’s rates. Some expect that electricity bills will be lowered over the long term and even possibly over the short term. At the very least, we will move our city to 51% clean, green energy, and our utility bills will be spared the rollercoaster ride!

Build the World’s Largest Solar PV System in Our Backyard. CCA will create the world’s largest solar photovoltaic system and also a large diversified, municipally-owned mix of renewable energy generators. The largest PV installations are currently 10 megawatt plants in Sacramento and Germany. SF’s CCA will put a 31 megawatt solar PV system within the first few years.

Reliable & Guaranteed Service. CCA establishes stable and reasonable rates, unlike PG&E’s rates that are continuously changing. CCA places the risks of the energy market on the new Energy Service Provider (ESP), as opposed to the City, County and ratepayers of San Francisco. To ensure reliable and consistent delivery, PG&E’s electricity will continue to feed the electrical grid until the new companies increase their capacity to meet the CCA standards and thereby replace the contracts set with PG&E. Additionally, in an earthquake-prone area, it is critical to have decentralized, city-owned energy generation we can count on to help us. This is true emergency preparedness.

Triple Our Green Energy. San Francisco’s CCA creates a 51% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 2017, this is a physical half-replacement of the community's power system. Compared to the 20% RPS which adds eight percent to the current 12% level statewide, San Francisco’s CCA adds 43% to the current 12% statewide level. This means we’re tripling the amount of green energy.

Preparing for Peak Oil. World oil production is nearing its point of maximum production. “Peak Oil” will enter a prolonged period of irreversible decline leading to ever-increasing prices. The United States has only 2 percent of the world's oil reserves yet consumes 25 percent of the world's oil. North American production of natural gas has already peaked, and 46% of California’s electricity supply is generated from natural gas. By moving toward local renewable energy systems and away from imported and limited oil and gas, CCA is preparing to provide for our energy needs in the face of declining oil.

Empower Your Local Community. CCA provides communities with a viable option for making substantive infrastructure decisions. It can appeal across the political spectrum, both in Republican and Democratic regions, because it addresses the problem of inadequate community input and determination for such a vital need - energy. Taking a stand for CCA is taking a stand against the consolidated federal government and closed-door corporate boardrooms who are currently disempowering our ability for local self-determination.

Investing In Security. CCA invests in local renewable energy sources that replace the need for importing liquid natural gas (LNG). LNG typically comes from places of great poverty and militaristic tension. This so-called ‘oil curse’ is largely caused by the pressures of selling energy to foreign corporations. Investing in CCA means divesting from oil wars.