As the new federal administration’s policies begin to unfold, it’s clear that real climate solutions will primarily be driven at the local level. It’s also clear that shifting from fossil fuels toward renewable electricity is made more difficult in California because of our sky-high electric rates. Community-owned power providers like Sonoma Clean Power are tackling both challenges — climate change and cost.

One way Sonoma Clean Power works to keep electric bills in check is by advocating at the California Public Utilities Commission for more effective wildfire prevention expenditures. We believe PG&E should focus on the most critical repairs first, not the easiest or most lucrative. We also believe PG&E needs to better justify any new rate increases, which is why we’ve started carefully checking their math. By advancing solutions to make rates reasonable, we can help everyone afford the switch to electric appliances and vehicles.

Los Angeles Times columnist Sammy Roth suggested shifting the expense of undergrounding power lines from electric bills to the state’s general fund. Such a move could lower overall costs for both low-income and most middle-income customers, making electric appliances more appealing and helping us reduce fossil fuel use faster. Sonoma Clean Power is studying how to make this approach viable, because affordable rates are essential for speeding up climate progress.

While California has cut back on the amount of natural gas we burn, the costs of keeping older gas-fired power plants on standby keep climbing. We can’t fully close them yet because solar and wind alone can’t cover long winter nights or cloudy stretches, and batteries eventually run out.

To add to this, the new administration has signaled a clear shift away from development of most renewables. In a series of executive orders on his first day in office, President Donald Trump halted federal onshore and offshore wind permitting, and declared an “energy emergency” appearing to favor natural gas and other high capacity-factor generating resources over wind, solar and batteries.

This is why investing in geothermal power is critical at this time. Geothermal is a “clean firm” resource, meaning it is available 24/7 regardless of weather or other external factors. California has mandated the procurement of 2,000 megawatts of geothermal power, and we can ensure some of this is built here locally, saving money and providing jobs for our community. Through our Geothermal Opportunity Zone (GeoZone), we plan to develop 600 megawatts of next-generation geothermal energy, fully ending our dependence on natural gas for electricity.

The challenges ahead are significant, but by working together, we can build an energy future that is affordable and not as vulnerable to extreme weather. Through responsible planning, bold innovation and everyday actions, we can protect our environment, reduce costs for families and make real progress on climate change without waiting for the next change in politics.

Geof Syphers is CEO of Sonoma Clean Power.

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