When someone has enjoyed a virtual lock on something for years, they aren't going to give it up without a fight.
We're talking about Pacific, Gas and Electric (PGE) here in Marin County.
The 100+-year-old utility and power company's battle against Marin's recently formed renewable energy power company, Marin Energy Authority (MEA) has really ramped up. And it's not going in MEA's favor.
Consider the recently released Marin Civil Grand Jury report which advised both Marin County and individual municipalities to "pull the plug" on the fledgling power authority. Citing high cost to taxpayers, the report also questioned the ability of the county to manage MEA, and Marin Clean Energy (MCE), the project that would be responsible for obtaining Marin's power from renewable sources. As of this date, the only towns that had not signed on with MEA, were Corte Madera, Larkspur and Novato.
That may change.
On Tuesday evening, even eco-oriented Mill Valley seemed to be having second thoughts. The MV City Council was supposed to vote on a resolution affirming the town's decision to join MEA. They did not, preferring to delay the decision until sometime before the deadline, January 12.
Groups both for, and against MEA are gearing up for February when the MEA board will vote on whether or not to proceed with the MCE proposal.
PGE, however, isn't taking any chances.
According to this CBS5 internet report, PGE is pushing hard to to place an initiative on the June ballot which would make it much harder for local power co-ops to compete with the power giant.
Stay tuned.
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