One of the few rewards of being mayor of Richmond is the opportunity to serve and represent Richmond on regional agencies, such as MCE Clean Energy. I have represented the City of Richmond as a board member of MCE since 2013 when Richmond became the first expansion city out of Marin County, and I currently serve as chair of the MCE board. Today, MCE delivers half a billion dollars’ worth of clean energy to half a million customers in four counties.

Last night, board and staff of MCE celebrated with a virtual holiday party marking the following successes in reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions with renewable energy, energy efficiency, and workforce benefits:

• We delivered more than 90% carbon-free energy to over 1 million people and businesses this year.
• We gave out over $4 million dollars in energy efficiency rebates and launched a FlexMarket program that is now being replicated across the state.
• We installed over 1,000 EV charging ports in our communities
• With a budget of almost half a billion dollars, we achieved an “A” credit rating for strong financial management. We have a much better credit rating than PG&E, in fact, seven notches higher!
• We dedicated $3 million to workforce development activities, connecting folks with green jobs.
• And since 2010, we have committed over $2 billion to get new California renewable energy projects built, creating hundreds of good-paying jobs, and meeting the state’s SB 100 carbon-reduction target 13 years early.
• We launched the MCE Cares Credit Program, allocating $10 million dollars to help customers pay their energy bills. This has helped 30,000 customers so far. And, to take it a bit further, we helped customers eliminate more than $1 million dollars in energy debt with the Arrearage Management Program.
• We helped over 100 families get weatherization upgrades, provided free smart thermostats to over 200 families, and free energy-saving kits to almost 800 families.
• We launched a new solar discount program that gives income-qualified folks 100% renewable energy with a 20% bill discount.
• We approved a resolution committing to advance racial equity.
• And we added “community benefits” as a new part of our power supply bids, raising the bar for suppliers to support equity and bolster our communities.

One of the few rewards of being mayor of Richmond is the opportunity to serve and represent Richmond on regional agencies, such as MCE Clean Energy. I have represented the City of Richmond as a board member of MCE since 2013 when Richmond became the first expansion city out of Marin County, and I currently serve as chair of the MCE board. Today, MCE delivers half a billion dollars’ worth of clean energy to half a million customers in four counties.

Last night, board and staff of MCE celebrated with a virtual holiday party marking the following successes in reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions with renewable energy, energy efficiency, and workforce benefits:

• We delivered more than 90% carbon-free energy to over 1 million people and businesses this year.
• We gave out over $4 million dollars in energy efficiency rebates and launched a FlexMarket program that is now being replicated across the state.
• We installed over 1,000 EV charging ports in our communities
• With a budget of almost half a billion dollars, we achieved an “A” credit rating for strong financial management. We have a much better credit rating than PG&E, in fact, seven notches higher!
• We dedicated $3 million to workforce development activities, connecting folks with green jobs.
• And since 2010, we have committed over $2 billion to get new California renewable energy projects built, creating hundreds of good-paying jobs, and meeting the state’s SB 100 carbon-reduction target 13 years early.
• We launched the MCE Cares Credit Program, allocating $10 million dollars to help customers pay their energy bills. This has helped 30,000 customers so far. And, to take it a bit further, we helped customers eliminate more than $1 million dollars in energy debt with the Arrearage Management Program.
• We helped over 100 families get weatherization upgrades, provided free smart thermostats to over 200 families, and free energy-saving kits to almost 800 families.
• We launched a new solar discount program that gives income-qualified folks 100% renewable energy with a 20% bill discount.
• We approved a resolution committing to advance racial equity.
• And we added “community benefits” as a new part of our power supply bids, raising the bar for suppliers to support equity and bolster our communities.