
RCEA Events
RCEA’s RePower Hour is our series of lectures and presentations, both online and in person, that answer Humboldt County’s critical energy questions.
We are excited to participate in live events again throughout the county. Please join us at any of the events below and check back often, we’ll be adding more.

Humboldt's Electric Future
RCEA will hold two public workshops titled ‘Humboldt’s Electric Future’ to gather public input for important decisions. The first will be in-person-only on Monday, June 5 at the Jefferson Community Center, 1000 B St in Eureka. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m., with workshop activities from 6 to 8 p.m. The second workshop will be online via zoom, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 8.
- Which clean and renewable resources should we maximize in our power portfolio?
- How important is it that our clean and renewable energy come from local sources?
- How should we balance the community’s priorities, such as clean energy, local economic development, and low utility rates?
Please visit Humboldt’s Electric Future page for complete details.
PAST EVENTS

Redwood Coast Energy Authority is celebrating 20 Years!
We’ve been developing and implementing sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient and renewable resources available in the region for 20 years now.
April 28 at the Mad River Brewery & Taproom in Blue Lake.
The Yurok Tribe’s Low & Slow BBQ will be serving up meats, vegetarian options, and sides for us. Beverages will be available for purchase. We’ll have special guests and fun activities. Families are welcome.

GoGreen Financing Workshop
for Contractors
Provide competitive financing to your customers to win more bids and deepen project scopes!
Tuesday, April 18
Learn more about how GoGreen Financing can benefit you and your customers!
Administered by the State of California, GoGreen Financing puts energy efficiency upgrades within reach with attractive rates and terms and no property liens. With the GoGreen Home and GoGreen Business programs, California homeowners, renters, and small businesses can finance upgrades to their properties with energy efficient heating and cooling systems, insulation, new windows, ENERGY STAR appliances and more.
GoGreen Financing Customer Benefits
- Financing for up to 100% of project costs
- Below market interest rates and extended terms for affordable monthly payments
- No money down, no closing costs and no lien on properties
- Extensive list of eligible measures with potential for custom projects
- Up to 30% of financing may be used for non-energy improvements (remodeling, landscaping, etc.)
- GoGreen Financing can be layered with RCEA rebates
GoGreen Financing Contractor Benefits
- Zero dealer fees
- Be included in a public listing and statewide marketing efforts
- Enrolling as a participating contractor/project developer is easy with the GoGreen Financing online trainings
- GoGreen Home contractors get paid within 24 hours of project completion
- GoGreen Business contractors/project developers may receive progress payments or pre-funding
To learn more about GoGreen Financing, visit RCEA’s GoGreen pages:



Heat Pump Workshop
for Space and Water Heating for homeowners and businesses
January 21, at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka
Recording of Space Heating presentation (water heating coming soon):
Join us for two separate expert presentations on heat pump space and water heating. Learn how heat pumps work, about ducted and ductless systems, what the various kinds of systems are, and what’s involved in installing and maintaining them. There will be plenty of time for Q&A and a chance to talk with local heat pump contractors. This workshop is for the public and there is NO COST to attend.
- Learn about generous federal, state, and local rebates and incentives.
- Enjoy refreshments and a beautiful view of Humboldt Bay from the Wharfinger.
Instructor Dan Perunko is the co-founder of Balance Point Home Performance where he provides consulting, design, installation, and troubleshooting services for advanced HVAC systems. Dan also teaches courses for other contractors and designers on how to improve the performance of their building and mechanical systems. Visit balancepointhp.com for more information.
Schedule for the day:
- 8:30 a.m. Meet local heat pump contractors & enjoy refreshments
- 9-10:30 a.m. Heat Pump Space Heaters & Q&A
- 10:30-11 a.m. Refreshments and time with local contractors, our expert instructor Dan Perunko, and RCEA staff
- 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Heat Pump Water Heaters & Q&A
- 12:15-1 p.m. More time with local contractors, instructor Dan Perunko, and RCEA staff
Location:
The Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way in Eureka (MAP)
RSVP (not required) by emailing info@RedwoodEnergy.org
Flyer PDF for download/print (3MB)

RCEA Resource Day in Hoopa
RCEA was at the Hoopa Shopping Center next to Food for People to chat with local customers on November 22.
Ask us:
- How to read your bill
- Understand your energy usage
Learn how:
- To reduce your bill
- To take advantage of rebates and incentives
- RCEA’s customers can pick up or sign up for a no-cost energy efficiency kit
12500 State Hwy 96. Please call (707) 269-1700 if you have any questions. Here is the flyer.

Contractor and Vendor Open House
Contractors and vendors stopped by on Oct. 26 for breakfast and to chat with RCEA Energy Advisors about RCEA’s program offerings.


RCEA Hosted the Arcata Chamber of Commerce First Thursday Mixer
The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid
Grand Opening Celebration
Solar Backup Unit for Humboldt County Fire Agencies
Join us for the delivery of the trailer
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Certify & Amplify Virtual Workshop with MCE and the CPUC
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Marin Clean Energy’s (MCE) 4th Annual Certify & Amplify Workshop will help small and diverse businesses throughout the state certify in the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Supplier Diversity program and amplify business opportunities. RCEA and MCE Certify & Amplify workshops are geared towards helping businesses access statewide opportunities, so this workshop can help you even if your business is not located in Marin.
This year MCE will also have a speaker focusing specifically on how to get certified as a small business.
Haz clic aquí para aprender más del evento en español.

Solar Microgrids with Matthew Marshall, Executive Director of the RCEA
350 Humboldt presents Matthew Marshall, executive director of the RCEA, in a Zoom presentation on Monday, April 4, at 7 p.m. Matthew will discuss design and deployment of solar microgrids.
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Matthew Marshall has served as Executive Director of RCEA since 2010, during which time the organization has expanded into the areas of alternative transportation vehicles and fuels, community scale renewable energy, and Community Choice Aggregation.
Co-sponsors are EPIC, Sierra Club and HUUF Climate Action Campaign.
For details and to RSVP:

Solar & Battery First Responder Training
The RCEA hosted a training for Humboldt County’s first responders to effectively respond to fires at homes and businesses that have solar panels and battery storage installed.

2022 Reach Codes Newcomers Webinar Series
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority would like you to know about a free upcoming webinar series on the adoption of Reach Codes for our local jurisdictions.
The one-and-a-half-hour webinars will be presented over the next few months. Anyone that wants to learn more about reach codes is welcome.
A collaborative effort by the Statewide Reach Codes Program, BayREN, Building Decarbonization Coalition and the California Climate and Energy Collaborative (CCEC), this webinar series helps reach code newcomers (and anyone who wants to learn more about reach codes) gain a greater understanding of the options, resources and timeframes involved. Sessions are timed for jurisdiction staff who are exploring reach code adoption in alignment with the new statewide 2022 Building Energy Code, effective January 1, 2023. This is a 5-session webinar series.
2021 Past events:

Run-of-the-River
Hydroelectric Power Webinar
Recording:
The North Coast’s Untapped Potential
Two sessions were offered on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 10-11 a.m. with a repeat at 5:30 p.m.
Read more
This was an online presentation by RCEA consultant Michael Furniss about the potential of small-scale, run-of-the-river hydroelectric power for the North Coast.
RCEA is launching a regional effort to facilitate the development of small hydroelectric projects “done right”, and we are ready to discuss any questions you may have, such as:
- Why is hydropower needed when solar is now so widely available and inexpensive?
- How will fish be protected if you are diverting water from streams to make electricity?
- Won’t the development of watersheds cause impacts to water and the ecosystem?
- What are the Best Practices for hydropower development?
- For systems that cannot be feasibly connected to the grid, how will this project help?
- How will landowners and investors be incentivized to develop small hydropower?
- Why hasn’t more hydropower been developed so far?
- What does RCEA expect to get from this effort?
- How does small hydro fit into RCEA’s power portfolio?

RCEA's Certify & Amplify Virtual Workshop
Connect Your Business to California’s Contracting Clearinghouse
Small diverse businesses who certify have special access to multimillion $ contract opportunities with utilities, large and small, across the state.
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority hosted a webinar to introduce local businesses to the benefits and opportunities available through the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Supplier Diversity program.
Read more
If you are a small diverse business owner, we want to help you certify in the CPUC Supplier Diversity program and amplify your business opportunities throughout the state. In this webinar, you will learn about the benefits and opportunities available through this certification and how to access California’s multimillion-dollar utility contracting clearinghouse.
Commonly referred to as “Supplier Diversity,” General Order (GO) 156 is a statewide program that encourages utilities to prioritize contracts and subcontracts from businesses that meet diversity qualifications. To qualify, businesses must be 51% woman-owned; minority-owned; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT)-owned; or disabled veteran-owned enterprises.
After being certified as a diverse supplier, qualified businesses are listed in the CPUC’s Clearinghouse, which utilities can then access for their contracting needs and to meet their contracting quotas.
The COVID-19 pandemic has squeezed our local businesses into even more competitive environments and tighter margins, making Supplier Diversity certification another way to get local businesses noticed and ensure that they stand out among the competition.
RCEA wants to make sure that businesses in our communities are aware of this program, know how to qualify for the Clearinghouse, and get their questions answered by our guest speakers from the CPUC, Pacific Gas & Electric, and a local business like themselves.
When diverse community businesses thrive, we all thrive.

Energy Resilience Webinars - Solar, Net Energy Metering and Battery Storage Basics
Read more
Summer 2021 Solar and Net Energy Metering Webinar
RCEA is dedicated to supporting customers who wish to generate their own renewable energy and boost their energy independence. Billing and generation credits were explained by RCEA Account Services Manager, Mahayla Slackerelli. Both webinars included time in the end for questions.
Links to the NEM webinar materials:
Battery Storage Basics Webinar
One week after our Net Energy Metering webinar – energy storage options for your home or business.
RCEA’s Project Manager Mike Avcollie presented along with Kyle Hass, Senior Program Manager at Swell Energy. Swell is working with RCEA to develop a local “Community Grid” program where customers receive a payment in exchange for scheduling a portion of their battery to be shared with the grid.
Learn about battery basics, how solar systems can be paired with batteries, and how to begin investing in a battery storage system. Economic, environmental, and resilience benefits will be covered. Both webinars included time for questions.
If you have questions about batteries or the RCEA Community Grid Program, you can email Mike and Kyle directly:
- Mike Avcollie – mavcollie@redwoodenergy.org
- Kyle Haas – khaas@swellenergy.com
Links to Battery Basics materials:
- Battery Storage Webinar video recording (morning, the full webinar)
- Q&A of the evening Battery Storage Webinar (just the Q&A, not the full webinar)
- Presentation Slide Deck

Heat Pump Best Practices Technical Webinar
May 2021
Presented by Dan Perunko from Balance Point Home Performance
- Focused for contractors, inspectors, architects, and engineers
- Valuable information for residential, commercial and multi-family applications
- Outline of proper installation of refrigerants and correct sizing of units
- Common challenges encountered by contractors and suggested solutions
For more details email Marianne Bithell at mbithell@RedwoodEnergy.org

Q&A for RCEA's Electic Vehicle Rebate
February 2021
Redwood Coast Energy Authority hosted a “Live Q&A” Facebook event to answer questions about RCEA’s Electric Vehicle rebate program. The Q&A is still on RCEA’s Facebook page.
Rebate funds are still available for your new EV; 50% of whatever your vehicle qualifies for from the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project. The rebate program, which is the first of its kind in Humboldt County, will run until funds run out.
The rebate is funded by RCEA’s Community Choice Energy program and aims to decrease the cost of a new EV and make them more accessible to RCEA customers.
Energy Month Panel Discussions
Hosted by the Redwood Coast Energy Authority
In recognition of energy month and in response to public concerns about recent local and state energy issues, RCEA hosted two evening panel discussions.
Read more
October 2020
The transition to increased use of renewable energy has progressed greatly in recent years, but at the same time, we are seeing rapid changes to our climate and new challenges to our energy distribution systems. How are these phenomena connected? What are the causes of the rolling blackouts and PSPS events, and what does the future of energy look like? What is the role of RCEA and community choice energy programs in all of this? How will RCEA’s renewable energy projects and strategic planning help Humboldt County become more resilient and stable as the state of California phases out its aging gas infrastructure and nuclear power plants?
Session one, “Renewable and Doable: California Rises to the Clean Energy Challenge”
RECORDING of the 1st Webinar
Guest panelists will include some of our state’s top authorities:
- Karen Douglas, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
- Beth Vaughan, Executive Director of the California Community Choice Association
- Matthew Marshall, Executive Director at RCEA
Session two, “Energy Reliability, Resilience, and Innovation in Humboldt County”
RECORDING of the 2nd Webinar
This segment will discuss Humboldt County projects, programs, and leadership with:
- Jana Ganion, Sustainability and Government Affairs Director at the Blue Lake Rancheria
- Jon Fortune, Senior Director at Swell Energy
- Jim Zoellick, Principal Engineer, Schatz Energy Research Center
- Richard Engel, Director of Power Resources at RCEA
Mahayla Slackerelli, Account Services Manager, and Jocelyn Gwynn, Power Resources Manager, moderated the discussions.
Email outreach@redwoodenegy.org or call (707) 382-7110 if you have questions.
Press release (updated) PDF of the full flyer JPG of the flyer

Exploring the Feasibility of Offshore Wind Energy for the California North Coast
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This was a five-part webinar series by the Schatz Energy Research Center. Details and captioned recordings can be found at schatzcenter.org/wind.
Topics included energy generation and transmission, local economic and job development, port and coastal infrastructure, ecological and geological environmental considerations, and community perspectives on regional impacts and opportunities. There was a moderated panel discussion and a community conversation after each presentation.
Schedule of topics
- Monday, September 14, 2020: Energy Production and Delivery, and Economic Development
- Monday, September 21, 2020: Ecological and Geological Environment
- Monday, September 28, 2020: Port and Coastal Infrastructure
- Monday, October 5, 2020: Community Perspectives on Regional Impacts and Opportunities
- Monday, October 12, 2020: Reflections and Next Steps
If you’re interested in receiving updates on Schatz’s offshore wind research, including newly released reports and upcoming events, please send an email to windstudies@schatzcenter.org.

Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid — Advancing a resilient and clean energy future
A recording and slide show of the presentation can be found on the Clean Coalition Website.

Electric Vehicles 101 Webinar
An online presentation on the benefits of buying an EV and what incentives are available
A recording and slide show can be found on our Advanced Transportation/Electric Vehicle page
Read more
RCEA Transportation Specialist Lee Valenzuela spoke about the different types of electric vehicles, financial incentives and assistance, consumer benefits, environmental benefits, fuel and maintenance savings, and charging options.
RCEA’s Transportation Program supports the use of low-carbon fuel vehicles in Humboldt County by planning, managing, and implementing zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. RCEA also provides information, education, and incentives to encourage local residents, businesses, and public agencies to adopt low-carbon fuel vehicles.

Net Energy Metering Webinar
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority invites the community to a webinar about home and business solar electricity systems and Net Energy Metering. RCEA is dedicated to supporting customers who wish to generate their own renewable energy and boost their energy independence.
In this webinar, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority staff Mahayla Slackerelli, Account Services Manager, and Mike Avcollie, Project Manager, focus on the first steps to installing solar, and RCEA’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) Program. Billing and generation credits will be explained. Current customers should have their bills handy.

POSTPONED - Electric Bike Public Workshop
Martch 2020
In light of recent developments surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19), Redwood Coast Energy Authority has decided to postpone the E-Bike Workshop. RCEA believes it to be in the best interest of the community to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Public safety is our top priority. We want to ensure the safety and well-being of our event staff, participants, and community members. RCEA will also be suspending all other RePower Hour events until further notice. Updates will be provided regarding the event when more information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding.

Valentine's Day Energy Efficiency Open House
February 2020
Stop by RCEA’s office on Valentine’s Day for a FREE Energy Efficiency Kit for your home. Energy Advisors would *LOVE* to discuss which items would be most useful in your home. The Kits, which are valued up to $75, may include LED light bulbs, smart power strips, showerheads, weather stripping, and more.
Are you interested in reducing your energy bill? Looking for advice on appliance upgrades? Planning major investments in your home’s comfort and efficiency? Want to learn about electric rate schedule options including 100% renewable energy? Do you have questions about electric vehicle ownership or charging? Our professional Energy Advisors are here for you. Be sure to ask about income-qualified services, financing options, rebates, and tax incentives.

Battery Storage Basics Round 2
February 2020
Due to popular demand, we are repeating our “Battery Storage Basics” presentation at the Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way, Eureka. (new location). There will be additional time and space for Q&A and visiting the vendors.
Since the recent Public Safety Power Shutoffs, Humboldt County residents have been asking how they can make their homes and businesses more energy resilient, how they can utilize the electricity from their solar panels when the grid is down, how vehicle-to-home storage solutions work, and where to start when investing in a battery storage system. The Redwood Coast Energy Authority will again address these questions at a second public workshop on battery storage systems.

Battery Storage Basics - Building resilience in Humboldt County
February 2020
Since the recent Public Safety Power Shutoffs, Humboldt County residents have been asking how they can make their homes and businesses more energy resilient, how they can utilize the electricity from their solar panels when the grid is down, how vehicle to home storage solutions work, and where to start when investing in a battery storage system.
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) will address these questions at a public workshop on battery storage systems upstairs in room 203 at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, 921 Waterfront Dr., Eureka.