Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is revolutionizing the way we think about powering our homes and businesses. Formed in 2017 by Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties, 3CE is a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program that buys and resells carbon-free electricity to its customers. In just two years, 3CE expanded its reach to include San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, effectively doubling the number of customers it serves.
One of the main goals of 3CE is to combat climate change by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The organization has made significant progress in this area, funding the reduction of 323,000 million tons of CO2 through power purchase agreements and 3,500 million tons of CO2 through customer programs.
3CE also invests in programs to incentivize the adoption of cleaner energy technologies. These programs include initiatives such as “Electrify My Ride” and the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers. In fact, 3CE has funded 700 electric vehicles and school buses, 600 EV chargers, and 126 heat pumps for home heating and cooling.
Not only is 3CE leading the way in fighting climate change, but it is also offering competitive rates compared to traditional utility providers like PG&E. Residential customers can enjoy rates that are 16% lower than PG&E, while small and medium-sized commercial customers benefit from rates that are 17% and 22% lower, respectively.
Despite upcoming rate increases for both 3CE and PG&E, the gap between their pricing will still favor 3CE. These rate hikes are a result of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) mandating a resource adequacy requirement for all load serving entities, which includes both 3CE and PG&E. While these increases may be unfortunate, they are necessary to ensure that the state has enough electrical power on high-demand days.
3CE is investing in renewable, fossil-free energy sources to power the future. The Casa Diablo Geothermal plant in Mammoth Lakes, California, is a prime example of this commitment. With its grand opening in June, this geothermal plant is the first of its kind to come online in California in the past 20 years.
By choosing 3CE as their electric service provider, customers are not only getting access to clean energy at competitive rates, but they are also making a tangible contribution to the fight against climate change. With 3CE leading the way, the future of energy in the Central Coast is looking cleaner and greener.
Sources:
– Monterey Bay Community Power: https://www.mbcommunitypower.org/
– Central Coast Community Energy: https://3cenergy.org/
– BenitoLink: https://benitolink.com/central-coast-community-energy-sets-new-electrical-rates/