Say "Shell No!" to Dirtier Power in Marin

This petition had 2,163 supporters

The Issue

According to documents on file with the state and on Marin Clean Energy Program's own website, the power Marin customers are receiving from Shell comes from generation sources that are only 23% greenhouse gas emissions-free, compared with the previous mix, which remains over 50% emission-free and was 62% emission-free before the drought. Marin residents were promised cleaner energy and lower prices, but the vast majority of the power we receive is fossil-fuel generated power – and is dirtier than what we were receiving before.

The people of Marin deserve real clean energy, real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and a REAL CHOICE about whether or not they are enrolled it the program. Join us to fight back and help STOP the SHELL SHOCK!

avatar of the starter
Stop the Shell ShockPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Kate Sears
Kate Sears
Supervisor
Responded
“This petition is deliberately misleading and mirrors the false claims about Marin Clean Energy (MCE) being spread by PG&E’s union. Here is the truth: Thanks to MCE, Marin County’s default electricity supply is now 50% renewable—more than double what it was before MCE brought new energy options to consumers. MCE’s Light Green energy portfolio is more than 60% carbon free and 51% renewable (Note: some large hydropower carbon free products do not qualify as renewable energy). As part of its annual verification process, MCE reports its renewable resource supplies to the State’s regulatory agencies (i.e., the California Public Utilities Commission, and the California Energy Commission). All of MCE’s Deep Green 100% renewable energy is Green-e eligible. MCE’s power supply has fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than the power it replaces, and has offset more than 67,600 tons of GHGs since 2010. This amount is equivalent to the annual emissions of 12,521 vehicles, or the carbon sequestered by 48,752 acres of U.S. forests in one year. MCE’s most current emissions factor is 380 lbs/MWh—nearly 15% less than PG&E’s 445 lbs/MWh. As a result, with MCE’s help the County of Marin has achieved its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals eight years ahead of schedule. For this reason, Marin has become a model of environmental leadership to communities throughout California. Not only does MCE provide more renewable energy to consumers, it does so by catalyzing development of new, clean energy infrastructure. Examples include the following: ○ Construction of 54 megawatts (MW) of new, California-based clean power. This includes 46 MW of solar and 8 MW of biogas—enough clean energy to power approximately 22,500 homes per year. ○ Construction of Marin County’s largest solar facility at the San Rafael Airport, which provides enough power for up to 1,200 homes during peak production. Over 20 jobs were created during the three month construction of this project. ○ MCE directs half of the revenue generated by its Deep Green customers to a local renewable development fund. This will be used to build MCE’s first locally owned 1 MW solar project at the Port of Richmond. A similarly sized project is also planned for construction in Novato. ○ Including Shell Energy North America (SENA), MCE contracts with 12 different energy suppliers, ensuring a diverse, reliable, and affordable renewable energy supply. MCE currently purchases approximately 76% of the energy products it delivers from SENA, 60% of which is renewable power, or carbon free wind and hydropower. This contract is set to expire in 2017. PG&E also contracts with SENA and had been doing so prior to MCE’s creation. Contracting for renewable energy projects typically occurs 3-5 years before those projects deliver power. The majority of the renewable contracts MCE executed in July of 2011, and August of 2012, will be coming online in the first quarter of 2015. These contracts represent a 541% increase in MCE’s renewable energy contracts and a 13% reduction in SENA’s contribution to MCE’s overall portfolio. Finally, Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are ubiquitous in California's energy economy, and are used by utilities throughout the State. MCE's long term goal is provide 100% renewable energy for all of its customers. ”
Susan Adams
Susan Adams
Supervisor
The Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors
Katie Rice
Katie Rice
Supervisor
Steve Kinsey
Steve Kinsey
Supervisor

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on May 19, 2014