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Community Choice Aggregation Feasibility Analysis Alameda County Chapter 8: Conclusions Overall, a CCA in Alameda County appears favorable. Given current and expected market and regulatory conditions, an Alameda County CCA should be able to offer its residents and business electric rates that are a cent or more per kilowatt-hour less than that available from PG&E. Sensitivity analyses suggest that these results are relatively robust. Only when very high amounts of renewable energy are assumed in the CCA portfolio (Scenario 3), combined with other negative factors, do PG&E's rates become consistently more favorable than the CCAs. An Alameda County CCA would also be well positioned to help facilitate greater amounts renewable generation to be installed in the County. While the study assumed a relatively modest amount for its analysis—about 175 MW, other studies suggest that greater amounts are possible. Because the CCA would have a much greater interest in developing local solar than PG&E, it is much more likely that such development would actually occur with a CCA in the County than without it. The CCA can also reduce the amount greenhouse gases emitted by the County,but only under certain circumstances. Because PG&E's supply portfolio has significant carbon-free generation (large hydroelectric and nuclear generators), the CCA must contract for significant amounts of carbon-fee power above and beyond the required qualifying renewables in order to actually reduce the county's electric carbon footprint. For example, even assuming that the CCA implements a portfolio with 50%qualifying renewables and contracts with carbon-free hydropower 50% of the remaining power(i.e., 50%renewable, 25%hydro, 25% fossil/market), it would only then just barely result in net carbon reductions. However,the extent to which GHG emissions reductions occur is also a function of the amount of hydroelectric power that PG&E is able to use. If hydro output(continues) to be below historic normal levels, then the CCA should be able to achieve GHG savings, (as long as it is also contracting for significant amounts of carbon-free(likely hydroelectric)power). Therefore, if carbon reductions are a high priority for the CCA, a concerted effort to contract with hydroelectric or other carbon-free generators would be needed. A CCA can also offer positive economic development and employment benefits to the County. At the peak, the CCA would create approximately 2300 new jobs in the region. The large amount for be for construction trades,totaling 440 jobs. What may be surprising is that much for the jobs and economic benefit come from reduced rates; residents, and more importantly businesses, can spend and reinvest their bill savings, and thus generate greater economic impacts. July,2016 55 MRW&Associates,LLC