March 28, 2023
City Council
DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and Councilmember Cesar
Zepeda
Subject:
Presentation from Center for Biological Diversity and
Biofuelwatch on the impacts of the Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) wood pellet project
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact related to receiving the presentation
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) has put forward
a wood pellet project which has public health & safety
and environmental justice implications. GSNR is
proposing to store the pellets in silos at the ports of Richmond and/or Stockton
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from the Center for Biological
Diversity and Biofuelwatch on the wood pellet project
proposed by Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR)
and its pollution exposure and risk to the community and the environment - Vice Mayor McLaughlin (510-620-
6636) and Councilmember Zepeda (510-620-6593).
AGENDA
REPORT
March 28, 2023
DISCUSSION:
This item is to receive a presentation from Shaye Wolf, Climate Science Director at the Center for Biological Diversity and Gary Graham Hughes, Americas Program Coordinator at Biofuelwatch.
The Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) wood pellet project is proposing to build two of the country's largest wood pellet mills in Tuolumne and Lassen Counties—equal in size to the Enviva pellet mills that are devastating the southeast U.S.—transport the pellets by rail across California, store the fire-and-explosion-prone pellets in silos at the ports of Richmond and/or Stockton, and then ship them overseas to Asia or Europe to be burned in converted coal-fired power plants, threatening public health and safety, the climate, environmental justice, and our forests. The presenters will discuss port operations, dust and fire risks, among other major concerns to the community and to the environment.
Richmond has a Health in All Policies Ordinance and Strategy, as well as a Climate Action Plan. In addition, our General Plan has a Health and Wellness Element and an Energy and Climate Element. It is important that we adhere to these policies and guidelines.
It is also important that we hear from Environmental Justice and Climate Justice experts who will be making this presentation so that we are well-informed in making any decisions to come regarding this GSNR wood pellet project.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – GSNR project (summary of impacts)
Attachment 2 – Slideshow