San Anselmo, Belvedere the latest to sign on with clean energy plan

Friday, Nov 14, 2008

Marin municipalities appear eager to jump on the ""clean energy"" bandwagon.

By unanimous votes, the town councils of San Anselmo and Belvedere on Monday became the latest to approve ordinances supporting a new joint powers authority that would allow residents and businesses to purchase ""green"" electricity from a source other than Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

Although a second vote is necessary before the ordinances are officially adopted, councils rarely reverse course after a unanimous first reading. Tiburon, Fairfax and the county of Marin all previously voted on first reading to join the authority.

Governing bodies throughout Marin are deciding whether to create an alternative energy program that would maximize the use of sources such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and small hydroelectric plants. PG&E provides 80 percent of its power from nonrenewable sources such as larger hydroelectric operations, coal, nuclear and natural gas.

In San Anselmo Monday night, Councilman Peter Breen endorsed the move by saying, ""If we want to be in the game, we have to sit at the table.""

By supporting Marin Clean Energy, San Anselmo - like other civic bodies - is not committing to any financial or legal agreements. It is only a vote to move forward and seek a consolidated effort.

""Its great that this provides a choice, and its great that there isnt any immediate financial risk,"" said Councilman Ford Greene.

After the vote, several in the audience cheered and

clapped, prompting Councilwoman Barbara Thornton to give a thumbs-up sign to those who urged the council to make a move to combat global warming.

The Belvedere council has thoroughly studied the proposal and Mondays unanimous endorsement was ""an easy decision,"" Belvedere Councilman John Telischak said Tuesday.

""It was not at all a contentious issue,"" Telischak said, noting there are various ""offramps and opt-out provisions"" that offer cities opportunities to reassess their participation, if desired.

There is only one other joint powers agreement in California that is further along in the quest for renewable energy choice. A group of 12 jurisdictions in the Central Valley created the San Joaquin Valley Power Authority, which received certification by the California Public Utilities Commission earlier this year.

""There is an advantage to getting in early because others will be vying for green energy sources down the line,"" Thornton said.

Source: Marin Independent