REDWOOD CITY, CA – October 1, 2024 – Peninsula Clean Energy has awarded nearly $1 million in grants and $1.7 million in loans to help public agencies who are taking the lead in San Mateo County and Los Banos in combatting climate change and indoor air pollution by converting methane gas to clean, efficient electricity in their buildings.
The efforts in some cases tackle the biggest source of municipal greenhouse gas emissions. The projects include electrifying all municipal buildings in Half Moon Bay, a community pool in Brisbane, air conditioning units at major government facilities in Los Banos, water heaters in East Palo Alto, as well as initial funding to electrify the Belle Haven Child Development Center in Menlo Park.
The Brisbane community pool alone represents 75 percent of the city’s municipal emissions and electrifying will save the equivalent emissions of electrifying 100 homes. It will also save the city more than $25,000 per year in energy costs. Electrifying major government buildings in Los Banos will be equivalent to electrifying 50 homes.
These community and local government emissions are two main parts of any city-wide action plan to combat heat-trapping emissions contributing to climate change. For example, Half Moon Bay’s climate action plan goal of having all municipal buildings electrified by 2025 is expected to be met thanks to this funding boost.
“These cities are leading by example in showing how effective local governing can make an important impact on reducing our dependence on dirty methane gas,” Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Shawn Marshall said.
“This effort showcases why we remain intent on finding ways to both reduce energy costs and improve our comfort, health and overall quality of life,” Los Banos Mayor Paul Llanez said.
“We are grateful for PCE’s significant support to move forward the community pool water heating electrification project, which has been in development for years,” Brisbane Councilmember Coleen Mackin said. “It is the single largest action we can take to reduce the City of Brisbane’s municipal operations emissions, as this project alone will reduce natural gas use in Brisbane’s facilities by roughly 86 percent.”
“Half Moon Bay’s efforts to electrify its municipal buildings will save taxpayer dollars as well as create healthier and cleaner air for all,” Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Harvey Rarback said. “Not only is it a win-win for everyone, this project is expected to create one of the first all-electric municipalities in the country.”
This is the first of what is expected to be annual incentives and financing awarded competitively based on several factors, including the amount of heat-trapping methane gas that would be reduced and well as the construction readiness of the projects. That readiness to complete the project in the next couple of years is important to avoid locking in new methane gas infrastructure and equipment over the next 15 to 20 years.
Peninsula Clean Energy plans to roll-out a similar program for schools later this year, with $5 million in incentives available.
Public agencies selected in this innovative program are receiving incentives in the form of grants based on the amount of methane gas to be saved that will not require repayment and $14.5 million in 7-year revolving loans at a 1 percent rate. At least 25 percent of the total cost for each project also must be covered by funds outside of those given by Peninsula Clean Energy, such as local government capital improvement budgets, state or federal grants and donations.
About Peninsula Clean Energy
Peninsula Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation agency. It is the official electricity provider for San Mateo County and for the City of Los Banos. Founded in 2016 with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency serves a population of 810,000 by providing more than 3,600 gigawatt hours annually of electricity that is 50 percent renewable, 100 percent clean and at lower cost than PG&E. As a community-led, not-for-profit agency, Peninsula Clean Energy makes significant investments in its communities to expand access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Peninsula Clean Energy is on track to deliver electricity that is 100 percent renewable by 2025. Follow us at PenCleanEnergy.com, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
