The town of Geneva announces in a press release that they will continue the Clean Energy Program with a new supplier, providing residents with 100% renewable energy:
With its initial community choice electricity supply contract expiring June 30th, the Town of Geneva chose to continue providing its residents access to affordable, locally-sourced 100% renewable energy. In July 2019, Geneva began providing residents and small businesses clean electricity as the default option at a fixed rate for two years. The offering is part of the Finger Lakes Community Choice clean energy program. Joule Community Power (Joule) will continue to serve as the Program Administrator.
Finger Lakes Community Choice, a community choice aggregation (CCA) program, enables participating communities to leverage the collective buying power of residents and small businesses at large enough scale to dictate the terms of how they buy energy. CCA empowers municipalities to negotiate for renewable electricity at fixed rates that are priced lower than otherwise available. CCA is promoted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) as a priority climate action. CCA programs, like Finger Lakes Community Choice, promote renewable energy generation, cut costs for consumers, and provide consumer protection.
Results:
The inaugural two-year supply contract will be in effect through June 2021. Over the first eighteen months, Town of Geneva participants receiving 100% renewable electricity contributed to the avoidance of almost 5,800 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent amount of carbon sequestered by approximately 8,000 acres of forest.
New Supply Contract
The new contract will run from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023. The Town of Geneva chose 100% renewable electricity from Constellation, a leading competitive energy provider as its default energy option. The Town will again offer a fixed rate standard supply option and has also added a third fixed rate supply option, a 50% New York State renewable (the remaining 50% is matched by certificates sourced from U.S. wind farms). Eligible residents and businesses will be automatically enrolled for the 100% New York State renewable default option, but may withdraw or switch supply options, at any time, without incurring fees or penalties. Prior to July 1st, eligible New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) utility customers will receive a letter from the local municipality that includes information on how to opt out. Those who opt out will receive basic electricity supply service from NYSEG at the variable utility rate. Regardless of program participation, NYSEG remains responsible for delivery, repair service, and billing.
“This program is the result of a competitive procurement process,” said Joule Founder Mike Gordon. “The Town of Geneva selected Constellation as its default supplier because they were offered a unique combination of competitive pricing, consumer protection, and 100% renewable power.”
Maximizing Savings with Solar:
Earlier this year, the Town of Geneva passed a resolution to approve community choice solar as a way to include the guaranteed savings community solar delivers as a default energy option. In 2019, the municipality endorsed an opt-in community solar pilot that supported local renewable energy generation while delivering guaranteed savings to participants. By including community solar as a default energy offering rather than an on an opt in basis, the town is able to make the benefits of community solar available to the entire community while removing enrollment hurdles and eliminating the need for a second bill for community solar in favor of consolidated billing that accounts for community solar as part of a consumer’s standard NYSEG bill. In March, Joule issued a Request for Information (RFI) from solar project developers. The new community solar offering is expected to launch later this year.
Geneva Town Supervisor Mark Venuti, said, “The joint effect of the two programs sponsored by the Town makes it easy to support renewable energy. 100% NY renewable on the fixed price contract is a little higher than non-renewable, but community solar, coming later this year, will provide a credit of about 10% off the electric bill; so, people who stay in both programs are supporting a sustainable future at little cost, and perhaps a saving, depending on how the regular electricity market goes over the next two years.”
“Constellation is proud to provide the Town of Geneva with price certainty and the opportunity to support the adoption of renewable energy,” said Kevin Klages, senior vice president, Constellation. “As a leading national competitive energy supplier with deep roots in serving New York customers, we look forward to supplying electricity to Geneva’s residents and small businesses.”
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