More than 36 million Americans in six states now enjoy "community choice aggregation," which allows communities to choose their own power suppliers. I talk with MIT's David Hsu about how the policy got started, how it spread, & where it's going.
One note, if it hasn't been mentioned already. David left Rhode Island off the list of States. Most of the medium to large municipalities in the State have already authorized CCA's or are in the process of considering it. My town's program will hopefully launch later this year. I went through an exercise in naming the program for the City of Providence and can agree that there is no eloquent name that stands out. 'Community Choice' is the most important. IMO one of the great opportunities for CCAs is to help accelerate the electrification of thermal residential loads, providing more equity than a traditional utility EE program.
Appreciate this podcast very much. As a career energy economist starting with the 74 energy crisis, I've spent a lifetime as an expert witness before state PUCs and consultant to state consumer advocate offices trying to turn the ship around via IRP and EE/DER. I worked 20 years for TURN in CA implementing the state's mandate that EE be the first loading order resource via the $1B annual public goods charge. Talk about lack of innovation! Now here in New Mexico, folks are considering a possible public power campaign, with maybe CCA as a plan B. The state IOU, Public Service NM or PNM, is very primitive, still back in the 1980's "grow and build" paradigm via uncontrolled peaks and no load mgt. We very much need some DR here, thus one of the disadvantages of going the CCA-route; though PNM is behind on solar generation as well.
One note, if it hasn't been mentioned already. David left Rhode Island off the list of States. Most of the medium to large municipalities in the State have already authorized CCA's or are in the process of considering it. My town's program will hopefully launch later this year. I went through an exercise in naming the program for the City of Providence and can agree that there is no eloquent name that stands out. 'Community Choice' is the most important. IMO one of the great opportunities for CCAs is to help accelerate the electrification of thermal residential loads, providing more equity than a traditional utility EE program.
Appreciate this podcast very much. As a career energy economist starting with the 74 energy crisis, I've spent a lifetime as an expert witness before state PUCs and consultant to state consumer advocate offices trying to turn the ship around via IRP and EE/DER. I worked 20 years for TURN in CA implementing the state's mandate that EE be the first loading order resource via the $1B annual public goods charge. Talk about lack of innovation! Now here in New Mexico, folks are considering a possible public power campaign, with maybe CCA as a plan B. The state IOU, Public Service NM or PNM, is very primitive, still back in the 1980's "grow and build" paradigm via uncontrolled peaks and no load mgt. We very much need some DR here, thus one of the disadvantages of going the CCA-route; though PNM is behind on solar generation as well.
Cynthia Mitchell www.cynthiakmitchell.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-mitchell-284a9479/
I voted for my county's CCA, and am very happy with the result.
https://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/