River City Bank’s Clean Energy Division provided financing for the construction, installation, and operation of five Tesla Powerpack battery energy storage projects.
Ventura Energy‘s battery energy storage systems enable water pumps to keep working even when an emergency public safety power shutoff occurs. These projects and others are critical to keeping California safe as the climate changes.
Fred Barnum began his career after moving from his hometown of Auburn to the Bay Area to start his electrical apprenticeship. Four years later, he returned to Auburn and took a job with a Sacramento contractor and helped them manage that company for six years.
At the age of 29, he decided to branch out on his own. Barnum wanted to provide exceptional customer value while enhancing his employees’ professional and personal lives. He set out to build a business based on these principles. He reached out to his old bay area boss, Paul Celillo, a contractor and accomplished electrician, and Celillo agreed to partner with him. In 1990, Barnum & Celillo Electric, Inc. (BCE) was born.
Fred Barnum and Paul Celillo built BCE with the intent of becoming one of the premier electrical contractors in the industry. It was founded on three core principles: integrity, dedication, and craftsmanship.
BCE believes success cannot be measured simply by a financial statement. It measures its success through its most valued assets; its employees, clients, vendors, community, and the environment.
The success of its clients has allowed BCE to grow from a concept between friends to becoming one of the largest electrical contractors in the western United States. Clients have come to rely on BCE’s commitment and stability, enabling BCE to retain and add to its base even through the most challenging economic times. Whether designing a million-square-foot e-commerce distribution facility or simply changing a couple of light fixtures, BCE has provided its customers with unwavering dedication, quality workmanship, and unparalleled integrity.
The success of its clients has allowed BCE to grow from a concept between friends to becoming one of the largest electrical contractors in the western United States. Clients have come to rely on BCE’s commitment and stability, enabling BCE to retain and add to its base even through the most challenging economic times. Whether designing a million-square-foot e-commerce distribution facility or simply changing a couple of light fixtures, BCE has provided its customers with unwavering dedication, quality workmanship, and unparalleled integrity.
The enhancement of its employees’ personal and professional lives represents the heart and soul of BCE. Each member of the BCE team strives to ensure that the company’s core values are at the forefront of its work. Its entire field staff is either a California State Certified journeyman or enrolled in a State-approved training program. Employee development never stops, and the company continually refines its craft by staying at the forefront of technology and the latest code revisions.
“I believe in creating opportunities. If you take care of your people, they will take care of the company,” says Barnum. “The current workforce is transient, but we don’t have those issues.”
BCE understands the importance of giving back to the community and proudly supports many worthwhile charities and organizations. Contributing to the community is not an obligation but an opportunity. They support many nonprofit organizations, including Lilliput, the Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis, and the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento, to name a few.
When BCE first decided to enter into the renewable energy sphere in 2004, clean energy was still considered cutting edge. Fast forward nearly twenty years, and BCE continues its dedication to assisting customers to use alternative energy sources and achieve the most aggressive energy conservation and efficiency. BCE’s building has over 40,000 square feet of solar panels on its roof, providing 257.6 kW (over a quarter megawatt) of power. From concept to design to permitting to construction to installation, they ensure their clients get the best technology and the best value for their projects.
“I believe in creating opportunities. If you take care of your people, they will take care of the company,” says Barnum. “The current workforce is transient, but we don’t have those issues.”
During the time of this interview, Barnum and his wife eagerly awaited their fifth grandchild’s birth. He reflected on two pieces of advice that his father gave him:
Barnum continues to heed these words and appreciates the growth this wisdom has afforded him. With the help of Celillo and BCE’s incredible team members, he took a one-person shop and built it into a company that employs 300-400 people at any given time. BCE now services both California and Nevada with projects ranging from updating local businesses’ LED lighting to providing its services on high-tech distribution center projects.
For Barnum, loyalty is the tie that binds and is essential in growing personally and professionally. Long-standing relationships are meaningful, and this is why BCE chose River City Bank. The company wanted to work with a community-based bank emphasizing relationships and loyalty.
“River City Bank truly cares about their clients,” says Barnum. “Any day of the week, I know that I can pick up the phone and reach out to Charice (Huntley) or Steve (Fleming) with a question and get a response quickly.”
“It’s all about developing and cherishing the relationships you have,” says Barnum. “If you don’t, they are fleeting.”
When it comes to Clean Energy, River City Bank doesn’t just talk the talk; we shout it from the rooftops!
With the help and expertise of Barnum & Celillo Electric (BCE) and its team of Marc Davis, Matthew Evans, and Jon Evans, River City Bank installed 550 solar panels (250 kW system size) on the roof of its Corporate headquarters. The BCE team joined RCB’s Rosa Cucicea, Director of the Clean Energy Division, and Controller Brian Killeen to examine the solar arrays that will power the building with renewable energy. The Bank has plans to install another 120 panels (54 kW system size) on the roof of its Woodland Branch location.
River City Bank is committed to clean energy and proud to be a part of making California a cleaner and greener place to work and live.
Barry Keane is a recent addition to River City Bank’s Clean Energy Division. As a Business Development Officer, Barry is tasked with sourcing project finance opportunities for the bank’s expanding clean energy portfolio. Barry, an Oakland native, talks to us about family traditions, the Raiders, and all things Harry Potter.
Hometown: Oakland, CA
First Job: Oakland Raiders Training Camp in Napa, CA. An unforgettable experience spending a summer as an office intern with my favorite sports team.
My family held Raiders season tickets for 18 years in Oakland. We had four tickets—my grandpa, my dad, my little brother, and I would go to every home game at the Oakland Coliseum. I have attended over 100 Raiders games in my life. My family no longer holds season tickets due to the Raiders departure from Oakland, but I did attend three games in Las Vegas last season
Favorite Quote: “Just Win, Baby!” – Al Davis
Favorite Movies: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. These movies are pure nostalgia for me. A comfy couch, a big blanket, a roaring fireplace, rainy weather, and a LOTR movie on the TV screen. Holiday season perfection.
Favorite city to visit: New Orleans; the food, the music, the people, the spirit—there is no other city like it.
Favorite place in California: Lake Tahoe. Spending a week in Lake Tahoe during summer has been a Keane family tradition for almost 50 years. It is a big family gathering with 40 people attending each year. Lake Tahoe is, without a doubt, my favorite place to swim.
First site or app you check in the morning: Twitter is my go-to app for news in the morning, but TikTok is slowly gaining ground as my favorite app for all of the laughs and creative content.
Morning ritual: An apple and a 30-minute workout.
Who is your favorite hero/heroine of fiction? Harry Potter. My first date with my wife was a Harry Potter movie at Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. Who knows where I’d be without Harry.
Which talent would you most like to have? Dunking the basketball.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I played basketball with NBA All-Star and Oakland legend Damian Lillard. Dame and I played on an AAU traveling basketball team together in 7th and 8th grade.
Which living person do you most admire? Stephen Curry. Steph has been underestimated his entire life due to his size, and he continues to prove the doubters wrong. He is a prime example that all things are possible with dedication and hard work.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Marrying my wife.
What do you like best about working at River City Bank? The people.
By Rosa Cucicea, Director of the Clean Energy Division at River City Bank.
Like many other agricultural enterprises, the wine industry has always been one of high risks and high rewards. With roots in antiquity, it is also one of the world’s most innovative industries.
Here in the heart of California wine country, a growing number of wineries have implemented new ways to harness the best that the natural world has to offer, including an embrace of solar power generation and energy storage, the development of completely self-sustaining microgrids, and other innovative solutions to drive greater energy independence and long-term resilience.
This forward-thinking approach requires partnerships between wineries and clean energy providers, as well as flexible approaches to financing and leveraging tax incentives
Named “California’s most eco-conscious winery” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Silver Oak has established a reputation for leading the way when it comes to sustainability. Its wineries in Napa Valley and Alexander Valley were the world’s first product wineries to be LEED Platinum Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Haley Duncan, sustainability manager and a third-generation family leader at Silver Oak, says her family’s business has been laser-focused on sustainability for the past 10 years. This includes planning for the reduction and reuse of natural resources such as solar energy and water, as well as incorporating renewable technologies that will help facilities continue to produce great wine.
“We invested in technology that we weren’t previously familiar with,” Duncan said. “There was a steep learning curve as we continued construction, and the reaction from our customers since opening the new Alexander Valley tasting room has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley facility includes solar panels on all roof surfaces, with nearly 2,600 panels in place, as well as solar-thermal panels to heat water without tapping into the external power grid and a secondary system of CO2 heat pumps that can heat water to clean all cellar equipment. In April 2020, the facility earned a Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification from the International Living Future Institute. It was the only manufacturing facility to receive such recognition.
The team at Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards and Winery has pushed the boundaries of alternative energy further with the integration of a unique, self-contained microgrid that incorporates both solar energy and a state-of-the-art hydrogen power system.
Stone Edge owner Mac McQuown has worked directly with a team of engineers for the better part of six years to make his farm fully energy independent, with no need to rely on PG&E for electricity.
“Hydrogen is a safe, readily available energy source, and the system we have in place is 4.5 times more efficient than a combustion engine,” McQuown said.
“This represents a huge leap forward for wineries and other businesses that are looking for sustainable energy solutions,” he continued. “There’s seemingly no limit on the amount of hydrogen you can produce and store with the right tools in place.”
The hydrogen power system relies on a sophisticated electrolyzer that utilizes small amounts of electricity to break down rain water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen produced in that exchange is then stored and used for power, primarily during the winter months when solar energy can be more challenging to collect.
According to McQuown, the time is coming when hydrogen production will be possible from salt water sources as well, which will greatly enhance the possible applications for hydrogen power systems like the one at Stone Edge.
The facility has been running in “island mode,” completely independent of PG&E, since December 2019. McQuown noted that Stone Edge’s marginal cost of electricity is zero, as is its marginal carbon footprint.
While sustainable farming and clean energy initiatives may be attractive for wineries and other businesses throughout the North Bay, funding remains a major hurdle. Even with recent reductions in operating costs for solar energy and microgrid technologies, future-minded teams can have difficulty getting started.
Michael Kremer, co-founder and head of strategic finance for White Pine Renewables, said his company has seen the economic equation improving every year.
“The rise of battery storage has been a game changer,” he noted. “Batteries enable customers to shift electricity consumption from the grid to an independent power system at times when the power grid is in high demand and PG&E’s rates are higher. Battery costs have decreased as well in recent years, which opens new opportunities for businesses to implement sophisticated solutions for the long haul.”
White Pine Renewables works with wineries, farms and other businesses to deliver solar energy solutions under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that can deliver the energy savings of a self-contained solar power grid without the burden of maintenance costs, permitting and other common sticking points. PPA financing is an alternative solution to owning the renewable energy assets directly and can be a cost effective solution for businesses that do not have sufficient ability to utilize tax credits.
White Pine coordinates the registration and permitting of the solar equipment, as well as ongoing maintenance obligations, and property owners pay a contracted rate to purchase the solar power generated on their properties and land.
A number of sustainability programs and innovations may also qualify for tax credits and deductions, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs and limit the amount of financing needed. Derrick Wilkinson, a CPA and senior manager with Moss Adams, commented that many wineries and other agriculture-based businesses don’t realize how much they may qualify for in terms of tax deductions and R&D credits.
For building owners who implement a system that achieves an efficiency increase of more than 50 percent, for example, a Section 179D tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot may be within reach.
“Most people think that R&D credits and other tax scenarios apply only to major manufacturing operations or that qualifying initiatives have to be completely ‘new to the world,’ but that isn’t the case,” Wilkinson said.
“There are a number of programs that may qualify for credits and deductions, which will help fund the businesses’ labor, material and third-party costs for these programs. You can even go back a number of years to review whether or not you qualify for credits that were made available in past years,” he said.
To maximize tax incentives, Wilkinson advised wineries to stay proactive and loop in a CPA very early on. This will ensure that documents are tracked appropriately in the moment. Qualifying programs may include smoke taint removal initiatives, dry irrigation and cultivation efforts, wastewater treatment processes, CO2 capture programs and new automation systems to address labor shortages.
Sustainability is the way of the future, and there are a number of long-term benefits to pursuing new systems and incorporating new technologies to make today’s energy-dependent wineries more self-sufficient and energy independent.
As Duncan noted, “The most important thing is to take the first step. You’ll learn a lot along the way, but it’s important to focus on one project at a time so you can apply what you’ve learned to the projects that follow.”
Helping to connect the dots is why third-party providers such as White Pine Renewables exist, and looping in tax professionals such as Moss Adams early is paramount. It is also the core purpose of River City Bank’s Clean Energy Division, which provides credit and cash management services for clean energy projects. As the bank of choice for a majority of California’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) providers, River City Bank is committed to supporting its clients and empowering them with the resources needed to enact meaningful and lasting change.
Named one of Sacramento Business Journal’s “50 Fastest Growing Companies” for each of the past five years, River City Bank provides tailored, executive-level service and solutions to businesses throughout Northern California. It is the largest independent, locally-owned and managed bank in the Sacramento region and has commercial banking offices in Petaluma and San Francisco.
Rosa Cucicea is Director of the Clean Energy Division at River City Bank. In this role, she supports a variety of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) providers and other clean energy businesses throughout California with custom-tailored solutions spanning start-up capital, lines of credit, renewable energy project financing and custodian “lockbox” accounts.
Officially launched on March 1st, 2021, San Diego Community Power (SDCP) delivers customer choice for cleaner energy and competitive pricing. As one of California’s largest community choice aggregators (CCAs), SDCP joins 22 other successful programs throughout the state that are reforming power procurement in favor of transparency, accountability, and reliability. CCAs are local energy providers established by state law and managed by local elected officials and community representatives.
For the first time in our region’s history, families, businesses, and municipalities in Encinitas, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, and San Diego have a future-focused choice in energy providers and a clear path to reach 100% renewable energy by 2035 or sooner.
Organized as a community-driven not-for-profit, SDCP is committed to investing back into local communities through job training, renewable energy development projects, and aid programs for communities of concern. While generating revenue in support of shareholder returns drives the incumbent investor-owned utility, SDCP is focused on clean technology innovation, creating local jobs, and energy programs supporting communities of concern.
“The launch of San Diego Community Power is a game-changer for customer choice, fighting climate change, and creating healthier and more equitable communities for future generations,” said Joe Mosca, Encinitas Councilmember and SDCP Board Chair. “We are excited to usher in a new era for San Diego communities and to do our part to reduce the impacts of climate change by providing greener energy options.”
As San Diego Community Power rolls out service—which began with municipal customers in March 2021, followed by commercial service in June 2021 and residential service beginning in February 2022—customers can choose from competitively priced 50% or 100% renewable energy options. The incumbent investor-owned utility will continue to deliver power, distribute monthly billing, and provide ongoing power grid maintenance. As service becomes available, eligible residents and businesses will be automatically enrolled in SDCP service with the choice to opt-out at any time.
San Diego Community Power’s renewable energy portfolio comes from wind, solar, and battery storage. At 50% to 100% renewable energy, SDCP products are affordable and substantially better for the environment than the current 31% option offered by the local investor-owned utility. Committed to meeting and beating state reliability standards, SDCP rigorously vets its energy sources and works in partnership with the local utility to ensure reliability in the energy delivery infrastructure.
As San Diego Community Power rolls out service—which began with municipal customers in March 2021, followed by commercial service in June 2021 and residential service beginning in February 2022—customers can choose from competitively priced 50% or 100% renewable energy options. The incumbent investor-owned utility will continue to deliver power, distribute monthly billing, and provide ongoing power grid maintenance. As service becomes available, eligible residents and businesses will be automatically enrolled in SDCP service with the choice to opt-out at any time.
Community choice energy is a rapidly growing alternative to monopoly, profit-driven utilities. CCAs were enabled by state legislation as part of the solution to the 2001 energy crisis, allowing local communities to control the energy they buy and address constraints on competition that contributed to the problem. Locally elected officials govern CCAs with consistent input from a Community Advisory Council. All decisions on energy procurement, rates, and reinvestment are made at publicly noticed open meetings, giving member city residents and businesses a voice in their energy choices.
There are currently 23 CCAs operating successfully across California, providing reliable service to more than 11 million customers in over 190 cities and counties. SDCP is the second largest CCA in the state, forecast to procure renewable energy for more than 770,000 customer accounts when fully subscribed.
San Diego Community Power is a centerpiece of its member cities’ plan to meet their climate action goals. Among its member cities, San Diego leads the nation as one of the largest U.S. cities to adopt a Climate Action Plan to achieve 100% renewable energy citywide.
“We are flipping the switch on San Diego Community Power and finally bringing a future-focused energy choice and a clear path to 100% renewable energy,” Mayor Todd Gloria said at the official launch on March 1st, 2021. “This launch is an essential next step in meeting our regional climate action goals. By embracing renewable energy sources, we are going to protect San Diego for generations to come.”
Delivering on its promise to reinvest in renewable energy development, San Diego Community Power recently announced its first power purchase agreement with an affiliate of RAI Energy International, Inc. Located nearby in Imperial County, the Vikings Farm project will provide a 20-year supply of solar energy and battery storage.
“We are here to advocate for ratepayers, drive economic vitality, and support clean energy jobs for local workers,” said Serge Dedina, Imperial Beach Mayor and SDCP Board member. “Clean technology already provides more jobs in the region than all coal-related jobs in the country, and we want to see that trend grow.”
SDCP is now preparing to launch commercial and residential service on June 1st, 2021 and is forecast to provide energy to more than 70,000 commercial and industrial accounts of all sizes in the region. SDCP has received a warm welcome from area businesses eager to meet corporate responsibility and sustainability goals with a competitively priced service.
For the past ten years, River City Bank has been committed to making California a greener and cleaner place to live. We officially launched our Clean Energy Division in 2018 to support CCAs, clean tech and sustainable companies, as well as, finance renewable energy projects.
River City Bank shared its new San Francisco office with business colleagues as they hosted an open house event. Catered by our friends at Graze + Gather Co., guests enjoyed a grazing table filled with local artisanal fare and took in beautiful views of the city and the Transbay Terminal. RCB’s second office in the Bay Area, the San Francisco office, provides commercial banking services and houses the Bank’s growing Clean Energy Division. The Clean Energy Division focuses on servicing Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) clients, project finance, expanding relationships with other players in the clean energy space, and supporting California’s climate action goals.
Established in 2017, Clean Power Alliance (CPA) has quickly become the largest CCA in the nation. CPA currently serves over 900,000 homes and roughly 3.5 million people throughout Southern California. Beginning in May 2019, CPA will also provide clean energy to approximately 130,000 businesses as well.
As a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), Clean Power Alliance is a government entity that purchases clean power directly on the open energy market and delivers it to consumers on existing Southern California Edison (SCE) power lines. Originally established as a joint powers authority with unincorporated Los Angeles County, Rolling Hills Estates, and South Pasadena as founding members, it quickly grew to a coalition of 31 agencies across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
For more than a century, Southern California Edison had been the region’s dominant electric utility. But for nearly a million homes across Southern California, the days of Edison’s monopoly are coming to an end. Clean Power Alliance and other CCAs are offering a cleaner option and bringing competition on a larger scale. CPA offers consumers three energy options at three price points: Green (100 percent renewables), Clean (50 percent renewables), and Lean (36 percent renewables.) Consumers can decide their level of investment in clean energy.
Communities join because it is a platform for environmental protection and combatting climate change, and because cities have their own local sustainability goals. They also join because they are given a choice on how their energy is sourced. Clean Power Alliance also reinvests funds in innovative projects and programs within the communities they serve.
“The benefits of removing the monopoly system are that it brings innovation and lower rates,” said Ted Bardacke, Executive Director of Clean Power Alliance. “People want choice and the idea that if they can save money and be a little greener, or pay a bit more and be a lot greener, appeals to consumers.”
Before Clean Power Alliance was born, Bardacke knew there were things he needed to get right to build a thriving CCA. Although CCAs have been around Northern California since 2010, they are a relatively new concept in Southern California. Ensuring there was a robust infrastructure in place, the organization set high standards for its employees, officers, and directors. Along with strong corporate governance, Bardacke and his team took their time hiring experienced staff and figuring out how the agency is organized to ensure a secure future.
“We spent a lot of time hiring staff who knew what they are doing and to keep the place running,” said Bardacke.
According to Bardacke, by 2020 the Clean Power Alliance is set to take in over $800M in annual revenue. He attributes this success to applying the organization’s best practices and creating a framework of tools and techniques that identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risk within the organization. Nothing is built at breakneck speed, and policies are carefully and thoughtfully considered.
“We want to make sure that we don’t get out over our skis,” said Bardacke. “It requires a lot of work to be conservative and disciplined.”
CPA turned to River City Bank for its financial needs. Bardacke knew that River City Bank has taken a bold lead in the clean energy space, supporting CCA clients throughout California with their depository, cash management, and lending needs. He has seen RCB provide other CCA clients with custom-tailored solutions spanning start-up capital, lines of credit, renewable energy project financing, and custodian “lockbox” accounts.
“We know that River City Bank understands the CCA business and is comfortable in the space,” said Bardacke. “They are entrepreneurial without being bureaucratic. They understand what it takes to start this type of business, and we appreciate working with people who get that mindset. I know that I can call Steve Fleming directly and get something done.”
With talks about a “Green New Deal” which includes a 100% reliance on renewable energy, mitigation of climate change, and increasing green jobs, CCAs like Clean Power Alliance will be right in the middle of the action.
“There will be a change in a systemic and personal level when it comes to where Californians get their energy,” says Bardacke.
Since 2010, CCAs have given customers the ability to directly influence their community’s energy options by giving them the power to choose how and where they buy their electricity and natural gas. In light of California’s Senate Bill 100 which requires California to get 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to eliminate the burning of fossil fuels for electricity by 2045, CCAs are very likely to grow in prominence in the coming years. Gradually, it could mean incentives for customers to install electric water or space heaters, reducing the need to burn natural gas. It might pave the way for free or discounted electric vehicle chargers or special electricity rates that encourage people to charge their electric vehicles at home.
In the clean energy arena, there will be new players and opportunities. The state continues to be open to innovation and technology that will help eliminate the use of fossil fuels in the next few decades.
“In California, this idea of bold and ambitious goals based on local priorities has been successful across the board,” Bardacke says. “Everything we’re experiencing right now is what the other CCAs (community choice aggregators) have experienced around the state.”
To learn more about Clean Power Alliance visit their website at www.cleanpoweralliance.org.
River City Bank has expanded its presence in the Bay Area with the establishment of a new office in the Financial District of San Francisco. This new location provides commercial banking and project finance services and houses the Bank’s Clean Energy Division. The group, headed by Rosa Hilmarsdotter Cucicea, Vice President & Clean Energy Division Manager, is focused on servicing Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) clients, expanding relationships with other players in the clean energy space, and supporting California’s climate action goals. This addition marks the second Bay Area location for River City Bank, which opened a commercial banking office in Walnut Creek in 2015.
“After hitting a record number in assets and creating our new Clean Energy Division, we’re excited to open a second commercial banking office in the Bay Area,” said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. “The new office is a key component of our strategy to expand our focus and presence throughout California.”
The expansion is a natural progression of the bank’s shift from being primarily a Sacramento-centric consumer-oriented bank to focusing on commercial banking throughout California, and it comes after a series of significant milestones.
The Bank has taken a bold lead in the clean energy space, supporting CCA clients throughout California with their depository, cash management, and lending needs. Notable clients include Valley Clean Energy in Yolo County, Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, Marin Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Monterey Bay Community Power and East Bay Community Energy. River City Bank provides CCA clients with custom-tailored solutions spanning start-up capital, lines of credit, renewable energy project financing and custodian “lockbox” accounts.
