Santa Monica Businesses to Begin Receiving 100 Percent Green Energy

Starting next month, Santa Monica businesses will begin receiving 100 percent green power through the city's new default energy provider, City officials said Thursday. The businesses -- which account for 75 percent of Santa Monica's electricity demand -- will follow the lead of residents, who began using the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) as their energy provider in February. City officials said the transition to the government-run power agency "will have a huge impact on reducing Santa Monica’s greenhouse gas emissions." Customers can choose between three tiers -- 100 percent, 50 percent and 36 percent -- offered by the CPA, which requires its member cities to select a default rate option. In October, the City Council voted to make the 100 percent energy tier the default selection for residential customers.