I had an opportunity recently to ask several environmental experts a question: “What can the City of Alhambra do right now that would have the biggest impact for a cleaner environment?”
The answer was clear: switch over to 100% renewable energy as soon as possible.
Fortunately, we here in Alhambra had a head start. In partnership with the Clean Power Alliance, or CPA, since October 2023, nearly all Alhambra residents and businesses switched to 100% renewable energy. This momentous change has resulted in a reduction of more than 129,000,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually. That’s like taking 13,000 gas powered cars off the road or planting over 950,000 trees and growing them for a decade!
I’m proud of Alhambra for being a part of CPA and for joining the growing number of cities around the country in choosing 100% renewable electricity.
But what is the Clean Power Alliance?
I’m glad you asked! CPA is a public agency made up of 33 cities in Southern California along with the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. It is a community agency overseen by local elected officials from member communities. Its mission is to provide renewable and climate friendly energy to customers at a very reasonable rate.
CPA provides electricity to over three million customers in Southern California with more communities signing up every year. In 2024 alone, CPA customers helped to prevent over four billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Although CPA was only founded in 2017, it has grown into the fourth largest electricity provider in California and was recently certified as the number one provider of green energy in the nation by the United States Department of energy.
Is this green power affordable?
Absolutely! CPA offers some of the most competitive rates of any local utility. Although Alhambra‘s 100% renewable rate comes at a small premium over other products, people who need assistance may qualify for the CARE, FERA, or one of CPA’s other programs. Of course, choice is a key part of CPA’s offerings, so any customer can opt into one of CPA’s other pricing tiers at any time. CPA will always offer a greener product and will always do so at the lowest cost possible.
As CPA grows its operations, expands its territory, and renewable energy technology improves, the long-term cost of renewable energy will decrease even more. With CPA as our electricity provider, we should expect a cleaner, greener, and more affordable energy future.
For more information about CPA and the programs it offers, please visit: cleanpoweralliance.org.
Jeff Maloney is Vice Mayor of the City of Alhambra and represents the city on the CPA Board of Directors.
