The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) and the City of Blue Lake are excited to announce that the City of Blue Lake has completed the process of enrolling in RePower+, Humboldt County’s Community Choice 100% Renewable Energy program.

The City of Blue Lake, including all the city buildings, public services, Parks and Recreation, and other city-operated facilities, has joined hundreds of other Humboldt businesses and residents who have “opted up” to help achieve energy independence and energy security in Humboldt County. The City of Arcata has also made the decision to opt up. The cost to Blue Lake will add only $.01/kWh to the city’s regular monthly bill.

“The cost really isn’t that much, but it’s a statement about the direction the city wants to move towards.” said Bobbi Ricca, Blue Lake City council mayor pro-tem. Bobbi also represents Blue Lake on the Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s Board of Directors.

Mayor Adeline Jones added that Blue Lake’s citizens are excited about using as much renewable energy as possible, installing solar panels and taking advantage of the property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing programs that the City has made available to property owners in the city. “I’m always proud of our residents. We’re a small town that tackles big problems.”

As of August 2017, 100 percent of the electricity used by Arcata’s municipal government is generated from renewable sources. The City of Arcata opted up to the Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s REpower+ service last month. Now all City facilities and operations requiring electricity are running on renewable energy.

Opting up to REpower+ helps meet goals set by the Arcata City Council over a decade ago to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. REpower+ customers use more locally-sourced energy that supports local job development and renewable power infrastructure development, thus diversifying the region’s economy and building energy resiliency.

In May, all Humboldt County businesses, with the exception of Ferndale businesses, were automatically transitioned to RCEA’s Community Choice Energy program. Through the program’s basic REpower option a portion of the electricity purchased comes from renewable sources at lower rates than PG&E’s conventional power program. For 1 cent per kilowatt hour more, businesses focused on reducing carbon emissions could opt up to REpower+ service where all of the power purchased is generated from renewable, secure sources, such as wind, solar, and local biomass.

“Whether you are a resident or small business, you have the power to make a make a difference in addressing climate change by opting up to 100% renewable energy sources now,” says Mark Andre, Arcata Environmental Services Director. “By opting up to 100 percent renewable energy sources, all of your electricity needs will be powered by clean energy sources. No gas. No oil. No coal. No nuclear. No fossil fuels.”