In collaboration with our allies, Bay Localize's Local Clean Energy Campaign is working to build support for clean energy development in our region. With your support, we can help area cities reach their goal of supplying 50% renewable power to their residents by 2017,  a much higher goal than PG&E's. Our long term goal is for the Bay Area to meet all of our electricity needs with a balanced mix of energy efficiency improvements, conservation, and renewable energy by 2033.

Bay Localize co-founded the Local Clean Energy Alliance, a growing coalition of local nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders working for a clean energy future in the East Bay. As of August 2008, the alliance includes Bay Localize, Berkeley Oil Independence Task Force, Center for Safe Energy, Ecocity Builders, Ecology Center, Energy Preparedness, KyotoUSA, Malonga Ctr. for the Arts Tenants Assoc., Moss Beach Renewable Energy, Nomad Cafe, Pacific Environment, Oakland Community Action Network, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club, Urban Alliance for Sustainability, and Women's Energy Matters. More on the Local Clean Energy Alliance below.

Many options are available to East Bay cities for developing a clean energy system, with some already underway. The Local Clean Energy Alliance has identified the following portfolio of tools as holding the greatest promise for increasing local clean energy generation and energy efficiency in our region:

• Community Choice Energy
• Energy Efficiency Programs
• Feed-in Tariffs
• Sustainable Energy Financing Districts
• Sustainable Energy Redevelopment
• Community Purchasing Programs

Community Choice Energy could be the mechanism to implement all of these highly effective and mutually reinforcing programs in the most cost-efficient manner. Full details on each of these tools are found in our policy platform document: The 21st Century Energy Greenprint for the East Bay.

Under a California law passed in 2002 (AB117), cities and counties contract with a licensed energy service provider to purchase energy in bulk, build renewable energy generating facilities, and implement energy efficiency programs. This efficient public/private partnership makes it possible to get the greenest energy at the best rates. Each consumer is enrolled in the program unless they "opt out." In other words, consumers can choose to buy electricity through the community choice program or stay with the investor-owned utility (IOU). The city or county keeps prices competitive?and affordable for low-income residents? while investing in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency with full citizen oversight.

For communities with private utilities like PG&E, the electricity will still be delivered over the existing wires owned, operated and maintained by the utility. The customer will see no difference in service and will continue to receive a single bill for electricity issued by and paid to the utility. This not only enables communities to assume greater control over their energy systems, it also helps them meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals through renewable energy development.

Thus far, the cities of Santa Monica, San Francisco, and about a dozen others, along with Los Angeles County and the San Joaquin Valley Power Authority, have begun exploring the economic promise of Community Choice Energy. In the Bay Area, a collaborative effort is now underway among the cities of Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland. Initial analysis suggests that a joint arrangement among these cities to pool their purchasing power would enable them to achieve greener power with comparable electricity rates to those charged by Pacific, Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E).

From an environmental perspective, a Community Choice system holds unparalleled potential for reducing carbon emissions: a preliminary study by Navigant consulting suggests that these cities could shift as much as 50% of their electricity demand away from coal- and gas-fired power plants toward a mix of renewable energy sources by 2017. This amount represents 30% more than PG&E's renewable energy goals as mandated by state law.

To forward Community Choice Energy in the East Bay, Bay Localize has convened several educational and campaign meetings of regional nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and renewable energy businesses. The City of Berkeley's Energy Officer Neal DeSnoo and the City of Oakland's former Sustainability Coordinator Carol Misseldine and its Energy Engineer Scott Wentworth have presented on the potential benefits of such a system, and have offered to collaborate with our campaign to educate the public through a series of public workshops. A draft Community Choice Energy business plan for Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland is scheduled for public release later this year, after which public comment will be solicited.

The Local Clean Energy Alliance of the East Bay
A group of organizations, businesses, and citizens has formed to promote local production and procurement of "clean energy" ? energy derived from renewable, non-fossil, and non-nuclear sources. Local Clean Energy Alliance members come from groups like the Sierra Club, Pacific Environment, the Ecology Center, Kyoto USA, Rainforest Action Network, green energy companies, and the popular Nomad Cafe. Many are just concerned citizens. We're working in Oakland, Berkeley, and Emeryville to educate the public and encourage those city councils to adopt a clean, reliable, and affordable energy system for their residents.

The centerpiece of our agenda thus far has been forwarding a Community Choice energy system in the East Bay. San Francisco and Marin counties have already taken the lead by moving forward on their own community energy plans. Navigant, a consulting firm that cities are using to help them devise their plans, found that Marin will be able to achieve comparable rates as PG&E while achieving more than 50% renewable power within a few years. Key decisions on these plans will be made in 2008.

We feel a real momentum is building in the East Bay help push renewable energy and make it into a growth industry. With your help, we are confident that we can accomplish our goals.

Sign on to Our Platform! If you're a business, organization, or concerned individual wishing to pledge your support for our efforts, please sign on to our platform!

Our long-term goal is for the East Bay to meet 100% of its future energy needs with a balanced mix of renewable energy, improvements in efficiency, and conservation. Our interim goal is 50% renewable energy by 2017. Additional goals are to:

Get Involved! Our regular monthly meetings generally occur at the Central Historic Building (where Bay Localize is located) at 436 14th Street (near the intersection of Broadway and 14th). For meeting times and information, please visit the Local Clean Energy Alliance website or call the Bay Localize office at (510) 834-0420.

Read more about the campaign in "Earth Day Voices Bay Area: Bay Localize" at WorldChanging.com.

If you'd like to get involved in the campaign, please contact Dave Room.