CEA discusses procurement strategies with long term 100% renewable goal

The Clean Energy Alliance Board of Directors received an update about the agency’s goal to reach a 100% renewable energy goal by 2035.

“We want to make sure we’re on the right track to get to that goal,” said Greg Wade, CEO of the Clean Energy Alliance.

Some of the key concerns include offering affordable energy options, based on customer feedback, as well as managing the varying costs of procurement and risk.

Options discussed to maintain affordability include securing contracts for the CEA’s energy needs before 2030, or limit procurement in the short term in a more long-term plan “in anticipation of better policy environment,” according to a CEA presentation.

The board also discussed nuclear energy. Del Mar City Councilmember John Spelich, who represents the city on the CEA board, mentioned recent nuclear advances such as the Bill Gates-owned company TerraPower and its nuclear reactor in Wyoming.

“There’s a real revolution going on out there, and if we’re going to deliver on things like data centers, we’re going to need a lot more energy generation that has to be clean and safe,” Spelich said. “So I think before we go too far down the nuclear path, it would be great to get somebody in here who can brief us all, including the public, on what’s the state of the game, what are the thoughts about how it is today compared to how it used to be.”

Solana Beach City Councilmember Kristi Becker, who serves on the CEA board, mentioned current challenges from the federal government.

“I’m definitely in favor of a diverse portfolio,” Becker said. “It sounds like we need a little bit of everything. My concern with the nuclear is what I’ve only heard from San Onofre is that the spent fuel, there’s nowhere to put it. No state wants it when it’s done.”