How TURN Leads on Climate Policy in California: Consumer Advocates as Leaders
Panel discussion at the 2014 NASUCA Midyear Meeting focusing on TURN's role in driving energy policy debates, leading in climate policy, and advocating for consumer positions distinct from utilities. The presentation covers key topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energy affordability, and legislative leadership in adopting Renewable Portfolio Standards.
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Presentation Transcript
How TURN Leads on Climate Policy in California NASUCA Panel: Consumer Advocates as Climate Policy Leaders 2014 NASUCA Midyear Meeting Santa Fe, NM Jun 3, 2014 Mark W. Toney, Ph.D., TURN Executive Director mtoney@turn.org 510 590 2862
TURN Organizational Snapshot Small, experienced staff of 9 energy & telecom attorneys Total staff of 15. Supplemented with expert consultants. Legal advocacy, legislative action, organizing, communications. Partnerships with wide range of policy advocates Consumer, environmental, labor, community, faith based. Strategic partnership with Office of Ratepayer Advocates.
Policy Leadership Means to: Drive energy policy debates and outcomes. Beyond responding to utility rate applications. Lead at the cutting edge of energy policy: Climate Policy Beyond revenue requirements, rate design, consumer protection. Create consumer positions: Distinct from utility/renewables. Win support from broad range of interested parties.
Most Green for the Least Green How to get greatest carbon reduction at best value? Reducing energy consumption is cheapest way to reduce GHG. Exercising leadership in Energy Efficiency policy. How to generate renewable energy at affordable prices? Sun and wind as cheap fuel, vs volatility of gas prices. Most renewable cost is upfront capital, negligible fuel costs. How to expand utility/renewables corporate accountability? Fair rooftop subsidies without cost shifts to non-solar customers.
RPS: Legislative Leadership TURN was a leader in adoption of RPS in 2002, 2006, 2011 Developed concept, drafted language, partnered with bill authors. Won key ratepayer protections to 33% renewables by 2020 Market Price Referent to provide pricing benchmarks. Deferred utility compliance penalties if renewables were too costly. Consumers pay only for power delivered not for signed contracts. Imposed 25% cap for compliance with undeliverable RECs. Won support of utilities, renewables, enviros, generators Effective negotiations = bilateral discussions, not one big room.
Climate Dividend: Regulatory Leadership How to return ratepayer money collected for carbon permits Utilities: Link customer rebates to energy consumption. Higher monthly bills = higher dollar rebates. TURN/ORA partnered with environmental advocates CPUC ruling: Residential customer rebate of $30 $40 twice yearly. Lower monthly bills = higher impact of rebates.
Green Option: Utility Leadership PG&E application to market green energy at a premium Relied primarily on purchasing undeliverable RECs. TURN has defeated similar PG&E Green Option proposal. We proposed profound changes to gain TURN support Revised application to focus on creating new local green generation. Revised PG&E Green Option tarriff adopted by CPUC. SCE is working with TURN to submit their green tarriff to CPUC.
Climate Leadership for Consumer Advocates Exercise leadership in multiple arenas Legislative, regulatory, utility. Build strategic partnerships Environmental Labor Community. Position consumer interests as unique and distinct Create alternatives to utility and renewable industry positions.
