The following is a press release issued by Suzanne Pletcher:
When the City of Point Arena threw the switch last week to source its electricity from 100% renewable geothermal and solar energy, it became the first city in Mendocino County to do so.
City Manager Paul Andersen said the wastewater treatment plant, City hall, the Coastal Seniors programs, city street lights and the hoist at the Point Arena pier all will now operate on clean electricity through a program called EverGreen, offered by Mendocino County’s default public electricity provider Sonoma Clean Power.
“Our city council is very progressive and really interested in making the city more energy independent,” said Andersen. “We use a lot of electricity here in the city, with the wastewater treatment plant consuming the vast majority.”
Point Arena, with a population of 460 as of the 2020 census, has tried to find money to install solar panels over the ponds at the wastewater plant to offset energy use there, but without success. So Point Arena Mayor Barbara Burkey requested and the city council heard a presentation in January about EverGreen and afterwards directed Andersen to sign up. The city will pay an approximately $6,000 premium annually for 100% carbon-free electricity available 24/7.
“The ancillary benefit is the promotion of clean power to everybody in the city,” said Andersen. “And there are several businesses, including the movie theatre, Arena Market and Café food co-op, and Lisa’s Luscious Kitchen, that already have opted into that service.”
EverGreen electricity comes from solar and geothermal power generated locally in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. The County of Mendocino opted in to EverGreen 100% renewable electricity for its eligible buildings in August, 2021.
I’m hopeful all the residents have generators. When the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine which is most of the time and the utility bill goes way up. Transition is the best way, not the woke programs government is pushing.