New York has recently started the planning phase of a pilot program for its own version of community choice aggregation. What was initially a single demonstration community has expanded into a second proposal.

A group called Citizens for Local Power (CLP) has proposed a CCA for Ulster County’s current non-shopping customers. The proposal details every step of the process of procuring and managing bids for the three-year program, all on a budget of just under $800,000.

Most interesting in this aggregation is CLP’s focus on incorporating resources outside of traditional retail energy in trying to create an effective program.

A major focus is being placed on the development of distributed energy resources – everything from efficiency to energy storage to small-scale distributed generation. The goal here is to create a more sustainable power environment for the community through community effort and investment, as opposed to the more cost-focused approach espoused by many CCA programs.

CLP’s plan also includes their offering a 100% renewable option in addition to whatever standard rate plan they negotiate for their customer base. A spokesman for CLP cited the California CCA Sonoma Clean Power as an example of this type of rate structure.

Community choice aggregation is not just a way for community members to save money. It’s also a way for communities to provide large-scale support for green energy initiatives in a way that is affordable for the individual and actually makes an impact on the energy environment.

AGR Group is proud to support community choice aggregations by providing customer support services for aggregators. Our agents have years of experience, and know the energy industry inside and out. Contact us today for a consultation and see how we can help you succeed.