A power-purchasing initiative backed by local climate activists received an important state approval today.
The State Public Service Commission approved Joule Assets’ plan to administer a community choice aggregation program for the Village of Brockport, the Village of Lima, the Town of Geneva, and three other communities across the state, if those local governments decide to move forward.
Community choice aggregation allows local governments to cooperatively negotiate fixed-rate energy supply contracts for their residents and smaller businesses. It can also serve as a mechanism for local governments to secure cost-effective renewable energy supplies for their residents and businesses, in turn supporting local renewables projects. Typically, a local government enlists an administrator like Joule to handle the logistics and help solicit energy contract bids.
Joule’s plan is favored by local climate activists because it incorporates purchasing from local renewable projects — particularly shared solar arrays — directly into its program.
Locally, Joule will work with the Rochester People’s Climate Coalition, which will serve as the Rochester-organizer. RPCC will do outreach, help people learn about CCA, and will be responsible for things such as customer support. The approval allows Joule and the climate coalition to start gathering data about energy use in the local communities, which they’ll use to develop the program.
Coalition members have said they hope other local governments sign on with Joule.
This article appears in Mar 14-20, 2018.
Why do we need Albany’s approval for this? If they have that tight of a grip around our throats, no wonder we have such a terrible economy
If we are actually going to reduce greenhouse gas emission on a scale and time frame that will matter, we need programs like Community choice aggregation (CCA) that actually focuses on renewable energy and lower costs for all.
CCA projects that offer lower costs for fossil fuel options in a time of Climate Change are not only a bad idea, theyre immoral.
J: Since the delivery of power to consumers is a natural monopoly, by law it is classed as a public utility and hence is subject to PUC oversight. If you see a government hand reaching toward your throat, it is to pry off the grasp of a greedy industry.