Title
Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute and send a letter to the Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) Project Team requesting that MBCP conduct a public opinion survey of Monterey County residents regarding the Monterey Bay Community Power proposal.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute and send a letter to the Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) Project Team requesting that MBCP conduct a public opinion survey of Monterey County residents regarding the Monterey Bay Community Power proposal.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) project is a Community Choice Energy (CCE) initiative that proposes the formation of a tri-county Joint Powers Authority (JPA) between the 21 jurisdictions within the tri-county Monterey Bay region. This investigation into MBCP has been ongoing since 2013. The aim of the project is to form a JPA to purchase electrical power for distribution in the region.
As part of a grant awarded to the MBCP Project Team, the MBCP Community Outreach Plan was published in April 2016. This plan was developed by Miller Maxfield, Inc., a communications firm. The Community Outreach Plan outlines a detailed strategy to educate local government officials, staff, key community stakeholders, as well as build awareness throughout the communities of Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, and San Benito County. Originally, funding was proposed to be allocated for opinion polling to be deployed throughout the tri-county area. Because of the success and low opt-out rates during the startup phases of other CCEs, such as Sonoma Clean Power, this funding for opinion polling was then dedicated to other community outreach and education activities.
To date, there have been numerous informational community meetings, study sessions, and workshops aimed at local government staff and community stakeholders, where the public was in...
Click here for full text