MEA's McGlashan, Weisz Nab Trade Group Honor
Power Association of Northern California picks pair as co-recipients of "Persons of the Year – 2010," to be awarded in January.
At the end of a year when it became the first public agency to compete with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), two of the major players behind the Marin Energy Authority (MEA) will be honored by a power industry trade group.
The Power Association of Northern California (PANC) will award Supervisor and MEA Chairman Charles McGlashan, a Mill Valley resisdent, as well as Dawn Weisz, the agency's interim director, as the co-recipients of "Persons of the Year – 2010." The pair will receive the honor at an awards ceremony Jan. 11 in San Francisco.
"McGlashan and Weisz are recognized by top peers in the industry for their broad vision and effective leadership in creating California's first Community Choice Aggregation program, charting a bold, new course in the state's energy marketplace and fulfilling its promise to provide customers with more clean, renewable energy at competitive rates," the association said in a statement.
In May, MEA flipped the switch on Marin Clean Energy (MCE), a not-for-profit joint venture composed of the County of Marin and the cities of San Rafael, Mill Valley, Fairfax, Sausalito, SanAnselmo, Tiburon and Belvedere. The other cities in Marin did not opt to join the venture.
Marin Clean Energy is an alternative energy provider that is supplied with energy from Shell Energy North America under a five-year agreement. Customers can 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources for the same cost as PG&E charges or pay a few dollars more for 100 percent renewable energy. PG&E still handles distribution.
In September, an analysis of mid-year compliance reports required by state utility regulators. revealed that MCE was outpacing the state's other large, investor-owned utilities in the level of renewable energy content it supplies to its customers.
"The change we're creating with Marin Clean Energy has people outside of the area looking our way with hope," McGlashan said. "They see that we're already moving ahead with better energy, competitive rates and without burden to the taxpayer. I'm honored to be a part of this movement and to accept this prestigious award with our director, on behalf of the people of Marin."
The Power Association of Northern California is a non-profit trade organization whose goal is to educate members on activities in the energy market that may affect their businesses. It was established in 1985.
