Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Accelerates Sustainability in Orange County

Researchers: Sheng Li, Maximiliano Ochoa, Emrah Pilavoglu, Daniel Spivak,

Joshua Stone and David Bernstein

Abstract

This qualitative research is situated in the literature examining the phenomenon of collaboration between public and private organizations to advance cleantech development. At case is the feasibility of implementing Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in Orange County. As defined in Assembly Bill 117 of the State of California, Community Choice Aggregators are “...those entities that provides power supply services, including combining the loads of multiple end-use customers and facilitating the sale and purchase of electrical energy, transmission, and other services on behalf of the end-use customers.” Employing several qualitative methods, including ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews and coding, this study asks what are the necessary and sufficient conditions to establish Community Choice Aggregation in Orange County? Orange County is home to a diverse group of industries serving a local residency of 3 million people and populations beyond. Interviewing and observing those involved with committees, events, lobbying, and networking who would be impacted by the establishment of an Orange County CCA reveals the necessary and sufficient conditions for CCA implementation. Along with a review of prominent literature, the methods employed in this study and an examination of key findings, this paper will conclude with a reflections of its limitations and provide a few recommendations for future qualitative research on collaboration.