Candidates' Answers to Question #10

10. Should the city of Ventura take affirmative steps to implement Community Choice so citizens can purchase locally generated renewable power? Why or why not? (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Choice_Aggregation)

Bill Fulton: We should take these steps. The sooner and more aggressively we do so, the closer we will come to being carbon free by ’33.

Doug Halter: From my knowledge, I would support this concept. The more we can buy locally from those with our values the more we encourage the social and environmental efforts to succeed.

Christy Weir: (Looks like this one was accidentally skipped.)

Carroll Dean Williams: Oneline computer service is being fixed at this time. No internet. CCA (AB117) became law in 2002.

Mike Gibson: I think there has to be a market created for this first and the City should not take the lead in creating these kinds of markets. The private sector should take the lead on this, with, perhaps, some incentivizing action by the City to provide tax credits, fast-track permit approvals, etc. to get enterprises like renewal power facilities up and running.

Carl Morehouse: As Mayor, and in collaboration with Councilmember Brennan, I have been a participant in discussions facilitated by the Community Environmental Council (CEC), based in Santa Barbara, regarding Community Choice. Additionally, the City, as a member of the Ventura Regional Energy Alliance, has been paying close attention to this unique opportunity. There are many positive aspects to this program, particularly the opportunity to capture the public goods monies, which are now returned to SCE, and being able to keep them in this newly defined aggregate area. (This would be the first time such an endeavor has been undertaken.) As such I support the City and the Energy Alliance in a feasibility study as proposed by the CEC. Any move away from fossil fuel dependency will be a great step in the right direction.

Jerry D. Martin: Yes. Although the implementation of a Community Choice Program would be a substantial undertaking for the city, the rewards of efficient renewable power and local rate control would be worth the effort.

Lou Cunningham: This sounds good to me but how does a small town like Ventura get this done? We would need to work with other local cities to bring this program together.

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