LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Community members are invited to upcoming meetings in order to  learn more about how Lake County could offer an alternative to Pacific Gas and Electric’s electric power sources, cut emissions and potentially trim rates while retaining PG&E for grid maintenance. 

Three public meetings will be held in July. 

Attendees will learn how Mendocino and Sonoma Counties have successfully replaced PG&E's power sources with their own, and how Lake County is considering a similar action.

Hearings will take place as follows:

• 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, Lake County Board of Supervisors, first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, Lakeport City Council, 225 Park St.
• 6 p.m. Thursday, July 17, Clearlake City Council, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Sonoma Clean Power, or SCP, is a community-owned organization fighting for lower rates and more renewable energy. 

Starting in 2014, SCP began replacing PG&E's power sources for customers across Mendocino and Sonoma counties. SCP is not a full municipal utility because it still relies on PG&E to maintain all the poles and wires in the power grid.

The county of Lake and Cities of Clearlake and Lakeport are considering asking SCP to expand its services to include our region.

SCP has trimmed power bills for its customers by over $100 million over the past decade, and built large solar, wind and battery systems. SCP is also leading an effort to build 600MW of new geothermal power to secure affordable rates and improve our region's energy independence. 

Today, SCP generates the power for 87% of all electric customers across Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

Earlier this year, the Lake County Board of Supervisors and the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake sent requests to SCP to consider extending service into Lake County. 

The July meetings will explore that option in detail.