January 2024

SCP Receives Marketing Awards for Clean Energy Campaigns

In 2023, Davey Awards and MUSE Creative Awards, which recognize exceptional creativity and innovation in marketing campaigns.

SCP’s yearlong lifestyle campaign, Powering Everyday Moments, creates an emotional connection with customers by portraying the many ways that SCP and clean electricity power the “moments that matter” in their lives.

Davey Awards

Submitted by our partner, The Engine is Red, our Powering Everyday Moments campaign earned three Davey Awards. For the past 19 years, the awards spotlight outstanding creative work, especially from small agencies worldwide.

SCP was recognized in the following categories:

• Gold: Integrated Campaign-Community Engagement
• Gold: Integrated Campaign-Sustainability
• Gold: Integrated Campaign-Promotional & Branding

The campaign included digital, print, and out-of-home advertising. Definition Films expertly produced the video component of the campaign, and the talented Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People captured the commercial photography.

MUSE Creative Awards

SCP received two Gold honors from the MUSE Creative Awards, which are dedicated to highlighting excellence in creative design, advertising, and digital media. Both our Powering Moments That Matter TV commercials and EverGreen short films, produced by Definition Films, were recognized.

The series of 30-second Powering Everyday Moments commercials showcase diverse “moments that matter” across Sonoma County, all powered by clean energy. From Friday night football games under the lights at Windsor High School, to drone shots of local town centers and numerous family gatherings, the commercials portray the importance of clean energy in our daily lives.

August 2022

Best Company to do Business With in Sonoma County: Sonoma Clean Power

Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) is a public community organization with a small staff and a big goal. They are working to solve the climate crisis—at the local level—and are actually showing measurable results. “We single handedly cut Sonoma and Mendocino’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 9% by eliminating nearly all of the emissions from producing electricity,” says CEO Geof Syphers.

Given the scope and complexity of the energy problem, this is impressive. How do they do it? “When things don’t work, we stop doing them,” says Syphers. “And when things work, we double down and invest more.” Simple? Maybe. But given human nature, probably not. So, how does Sonoma Clean Power really do it?

First, it’s the company’s mission. “Our employees come to work every day knowing that what they do matters,” he says. Then, it’s the method. He calls it “working the problem backwards.” With everybody motivated, onboard, and willing to learn, they study their goals in terms of the future. “So, we’re trying to solve the climate crisis,” he explains. “And so, what does a successful solution look like in the year 2050? And then what would we need to achieve by 2040 to reach that? And then, what about 2035 and then 2030? You work the problem backward. And what happens is you discover the important problems you need to solve now.”

It’s all part of the fun for Syphers and the team at Sonoma Clean Power. “What I love about that is, you can’t walk away from something that’s necessary. You have to solve it. And so, we put it out into the community.” We ask for help, he adds, and we ask for support from the community. The request elicits a wonderful response. “We have so many allies in what we’re trying to do in other agencies and companies and environmental advocates and labor advocates, all kinds of folks,” he says. “And the chambers of commerce, too. I mean, everybody wants us to be successful, which is a lovely place to be.”

Syphers is acutely conscious that all people have economic realities and incentives are a huge part of its program. “We always have something extra,” he says. “For low-income people, it might be extra support. It might be extra money. It might be lower-cost financing. It might be just what you want. Their “EverGreen” plan, for example brings 100% locally made renewable power day and night. “It’s the first service of its kind in the U.S., producing renewable energy, 24 hours a day.”

As a community business devoted to community benefit, he listens to everyone—even children. Recently Syphers spoke with students at Sonoma Country Day School and brought a set of problems to the third-grade class. “And they would generate all kinds of new ideas,” he says with delight, admiring the openness of the students to come up with ideas. What he found was that third and fifth grade students were open to learning, and were solution-oriented. “They’re so creative,” he adds. “Science isn’t knowing you’re right,” he says. “Science is trying something, figuring out how to be more right. And I think that’s a lot of what we’re doing.”

July 21, 2021

New one-stop Advanced Energy Center offers a glimpse at a greener home and the path to getting there

A storefront that opened last month on downtown Santa Rosa’s Fourth Street isn’t peddling merchandise or beckoning customers in for a meal or beverage.

The folks there are pushing the opportunity to live a more energy-efficient life and offering help in making that transition.

But they’re also marketing something more subtle: the chance to feel empowered to take action in the face of accelerating climate change.

“This facility is about giving people hope,” said Geof Syphers, chief executive officer of Sonoma Clean Power. “There are things you can do that are not that difficult, that can also save you money.”

Syphers, spoke Wednesday at the agency’s new Advanced Energy Center, which was developed with a $9.8 million grant from the California Energy Commission. The site is an exhibition and demonstration center, training hub and referral office rolled into one.

Visitors can browse displays and exhibits on energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, electric induction cooktops, heat pump water heaters, radiant wall and floor heating systems, electric chargers and batteries, and other technologies.

The center offers classes to help homeowners and contractors learn how to work low-carbon technologies and appliances into their remodels, and also provides assistance identifying installers. Customers can also learn how to secure financial incentives and affordable financing where it’s available

Staff members also can help consumers understand how technologies that look expensive to start can often pay for themselves pretty fast.

The goal is to lower barriers to greater energy efficiency for all income levels and make it less intimidating, as well.

“A lot of this is about getting people to ask questions and giving us an opportunity to tell them about it,” Syphers said.

Syphers recalled a resident of Cloverdale, known for its high summer temperatures, exclaiming about how he cut his power bill in half after installing a more efficient heating and cooling system.

Syphers suggested the man host a party and tell his friends all about it.

“This is what we really want,” said Kate Kelly, director of public relations and marketing for Sonoma Clean Power, “is for people to engage with us.”

Built in the former home of the Stanroy Music Center near Fourth and E streets (the music store has since moved), the Advanced Energy Center grew out of a program created by the public electricity provider in the aftermath of the 2017 North Bay fires, which destroyed 5,334 homes in Sonoma County, Kelly said.

The Advanced Energy Rebuild Program allowed participants to earn up to $17,500 for increased energy efficiency in their new homes and was first used by Pacific Gas & Electric in the town of Paradise, which was destroyed by fire in 2018.

The Advanced Energy Center is the next step in expanding the use of renewable energy to regional constituents using a model that can be replicated elsewhere.

The center is funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge Program, which promotes the expanded use of renewable energy and the advancement of electric technologies in buildings, businesses and transportation.

“What Sonoma Clean Power is doing with the Advanced Energy Center is a bold and groundbreaking model for others,” CEC Chair David Hochschild said in a news release. “The Energy Commission is proud to support this effort to bring the climate-friendly cooking experience and new construction technologies directly to interested Californians. This type of education and awareness is critical as the state doubles down on reducing emissions from buildings by using clean energy to power more things.”

Sonoma Clean Power, launched in 2014, is now one of 23 community choice energy providers in California that offer more renewable, locally sourced alternatives to their customers, delivered through PG&E equipment. Its efforts have also been focused on advancing clean technologies through incentive programs to help encourage early adopters to get on board.

The utility offered incentives for electric vehicle purchases for several years, until there were more on the market and a critical mass of people buying them, Syphers said. Then the focus shifted to offering charging stations to encourage latecomers.

Now the emphasis on the transition to greener homes and assistance in making that transition.

Where there has been news on municipal efforts to ban natural gas in new construction in various cities, for instance, much of the negative reaction comes from gourmets reluctant to forgo gas cooktops — mostly because they think electric means the 1950s-style coil burners.

December 10, 2020

Advanced Energy Center in Santa Rosa wins Top Real Estate Project Awards

The advanced energy center at 741 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa is under construction with an opening date to be determined. When completed, Sonoma Clean Power plans it as a community-centric hub for clean energy technology. Sonoma Clean Power will use this center to showcase innovative energy-saving technologies, while also offering clean energy classes and connecting homeowners and businesses with products and contractors who can provide installation services.

Construction costs are estimated at $4.2 million.

A demonstration kitchen will be the training site for those considering induction appliances and cooling techniques, while a next-generation clubhouse will serve as a clean energy resource for youth for the benefit of the local environment and climate change.

Homeowners, designers, architects, builders and installers will be able to take advantage of educational and certification courses in the large training room that features tubular skylights that SCP customers might choose to deploy in residential or commercial construction projects. A folding glass wall can be opened to expand this room to serve as a lounge area for larger events.

The showroom is arranged to facilitate easy navigation of technologies on display along the perimeter. Clean energy exhibits, including all-electric living and electric vehicle charger displays, surround a comfortably furnished area with a cloud ceiling above. Specialized group learning areas can be found as guests and customers make their way further into the space.

The general contractor for this center was Agbayani Construction Corporation. The design was created by TLCD Architecture. Civil engineering services were by Brelje & Race Consulting Engineers. ZFA Engineers contributed structural engineering support, Guttman & Blaevoet provided mechanical, electrical and plumbing design services, and TeeCom was responsible for audio/visual systems.

Editor’s Note: This article has been changed. The project cost as stated in the original post was incorrect. It is projected to be $4.2 million, an agency spokesperson said. Also, the project is not completed as originally stated. It is under construction and an opening date is still to be determined. Also, an electric vehicle charger will be located at the facility when opened.

November 14, 2019

First New Solar Project in Mendocino County

Sonoma Clean Power completed its fourth local solar project with a new 1.4 MW Solar System in Willits. The system produces the daytime energy needs for about 800 homes.

September 18, 2019

Local Solar Projects Start Producing Power 2018-2019

SCP continued our commitment to promoting the development of local renewable generation installations in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Three solar projects were completed: two in Petaluma and one in Cloverdale, bringing the total number of new local solar projects to six. The combined output of these new projects reaches 6 MW and adds great daytime energy production to SCP's 24-hour geothermal resources.

September 2019

EverGreen Upgrades

Over the summer, SCP's 100% local renewable customers just got some new friends, when the Town of Windsor, the Cities of Cotati and Sebastopol, and the County of Sonoma all signed up for EverGreen… joining the City of Sonoma. For the first time, these new EverGreen customers are getting truly 100% renewable energy -- even at night!

By 2023, most cities, towns, or counties participating in Sonoma Clean Power’s Joint Powers Agreement had transitioned at least one of their public accounts to SCP’s 100% local, renewable service, EverGreen. Hats off to the City of Sonoma, the City of Cotati, the City of Sebastopol, the City of Sonoma, the City of Santa Rosa, the City of Petaluma, the City of Rohnert Park, the County of Mendocino, the City of Point Arena, and the Town of Windsor.

Thank you for your leadership!

May 16, 2019

2019 NorthBay Biz Readers Poll Winner

With more than 3,000 ballots containing 60,000+ votes in the 37 different categories, SCP was voted the Best Company to do Business within Sonoma County.

February 1, 2019

SCP Creates Endowment at SRJC for Environmental Innovation Grants

During the SRJC’s Spring 2019 semester, SCP launched the inaugural “Spirit of Entrepreneurship Grant” with a gift of $50,000 to support Santa Rosa Junior College entrepreneurship program students who incorporate sustainable practices into their small business plans.

August 1, 2018

Drive EV: The Final Year

In the past two years, the program has helped SCP customers save over $10 million on electric vehicles with nearly 800 EVs having been purchased or leased locally. SCP plans to focus on growing.

July 10, 2018

SCP Completes 2 MW Local Solar Project

SCP celebrated the completion of two local solar projects by Coldwell Solar that are now operational in rural Petaluma. Each of these facilities produces one megawatt of clean, renewable electricity.

May 24, 2017

SCP Breaks Ground on Important New Wind Project

Sonoma Clean Power's partner NextEra Energy breaks ground on a new 46 MW wind facility in Tracy, CA. The project replaces older turbines and lowers the risks of bird fatalities. It also helps fill a major gap in renewable power production in the evenings, as wind speeds increase and solar output decreases.

October 27, 2016

Drive EverGreen Launch

Sonoma Clean Power launches new Drive EverGreen electric vehicle program, to support the agency’s goal to put 10,000 EVs on roads in service territory by the end of 2020 and a much grander goal of 100,000 EV by 2030.

May 1, 2014

Sonoma Clean Power Officially “Flips the Switch”

Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the county’s new electricity provider, commemorated their first day of service to approximately 22,000 customers with a “flip the switch” celebration at their May 1st Board of Directors meeting.

SCP is one of two not-for-profit community choice programs in California which allow communities to purchase power on behalf of their residents and business owners – secures electricity from renewable sources such as geothermal and solar at competitive rates, while creating competition in the marketplace and providing customer choice between the locally run public agency, and the offerings of the monopoly for-profit, investor- owned utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

“The formation of Sonoma Clean Power is the single largest action Sonoma County has taken so far to address climate change,” said Sonoma Clean Power CEO, Geof Syphers. “On this first day of service to customers, we celebrate the environmental and economic benefits that this local agency brings to Sonoma County,” added Syphers.

SCP offers two electricity services to customers. The first is their basic CleanStart service, which is 33% renewable and costs 4-5% less (as compared to PG&E’s 22% renewable basic service). CleanStart is the service SCP customers will receive unless they choose to opt-out and continue to receive their electricity service from the incumbent monopoly utility.

The second service, EverGreen, is the first of its kind in California. EverGreen is 100% local, 100% renewable electricity starting with energy from the Calpine geothermal facility. EverGreen is a voluntary service and costs 3.5¢per kWh more than the basic CleanStart service.

“Today is a historic day in the evolution of Sonoma Clean Power, and our goals to create true competition, to provide customer choice, and to bring more renewable energy to Sonoma County at very competitive rates,” said Sonoma Clean Power Board Chair, Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin. “The implementation of Sonoma Clean Power is a win/win for the environment, our local economy and the residents and business owners of Sonoma County.

Sonoma Clean Power provides local, renewable electricity to residential and commercial customers to the following participating Sonoma County cities: Santa Rosa, Windsor, Sonoma, Sebastopol and Cotati, as well as all the unincorporated areas of the county. The cities of Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Cloverdale have been given an opportunity to join Sonoma Clean Power by January 31, 2015.

December 20, 2013

Sonoma Clean Power Announces CEO

The Board of Directors of Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) has named
Geof Syphers as the local energy provider’s Chief Executive Officer, effective January 3, 2014. Syphers, who has served as Sonoma Clean Power’s Interim CEO since July 2013, has been instrumental in negotiating the agency’s start-up financing and procuring power contracts to bring cleaner energy at competitive prices to commercial and residential customers beginning in May 2014. 

“The Board has been very happy with Mr. Syphers’ performance to date,” said County Supervisor Susan Gorin, Board Chair of Sonoma Clean Power. “He has helped us deliver on our goals to secure cleaner power at competitive prices, and we look forward to seeing the continued success of Sonoma Clean Power under Geof’s leadership,” Gorin added. Syphers brings a background of more than 18 years in the electric utility industry, where he launched and ran clean power and green building programs and trained utilities on construction cost management. 

Under the terms of the three-year contract, Syphers will receive an annual salary of $205,000 with benefits of up to $36,050. This benefit package is 60% less than typical for public employees, due in part to the decision of the Authority’s Board of Directors to implement a “defined contribution” pension plan instead of a “defined benefit” plan, which is in effect at most public agencies. The total compensation for the position is comparable with the compensation of other senior public agency managers in the county.

The contract provides for future salary increases based in part on Syphers’ performance. Under the SCP program, customers can choose to continue to receive energy from PG&E.

The salary increases tied to performance will be based on the number of customers who choose to stay in the SCP program. SCP’s operations will be funded by revenues from power sales. No tax dollars will be used to pay Syphers’ salary.

Sonoma Clean Power will offer residential and commercial customers in participating areas the option of using more environmentally-friendly power, generated by renewable sources—like solar, wind and geothermal—at competitive rates. SCP will serve customer in the cities of Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor, and Sebastopol, and in the unincorporated areas of the county.

July 29, 2013

Initial Community Outreach

Sonoma Clean Power to double first customers served 

Sonoma Clean Power will be doubling the size of its service launch from 10,000 to 20,000 customers in the initial phase, with an emphasis on commercial customers who are slated to start receiving service on May 1, 2014. 

Most residential customers will be eligible for service in one of the two later phases at the start of 2015 and the start of 2016. 

The updated plan improves finances for the program by serving a larger customer base more quickly, while providing a better schedule for educating customers and setting rates. Customers will receive two enrollment notices before their Sonoma Clean Power service starts and two more after. 

“SCP is currently negotiating with power suppliers to ensure the best mix of cleaner power sources at the most competitive rates. With 79% of the County participating, that really increases our negotiating power. Contracts are expected to be signed by November 2013,” Says Geof Syphers, CEO of the new power provider. 

While negotiations are underway, Sonoma Clean Power is seeking applications from interested community members who wish to be considered to serve on two committees: the Business Operations Committee and the Ratepayer Advisory Committee. 

The Business Operations Committee will meet monthly during the start up phase. Members will be appointed to staggered four year terms with a commitment of approximately four hours monthly. Members must have business or professional experience in certain specific areas. 

The Ratepayer Advisory Committee will meet 4 times in 2013, and generally 3 times each following year to advise on the annual rate process. Members will be drawn from commercial and residential customers, and will be appointed to staggered four year terms. 

More information regarding the duties and powers of these two committees can be found on the Sonoma Clean Power website. Applications are available at sonomacleanpower.org.

SCP is the new, locally-controlled electricity provider in Sonoma County. It will offer residential and commercial customers in participating areas theoption of using more environmentally friendly power, generated by renewable sources—like solar, wind and geothermal—at competitive rates. SCP will serve customers in the Cities of Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor, and Sebastopol, and in the unincorporated area of the County.

May 5, 2013

Windsor Town Council votes to become the first to join SCP

Windsor Joins the Sonoma Clean Power Authority’s Board (Santa Rosa, CA) —The Town of Windsor formally joined the Board of the Sonoma Clean Power Authority today with the seating of Vice Mayor Bruce Okrepkie. Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin relinquished her seat to make room for the first city to formally join the Authority which allowed Windsor to participate in some of the Board’s first formal actions. “I am thrilled to participate in the initial formation of Sonoma Clean Power and give a voice to the cities. This is an exciting venture and I will be ensuring the residents and businesses of Windsor have a voice during this critical time”, said Board member Bruce Okrepkie. Today was the second meeting of the newly created Sonoma Clean Power Authority and approved the execution of a $2.5 million line of credit from First Community Bank as well as extended the deadline for cities to join the Authority from June 30, 2013 to July 9, 2013. Also approved were a number of business items to allow effective operations of the Authority such as use of an attorney and the ability for the executive officer to enter into small contracts. A suggested change to the joint powers agreement which would alter the voting structure was delayed until the next Board meeting when more cities are expected to have joined.