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Troubled Orange County Power Authority Gets New Interim Leadership
Solar panels in the Mojave Desert. The OCPA recently agreed to purchase energy from Grace Orchard Energy Center, which plans to develop a solar-plus-battery storage-project in Riverside County.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
The board of the troubled Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) appointed a new interim CEO on Monday — the latest move by the agency's new board to try and save the county's clean energy plans.
What's the OCPA? It’s a public agency that provides mostly renewable energy to customers in Buena Park, Fullerton, Huntington Beach and Irvine. It hoped to expand service to more of Orange County but the rapid decline in public confidence has kept the agency in survival mode.
What happened to the previous CEO? OCPA CEO Brian Probolsky faced heavy criticism from official auditors and citizen groups for sloppy hiring practices and financial mismanagement, among other concerns. The county's board of supervisors voted to exit the agency in December over a lack of confidence, and Irvine had threatened to do the same if Probolsky wasn't replaced.
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Who's the new CEO? The OCPA board picked Joe Mosca to take over leadership as interim CEO on June 1, pending a finalized employment contract. Mosca is currently the OCPA’s communications director. Previously, he helped found San Diego Community Power, the state's second largest agency under the community choice aggregation (CCA) model. CCAs allow cities and counties to purchase clean energy on behalf of their residents and are credited with accelerating the development of renewable energy.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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