From: Dorothy Freeman
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tracy Jensen; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella Cc: Lara Weisiger; Manager Manager
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda April 18, 2023 Item 5-C Develop a Home Electrification Pilot Project Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 12:57:28 PM
Agenda April 18, 2023 Item 5-C Develop a Home Electrification Pilot Project Dear Mayor Ashcraft and City Council Members,
The plan for "full electrification of up to five (5) homes and installation of approximately 10- 20 heat pump water heaters over the three-year project" is misdirected at this time. Electricity, even in Alameda, is still more expensive than gas appliances and will remain so for several years. In fact, it may never cost less for electricity than gas. Replacing gas appliances with electric ones in low income homes is not going to do the residents a favor unless you plan on subsidizing their resulting electric bills. This plan will cost them more money and is not doing them a favor.
Our tenant has purchased a brand new all electric auto. We have no ability to install an electric charging station for them. This will be a problem for many older Alameda apartments for many years. ADU units installed in the back yards are without provided parking. The tenants of these ADU units have to park on the street and will have no way to charge their electric autos from their homes.
The alternative use for full electrification funding would be to install EV charging stations located in as many public buildings as possible around Alameda. I understand the charging stations at South Shore shopping center have lines of people waiting to use them. The plan for EV charging stations will be a much more productive use of electrification funding at this time. It will encourage more Alamedans' to purchase all electric vehicles giving us a quicker return on investment than the planned upgrades to only 5 homes.
Respectfully yours
Dorothy Freeman
cc: City Clerk Weisiger,
City Manager Ott