Power Content Label

The Power Content Label (PCL) is an annual report that shows where your electricity was generated during the calendar year and how it compares to the state of California’s power mix. The PCL is released each fall for the prior calendar year. In fall 2022, the PCL for 2021 was released. It shows AMP’s 100% clean portfolio that began January 1, 2020 and continued through 2021.

100% Clean Energy

On Jan. 1, 2020, AMP began providing 100% clean energy to all customers. AMP reached this clean energy milestone decades ahead of California’s goal of 100% clean power by 2045. AMP has been a leader in the promotion of clean power since the 1980s. Residents and businesses wanted their power to come from renewable resources, so AMP added geothermal to its energy supply, followed by wind, landfill gas, and hydropower over the next several decades.

By 2011, AMP easily exceeded the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which requires electric utilities to purchase a growing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

AMP developed so much renewable energy that it was able to strategically sell portions of it on a short-term basis to other utilities struggling to meet the RPS mandate. At the direction of the city of Alameda’s Public Utilities Board, funds from the short-term sales must be used for local investments in programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity use.

AMP’s short-term sales of renewable energy ended in 2019, making Alameda’s energy supply 100% clean as of January 1, 2020. AMP will meet Alameda’s energy needs with 100% clean energy for years to come.

Power Mix Sources in 2021

AMP’s most recent PCL covers the 2021 calendar year. During 2021, 100% of AMP’s power mix came from clean energy sources, including eligible renewable sources* and large hydroelectric sources. Eligible renewable sources in AMP’s 2021 power mix included:

  • Biomass (landfill gas) from Pittsburg, Butte County, Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay
  • Small hydroelectric from Graeagle and New Spicer Meadows
  • Winds from the High Winds Project in Solano County

Large hydroelectric projects in Calaveras and the Central Valley contributed 20.4% of AMP's 2021 energy mix. While large hydroelectric sources produce clean energy, California does not count power from large hydroelectric dams as eligible renewable.

* "Eligible renewable" sources are energy resources that either cannot be used up or are quickly replenished through natural processes. In California, biomass and waste, geothermal, solar, small hydroelectric, and wind energy resources are all considered eligible renewable resources under RPS. The eligible renewable percentage shown in the chart below does not reflect RPS compliance, which is determined using a different methodology.

The CEC's PCL calculation is a snapshot of one year’s resources, whereas California's RPS compliance reporting looks at several years at a time, with a focus on rewarding long-term investments in renewables. 

If you are a participant in Alameda Green, Alameda Municipal Power purchased unbundled RECs to match all or a portion of your energy usage. 

The column labeled "standard" reflects AMP's energy mix.

Download AMP's 2021 Power Content Label here.

2021 Power Content Label

Energy ResourcesStandard
Alameda Green2021 California Power Mix***
Eligible Renewable179.6%79.6%33.6%
Biomass and Waste
23.4%23.4%2.3%
Geothermal
49.3%49.3%4.8%
Eligible hydroelectric
0.8%0.8%1.0%
Solar
0.1%0.1%14.2%
Wind
6.2%6.2%11.4%
Coal0%0%3.0%
Large Hydroelectric20.4%20.4%9.2%
Natural Gas0%0%37.9%
Nuclear0%0%9.3%
Other0%0% 0.2%
Unspecified Sources of Power20%0%6.8%
Total100%100%100%
Percentage of Retail Sales Covered by Retired Unbundled RECs30%100%


1.The eligible renewable percentage above does not reflect RPS compliance, which is determined using a different methodology.

2. Unspecified power is electricity that has been purchased through open market transactions and is not traceable to a specific generation source. 

3. Renewable energy credits (RECs) are tracking instruments issued for renewable generation. Unbundled renewable energy credits (RECs) represent renewable generation that was not delivered to serve retail sales. Unbundled RECs are not reflected in the power mix or GHG emissions intensities above.

For specific information about this electricity product, call Alameda Municipal Power at (510) 748-3900. For general information about the Power Content Label, visit the California Energy Commission website or contact the California Energy Commission at (844) 454-2906.