Pioneer Community Energy recognized for local, diverse investments

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently recognized Pioneer Community Energy as a leader in diversity investment through its work with business enterprises owned by women, minorities, disabled veterans and LGBT entrepreneurs. Pioneer Community Energy, a not-for-profit, community-owned local provider of electricity, serves 150,000 residential and commercial customers in unincorporated Placer County and El Dorado County and the incorporated areas of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Placerville, Rocklin and Loomis. A recent report issued by the CPUC ranks Pioneer Community Energy as second among 15 Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) in 2021 for the most diverse spending in its non-power procurement efforts. "Pioneer Community Energy is honored to be recognized by the CPUC for our efforts to invest heavily in our local and diverse economy," said Alice Dowdin Calvillo, chairperson of the Pioneer Board of Directors and mayor of Auburn. "We remain steadfast in supporting our regional economy and local businesses. In 2021, nearly 50 percent of Pioneer's power and non-power suppliers were either locally or regionally sourced, and California companies made up 70 percent of Pioneer's suppliers." As part of its dedication to boosting the regional economy and championing local businesses, Pioneer has also established contractual relationships with three local and regional suppliers for power procurement. "In 2021, Pioneer spent nearly $4.3 million on power sourced from the Placer County Water Agency's hydroelectric facilities," said Donald Eckert Jr., Pioneer's executive director. "We also spent $436,000 for hydropower sourced from the El Dorado Irrigation District and $82,000 on biomass Renewable Energy Credits from Sierra Pacific Industries. We look forward to increasing our supplier diversity while meeting mandates to procure as much as possible from local and California businesses." Pioneer remains committed to developing and enhancing its supplier diversity program, procedures and processes. "We value the trust that we've earned in our community, and maintaining transparency is part of keeping that trust — and a top priority for Pioneer," Dowdin Calvillo said. "Sharing information about our business practices helps our customers understand how we are working to serve the community's best interests and that we offer smarter choices for energy options." One of 25 Community Choice Aggregators in California, Pioneer works cooperatively with the region's existing investor-owned utility, PG&E, which provides infrastructure and delivers the power purchased by Pioneer. Through community choice aggregation, communities can pool their electricity load to purchase energy and develop local projects and programs on behalf of their residents and businesses. To learn more, visit pioneercommunityenergy.org.