EBCE Public Comment received for 5/3/23 Executive Committee Meeting Letter # Name Date
1 Jessica Tovar 5/3/2023
2 Travis Gibreal 5/3/2023
5/31/23, 6:33 PM
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=703fa6ea73&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-f:1765433130997075671&simpl=msg-f:1765433130997075671 1/1 Adrian Bankhead <[email protected]>
comments
Jessica Tovar <[email protected]> Tue, May 9, 2023 at 9:03 AM To: Adrian Bankhead <[email protected]>
I don't remember exactly what I said, but you can use this:
My name is Jessica Tovar with the East Bay Clean Power Alliance We want to see EBCE Local Development Business Plan programs and projects funded to ensure equitable programs reach frontline communities. Such investments that are shared community benefits like microgrids for community resilience that ensure vulnerable communities can keep the power on during any unforeseen crises.
For Travis Gibrael:
I commend the work you've done so far, but strongly encourage all expansions of your microgrid initiative to focus on serving the most marginalized communities first. This is best done through robust outreach to CBOs that know and work with those communities rather than simply backing up power to municipal facilities (though sometimes the two do overlap in community centers like rec centers, libraries, and schools). As someone whose job it is to facilitate the development of projects like these in frontline communities, I would like to be in dialogue with EBCE as you consider your outreach plan for project expansion. Thank you.
Jessica Guadalupe Tovar,
Local Clean Energy Alliance, Energy Democracy Organizer East Bay Clean Power Alliance, Coordinator
339 15th Street Suite 208 Oakland CA, 94612
[email protected] 415-766-7766
Support my work with a donation
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Book: Energy Democracy Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions EBCE Executive Committee Public Comment Statement - Jessica Tovar - 5/3/23 Public Comment #1 5/31/23, 6:13 PM
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=703fa6ea73&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-a:r2531805880326544486&simpl=msg-a:r253180588032654… 1/2 Adrian Bankhead <[email protected]>
FW: EBCE executive committee meeting
Adrian Bankhead <[email protected]> Wed, May 31, 2023 at 6:13 PM To: Adrian Bankhead <[email protected]>
From: Travis Gibrael <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 5:20 PM
To:
Subject: EBCE executive committee meeting
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Hi Mayor Tiedemann, Vice Mayor Balch, and Councilmember Kalb, Thanks for offering me your cards this morning and thanks for your willingness to engage in dialogue about microgrids and community resilience. I've included Councilmember Kalb on this message as I'm an Oakland resident. I'll start with an approximation of my public comment from this morning (to add to the record) and then end with a request for next steps.
SPEAKER SLIP:
Travis Gibrael
Reclaim Our Power
1972 36th Ave, Oakland, CA 94601
COMMENT:
I live in Oakland and work for the Reclaim Our Power (ROP) utility justice campaign. My job (Microgrids Project Manager) is to support CBOs that represent frontline communities to develop microgrids within their neighborhoods, which can meet the material needs of the community during an emergency. In the context of that work, I've been impressed to read about EBCE's efforts to deploy microgrids in municipal facilities throughout Alameda County in the coming years. One of ROP's primary talking points about microgrid deployment in California is that they are almost always built on facilities that cities/the state deem important, but not the buildings that the people themselves (especially the most marginalized) would have chosen. Or even places they would feel safe to go during an emergency (i.e. police stations).
My goal is to encourage EBCE to work in collaboration with CBOs that represent frontline communities in determining where to target future deployment of microgrids. Some recommendations include working with environmental justice organizations (APEN is actively trying to build a microgrid on the Lincoln Rec Center in Oakland as we speak, and Communities for a Better Environment is currently hiring a new staff member to manage a potential project), community land trusts, and community development corporations (like EBALDC, the Unity Council, etc.). Though Alameda County has plenty of other non-profits focused on meeting the material needs of vulnerable populations that should also be consulted.
EBCE Executive Committee Public Comment Statement - Travis Gibrael - 5/3/23 Public Comment #2 5/31/23, 6:13 PM East Bay Community Energy Mail - FW: EBCE executive committee meeting https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=703fa6ea73&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-a:r2531805880326544486&simpl=msg-a:r253180588032654… 2/2 I was heartened to hear of the intention to work with school districts in the next few years to transform their current solar PV systems into storage-backed microgrids. I would encourage outreach to the school districts to begin laying the groundwork in the communities themselves for families to know that eventually schools will be open to meet people's material needs during emergencies. The lights will stay on, medical devices can access power, medicines and foods can access refrigeration, along with heating, cooling, and air filtration during disasters of heat, cold, and smoky air. Signage at the schools during blue sky conditions can begin to build a culture of knowing where to go during a crisis.
In summary, I commend the work you've done so far, but strongly encourage all expansions of your microgrid initiative to focus on serving the most marginalized communities first. This is best done through robust outreach to CBOs that know and work with those communities rather than simply backing up power to municipal facilities (though sometimes the two do overlap in community centers like rec centers, libraries, and schools). As someone whose job it is to facilitate the development of projects like these in frontline communities, I would like to be in dialogue with EBCE as you consider your outreach plan for project expansion. Thank you.
REQUEST:
I would like to schedule a meeting with whoever at EBCE is most appropriate to discuss this in more detail.
Please let me know who I should speak with and the best means to get that on the calendar.
Thanks so much for your time and consideration,
Travis
[Quoted text hidden]
EBCE Executive Committee Public Comment Statement - Travis Gibrael - 5/3/23 Public Comment #2