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MONTEREY BAY COMMUNITY POWER FEASIBILITY STUDY VALIDATES CREATION OF LOCAL, CLEAN-SOURCE POWER AGENCY


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Regional Plan Would Provide Consumer Choice, Increase Renewable Energy and Stimulate the Local Economy

SANTA CRUZ, CA — May 3, 2016 — Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP), a regional project among local government agencies to provide electricity to residents and businesses throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties, announced today the completion of a feasibility study that validates the suitability of creating a new regional power agency which would provide renewable energy and create green jobs.
Empowered by California’s 2002 Community Choice Energy (CCE) law AB 117, a public committee comprised of representatives from Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties has determined that a new agency would enable as many as 285,000 residential and business customers to choose clean-source power at a cost equivalent to PG&E, while retaining PG&E’s role in maintaining power lines and providing customer service. The new agency will be financially self-sustaining and would come at no cost to local government.
Building on successful Community Choice Energy programs in Sonoma and Marin Counties, the Monterey Bay Community Power plan provides local choice on energy generation, fosters more renewable energy, and stimulates economic vitality — all while utilizing existing PG&E infrastructure and service. When formed as early as Fall 2016, an agency that includes the three counties and their 18 cities could represent the largest CCE agency in California.
After three years of planning, a Project Development Advisory Committee has completed a feasibility study (http://www.montereybaycca.org/kris/SectionIV-TechStudyExecSummaryFINALD.pdf) on the viability of creating a CCE agency. Key findings include the possibility of:
  • Increasing the local power portfolio of renewables by more than twice what is now offered by PG&E and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by purchasing energy that is at least 70% GHG free.
  • Developing a long-term strategic goal of 100% regional energy self-sufficiency by building out local renewable generation projects, using revenue surplus that would otherwise have gone to PG&E shareholders.
  • Creating numerous construction jobs for renewable energy build-out, many permanent operations and maintenance jobs, and nearly $1.4 billion in total economic output.
  • Offering complementary programs that serve community interests such as net metering, comprehensive energy efficiency retrofits, community solar, electric vehicle charging, and support for local training programs.
“In keeping with our strong environmental values, we have in Monterey Bay Community Power the most meaningful chance in a generation to impact climate change,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson, whose office organized the CCE exploration. “The idea that we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing renewable energy at the same rates customers are currently paying for PG&E is game-changing.”
“The job creation potential represented by Monterey Bay Community Power is exciting,” said San Benito County Supervisor Jerry Muenzer. “The money saved by transitioning to a locally-controlled model will allow us to build and sustain solar and other renewable energy projects right here in our own community.”
The public is encouraged to join elected officials and staff in attending community study sessions scheduled in each of the three counties. The sessions will provide an opportunity to meet experts, learn how CCE works, review goals and recommendations for the project, hear additional results of the technical study, and examine legal and financing aspects of CCE.
STUDY SESSIONS PLANNED
  • Monterey County: May 24: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, Salinas.
  • Santa Cruz County: June 9: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 701 Ocean Street, Room 500, Santa Cruz.
  • San Benito County: June 9: 3-5:30 p.m., San Benito County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 481 4th Street, 1st Floor, Hollister.
“The study sessions provide a great opportunity to get engaged in a project that will improve accountability and transparency in the delivery of our electricity,” said Salinas City Councilmember Steve McShane. “From the coastline to the valleys, Monterey Bay Community Power has the potential to increase regional resilience by determining the mix of energy available to ratepayers.”
ABOUT MONTEREY BAY COMMUNITY POWER
 
Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) is a regional project among local government agencies to provide electricity to residents and businesses throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties through the Community Choice Energy (CCE) model. Established in 2002 by a state law, AB 117, CCE enables communities to choose clean-source power at a cost equivalent to PG&E while retaining PG&E’s role in maintaining power lines and providing customer service. The CCE model helps ensure local economic vitality because money from rates paid by local customers stays local, which helps to fund renewable energy projects, create jobs and stimulate the economy. For more information, visit www.mbcommunitypower.org or www.facebook.com/montereybaycommunitypower.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Bill Maxfield

RTC Transportation Plan Endorsed by City Councils in Santa Cruz and Watsonville

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CITY COUNCILS JOIN ENVIRONMENTAL, BUSINESS AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF 30-YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN 

SANTA CRUZ – APRIL 27, 2016 – The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission today announced that its 30-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TRIP) was endorsed by the Santa Cruz and Watsonville City Councils in near-unanimous votes taken simultaneously on Tuesday evening.

In voting to support the TRIP, the city councils join the Capitola City Council and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, as well as a broad range of local organizations that have endorsed the plan, some of which include:

  • United Way/Go For Health
  • Dominican Hospital/Dignity Health
  • Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)
  • Plantronics
  • Monterey Bay Labor Council
  • Visit Santa Cruz County (formerly the Conference & Visitors Council)
  • Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Ecology Action
  • Friends of the Rail Trail
  • Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County
  • Santa Cruz County Business Council

For a list of additional supporters, visit www.sccrtc.org/move.

The 2016 Transportation Improvement Plan will benefit all residents, as well as visitors, through a balanced mix of projects across transportation modes and geographic areas of Santa Cruz County. The plan will provide traffic congestion relief; support and expand active transportation options; protect transportation for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities; preserve critical existing infrastructure; reduce reliance on Sacramento and Washington for transportation funds; create jobs; and stimulate economic vitality. The plan would be supported through a half-cent sales tax, should voters approve a proposed ballot measure in November 2016.

“The more people learn about the Transportation Improvement Plan, the more they understand that it is a thoughtful, well balanced approach to planning for our future in Santa Cruz County,” said George Dondero, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. “The 30- year plan benefits our community in many ways including: helping meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, preventing cuts to Metro services for those most in need, funding street improvements and repairs in neighborhoods and rural areas, investing in new projects for cyclists and pedestrians, relieving Highway 1 congestion for South County commuters, continuing expansion of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail now underway, funding an open public process to evaluate the potential for future rail transit service, building the Highway 17 wildlife under crossing and much more.

Summary of Key Benefits:

  • Local street repair: Improved neighborhoods and increased safety for cyclists and pedestrians by repairing local streets and roads countywide.
  •  New bridges for cyclists and pedestrians: Cyclist- and pedestrian-only bridges to be built over Highway 1 at Chanticleer St. and Mar Vista Dr.
  •  Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail: Continued expansion of the Coastal Rail Trail spine of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail for cyclists and pedestrians along the rail corridor in Watsonville, Santa Cruz and Capitola, and connecting to Monterey County.
  •  Investigation of rail transit as a future option: Holding open the option of transit in the future by maintaining the tracks in the coastal rail corridor and researching future technologies through an open public process; the plan does not include funding for any new commuter or visitor rail service.
  •  Improvements to Highways 1, 9 and 17:
  1. HWY1: Traffic relief for South County and Mid-County commuters, small businesses, transit buses and first responders through the addition of auxiliary lanes.
  2. HWY17: Protection for wildlife by building an under crossing at Laurel Curve and funding the Safe-on-17 Freeway Service Patrol.
  3. HWY9: Safety improvements in the San Lorenzo Valley.
  •  Safety for kids: New funding for Safe Routes to Schools.
  •  Help for seniors, veterans and residents with disabilities: Sustain an effective paratransit system.The 2016 Transportation Improvement Plan (TRIP) was approved by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) in December 2015. A decision about placing the TRIP on the November 2016 ballot is expected to be made by the RTC in June 2016. For more information about the TRIP, visit www.sccrtc.org/move or www.facebook.com/sccrtc.

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    About the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission: The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is responsible for delivering a full range of safe, convenient, reliable, and efficient transportation choices for the community. With a focus on long‐term sustainability, the RTC plans, funds, and implements transportation projects and services to meet the needs of all in the county.

New Intern At SCCBC, Courtesy of MBInterns.org

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The Santa Cruz County Business Council would like to welcome our new administrative assistant intern Katerina Schreck. Currently Katerina is a 4th year student at UC Santa Cruz double majoring in Politics and Legal Studies. Previously, Ms. Schreck was a legal research intern for Rising International, a nonprofit organization focused on ending world poverty as well as an assistant for a criminal defense attorney in Oakland, California. In 2012 Ms. Schreck received her Associate in Science, Biology and in 2013 her Associate in Science, Natural Sciences from Diablo Valley College (DVC). During her tenure at Diablo Valley College she served as the President of the Associated Students of Diablo Valley College, representing over 23,000 undergraduate students.

What makes Katerina even more special is that she was recruited through mbinterns.org, the brand new regional internship website that was created by a coalition of community partners, including the Santa Cruz County Business Council, the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. Cabrillo College, and UC Santa Cruz. Within days of the website’s launch the SCCBC received many qualified and exceptional resumes from local college students, but in the end Katerina proved to be the most qualified and capable person for the job.

Learn more about mbinterns.org here.

 

SCCBC Sponsors Cruz Cares: A Pitch Contest for Social Change

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The Santa Cruz County Business Council is proud to sponsor the second annual Cruz Cares: A Pitch Contest for Social Change, which challenges 6 local social or environmentally focused startups and/or nonprofits to pitch their new ideas for cash and prizes.

When/Where/Who:

April 6, 2016
​Cruz Cares: Pitch Contest for Social Ventures
6:00 – 9:00pm
Del Mar Theater
 
Pitch Contestants Announced!
The following startups have been selected for Round 2 of the Cruz Cares selection process. 
 
Pitch time
There will also be a moderated panel to discuss the importance of using innovative methods to make real and lasting impact for our communities and the world, and Santa Cruz’s role in making that happen. SCCBC’s own Policy Analyst Robert Singleton will serve as the moderator.
Social Good, Technology, Community (1)

Congratulations to Watsonville Coast Produce

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Congratulations to Business Council member Watsonville Coast Produce on winning $100,000 to makeover their warehouse!

“Erica Manfre, Watsonville Coast Produce sales and marketing manager, said he’s glad the cat is out of the bag.

Months ago, she applied for the contest, which was inspired by TV show surprise home makeovers. As part of contest rules, both the application and the news of the win were kept confidential from all but a few employees.”

To read more, click here.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL ENDORSES TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT PLAN

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The Santa Cruz County Business Council has voted to formally endorse the half cent transportation sales tax measure being considered by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.

February 5th (Santa Cruz, CA) The Santa Cruz County Business Council (SCCBC) took a formal vote to endorse the expenditure plan that was adopted by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) for a countywide half cent sales tax measure that would be used to fund local transportation projects. The expenditure (investment) plan outlines five core project areas: Neighborhood Projects, Highway Corridors, Mobility Access, Rail Corridor, and Coastal Rail Trail. With the formal endorsement of the spending plan the SCCBC joins a growing number of organizations in the County who have come out in support of the measure.

“Our members recognize the dire need for additional transportation funds in the County”, says Sid Slatter, President of Slatter Construction and Chair of the SCCBC. “Not only is our current transportation system making it harder to move goods and services around, it severely impacts the quality of life for our employees and their families in Santa Cruz County.”

With state and federal revenues available for transportation projects in Santa Cruz County diminishing and unreliable, the RTC adopted a funding strategy as part of their Regional Transportation Plan to meet more of the region’s transportation needs. Included in the adopted plan is the pursuit of a local funding mechanisms that establishes Santa Cruz County as a “self help” county where local, independent, secure revenue is used for local projects and programs and cannot be taken by the state. These local funds can also be used to leverage additional state and federal funding, when available. Since approval of the long range transportation plan in June 2014, the RTC has taken steps to place a half cent sales tax transportation ballot measure on the November 2016 presidential ballot. A super (2/3) majority of voters in Santa Cruz County must approve the transportation measure.

The Santa Cruz County Business Council has taken an active role in helping to move a potential measure toward the ballot. SCCBC members contributed funds for polling of likely voters last May, provided extensive input to RTC staff and board members, and have spoken in favor of the measure at public meetings. SCCBC members and staff have also engaged in critical discussions with other organizations likely to support the measure, including Friends of the Rail Trail, Ecology Action, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, and the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce; in an effort to build a broad coalition of business and environmental interests.

“It comes down to a matter of fairness”, says SCCBC Executive Director Casey Beyer. “The lower income residents, senior citizens, and the disabled rely on a more efficient transportation network and all residents of the county will benefit from this investment plan.” Mr. Beyer further states the measure is essential to the future of transportation in Santa Cruz, telling members that even though you favor one spending option over others, the whole package gives the county the best opportunity to fund our transportation needs into the future.

Transportation Sales Tax Measure Draft Expenditure Plan Dec. 2015

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The following are the most recently adopted spending priorities by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which is pursuing a half-cent sales tax measure in 2016. The sales tax measure is expected to generate close to $450 million over 30 years before it sunsets automatically. Currently Sana Cruz County is one of only 10 Counties in California that does not have a similar measure in place. These so called “self-help” Counties have both more local money to spend, and are also much more competitive in seeking additional state and federal transportation funding.

  • Neighborhood Projects 30% (~$135 Million) – Funding to cities and county for their high priority eligible projects such as repair and maintenance of local streets and roads; school traffic safety and safe routes to school; bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and other safety improvement projects. Also included are Highway 9 projects in the San Lorenzo Valley; and the Highway 17 Wildlife Undercrossing to improve safety for wildlife and motorists.
  • Highway Corridors 25% (~$112.5 Million) – Funding for the three auxiliary lane projects on Highway 1 including 41st Ave to Soquel Dr, Bay/Porter to Park Ave, and Park Ave to State Park; two bicycle/pedestrian highway crossings; transportation systems management programs to inform travelers of real-time traffic conditions and encourage carpool/vanpooling; and Safe on 17 programs and Freeway Service Patrol to help reduce congestion and collisions.
  • Mobility Access 16% (~$72 Million) – Funding primarily for specialized transportation services to meet the needs of the area’s aging and disabled populations including Santa Cruz METRO’s paratransit and Community Bridges transportation service.
  • Coastal Rail Trail 15% (~$67.5 Million)– Funding to construct, operate and maintain sections of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail.
  • Rail Corridor 14% (~$63 Million) – Funding to maintain the track and bridge infrastructure; environmental analysis of passenger rail transit options; Watsonville/Pajaro Valley Train Station connection with the Capital Corridor and Coast Daylight train services; improvement, upgrade and installation of signals at railroad crossings; and underground conduit and/or pipes to facilitate utilities including Internet service.
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