Adrian Bankhead <[email protected]>
bodpubliccomment - avaenergy.org admins: Message Pending [{IMzmseTg_MTATSoCb2kwAIWRBwFI5xd00}]
BODPublicComment <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 3:49
PM
A message has been sent to the bodpubliccomment group and is awaiting approval. We've included this message for your review.
The message requires moderation because the user does not have permission to post.
You can approve or reject this message or you can approve this message by replying to this email.
Start your own group, visit the help center, or report abuse. ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ann Harvey <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:49:20 -0700
Subject: Opposition to Item 17. SB 540 Support Letter (Action Item) Please share my comment with the entire Ava Community Energy Board of Directors, including alternates.
Dear Ava Community Energy Board of Directors,
I am a member of 350 East Bay, the California Alliance for Community Energy, and Physicians for Social Responsibility - San Francisco Bay Chapter. I am a retired safety-net family doctor gravely concerned about the public health crises of climate disruption and air pollution and their universal but inequitable tolls. I am a strong supporter of CCAs and the mission of providing renewable electricity affordably and democratically. I was happy to be a pilot EBCE customer, before it was rolled out to everyone.
I write today to urge you to seriously investigate the support arguments, reject the staff proposal, and join with at least 56 organizations in expressing OPPOSITION to the Pathways Bill, SB540 by signing on to the opposition letter you have each received.
I believe it would be a grave mistake to cede California's authority over our electricity market to the Regional Operator, in which California, with by far the largest population and energy market, would have no more say than each of several small states with a history of aggressively promoting fossil fuels and opposing California's climate and environmental initiatives. For example:
Utah, Wyoming, Idahor, and Montana are plaintiffs in a lawsuit suing California over the Advanced Clean Fleets rule (Nebraska v. Cliff, filed May 2024).
The Utah legislature in 2024 passed SB224 "Energy Independence Amendments," making coal plants the state's preferred power source, defined as least cost/least risk unless proven otherwise by challengers.
The SB540 proponents make numerous very attractive promises on behalf of the bill, but the promises don't hold water.The support letter presented by staff for your endorsement relies heavily on a report by the Brattle Group to make wildly optimistic claims that are not factually supported by the report. It promises, for example, "reducing emissions in California." The Brattle Group report actually predicts that Pathways would result in increased emissions in other states that would outweigh decreases in California. We could burn less gas in California but we import more electricity produced by fossil fuels, including coal. Pacificorps is ready, having recently canceled plans to retire old Rocky Mountain coal plants in Utah and Wyoming.
3/24/25, 2:17 PM Ava Community Energy Mail - bodpubliccomment - avaenergy.org admins: Message Pending [{IMzmseTg_MTATSoCb2kwAIWRBw… https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=703fa6ea73&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-f:1827064599819714040&simpl=msg-f:1827064599819714040 1/2 I hope that you will at least postpone the vote so that each of you can study this complex bill and the Brattle Group's report -- and view former California Public Utilities Commission Chair Loretta Lynch's clear presentation explaining the propoents' flawed reasoning, including their conclusions concerning costs to California customers, emissions, and the actual bill language that could make it impossible for California to withdraw from the RO. It is available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EAbwTq3fbg.
Please don't jump to lend your support for this wolf in sheep's clothing. We will all regret it if you do. Please postpone the vote, take time to study it, and strongly oppose.
Sincerely,
Ann Harvey,MD
Oakland
3/24/25, 2:17 PM Ava Community Energy Mail - bodpubliccomment - avaenergy.org admins: Message Pending [{IMzmseTg_MTATSoCb2kwAIWRBw… https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=703fa6ea73&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-f:1827064599819714040&simpl=msg-f:1827064599819714040 2/2