Wishing you and your family a happy Easter! Goo
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Vol. 15, No. 15
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
CSD pulls support for fire plan
Working the fields
“Alice In Wonderland”
A
Photo by Tony Kukulich
break in the weather allowed this farmer an opportunity to tend his crop in a vineyard off Bixler Road in Discovery Bay earlier this week.
County close to energy decision By Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is expected to choose a community choice aggregation (CCA) program to offer county residents at its meeting in early May. Under CCA programs, local governments join together to provide energy to their residents. The energy is generated primarily from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and bioenergy. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) would continue to deliver power, billing customers as normal, with only the energy source varying. Under state law, customers are automatically enrolled in CCAs,
“ This is a big decision and I think both entities want to do what is best for our communities.
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District IV Supervisor Karen Mitchoff but can opt out and stay with their original energy provider. The county is expected to join one of two existing local CCA programs – either Marin Clean Energy (MCE) or East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), based in Alameda County. A county consultant recently gave presentations on each agency, but the board opted to wait until May 2 to finalize its decision. “This is a big decision, and I think both entities want to do what is best for our communities,” said
District IV Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. The results of a county technical study that explored the differences between CCA programs and the current service provided by PG&E found that going with either CCA option would likely result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased local renewable energy development, expanded job creation and rates that are comparable to or lower than what PG&E could provide, according
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April 14, 2017
From solar power to patio furniture, East County meets all your home, garden needs. Page 1B
Correspondent
see Fire page 30A
The Press
Improve Your Home, Garden
by Dawnmarie Fehr Last week, the Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) Board officially withdrew its support from the grassroots effort to reallocate ad valorem property taxes to the fire district. The reallocation effort, spearheaded by East County Voters for Equal Protection (ECVEP), is attempting to give East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) a greater percentage of local property taxes and cure funding inequities. This move changes the board’s previous position in favor of the reallocation effort, as stated at a meeting in November of last year. Now, the five board members have unanimously voted to send a letter to Sen. Glazer stating the board’s new position. The letter, drafted by
ews
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to Mark Fulmer of MRW Associates, which conducted the technical study. “The county has a good resource for local renewables, including in the northern local waterfront area, where there are definitely parcels that are quite appropriate for renewable development,” he said. Joining MCE is an attractive option, because it’s a well-established organization, already serves some Contra Costa cities and could hook customers up quicker, Fulmer said. The agency launched in 2010 and serves Marin and Napa counties and the cities of Benicia, El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Walnut Creek and Lafayette. In contrast, the East Bay Community Energy group, comsee Energy page 30A
Earth Day
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Assembly District 11 marks 47th anniversary of Earth Day with area clean-up efforts.
The Ballet Company of East County performs annual “Alice in Wonderland” ballet. Page 10A
Cheering For Competition
Liberty, Freedom and Heritage cheer squads and dance team excel at nationals. Page 21A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................25A Cop Logs.............................29A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............19A Milestones.........................12A Opinion...............................20A Pets........................................ 9A Sports..................................21A
Fishery Closed
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Council announces third year of continued closure for sardine fishery.