Volume 353 | April 2025

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President's Note

Hi Neighbors,

First of all, many thanks to the several dozen of you that attended our March board meeting where PG&E representatives heard from members on a variety of topics, including undergrounding and frequent outages.

The efforts to underground Kent Woodland's power lines are growing substantially with the Undergrounding Committee led by Dr. Mary Lamia (drmarylamia@gmail.com). To this end, the board voted unanimously to fund $2,800 towards some initial work by a professional in this field, spearheaded by the committee. The result of this work will be a cost estimate and a process outline. That will be the end of the board's financial support of this endeavor. However, with this critical information, we'll be prepared to support the Undergrounding Committee by sending out a survey to our residents to gauge support for next steps and chart multiple courses of action. Belvedere and parts of Tiburon have taken this on, and Ross is currently down the path of exploring as well. Please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Lamia should you want to learn more about this. Stay tuned for an upcoming workshop and/or larger meeting focused on this topic, which will likely include trying to garner support from PG&E and the County on our efforts to underground our lines throughout Kent Woodlands.

And finally, please join me at our Spring Food Truck event planned for Sunday, April 27th from 5:30-7:30 in the Acorn Lot at the bottom of Woodland Road. As usual, there will be a Latin food truck with a wide range of menu items (including wine, margaritas, and beer), as well as an Hawaiian shave ice truck for the kids (and kids-at-heart). This is a wonderful opportunity for residents of all ages to enjoy great food and company together as we welcome spring to Kent Woodlands!

Sincerely,

Jeff Leh, President

CC&Rs/Bylaws Revision Survey

As discussed in recent board meetings and newsletters, the Governing Documents Revision Oversight Committee has started the process of updating our 30-year-old CC&Rs and Bylaws to bring them in line with current California law and our members’ priorities. The process will culminate with a membership vote to adopt the revised documents.

Keep an eye out for a MEMBER SURVEY this month that will help guide the work of the committee. The survey will be distributed via email and completed electronically. If you are unable to complete the survey online, please contact the office at 415-721-7429 to request a paper version.

There is plenty of room on the committee for additional member participation! If you are interested in helping to shape the future of Kent Woodlands, please contact us at info@kwpoa.com.

Many of the questions I receive are regarding home hardening and looking for contractors who adhere to best practices for retrofitting projects. Here is the most current information from Fire Safe Marin:

Home hardening

https://firesafemarin.org/harden-your-home/fire-resistant-vents/

Choosing a contractor

https://firesafemarin.org/wp-content/uploads/Choosing-a-Contractor-.pdf

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance with your fire safety efforts!

— Heather Hill, Hazard Mitigation Specialist

hhill@kwpoa.com

TIRED OF POWER OUTAGES AND PAYING PEAK RATES?

Consider a battery backup system.

Battery backup systems ensure reliable power during outages, improve energy efficiency, and utilize renewable energy sources. They also reduce energy costs by storing energy during off-peak hours when rates are low, and using stored energy during peak hours. Over time, these savings can quickly add up, making it an investment that pays for itself. Enphase and Tesla are well-known brands, but did you know that there are several other options available, including Rivian? Questions? Reach out to us at carbonneutralkw.com and click ASK PETE!

Here’s a quick overview of popular brands:

1. Enphase Encharge offers modular Encharge batteries that range from 3.4 kWh to 10.1 kWh. These batteries work well with Enphase’s solar microinverters, offering flexible and reliable energy storage, and feature remote monitoring through the Enphase app.

2. Tesla Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery with 13.5 kWh capacity, storing energy from solar panels or the grid. It integrates seamlessly with Tesla solar and can be monitored via an app for efficient energy management.

3. Sunrun offers the Brightbox system, which integrates with its solar panels and uses LG Chem batteries. With capacities ranging from 7 kWh to 13 kWh, it provides backup power and energy savings.

4. Rivian Energy, known for electric vehicles, will offer energy storage solutions that integrate with their EVs and solar systems.

5. Generac PWRcell battery system offers scalable storage starting at 9 kWh, expandable up to 36 kWh. It integrates with solar panels and features smart energy management for optimized power usage.

6. LG Chem RESU batteries range from 6.5 kWh to 13 kWh, providing reliable storage for solar-powered homes and known for high efficiency and durability.

Each system offers unique features for energy independence and savings.

— Julie Johnson, CNKW Chair

Architectural Committee Application Notices