By Bernadette Austin

At the California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) conference this month, I reconnected with old friends and made new connections. I had a fascinating conversation with someone with intimate knowledge of the energy challenges facing communities around Lake Tahoe. This “power struggle” has made national headlines, raising concerns about power regulation, transmission lines, and energy sourcing. Liberty Utilities is seeking a new energy supplier to serve their 50,000 customers starting in 2028. The process to solicit and select a new energy provider is subject to oversight by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The current supplier NV Energy, (which supplies 75% of Liberty’s power), is based in Nevada, an inter-state situation that complicates management of transmission systems. Furthermore, residents and activists are vocal with their concerns and objections, asserting that this move is in response to the significant growth of data centers and their corresponding demand for energy. According to the Desert Research Institute, Nevada is one of the fastest-growing regions for data centers in the U.S., including significant construction by some of the largest tech companies taking place east of Reno. The person I was speaking with was looking for ideas and partners to help their community address these significant challenges. CalCCA brings together some of the most innovative leaders in the energy sector. Over 1,000 people turnout out for this year’s conference, likely driven by the fact that the event coincided with CalCCA’s tenth anniversary and took place in Sacramento just as ballots for the June primary election landed in mailboxes across the state. I have no doubt that Lake Tahoe communities impacted by this transition can benefit from the braintrust that gathered at this conference.

With the election taking place next week and the state budget being finalized just a few days later, issues like these are top of mind for leaders and their constituents. Voters are concerned about the accelerating cost of living driven by housing, healthcare, energy, and gas costs, the latter two in turn driving up costs in many industries and for many products. The implications for these elections–especially for Governor–will impact many areas highlighted in the Lake Tahoe example above. A new Governor will appoint new agency leadership and commissioners. A new Insurance Commissioner will weigh in on utility and healthcare regulations that can impact access and cost of insurance. A new Treasurer will oversee funding and financing for public works, such as transportation, parks, housing, and economic development. The outcome of offices for state legislators and members of Congress will set the tone for how California communities interact with other states, (like Nevada), and the federal government.  While CivicWell focuses on supporting local leaders, the outcomes for state and national offices this year carry significant implications for our organization, our members, and our partners. I look forward to seeing many of our partners and members at the next convening on our calendar, the California Climate and Energy Collaborative Forum taking place June 24-25. This year’s theme “Grounded in People, Guided by Possibility: Shaping our Future in a Changing California,” will provide pragmatic solutions for many of these themes.

Additional Photos from the 2026 CalCCA Conference