NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                                          Contact: Jackie Wright
December 25, 2008                                                                              Wright Enterprises
                                                                                                           415 824.3990




San Rafael- Women’s Energy Matters, a grassroots non-profit, thanks the San Rafael City Council for approving Marin Clean Energy, a great “green Christmas present” that will yield great environmental and economic dividends.  The San Rafael vote for “Energy Democracy” joins San Rafael with Marin County and the towns of Fairfax, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Sausalito, San Anselmo, Belvedere and Ross, which have also approved the Marin Clean Energy plan.  As a result, the residents and businesses of Marin County will now have the choice of twice or three times as much green, renewable energy than is currently provided by PG&E — with no rate increase.

“We can’t thank the San Rafael Council enough,” said Barbara George, Executive Director of Women’s Energy Matters.  “Using Community Choice to build a green energy system is by far the biggest thing Marin can do to reduce climate change — and the greatest boon to our local economy as well.  The new Marin Energy Authority is on track to start serving customers in 2010. However we expect the utility to continue with its lobbying and advertising to kill the plan, in order to preserve its profits. There needs to be a robust public information campaign to counter the utility’s attempts to lull us into sticking with the status quo.”

Women’s Energy Matters has provided information to the public about Marin Clean Energy since May, by canvassing neighborhoods, farmers markets and festivals. The group has videotaped over a dozen hearings on the plan and posted many of them on its website.  Most recently WEM created a short synopsis of the votes prior to the San Rafael decision. (http://blip.tv/file/1562865)

“Everyone will have four opportunities to opt out of the Marin Energy Authority program and stay with PG&E, so there’s no need for an expensive ballot measure,” says George. “ It’s important for people to know that PG&E representatives testified at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that it cannot make its state mandated goals of providing 20 percent renewable energy by 2010.  The Marin Clean Energy plan will provide a minimum of 25% solar, wind and geothermal energy at the same or less cost as PG&E, which is only providing 12% renewables.”

George says the public should be informed that The Marin Energy Authority will take over the responsibility of purchasing energy pursuant to California’s Community Choice law, AB 117 (Migden, 2002).  The law was adopted to protect communities from energy industry corruption that resulted in rolling black outs and spiked energy costs. 

“The public will not see any difference in service delivery,” George continues.  “The difference is that people concerned about global warming and the welfare of the community will be making energy decisions, as opposed to leaving control in the hands of corporate giant PG&E which is focused on making profits for its investors, not the commonwealth.”

As Marin County works together to fight global warming by voting for “Energy Democracy” with Marin Clean Energy, Women’s Energy Matters also stresses individual action should be taken to improve the environment.  For a list of  “Beyond a Green Christmas Tips” visit http://www.wrightnow.biz/articles_view.asp?columnid=2898&articleid=52568


Women’s Energy Matters (WEM) is a network of women and men who approach energy issues from a woman’s point of view. WEM works for a rapid transition to an efficient, renewable energy system, in order to promote healthy communities and ecosystems and improve international relations.  To assist Women’s Energy Matters in its work for community choice, renewables, energy efficiency and environmental justice, make a tax-deductible year-end contribution at http://www.womensenergymatters.org/forms/form_donate.htm.