The Role of Community Choice Aggregation Programs in Helping California Achieve Energy Sector (near) Carbon Neutrality

In adopting its Strategic Plan for the years 2021-23, Valley Clean Energy joins a growing list of California energy providers that have set out the ambitious but necessary goal of energy sector carbon neutrality. Key questions remain within the energy sector related to this goal such as how to define carbon neutrality (e.g. net v. absolute), how far existing approaches, technologies and social innovation techniques can take us, what social/technical innovations are needed to achieve the final increments of carbon reduction, and how to do it in a cost effective and socially/environmentally equitable way.

Mitch Sears is Interim General Manager. Mitch is currently on loan to Valley Clean Energy from the City of Davis where he has worked for over 23 years. Since 2007, Mitch has served as the City’s Sustainability Manager. In this role he has led efforts to address climate change and community sustainability. Prior to 2007, Mitch spent 16 years managing Davis’ Agricultural Land Conservation Program, and 5 years as an urban planner.

Rebecca Boyles is Director of Customer Care & Marketing. Rebecca joined Valley Clean Energy in 2020 after spending 4 years in progressively responsible positions in customer care and billing operations at Marin Clean Energy (MCE) in Marin County. Her leadership experience includes chairing the Billing Operations and Customer Care Committee for CalCCA, as well as leading the Social Media Communications team at the Women's Environmental Network. Prior to working in the utilities sector, Rebecca focused on stakeholder engagement at Future 500, a non-profit that advises Fortune 500 companies on issues such as changing their global paper procurement policies to be more environmentally friendly, or working with mining and energy companies on community relations. Rebecca holds an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School.

Jim Parks is Manager, Key Accounts. Jim has almost 30 years’ experience in the utility industry, first as a consultant, then with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), with progressively responsible positions including energy efficiency, demand response, low-income programs, grid modernization, transmission planning, R&D, smart grid, marketing, and customer care. His experience includes developing customer programs and managing business relationships with commercial, industrial, agricultural and government customers.