■ Workshop slated to discuss community choice aggregation

Residents and others can learn more about community choice aggregation, the utility alternative to such companies as Pacific Gas and Electric, at a workshop Sept. 9 at City Hall.

Community choice aggregation (CCA) agencies buy or develop clean energy from renewable sources and work with such companies as PG&E to deliver power, maintain the energy grid and provide customer service and billing.

Benicia City Council has authorized an evaluation to determine if it is eligible to join Marin Clean Energy (MCE), one of the first CCA agencies in California.

MCE is a not-for-profit, community-based agency that offers 50-percent and 100-percent renewable electricity choices, with power generated by solar arrays, wind turbines, biomass and waste as well as geothermal sources.

California has set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to mitigate climate change. Though municipal operations have nearly met that emissions reduction goal, Benicia as a community has increased its production of greenhouse gases.

The City Council workshop will let residents and business owners learn more about CCA operations and how this choice would be made available.

A panel of those knowledgeable about CCA operations will provide information about what a city should consider before joining such an agency.

Those unable to attend also may view the workshop on Benicia’s community Cable Channel 27, available as Xfinity channel 27 and U-verse channel 99.

The workshop will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 9 in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 250 East L St.

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