Plan West partners inc

Planwest Partners led a consulting team, including the Schatz Energy Research Center, that assisted the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) in preparing the Humboldt County 2025 General Plan Energy Element.  The RCEA is a joint powers authority made up of Humboldt County and seven incorporated cities.  The RCEA serves as the regional energy authority for planning, education, and energy conservation and efficiency program implementation.

The Planwest team worked with energy suppliers, regulators and potential producers to develop a long-term policy document.  The team developed policies to ensure energy supply continuity, reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient, and renewable energy resources, especially those that are local. 

The benefits of long-term energy sustainability are expected to include the ability to: retain more energy dollars in our local economy; ensure more reliable and secure energy supplies; reduce dependence on imported energy sources; reduce susceptibility to energy price shocks; create jobs and diversify the economic base; more effectively incorporate the concerns of local citizens in energy decisions; improve/maintain the quality of the environment; address local and global environmental issues such as climate change; and respond thoughtfully to energy projects that are proposed for the region. The Element was unanimously approved by the RCEA Board and accepted by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors for inclusion in the comprehensive County General Plan Update.