Tonight @PoweredbyEBCE took the bold step to set our 15 East Bay communities on the path to 100% clean energy by 2030. And I wanted to share a few thoughts why this is so important and how we will get there - while managing through the considerable challenges on the way

First and foremost, setting a 100% goal is as much about setting a marker for where we need to go as a society than the actual quantity of MWs that underpin it. We must thoroughly engage the public in our work and inspire them with a vision for the future

Addressing climate change at scale is going to need a level of political will that we have yet to see (though I'm hopeful Biden starts to show us the path). This means ensuring that voters consider climate action on equal footing with health care, the economy and nat security

While energy wonks – like me – can argue that 90% or 95% clean energy is actually a better policy because of the flexibility it provides, 90% clean simply doesn’t have the same ring to it. And poll after poll show strong support for 100% clean across the country

So part of our goal to 100% by 2030 is to inspire engagement across our community in the actions that are going to be needed to get there. Its increasing consumer Opt Ups to 100% Renewable (if you are an EBCE customer you can do it here: https://ebce.ccaprocess.com/Views/AccountInfo.aspx?enrollment=optup

Its encouraging consumer participation in a demand response, buying an EV instead of an ICE vehicle, and getting involved in local climate action – be it by support candidates who prioritize climate action or joining your CCAs Community Advisory Committee

100% clean energy is also about making big investments in new clean energy systems. Our modeling tells us that we need to procure over 1.2 GWs of new renewables and 1.5 GWs of storage by 2030

Our particular pathway is going to include a diverse mix of Wind, Solar, Storage – 2Hr, 4Hr and 8Hr duration – and hydro

Our 100% pathway is also designed to ensure flexibility over the next decade so that EBCE is well positioned to not only hit 100% clean energy, but also continue to invest in critical decarbonization efforts like vehicle and transportation electrification

Efforts that are the core of EBCEs commitments to deliver local jobs, consumer cost savings and environmental benefits

The flexibility comes in the form of a focus on meeting the 100% target through procuring both thousands of MWs of new, long term renewables contracts and shorter term renewable and large hydro transactions that support optionality in the latter half of the decade

This approach focuses EBCE on the immediate task of getting those +2,000 MWs of renewables and storage contracted, built and operating while continually scanning the horizon to calibrate how to best deliver on our commitment to our customers and our future

Unanimous Vote and Onward we go to 100% cc: @votesolar @SierraClub @SolutionsProj @NRDCEnergy @SEIA @ce4biden @ELPCenter @LargeScaleSolar @StorageAlliance @NewEnergyNexus @EnvDefenseFund @cejapower @USCleanPower @CleanPowerCA @ACORE