Since the County decided to enroll in MCE in 2017, community members have been advocating for the County to enroll its own accounts in MCE’s Deep Green (100% renewable) program. Using renewable electricity sources instead of fossil fuel electricity sources is one of the easiest ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The emissions inventory prepared last year as part of the ongoing update to the County’s Climate Action Plan forecasts emissions associated with electricity to be lower than they were in the base year, 2017, due to more customers taking electricity from MCE because of the higher renewable content in MCE’s electricity mix than PG&E’s. In community meetings conducted in 2019 for the Climate Action Plan update, a constant suggestion was that the County enroll its own accounts in MCE’s Deep Green program. In Contra Costa County, the cities of Martinez, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Danville, El Cerrito, San Pablo, and Richmond have enrolled their accounts in MCE’s Deep Green program.   
  
At the December 9, 2019 meeting, the Sustainability Committee reviewed the options for enrolling County facilities in MCE's Deep Green (100% renewable) electricity project. The difference between the current MCE basic electricity product known as Lite Green and Deep Green is about one cent per kilowatt-hour ($0.01/kWh). If all County facilities were to enroll, the increase in electricity costs would be approximately $400,000. Because a number of County facilities currently have solar or are in the process of installing solar, another option would be to enroll only those facilities that do not have solar. This would result in a total electricity bill increase of about $290,000/year and a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of 1,500 metric tons per year.   
  
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have published a new study that claims the economic value of the health benefits realized by meeting the renewable portfolio standards already in place in several states will exceed the cost of meeting those standards by a wide margin. Burning fossil fuels — any fossil fuels — creates pollutants known as fine particulate matter. These tiny particles of soot less than 2.5 microns in size can transfer directly into the bloodstream in the lungs. Once absorbed into the body, they promote heart and lung disease, making us sick and in some cases shortening our lives. The illnesses attributed to fine particulate matter have economic consequences such as medical bills, lost income, and reduced productivity. Lowering the amount of fine particulates would have what economists call “health co-benefits.”  
  
During public comment at the December 9 meeting, Marti Roach (County resident) asked if the County's solar installations provide 100% of the building use, and suggested that because they do not; enrolling in Deep Green would bridge the gap. Howdy Goudey (Sustainability Commission Chair) said that the County needs both solar on its facilities and Deep Green participation. He said that the $0.01/kWh premium that MCE currently offers to customers who participate in the Net Energy Metering program if they have solar panels that are selling excess power back to MCE will in the future only be available to Deep Green customers. Goudey suggested savings from the solar facilities could fund County participation in Deep Green. Goudey said the Sustainability Commission has looked at other areas where the County could realize potential savings, for example, eliminating the use of disposable food ware. Rose Jackson (County resident) said the County needs to move quickly and set an example for the public. Other members of the public agreed, including Karen Perkins (County resident) who said that in the long run the County should consider the cost of not joining Deep Green to combat climate change.   
  
In discussion, the Committee clarified that additional electricity costs for Deep Green participation would be borne by the County department(s) that are in the participating buildings. In some cases, these costs come out of the General Fund, in others they come out of programs funded from other sources. The Committee discussed the many priorities the Board must balance, including health care, social services, and social justice programs. The Committee voted to recommend to the Board that the County enroll in MCE's Deep Green program those facilities that do not have and will not be receiving solar panels. The Committee also voted to review this decision in one year.

The County will miss an opportunity to cost effectively meet the goals of the Climate Action Plan for powering the County’s facilities on 100% renewable power and provide health benefits for County residents.