WHY GREEN?

There are two main objectives to changing our electricity production systems:

The need to reduce our dependency on foreign energy sources (mostly oil).

A realization that global warming is real. Although this may be partially non-man made, our rapid use of fossil fuel energy sources has unquestionably rapidly increased the CO2 content of the atmosphere - and contributed to gobal warming.

The author of this web site encourages a greater use of "Green Electricity", but also promote a greater understanding of:

The Definition of Green Power, perhaps including defining other Colors of power that accomplish portions of the same objectives.

The Alternatives that might be used to move in that direction, including both the proposed CCA and alternative methods to get PG&E to move up their proposed schedules to do the same thing.

A greater understanding by the public as to how we currently generate, transmit, distribute and regulate the electricity.

The true costs of new Green facilities.

Construction and Operation costs of new technology systems are highly unpredictable over the long term, as evidenced by the differing opinions expressed by the CCA staff and the PG&E staff. Thus, rather than rely on absolute values presented by either it is best to understand, and evaluate, the underlying economic factors that contribute to why the CCA thinks that they can create new power systems more cheaply than PG&E could do the same, albeit at a slower schedule.

Recognition that a change of systems will not be free. There will be BUY OUT costs when changing to a new system before the existing systems (which have been built for us) have been fully amortized. (There will also be a BUY OUT cost for anyone who does join and later wants to Opt Out of the CCA since the new CCA will have made investments based on continuing membership of all of its members.)

Recognition that solar panels can substantially reduce the amount of electricty generated from conventional power plants. However, they do not operate at night, requiring an alternate source. Further, unless they are equipped with expensive battery energy storage systems, they will not assist with our summer peaking problems - which occurs as the sun becomes low enough in the sky when their power generation capability is rapidly decreasing. Thus, the Independent System Operator must require that the CCA not only provide alternative power for night time coverage but also require that proportional additional peaking, and backup, capacity be added. Since this added capacity is only required for solar panel users, it would only be fair if their user rate structure was increased to pay for them. Certainly, whether a CCA exists on not, those who do not use solar power should not have to pay the extra costs involved in providing that peaking or backup power to solar panel users.

That the Administrative staff of a new CCA will essentially duplicate the current PG&E staffing to provide the same functions, thusly increasing our societal costs.