Recognition from Congressman Ro Khanna

Local Communities Celebrate Five Years of Clean Energy

Regional climate action reduces emissions, provides customer benefit

Cupertino, Calif. – On April 23, thirteen Santa Clara County communities celebrated the five-year anniversary of receiving clean power from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), the local community choice energy provider.

Local and state elected officials gathered at the Cupertino Earth and Arbor Day Festival to commemorate this sustainability milestone.

“The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time. I’m proud of Silicon Valley for being at the forefront of innovation to tackle climate change and leading the way toward a more sustainable future,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. “Congratulations to Silicon Valley Clean Energy on 5 years of providing carbon-free power to residents and businesses in 13 Santa Clara County communities.”

SVCE was formed as a Joint Powers Agency in 2016 by local jurisdictions with the support of elected officials, city staff, community, and environmental advocates to help the region achieve its carbon reduction goals.

SVCE began service in 2017, and now provides carbon-free electricity to more than 270,000 residential and commercial customers. Using cleaner power has helped local communities reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 35% compared to a 2015 baseline, and avoid a total of 575 million pounds of GHGs from being released into the atmosphere.

In addition to clean electricity, SVCE has provided financial and technical support for local decarbonization programs and saved customers more than $77 million on their electricity bills.

“I am proud of the emissions reductions Campbell, and all SVCE communities, have accomplished in the past five years,” said Campbell Councilmember and SVCE Board Chair Liz Gibbons. “Having joined SVCE as a founding board member, it is inspiring to see the climate actions that have spread from adopting a locally controlled clean energy agency to creating demand for building new renewable energy projects in the state all the while controlling customer electric power rates and coordinating agency-wide implementation of building electrification codes, as well as providing scholarships and grants for youth.”

On behalf of local customers, SVCE has now signed 15 long-term clean energy contracts, for resources including solar, solar-plus-storage, wind, geothermal and long-duration energy storage; proving that community demand for carbon-free energy can lead to a state-wide impact. Learn more about the impacts of SVCE, and individual member community results at www.svcleanenergy.org/community-impact/.

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About Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Silicon Valley Clean Energy is a not-for-profit, community-owned agency providing clean electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources to more than 270,000 residential and commercial customers in 13 Santa Clara County jurisdictions. As a public agency, net revenues are returned to the community to keep rates competitive and promote clean energy programs. Silicon Valley Clean Energy is advancing innovative solutions to fight climate change by decarbonizing the grid, transportation, and buildings. Learn more at   SVCleanEnergy.org.

Media Contact
Michaela Pippin
Communications Specialist
O: 408-721-5301 x1020
michaela.pippin@svcleanenergy.org