News Room

PG&E backs measure to tighten grip on cities, San Francisco Chronicle, August 18, 2009
"For years, cities dissatisfied with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. have tried to break away from the utility company, either by joining another or going into the power business for themselves...." Read More.

Upfront: clean energy vs. dirty deeds, Pacific Sun, August 6, 2009
"While the Marin Energy Authority assesses bids from a dozen companies to provide green energy and compete with Pacific Gas and Electric, the utility company has launched a campaign to kill public power plans across California. ...." Read More.

A dozen companies submit bids to Marin Energy Authority, Contra Costa Times, July 24, 2009
"A dozen companies have submitted bids to the Marin Energy Authority to supply electricity and compete with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to boost usage of renewable energy in the county...." Read More.

Marin Energy Authority announces 12 bid submissions from energy service providers, Marin Energy Authority, July 22, 2009
"The Marin Energy Authority (MEA) is pleased to announce that twelve bids were submitted by the deadline of July 20th in response to its Request For Proposals released in May...." Read More.

Energy Authority says the sun will come out tomorrow, Pacific Sun, April 17, 2009
"The economic crunch has pulled the plug on many alternative-energy plans, but at least one form of solar delivery is thriving..." Read More.

Upfront: Clean energy powers ahead, Pacific Sun, December 11, 2008
"The Marin Energy Authority is a done deal. But proponents of forming a county environmental energy agency continue their call for a march toward a clean-energy future in Marin... " Read More.

San Rafael OKs 'clean energy' authority, Marin Independent Journal, December 2, 2008
"The San Rafael City Council this week endorsed a new joint powers authority that would allow residents and businesses to purdchase "green" electricity from a source other than Pacific Gas and Electric Co... " Read More.

City joins growing 'green' coalition, Marin Independent Journal, December 2, 2008
"The Sausalito City Council has joined several other Marin cities and the county of Marin in support of a new joint powers authority that would allow residents and businesses to purchase 'green' electricity... " Read More.

Two towns join 'clean energy' plan, formally establishing joint powers authority, Marin Independent Journal, November 20, 2008
"A joint powers authority that will explore projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been legally established after the final votes Wednesday by two Marin towns to join the county of Marin as members of the authority ... " Read More.

Milestone for Marin Clean Energy; now Novato must decide whether to join, Novato Advance, November 19, 2008
"The Marin County Board of Supervisors took a major step forward Tuesday in pursuit of the county's ambitious 'Marin Clean Energy' Community Choice Aggregation plan at a regularly scheduled board meeting at the Mairn County Civic Center ..." Read More.

Marin supervisors move forward with 'clean energy' authority, could compete with PG&E, Marin Independent Journal, November 18, 2008
"Despite objections from Pacific Gas and Electric Co., county supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to join with other Marin cities to form a joint powers authority and explore projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions..." Read More.

San Anselmo, Belvedere the latest to sign on with 'clean energy' plan, Marin Independent Journal, October 28, 2008
"Marin municipalities appear eager to jump on the "clean energy" bandwagon. By unanimous votes, the town councils of San Anselmo and Belvedere on Monday became the latest to approve ordinances suporting a new joint powers authority that would allow residents and businesses to purchase "green" electricity from a source other than Pacific Gas and Electric Co...." Read More.

PG&E Mulling Fee For Customers Who Switch Service, CBS 5, October 28, 2008
"A power substation in San Rafael may soon carry all green energy. Marin County is talking about creating its own utility using only power from renewable resources, but on Tuesday PG&E suggested it might have to charge a fee if its customers make the switch...." Read More.

A Clean Energy Uprising in California, The New York Times "Green Inc." Blog, October 29, 2008
"Marin Clean Energy seeks to combine the independent structure of the San Joaquin Power Authority with the green options of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District..." Read More.

Marin Clean Energy plan gains supervisors' endorsement, Marin Independent Journal, October 8, 2008
"A plan to create a local agency to broker use of "clean energy" in Marin was tentatively endorsed by county officials Tuesday. The Board of Supervisors unanimously supported an initial reading of an ordinance establishing the Marin Clean Energy agency, and scheduled a hearing on adopting the program for Nov. 18..." Read More.

PG&E, proponents of Marin power initiative debate how to help planet - and the price, Marin Independent Journal, October 25, 2008
"In the next few weeks, Marin city councils and the county of Marin will vote on whether to join a joint powers authority that would maximize its use of renewable energy sources such as biomass, geothermal, solar, wind and small hydroelectric projects..." Read More.

Will to Power, If our Energy goes clean, will Marin wash its hands of PG&E?, Pacific Sun, October 9, 2008
"Marin supervisors are telling cities and towns the county will cover start-up costs for creating a Marin energy authority, the first step in the road toward Marin Clean Energy..." Read More.

A Fan of Marin's Green Energy Plan, Marin Independent Journal, September 28, 2008
"Marin is not alone in debating the pros and cons of community choice aggregation, providing choice and voice to your citizens and businesses through Marin Clean Energy. Other cities and counties across the state are taking similar steps..." Read More.

Green, clean energy machine, Pacific Sun, September 4, 2008
"The proposed joint powers authority that would constitute to form a Marin Clean Energy local power agency also could assume a role to help guide the county and Marin cities in efforts to cope with critical environmental issues..." Read More.

Fairfax backs 'green' power, Marin Independent Journal, August 21, 2008
"Fairfax has become the first town to support a county plan to purchase electricity from "green" producers and sell it directly to Marin customers, bypassing Pacific Gas and Electric Co...." Read More.

Buying Power, Northbay Biz, August, 2008
"Marin Clean Energy’s plan is to deliver 50 percent renewable energy—without raising rates..." Read More.

The Green Option: Does Marin Clean Energy Make Sense? Marin Magazine, June, 2008
"Much has been written and said lately about Community Choice Aggregation, but I don’t think the message is getting across. Let’s see if I can explain it...." Read More.

MCE bidding for cities' approval, Novato Advance, June 16, 2008
"Marin Clean Energy has upped the stakes in the debate over Marin's energy future. By releasing its final-draft ordinance and joint powers authority agreement..." Read More.

New public agency proposes to manage Marin County power, North Bay Business Journal, June 9, 2008
"Businesses are weighing a proposal by Marin County to enter the energy business with promises of clean power at costs below or equal to those of the investor-owned utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co...." Read More.

Marin County on Quest for Greener Power; PG&E Balks, California Energy Markets, June 6, 2008
"In affluent, eco-conscious Marin County, demand for all things green is high-so much so that when a countywide survey was conducted last year, nearly 60 percent of respondents said they were willing to pay 10 percent or more for power that comes from renewable resouces..." Read More.

Power Grab in Hot Tubistan, SFGate, May 29, 2008
"In a move boldly addressing the global energy crisis sidelined in Washington and on the presidential campaign trail, county leaders unveiled a plan to offer Marin some of America's greenest electricity..." Read More.

Green Power Gets Early Nod from Fairfax Council, Marin Independent Journal, May 22, 2008
"A proposal to launch a countywide power authority that would allow Marin residents to purchase their power from "greener" energy producers than Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has received a vote of confidence from the Fairfax Town Council..." Read More.

Publisher's Comment: A Ripple Effect, Pacific Sun, May 2, 2008
"I had the pleasure last week of speaking at Green Career Day at San Marin High School in Novato. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to high school students about their futures and to have a discussion that connected career choices with green technology, green living and protecting the health of the planet.." Read More.

County Energized for Choice, Pacific Sun, May 8, 2008
"A peer review of the business plan for a renewable-energy power authority in Marin gave the proposal a green light to proceed to the next leg on the road to possible reality. The proposal now is making the rounds of city councils across the county, as backers look for support while critics already are using emotional attacks to flip the switch on the plan..." Read More.

Peter Asmus: Local clean energy is crucial, Marin Independent Journal, April 21, 2008
"POLLS consistently show that solar photovoltaics are the most popular energy source among consumers. Still, these semiconductors that generate electricity directly from sunlight produce less than one half of one percent of the world's electricity..." Read More.

Marin, PG&E fight shapes up over green power, Marin Independent Journal, April 17, 2008
"With sun-kissed Mount Tamalpais and three parked Priuses as a backdrop, county officials launched a proposal Wednesday to provide Marin homes and businesses with "green" power..." Read More.

Local communities reach for power over energy, SFGate, April 16, 2008
"Marin County residents want more solar and wind power. San Francisco officials think they might be able to strike better energy deals. Some cities in the San Joaquin Valley want to build their own power plants..." Read More.

Take that, PG&E!, San Francisco Bay Guardian, April 16, 2008
"And congratulations go out to San Joaquin Valley Power Authority, which has reached a settlement agreement with PG&E over how the utility company has been behaving itself with regards to Community Choice Aggregation (CCA.) Best part: PG&E has to pay..." Read More.

Larry Fahn: Marin needs to step up on energy/climate change, Local Clean Energy Alliance, March 23, 2008
"It is long past time that we started taking bold steps and making serious progress in preventing global warming from imperiling the planet. Not only must we start the transition to a fossil-free energy future, but we can create jobs, bolster the economy and improve society in the process..." Read More.

What Does CCA Mean for Novatans? Novato Advance, March 14, 2007
"If a Marin Power Authority (MPA) bought clean, community choice (CCA) power for our community, Novatans would see little day-to-day difference in rates or delivery. Novatans would continued to be billed by PG&E and receive electricity on PG&E lines..." Read More.

You Can Make a Difference: Cleaner Energy, Novato Advance, March 14, 2007
"On March 7 a dynamic group of local representatives and environmental experts convened at Sustainable Novato's “Town Clean Energy Forum” to discuss the opportunities available to us through CCA..." Read More.

Public Power "Lite" Looking Very Green, Renewable Energy World, February 13, 2008
A Renewable Portfolio Standard of 15% couldn't survive in the most recent federal energy bill that became law. But 28 states have renewable standards, most of them more stringent than the proposed federal mandate. California's is the most ambitious, requiring 20% by 2010, and the Governor has proposed 33% by 2020..." Read More.