Sourcing Renewables  -  November 12, 2020

Rochester plans CCA program for businesses to source cheap RE

The City of Rochester, N.Y., announced Nov. 12 a new program that will give residents and small business owners the opportunity to source 100% renewable energy at a low, fixed rate.

Community choice aggregation (CCA) is being promoted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). The Rochester CCA will solicit bids from energy suppliers by leveraging the collective buying power of the more than 80,000 Rochester Gas & Electric utility account holders.

The program is intended to be focused on low-income customers and will hopefully drive demand for and the development of local clean energy projects.

"I am very excited to see our community choice aggregation program reach the point where we can now show our residents how it can help them save and preserve the environment at the same time," Mayor Lovely Warren said in a statement. "I am looking forward to working with the folks from Joule Community Power as we roll out this program and advance our efforts to become a cleaner, greener, more sustainable city. Protecting our environment helps create more jobs, safer and more vibrant neighborhoods, and better educational opportunities for our citizens."