Hermosa Beach moved closer to participation in a clean-energy purchasing program Tuesday night, but left open exactly what plan it would follow.
The City Council voted 3-1 to authorize $77,000 in funds to partner with the city of Lancaster to produce a feasibility study for the possible implementation of Community Choice Aggregation in Hermosa Beach. The city will also continue to pursue a free program offered by Los Angeles County.
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a program established by state law under which local governments band together to purchase electricity generated from fossil fuel alternatives. Such power is then delivered through existing grid services provided by local utilities like Southern California Edison.
California adopted the plan in 2002. In October 2014, the city of Lancaster became the third entity in the state to join on, following prior programs in Marin and Sonoma counties.
Lancaster’s model differs in the sense that it was confined to the area controlled by that city’s government, while county-based programs rely on a Joint Powers Authority agreement to administer rate-setting and purchases among a range of cities and unincorporated areas.
Most of the public comment at Tuesday night’s city council meeting urged the city to abandon its partnership with Lancaster.
Joe Galliani, a member of the South Bay Clean Power Working Group, argued that pursuing an aggregation plan based around an individual city defeated the spirit of CCA legislation.
“If everyone does their own program, there is no ‘aggregation,’” Galliani said. “It will balkanize the market for renewable energy.”
Others questioned whether the funds allocated for the Lancaster partnership were being wisely spent.
“Staying with the county is the better choice,” said resident Dency Nelson. “What this $77,000 is doing would be done for free by the county.”
Mayor Carolyn Petty expressed general skepticism about CCA. She noted that once such programs are formed in an area, state law automatically enrolls residents, meaning those less informed about the program could be unwillingly swept into higher power rates. Between the two options, however, she leaned toward the county program, noting that it spread risk of cost fluctuations among a larger pool.
Despite such concerns, the recent election of new council members Justin Massey and Jeff Duclos, both with strong backing from the city’s environmental activists, persuaded the council to continue pursuing both options.
“Even if most or all of the risks described tonight were true, I’d still be in favor,” said council member Michael DiVirgilio. “We don’t want to tie the hands of the future council.”
