San Diego solar energy nonprofit GRID Alternatives Thursday announced it has joined the San Diego Community Choice Alliance, a coalition that calls on local elected officials to adopt a community choice energy plan that would stifle San Diego Gas & Electric's so-called energy monopoly in San Diego.
The San Diego Community Choice Alliance includes organizations such as San Diego 350, Alliance San Diego and the Climate Action Campaign. The coalition has repeatedly asked San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and the San Diego City Council to enact a community choice energy plan that would allow municipal jurisdictions to create nonprofit energy providers alternative to a monopoly-holding utility provider. SDG&E charges some of the highest energy rates in the state and the country, according to the SDCCA.
"Community choice energy has a proven track record of helping cities reach their renewable energy goals in a way that benefits both the local economy and underserved communities," said GRID Alternatives San Diego Executive Director Paul Cleary. "We are excited to partner with SDCCA to move forward this important initiative, helping protect our climate, create new jobs and make sure everyone can participate in and benefit from the clean energy transition."
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Alliance members rallied outside San Diego City Hall on Sept. 28 in support of energy plan reform. According to the organization, Assembly members Shirley Weber and Todd Gloria and City Council members Myrtle Cole, Barbara Cry, Chris Ward, Georgette Gomez and David Alvarez are among local leaders to endorse the idea of an energy plan that allows for competition with SDG&E.
"GRID Alternatives San Diego is one of the leading equity-focused clean energy organization in the San Diego area, and we are thrilled to have them join our growing coalition to help ensure that equity is central to our ongoing conversations," SDCCA founder Nicole Capretz said.
