Understanding

Urban Electric
Cooperatives

And their role in the future of the

California energy grid
 Presentation Overview

Demonstrating 01
2 approaches to the
renewable energy transition 01 Analyzing
California as
Cooperatives
Potential Progress that a Case Study
has already

02 Current grid management

models
been made

02
03 Urban Cooperatives as the
future The next steps to take
Approaching the
Renewable Energy
Transition
 Two primary approaches…

Large Scale Infrastructure Distributed Energy Resources

Emphasizes development of large Allows for smaller scale energy generation

generation projects in geographically decreasing transmission costs. A model that
remote locations necessitating the creation relies more on DER will necessitate a
of extensive transmission infrastructure complete restructuring towards a grid that
supports multi directional energy flow.

*image #1
 Displaced savings of $370 billion by 2030
Princeton's Net Zero America Report
Keith Taylor
UC Davis Extension Professor

“With the way that the energy

transition is occurring and all the new
technologies, it is going to blur the
lines a lot more.”
*image #3

*image #2

Bernadette Del Chiaro Donna Walker

executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association CEO of Hoosier Energy

“Smarter is looking toward microgrids, “As we look at all the changes the
including solar on rooftops. Clearly, the industry is going through currently,
utilities are stuck in the 20th century; which is to open up and move away
*image #4
they want to build the transcontinental from from the concept of large
railroad of the electric grid.” central station generation.”
 Current
Management
Models
Investor Owned Utilities
Urban monopolies

Publicly traded corporations with invested

shareholders that currently serve a majority of
Americans and hold monopolies over their service
territories.

Priorities

Profit Generation
Because these IOUs have invested shareholders they are
incentivized to prioritize profit generation above all else
 Utility Cooperatives
strong rural presence

Are created and run by members of a given

community. Currently are primarily used in
rural regions of the country where they have
learn to economize harsh conditions.

Priorities

Energy Provision Equitable Outcomes Sustainability

Cooperatives are created with Due to local nature, are invested in Investment in community
the goal of provided reliable positive and equitable community results in increase incorporation
energy at low rates to outcomes beyond the scope of of renewable energy into
consumer members utilities. portfolios.
 Urban
Cooperatives as
the Future
 Potential for Urban Cooperative Models
Benefits
Social
Developed and run by
community members
Smaller scale so can
accurately see how
decisions made impact
the community
Environmental
Proliferation of DER
Prioritize renewables in their
energy portfolios Local nature allows them to
more efficiently invest in
development of multidirectional
Local nature allows for grids powered by locally
increased investment in DER generated energy
 “The most fundamental change was that
collectively - as citizens, corporations, and
governments — we began adhering to a new
bottom line: ‘Is it good for humanity whether
profit is made or not?’”
—Christiana Figueres
Author of The Future We Choose: A Stubborn Optimist’s Guide To Surviving the Climate Crisis
 Presentation Overview

Demonstrating 01
2 approaches to the
renewable energy transition 01 Analyzing
California as
Cooperatives
Potential Progress that a Case Study
has already

02 Current grid management

models
been made

02
03 Urban Cooperatives as the
future The next steps to take
Progress made …
 Community Choice Aggregates (CCAs)

Not-for-profit existing utility organization

Increasing grid renewability

*image 5

Local positioning
Jumping off point for
cooperative network
Steps to take …
Where are we 01
headed? IOU buyouts
Reorganization of their
physical assets under
cooperative networks

Body of Professionals
CCA are creating professional better

02 equipped to acquire and manage

physical asset of IOUs
Civic Responsibility
Public Approval Remind citizens of their
Increase awareness about responsibility to stand of for
the necessity of this what they believe in
transition
Thanks!
Reference Document: References

Questions?
Amelia Wardle Stacey
amo_amelia@berkeley.edu

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