CONCORD — Contra Costa County residents who want to learn more about an alternate source of electricity are invited to a workshop on community choice energy.

The meeting is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the City Council chamber at the Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive.

Contra Costa County, Concord and 13 other cities in the county are considering a creating nonprofit community choice energy agency to provide solar and wind-generated electricity to residential, business and government customers over existing transmission lines owned by PG&E and other utilities.

PG&E would handle billing, customer service and infrastructure maintenance. In addition, the utility’s programs for low-income customers would continue. Proponents of this model say its benefits include an increase in the proportion of electricity from renewable sources, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, competition, consumer choice and local control. Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Walnut Creek and Lafayette participate in MCE Clean Energy, Marin County’s program.

More information about community choice energy and a draft technical study of how the program would work in Contra Costa are available at http://www.cccounty.us/cce