Laguna Beach, Calif., moved toward joining a community choice energy program (CCE) July 13, with the goal of gradually replacing traditional power sources with green energy. CCEs are locally-controlled energy providers that would take the place of existing energy providers, such as Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric. The CCE would still use existing infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of energy to residential homes. CCEs only regulate the purchasing of energy, whether it be renewable or fossil fuels. “[Installing solar panels on homes is] very costly for people,” Mayor Pro Tem Sue Kempf said during the July 13 council meeting. “A lot of people don’t have the money for it … With CCE, we can hit up almost everybody in our community and get them on a renewable source. “In looking at reduction of greenhouse gases, and working against some of our environmental challenges, this is one of the best ways to get at it, among other things.” The city’s …