Oceanside and Vista joined other North San Diego County cities this month in an alternative network to supply energy to their residents.
The Clean Energy Alliance — which now includes Oceanside and Vista in addition to Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Del Mar, San Marcos and Escondido — supplies energy using alternative resources while still utilzing SDG&E lines.
Oceanside and Vista joined CEA as of April 1, with the cities’ residents automatically enrolled in the public entity’s Clean Impact Plus option, which offers 50% renewable and 75% carbon-free power, according to CEA’s website.
“We’re honored that Oceanside and Vista are joining us in our pursuit of a more sustainable future,” CEA Board Chairman and Del Mar Mayor David Druker said in a news release. “The creation and expansion of CEA is essential in reaching emission reduction goals across North San Diego County — we’re proud to welcome them into our alliance.”
The Clean Energy Alliance was formed in late 2019 when Carlsbad, Del Mar and Solana Beach joined forces to create the public energy provider. The aim was to create a Community Choice Aggregation energy program to provide alternative resources for communities within its territory.
“Through CCA, communities can purchase electricity on behalf of residents and businesses, in place of investor-owned utilities such as Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison,” the California Community Choice Association explained on its website. “Over the last decade, local governments in more than 200 towns, cities, and counties throughout the state have chosen to participate in CCA to meet climate action goals, provide residents and businesses with more energy options, ensure local transparency and accountability, and drive economic development.
The energy provider’s leadership is made up of representatives from the communities it serves.
Clean Energy Alliance rates are generally comparable to or more expensive than those of SDG&E, according to a March CEA report.
For North County cities under the Clean Energy Alliance, residents can choose from differing levels of service depending on the amount of renewable energy resources utilized, from 50% to 100% renewable.
“Our cross-city collaboration was kickstarted by efforts to meet emission reduction goals and be a resource in our member cities meeting their climate action plan goals,” Druker said in CEA’s news release. “CEA allows for more local control — since CEA’s Board is made up of city council members from the 7 member agencies.”
Other North County cities have also opted in to similar energy alliances.
In 2019, Encinitas joined San Diego Community Power, an energy program made up of the city of San Diego, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, La Mesa and National City, in addition to unincorporated communities in the county.
