Sonoma Clean Power Celebrates 10 years
An Interview with Geof Syphers, CEO, Sonoma Clean Power
Made Local (ML): Tell us about Sonoma Clean Power, and why it began?
Geof Syphers: Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) launched in 2014 as California’s second Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), driven by the community’s demand for locally controlled, sustainable energy options coming out of the State’s energy crisis of the early 2000s. By 2014, we were operational in Sonoma County and service was expanded to Mendocino County in 2017. Today, SCP serves 87% of homes and businesses in Sonoma and Mendocino counties with cleaner, local renewable energy from resources like solar, wind, and geothermal. In practice, we source energy for electric generation and PG&E manages delivery service. Through renewable electricity generation, piloting programs targeted at helping our customers navigate the clean energy transition, and giving back to our communities, we are focused on combating the climate crisis.
ML: How has it evolved over the past 10 years?
GS: Over the past decade, SCP has evolved from an ambitious startup to a leading innovator in the clean energy space. Without relying on taxes, we have constructed 195 MW of renewables and passed more than $100 million in direct savings to customers.
On our first day in 2014, we launched EverGreen, California’s first, and still only, 100 percent locally generated energy service available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. EverGreen has been used to model California’s policy goals under SB 100 and is already compliant with the state’s requirements for 2046, 25 years ahead of schedule.
Today, nine of SCP’s member cities and counties have switched all or some of their facilities to EverGreen. We’ve also introduced dozens of innovative programs aimed at making electrification more accessible, from transportation to home technologies, in addition to supporting post-wildfire recovery. Our downtown Santa Rosa Customer Center is an educational hub on clean energy technologies, as well as a place for customers to speak to a knowledgeable staff member regarding understanding their bills, strategies to lower costs, and programs and incentives.
ML: What kind of advancements in power generation have you seen over the past decade and how do we in Sonoma County benefit?
GS: We’ve seen impressive developments in power generation, particularly in integrating renewable sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. SCP’s Geothermal Opportunity Zone (GeoZone) project will be a priority over the next several years, aiming to accelerate the development of local geothermal resources needed to meet the State’s clean energy goals and shut down polluting natural gas power plants. Geothermal power is critical here since it can be available whenever needed, meaning it can fill the evening and winter gaps that resources like solar cannot. Ultimately, the goal of the GeoZone is to build 600 MW of new, renewable baseload power, helping our region steer the State’s development in ways that protect our environment and quality of life and create meaningful jobs.
ML: How can CCAs help reverse climate change? How does Sonoma Clean Power in particular address this issue?
GS: Due to their structure, CCAs can procure a higher percentage of renewable energy than traditional utilities, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. SCP prioritizes local renewable energy sources, ensuring a cleaner energy mix for customers. Our localized approach allows us to invest directly in community-based projects that promote energy efficiency and sustainability, from incentivizing electric vehicle adoption to supporting energy-efficient home upgrades. Through education, outreach programs, and policy advocacy, we empower residents and businesses to advance towards a greener, more resilient future.
ML: What are Sonoma Clean Power’s future goals?
GS: Looking ahead, we remain committed to advancing our renewable energy portfolio and enhancing energy affordability and accessibility. Our immediate focus includes expanding geothermal capacity through the GeoZone initiative, advocating for grid reliability solutions, and continuing to innovate with customer-centric programs, like GridSavvy Rewards, which incentivizes energy consumption during peak demand periods. Our goal is to further strengthen community resilience to combat climate change while fostering economic growth and equity across Sonoma and Mendocino counties. As we celebrate 10 years of providing clean, affordable, locally sourced energy, we remain dedicated to advancing electrification and affordability, meeting our customers’ basic needs, and serving as a model for replication statewide and beyond.
Glossary:
What is a CCA?
CCA stands for Community Choice Aggregation. A CCA buys electricity for retail customers in certain areas. They can be city-run, county-run, or managed by third parties. CCAs don’t handle transmission or distribution.