Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: 4;,Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 20304;, From: Carly Curiel<>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 10:24 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Masuda, Gene <[email protected]>; Rivas, Jessica <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: {;, Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 2030{;, Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As a local constituent deeply concerned by Pasadena's continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, I urge you to adopt a goal of procuring 100% clean, carbon-free power by 2030.
Over the past few years dozens of communities across the state have realized that doing the right thing is not only feasible, but it is also cost-effective and.reliable. Fossil gas prices more than doubled over the past few months. At the same time, the cost of clean power remained stable. Once built wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal plants, and other facilities that produce clean energy are not affected by foreign wars or the whims of a handful of large corporations. They provide clean, non-polluting power at a consistent price from one month to the next.
Within the San Gabriel Valley, the cities of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, Claremont, and unincorporated LA County have already adopted 100% clean power standards and are working towards procuring even more renewable energy. Setting a goal for Pasadena to do so by 2030 is a logical next step.
Only clean. carbon-free power will guarantee Pasadena does its part to address the climate emergency. Please agendize the 100% Carbon Free Power by 2030 goal championed by the Pasadena 100 coalition, and unanimously supported by the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Directors, Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, and Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community.
Carly Curiel
1 Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: Public Comment MSC Agenda Item #2: Carbon Free over Carbon Neutrality From: Christine Lenches-Hinkel < >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 10:06 AM
To: Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]>; Stevenson, Garrett <[email protected]> Cc: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Masuda, Gene <[email protected]>; Rivas, Jessica <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: Public Comment MSC Agenda Item #2: Carbon Free over Carbon Neutrality Dear Municipal Service Committee Members,
I strongly urge the committee to reject Neutrality and approve a Carbon FREE resolution.
As a professional in the sustainability and environmental planning sector for over 20 years now, we are well past planning for neutrality and have crossed the threshold where drastic action needs to be taken. Carbon Neutrality is NOT the same as Carbon Free!
If you have not yet come across the information video, The Soil Story, by Kiss the Ground, please take a moment to understand the carbon cycle and how we got to this place of declaring we are in a climate crisis. While the video touts soil {and regenerative agriculture) as the redeeming solution to our climate crisis, it clearly communicates and explains the carbon cycle for us city folk as well.
The broader connection to understanding the carbon cycle from an urban dweller perspective is that it boils down to burning fossil fuels at an unsustainable rate by everyone who drives a car, turns on lights, cooks their food with gas, cools and heats their home, buys food packaged in plastic, buys anything packaged in plastic, uses chemicals to clean their home and chemical fertilizers to treat their lawns. The production of plastic products, packaging and chemical use is immensely energy intensive. Hauling of solid waste and landfilling also major generator of greenhouse gases.
Please do take a moment to watch the video. Here is the link:
https://youtu.be/nvAoZ14cP7Q
Our climate crisis will not be solved by or through back end heavy mechanized and engineered solutions that claim zero emissions. Case in point, biogas or clean energy is not renewable. GHG Emissions are still spewed into the atmosphere when such Biogas {methane) is burned for consumption. This is neither Carbon Neutrality or Carbon Free.
Our climate crisis is actually a people problem .... we basically consume too much and far beyond our fair share of resources. It is time to make some drastic changes and embrace a different mindset and mentality; one that promotes conservation and less is more!
Carbon Free means avoiding the emissions in the first place either by not burning the fuel or the byproduct of the energy consumed is carbon free ... like using wind or solar. 1 How does one get to Carbon Free energy consumption? Through behavioral modification and a change in mindset at the individual level. Where do we start? In the schools where modeling of such behavior occurs that can ultimately translate into the home and parents' place of work. An aggressive, on -going and fully funded educational and marketing campaign integrated into school curriculum is critical and needs support from the City as the next and immediate step after passing the City's 100% Carbon Free Resolution. Neutrality does not communicate the urgency of the problem at hand. It merely sustains what is unsustainable ... over consumption.
To be neutral on this subject means no change, no improvements, no advancements, no better life for ourselves or for our children. It is business as usual and we will continue the perpetual cycle of sustaining what is unsustainable. The level of consumption will remain the same if not increase due to population growth. What would make a difference is to take a bold stand knowing this is a people problem that can not be solved through technology or back end engineering solutions. If we can condition society into thinking that more is better, than we can just as well condition ourselves into believing, thinking and acting that less is more.
By going the Carbon Free approach, radical planning will be needed. There is great talent to capitalize on to come up with these radical strategies for transforming the way we live .. and it starts with education. It starts with the community it starts with the neighborhood. We need to double down on insisting people conserve rather than consume. Rather than trying to keep costs down so people can continue to consume at the same rate, raise the price. This has happened in our own home. When budget is tight, we lower the thermostat, bundle up, use less water and plan better.
Thank you for your consideration and I trust that you will support Carbon Free over Carbon Neutral! Respectfully,
Christine Lenches-Hinkel
2 Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: 9 Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 20309 -----Original Message----
From: jason michael < >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 9:13 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Masuda, Gene <[email protected]>; Rivas, Jessica <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: 47 Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 20304;, [Some people who received this message don't often get email from Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/ LearnAboutSenderldentification]
CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more ... <https://mydoit.cityofpasadena .net/ sp ?id=kb _article_ view&syspa rm_article= KB0010263>.
Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As a local constituent deeply concerned by Pasadena's continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, I urge you to adopt a goal of procuring 100% clean, carbon-free power by 2030.
Over the past few years dozens of communities across the state have realized that doing the right thing is not only feasible, it is cost-effective and reliable. Fossil gas prices more than doubled over the past few months. At the same time the cost of clean power remained stable. Once built wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal plants, and other facilities that produce clean energy are not affected by foreign wars or the whims of a handful of large corporations. They provide clean, non-polluting power at a consistent price from one month to the next.
Within the San Gabriel Valley, the cities of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, Claremont, and unincorporated LA County have already adopted 100% clean power standards and are working towards procuring even more renewable energy. Setting a goal for Pasadena to do so by 2030 is a logical next step.
Only clean. carbon-free power will guarantee Pasadena does its part to address the climate emergency. Please agendize the 100% Carbon Free Power by 2030 goal championed by the Pasadena 100 coalition, and unanimously supported by the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Directors, Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, and Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community.
Jason Lambert
1 Stevenson, Garrett
Subject:
Attachments:
FW: Public comment for tonight's 1/24/23 MSC Meeting
Pasadena 100 Resolution.pdf
From: Laura Fleming< >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 9:41 AM
To: Stevenson, Garrett <[email protected]>; Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]> Cc: Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>
Subject: Public comment for tonight's 1/24/23 MSC Meeting January 24, 2023
Dear Vice Mayor Williams and Councilmembers:
My name is Laura Fleming. I am a District 7 resident and the Environmental Sustainability Manager at Polytechnic School (Poly) in Pasadena. The school is also in District 7.
Climate change is the number one global worry for young people and has been for the past six years. I work with students every day who are frightened for their future. They are actively involved in climate action projects at Poly, but there is only so much that young people can do. To significantly impact climate change in Pasadena, we must have change at the municipal level, especially transitioning quickly to carbon-free energy.
Our school's biggest climate impacts come from the electricity we source from Pasadena Water and Power (PWP). Every time we turn on a light, plug in a computer, or run electric HVAC equipment, we are burning fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Poly uses more than one and a half million kWh of electricity per year. That's a lot of coal and gas being burned to power our campus, and it's also becoming more expensive.
The volatility of fossil fuel prices is causing our rates to soar-for Poly's campus and for all Pasadena residents.
We also recently learned that the gas PWP will procure from the lntermountain Power Project from 2025 - 2027 will jump 40% - an additional 20 million dollars. Renewable energy offers rate stability.
Last year Poly commissioned a study to decarbonize the campus by 2030. We cannot meet our carbon reduction goals while PWP continues to source electricity from fossil fuels. Poly is only as "green" as PWP's Power Content Label. It may be possible for Poly to cover 50% of its electricity needs with rooftop solar, but what about the other 50%? We will still depend on PWP's power sourcing. Our carbon-reduction plan also calls for the electrification of HVAC. In theory, this is the right move, but what it means is that we will be increasing electricity use and hence adding to Poly's carbon footprint until PWP transitions to carbon-free electric power. We cannot wait until 2045. Or 2040. Or 2035. We need to plan for the transition now and to set a goal for 2030.
How many newspaper articles must we read about the catastrophic impacts of not moving fast enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? How many dire reports from the United Nations? Code red warnings from the International Panel on Climate Change? The climate emergency is here and the City must lead and set 1 more ambitious targets to help have a fighting chance of slowing global warming. We can do this. Please, let's work together and do this for our children's future.
If the City of Pasadena wants to achieve carbon neutrality, which is an admirable goal, it begins with sourcing carbon-free electricity. That is the first step. As elected officials, you have the power to make this happen. I respectfully request that you adopt the Pasadena 100 Resolution (attached) for carbon-free electricity sourcing by 2030 or an amended version of the Resolution on MSC's agenda item #2 that includes sourcing carbon-free energy.
Imagine the positive domino effects that achieving this target will have on Pasadena institutions being able to achieve carbon reduction goals. That will be a great story for PWP and the City of Pasadena's elected officials to tell.
There is no time to lose.
Respectfu I ly,
Laura R. Fleming
District 7 Resident and Polytechnic School Environmental Sustainability Manager 2 RESOLUTION NO. -----
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASADENA DIRECTING PASADENA WATER AND POWER TO SET A GOAL TO PROVIDE 100% OF PASADENA'S ELECTRICITY FROM CARBON FREE SOURCES BY 2030
WHEREAS, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change poses an imminent and existential threat to life and any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future; and WHEREAS, the primary driver of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels; and WHEREAS, if the current trend of fossil fuel use continues beyond 2030, many Pasadena residents will experience significantly worsened water insecurity, food insecurity, extreme heat waves, drought, wildfire, air quality, poverty, and habitat loss within their lifetimes; and WHEREAS, according to the American Medical Association, climate change is a public health crisis that threatens the health and well being of all people and disproportionately impacts the health of historically marginalized communities; and WHEREAS, according to the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, the price of solar and wind electricity has declined dramatically over the last 10 years, and is now generally less than the price of coal and gas; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of all governmental agencies and policy makers to eliminate the use of fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS, other publicly-owned energy utilities in California, such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), have declared a climate emergency and have committed to 100% carbon free energy generation by 2030; and
WHEREAS, Pasadena's neighbors have already implemented a 100% clean energy default for residents, including the City of South Pasadena in 2019, the City of Sierra Madre in 2020, and the City of Alhambra and the County of Los Angeles, including unincorporated East Pasadena and Altadena, are scheduled to do so in 2023; and
WHEREAS, Pasadena Water and Power is undergoing its Power Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process where it is determining how it will source its electricity for the next 20 years.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pasadena as follows:
Section 1. The City Council hereby directs Pasadena Water and Power to set a goal to provide 100% of its electricity from carbon free sources by 2030.
Section 2. The City Council hereby directs Pasadena Water and Power to utilize the 2023 Power Integrated Resource Planning process to plan the transition to 100% carbon free electricity by 2030 and optimize the cost, stability, and reliability of electricity while achieving this goal.
Section 3. The City Council hereby directs the City Clerk to send a certified copy of this resolution to the Pasadena Water and Power General Manager.
Adopted at the _____ of the City Council on the ___ day of January, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: Lj?Public Comment - Please Support 100% CARBON FREE Power by 2030 From: Sanford Krasner< >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 9:50 AM
To: Stevenson, Garrett <[email protected]>; Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]> Subject: 4:7Public Comment - Please Support 100% CARBON FREE Power by 2030 Dear Municipal Service Committee Members,
The Municipal Services Committee should resolve that Pasadena commits to 100% carbon-free energy by 2030.
The committee obviously understands that climate change is an existential threat to our civilization, and, therefore, to the people of Pasadena. The question is - what is the best way to address this threat? We can make feel-good statements about declaring a climate emergency, with no action required. We can set an unenforceable goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. We should recognize that "carbon neutral" is often a codeword for gaming an emissions system, using suspect offsets.
Or we can take concrete action, in our own backyard. We can commit to taking measurable actions rather than relying on vague offsets in some distant land.
The technology exists to achieve 100% carbon-free electrical power across a mix of sources - nuclear, wind, utility-scale and rooftop solar, geothermal, hydropower. There are technologies for energy storage - batteries, pumped hydro, pumped air. There are dozens of projects in development. There are billions of dollars available from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment Act, and from California's Greenhouse Reduction Fund. Cities like Lancaster or Sacramento have achieved 100% carbon-free energy, or on that path.
Even if we fall short, we will have achieved as much as possible.
Make the commitment.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Sanford Krasner
Group leader, Pasadena-Foothills Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby Altadena, CA
1 Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: <}Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 20309 From: Celine Lo < >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:09 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Masuda, Gene <[email protected]>; Rivas, Jessica <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: 4i-Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 20304i- Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As a local constituent deeply concerned by Pasadena's continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, I urge you to adopt a goal of procuring 100% clean, carbon-free power by 2030.
Over the past few years dozens of communities across the state have realized that doing the right thing is not only feasible, it is cost-effective and reliable. Fossil gas prices more than doubled over the past few months. At the same time the cost of clean power remained stable. Once built wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal plants, and other facilities that produce clean energy are not affected by foreign wars or the whims of a handful of large corporations. They provide clean, non-polluting power at a consistent price from one month to the next.
Within the San Gabriel Valley, the cities.of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, Claremont, and unincorporated LA County have already adopted 100% clean power standards and are working towards procuring even more renewable energy. Setting a goal for Pasadena to do so by 2030 is a logical next step.
Only clean. carbon-free power will guarantee Pasadena does its part to address the climate emergency. Please agendize the 100% Carbon Free Power by 2030 goal championed by the Pasadena 100 coalition, and unanimously supported by the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Directors, Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, and Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community.
1 Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: Lp Public Comment - Please Support 100% CARBON FREE Power by 2030 From: Sandy Lee <
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:09 AM
To: Stevenson, Garrett <[email protected]>; Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]> Cc: Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]> Subject: 47 Public Comment - Please Support 100% CARBON FREE Power by 2030 Dear Municipal Service Committee Members,
As a local constituent deeply concerned by Pasadena's continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, I urge you to set the City on a path towards clean, affordable, CARBON-FREE power by 2030.
Language matters. "Carbon Neutrality" is NOT the same as "Carbon Free" Energy. Carbon neutrality permits the burning of fossil fuels and the purchase of carbon credits to "offset" greenhouse gas emissions. Offsets are too often loosely monitored and fail to address the pollution and other harms associated with the continued burning of fossil fuels, especially to low-income communities.
Over the past few years Pasadena's neighbors - including the communities of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and unincorporated Los Angeles County- have implemented 100% clean energy standards. In doing so they realized largely Carbon-Free power in 2022 or before. The MSC's proposal would set a lower standard for Pasadena to reach in seven years. This is not climate leadership.
A "carbon neutrality" goal would allow Pasadena to remain on its current course, the bare minimum required by state law - 60% clean power by 2030 - and offsetting the rest. This is not climate leadership.
Local climate leaders in California have already adopted 100% standards and are working towards procuring even more clean, renewable energy. 24 cities in San Mateo County just committed to work towards 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2025 ( https://www .ca na rym ed ia .com/ articles/ clea n-e ne rgy/24-7-ca rbo n-free-energy-is-a bo ut-to-become-a-rea I ity-i n ca I ifo rn ia). These communities have already realized that doing the right thing is not only feasible, it is cost effective, reliable, and stable. Renewable energy is not subject to the vagaries of the fossil gas market. Over the last few months alone fossil gas prices more than doubled in the City.
Pasadena residents deserve more than lip service. The MSC's draft resolution accurately highlights that we are faced by a climate emergency. Only Carbon Free Energy will guarantee Pasadena does its part to address the emergency at hand.
Please support a 100% Carbon Free Energy goal as outlined in the Pasadena 100 resolution.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Sandy Lee
1 Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: Support 100% Clean Power
From: Michael Siegel< >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:14 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Masuda, Gene <[email protected]>; Rivas, Jessica <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: Support 100% Clean Power
Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council,
I urge you to adopt a goal of procuring 100% clean, carbon-free power by 2030. 1) It is cost-effective and reliable. We arent dependent on other states or nations, and fossil prices have exploded recently. We can produce clean, non-polluting power at a consistent price from one month to the next. 2) Our neighboring cities have already adopted 100% clean power standards 3) This will guarantee Pasadena reaches the goals required Thank you!
Mike Siegel
91103
1 Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 2030 -----Original Message----
From: Lambda Moses< >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:28 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]> Cc: Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Masuda, Gene <[email protected]>; Rivas, Jessica <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 2030 [Some people who received this message don't often get email from l. Learn why this is important at https:/ /aka.ms/ LearnAboutSenderldentification ]
CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more ... < https :// mydo it.cityof pas a de na. net/ sp? id=kb _article_ view &sys pa rm_ article= KB00 102 63>.
Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council, As a local constituent deeply concerned by Pasadena's continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, I urge you to adopt a goal of procuring 100% clean, carbon-free power by 2030. While I use the Green Power Program and I'm glad that such program is available, I'm disappointed to learn that outside the program Pasadena gets 47% of power from coal. If you remember the Bobcat fire, the great heatwave last September, and the January storm, exacerbated by climate change, and stories from the 1970s that smog was so bad that the San Gabriel mountains were invisible, then please at least keep up with neighboring cities and transition to 100% clean energy.
Over the past few years dozens of communities across the state have realized that doing the right thing is not only feasible, it is cost-effective and reliable. Fossil gas prices more than doubled over the past few months. At the same time the cost of clean power remained stable. Once built wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal plants, and other domestic facilities that produce clean energy are not affected by foreign wars or the whims of a handful of large corporations.
They provide clean, non-polluting power at a consistent price from one month to the next.
Within the San Gabriel Valley, the cities of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, Claremont, and unincorporated LA County have already adopted 100% clean power standards and are working towards procuring even more renewable energy. Setting a goal for Pasadena to do so by 2030 is a logical next step.
Only clean. carbon-free power will guarantee Pasadena does its part to address the climate emergency. Please agendize the 100% Carbon Free Energy by 2030 goal championed by the Pasadena 100 coalition, and unanimously supported by the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Directors, Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, and Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community,
Lambda
1 Stevenson. Garrett
Subject: FW: <}Public Comment - Please Support 100% CARBON FREE Power by 2030 From: Kathryn Kroger< >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:36 AM
To: Stevenson, Garrett <[email protected]>; Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]> Cc: Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]> Subject: 4;, Public Comment - Please Support 100% CARBON FREE Power by 2030 CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more ....
Dear MSC Members,
Please support the climate emergency resolution and speak up AGAINST the carbon-neutral resolution. We need carbon-FREE-energy use by 2030, not carbon-neutral. There is a big difference, and if we are in an emergency, then we have to enact the most effective actions, not ones that overlook and try to excuse carbon usage.
Thank you,
Kathryn Kroger,
Constituent of District 7.
Pasadena 91106
1 1. Why is the aim to be "carbon neutral" instead of carbon free? We are in a climate crisis.
2. "The recommended resolution, which declares a climate emergency, with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality in advance of the State recommendation, while a/so achieving goals of ensuring electric services continues to be safe, reliable, and affordable." Current gas services are not safe, not reliable, and not affordable. The harms are beyond well established now. 1
3. ''The costs associated with future investments that might be required to achieve a more ambitious target would ultimately be passed on to the community in the form of rate increases." Consumers are paying more for energy now. Today. Gas is becoming so unaffordable that Consumer Watchdog has called on the CA Attorney General2 to investigate these sharp gas price increases, and Pasadena Mayor Gordo is requesting to meet with Southern California Gas3 to discuss these price hikes as well.
The fiscally and environmentally responsible thing to do is to transition to clean energy expeditiously.
Yadi
Pasadena Municipal Services Committee Meeting
January 24, 2023
Agenda item 2. Climate Emergency
1 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/en vironment/article/greenhouse-gases 2https://www.consumerwatchdog.o rg/energy/consumer-watchdog-calls-investigation-so-cal-gas-natural-price-spi kes
3https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/mayor-gordo-calls-on-gas-company-to-meet-over-soaring-prices Stevenson, Garrett
Subject: FW: Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Fre e Power by 2030 OR SOONER From: Michael Szeto< >
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:46 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>; Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Williams, Felicia <[email protected]>; Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Masuda, Gene <[email protected]>; Rivas, Jessica <[email protected]>; Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>; Gordo, Victor <[email protected]> Subject: Please Support 100% Clean, Carbon-Free Power by 2030 OR SOONER Dear Mayor and Council Members:
I write as a community member who is deeply concerned by Pasadena's continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, I urge you to adopt a goal of procuring 100% clean, carbon-free power by 2030 or sooner.
Pasadena would be joining dozens of communities across the state that have realized that doing the right thing is not only feasible, it is cost-effective and reliable. While fossil fuel prices more than doubled over the past few months, the cost of clean power remained stable. Once built wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal plants, and other facilities that produce clean energy are not affected by foreign wars or the whims of a handful of large corporations. They provide clean, non-polluting power at a consistent price from one month to the next.
Within the San Gabriel Valley, the cities of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, Claremont, and unincorporated LA County have already adopted 100% clean power standards and are working towards procuring even more renewable energy. Setting a goal for Pasadena to do so by 2030 is a logical next step and helps us meet the example set by our peers. We do not want to be left behind.
Only clean. carbon-free power will guarantee Pasadena does its part to address the climate emergency. Please agendize the 100% Carbon Free Power by 2030 goal championed by the Pasadena 100 coalition, and unanimously supported by the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Directors, Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, and Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Pasadena community. And I look forward to your support.
Michael Szeto
1