Malibu Decides Not To Opt For 100% Green Power Default
Written by 991KBU on October 23, 2018
Malibu just took an enormous step backwards in being an environmental leader in California …
The city council last night rejected moving everyone in the city into a 100 percent renewable electric power supply.
At least … a default of all-renewable electric power supply.
By a 3 to 2 vote … and badly divided … the city council rejected a plan to move all city residential electric ratepayers into a 100 percent green power supply.
Instead … Malibu will by default obtain half of its power from green sources … the other 50 percent will come from coal and natural gas powered plants.
Residents who do want 100 percent green power will still have the option to pay an 8 percent premium … to opt in to 100 percent green.
But it is likely most will not opt to take that step.
Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal was shocked.
NEWSCART 77873 ROSENTHAL POWER :15 QQQ: REALLY SHOCKING TO ME
“I would say every single meeting we bring up the Mission Statement of our city.
And the fact that we would not protect the environment by going 100 percent is really shocking to me.”
But councilmen Jefferson Wagner and Lou La Monte did not want to essentially raise power rates in Malibu 8 percent.
That left mayor Rick Mullen the swing vote.
NEWSCART 77874 MULLEN POWER :15 QQQ: THINK THAT IS RIGHT
“These little 8 percents add up.
“And there are a lot of people out there that are having are hard time paying their bills.”
And for us to opt them up to 8 percent … and say ‘oh yeah, you can opt out if you want’ … I don’t think that is right.”
A huge mistake … said Rosenthal and Peak … citing other cities that are moving towards 100 percent renewable energy for a slightly higher cost.
ROSENPEAK POWER :18 THEIR AIR CONDITIONERS LONGER
ROSENTHAL: I mean Santa Monica has … Culver City has … Ventura County! …
PEAK: “You know we need to be the leader in this.
“All of these other cities that are doing it, are doing thatthat, they’re not even coastal cities, they’re not even facing global sea rise.
“What they are facing is warmer climate where they are going to have to run their air-conditioners longer.”
As a result of last night’s vote … Malibu Electric ratepayers will be moved to a 50-50 renewable versus fossil fuel rate plan.
The cost will be about as much as the current Southern California Edison charge … although Edison is applying to raises rates an unknown amount.
Those who want to can opt to choose 100% renewable power at about 8% more cost.
But a similar all renewable power plan from Edison already exists.
And it is currently all but ignored by consumers … because it is not the default plan.
Voting against the all-renewable electric plan were Jefferson Wagner … Rick Mullen and Lou La Monte.
