In the last election, voters in Boulder, Colorado passed a measure giving the city permission to break ties with the local corporate utility and create a municipal electric utility that would aggressively pursue the fight against climate change. The progressive community was not satisfied with the green initiatives of Xcel Energy, the existing utility.
In five states – Massachusetts, Ohio, California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island – laws permit Community Choice Aggregations, or CCAs. These systems allow cities and counties to aggregate the buying power of individual customers in order to secure alternative energy supplies. These de facto public utilities now serve nearly one million Americans.
The first CCAs were created in Massachusetts and Ohio in the late 1990s, with the goal of lowering energy rates by giving communities more control over their energy sources. In California, CCAs grew out of a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop renewable energy. In places like Marin County, CCAs let customers choose how green their power will be: either “Light Green’ (for 50% renewable) or “Deep Green” (for 100% renewable).
In the states where CCA laws have passed, more and more communities are forming CCAs to control their energy mix and pursue more substantial renewable portfolio standards. Existing utilities have fought the expansion of CCAs, but it is taking place despite their efforts.
Community by community, people are pushing for cleaner energy whether their utility companies are with the program or not.
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Web Links
Boulder, Colo., votes for energy independence — from its utility
Local Power: It’s Not Just Green. It’s Local.
Photo, taken on April 23, 2008, courtesy of Nick Cross/Gurit Composites via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.