The right community choice 

Supervisor Lynn Compton's version of how and why she and two other supervisors turned down a chance to implement a Community Choice Energy program in SLO County cannot be allowed to pass without comment ("Fork in the road," March 15).

A dozen California counties have thrown the switch on clean Community Choice Energy programs, providing competitive rates in the course of transitioning to a cleaner energy supply (cutting 940,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year and realizing savings on customer bills of more than $33 million in 2016 alone, per the California Community Choice Association). These programs provide consumer choice, local control, job creation, and economic development, with revenue reinvested in the community, and can replace the power generated by the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.

A feasibility study for the entire Central Coast found that community choice "is more likely to be rate-competitive—or even offer a rate savings—for customers located in PG&E territory [i.e. San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara County]" and urged additional independent analysis.

But this is Supervisor Compton's description of her vote to decline to pursue Community Choice:

"I feel like the left just keeps throwing these bombs. Whatever it is, du jour, and bring it to the board and then they make it a big political deal. ... Looking at [Community Choice Energy] logically, it didn't make financial sense to do it."

Supervisor Compton is entitled to her own opinions. She is not entitled to her own facts.

Chuck Tribbey

Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club chair

San Luis Obispo