North Bay Business Journal

Marin Clean Energy signs 31-megawatt supply deal

SAN RAFAEL — Marin Clean Energy today said it signed a power purchase agreement with enXco for 31 megawatts of electricity from new photovoltaic solar generators in California, including a 1-megawatt solar carport facility to be built in Marin County.

After one year, Marin Clean Energy at 9,000

MARIN – Marin Energy Authority, the agency providing a renewable energy alternative to PG&E’s current offerings through Marin Clean Energy, rolled out its 100 percent renewable offering, Deep Green, and celebrated its one-year anniversary in May.

Marin Energy to allow producers to sell it power

MARIN — Marin Energy Authority, the agency providing a renewable energy alternative to PG&E’s current offerings through Marin Clean Energy, has created a program that it hopes will help stimulate local renewable energy assets.

Marin to receive free charging stations for electric vehicles

MARIN — Eight cities in Marin County participating in Marin Clean Energy are going to receive free electric charging stations from Coulomb Technologies as a part of Coulomb’s $37 million ChargePoint America program. The announcement was made jointly today by Sustainable San Rafael, which initiated the request; San Rafael Community Development director Bob Brown; and Coulomb Technologies.

16 percent opt out of Marin Clean Energy, below agency forecast

NORTH BAY – One in six energy customers — or about 16 percent — in the first phase of the changeover from PG&E to the Marin Energy Authority have opted out of the local program.

PG&E says Prop. 16 needed to protect voters; not all agree

NORTH BAY — The PG&E-backed Proposition 16 “Right to Vote” initiative is generating widespread debate among public and business groups.

Impact Marin speakers’ presentations posted

To view the presentations given by speakers at the Business Journal’s 2010 Impact Marin Conference on March 11, go to the Resources page. The first panel addressed “The economy, your business and government fiscal crises,” and the second panel presented both sides of the issue “Is Marin Clean Energy right for Marin County?”

Marin Energy Authority files complaint against PG&E

SAN RAFAEL (Updated 10:30 a.m. today with PG&E comment) — The Marin Energy Authority filed a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission today claiming that PG&E Corp. is violating state law by “pouring millions of dollars into a special interest lobbying group that is aggressively seeking to kill a local program designed to provide residents and businesses with twice the renewable energy as the giant utility for the same price.”

Pros and cons of the Marin Clean Energy program

There’s been vigorous discussion in recent months over a plan to provide a significant portion of the energy demand for Marin County from renewable sources through a community choice aggregation program called Marin Clean Energy. The Business Journal invited both sides of the Marin Clean Energy debate to present their views here and in more detail at the Impact Marin 2010 conference on March 11.

Marin Clean Energy — pro: Program offers key green benefits

Marin Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation program that is designed to serve Marin’s priorities. It allows electric consumers to choose non-polluting renewable energy, lower Marin’s greenhouse gas emissions, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, foster development of local green power generation and clean technologies and protect Marin homes and businesses from uncertain fuel prices.

Marin Clean Energy — con: Plan carries far too many risks

The financial crisis is forcing Marin residents and businesses to spend less and work more. The regional unemployment rate has doubled in two years to 10 percent. Every day, another Marin family is losing their home to foreclosure.

Banking, business strategy, fiscal crisis, energy plan at March 11 event

MARIN COUNTY – The North Bay Business Journal’s 2010 Impact Marin conference from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 11 at the Embassy Suites is packed with information designed to help businesses navigate the economy and come to a decision on what is arguably the most important issue facing the area, Marin Clean Energy.

To attend, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com. Tickets are $39 per person or $390 for a table of 10 and include continental breakfast.

Marin event registration closes next week

MARIN COUNTY – The hotly debated issue of Community Choice Aggregation will be closely studied from two different perspectives at the Business Journal’s 2010 Impact Marin Conference on Thursday, March 11 from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Rafael. This will be a unique opportunity for the public to ask questions of both sides in a neutral forum. In addition, a panel discussion will look at the state of the local budget and its impact on businesses and examine practical strategies that can be effective in the current economic environment.

Registration closes next Friday, March 5. To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com. Tickets are $39 per person or $390 for a table of 10 and include continental breakfast.

Speakers to face off on Marin Clean Energy plan

MARIN COUNTY — Supporters and opponents of the controversial Marin Energy Authority Community Choice Aggregation, or CCA, proposal will face off at the fourth-annual Impact Marin conference sponsored by the Business Journal March 11.

Business Journal conference March 11 to focus on Marin issues

Impact Marin 2010 topics: * Navigating your company through 2010. * The ongoing state and local fiscal crisis. * And, the big issue: Marin Clean Energy: Right direction, wrong direction?

Green Business: Marin explores AB 811 program

Marin County residential and commercial property owners may soon get access to long-term financing for energy- and water-efficiency upgrades, similar to what has been available since this spring through the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program.