Making Richmond a Clean Energy Leader: Clean Energy and Healthy Homes for All Project The vision : ACCE (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment) and allies make the City of Richmond
a
model
for
dignified,
clean,
green
healthy
homes—all
while
creating
good
local
union
jobs,
protecting
tenants
and
increasing
our
collective
power.
The approach : neighborhood-scale building decarbonization means improving energy efficiency, providing
clean
electric
appliances,
and
installing
rooftop
solar
and
storage
across
entire
neighborhood
blocks.
This
way,
everyone
receives
the
health
and
economic
benefits
of
getting
off
gas
and
installing
rooftop
solar,
regardless
of
whether
they
are
rich
or
own
their
home.
Without
community-led
projects
like
this
one,
wealthier
individuals
will
electrify
their
homes
and
pull
themselves
off
an
aging
gas
grid.
With
fewer
people
on
the
gas
grid,
rates
will
skyrocket,
leaving
low-income
households
with
higher
bills
.
This
project
models
how
to
prioritize
working-class
communities,
especially
Black
and
Brown
neighborhoods,
which
face
disproportionate
burdens
from
polluting
industries,
poor
indoor
air
quality,
and
energy
burden.
Protecting our people : we are committed to ensuring that green investments benefit our communities — not
landlords
and
large
corporations.
To
make
that
possible,
our
program
will:
● Reduce reliance on gas appliances to also help lower indoor air pollutants, which can improve asthma
symptoms
and
improve
overall
respiratory
health
for
residents
● Include strong tenant protections so renters don’t have to fear rent increases or displacement because
of
improvements
to
their
homes.
● Reduce costs of utility bills through improved insulation, high-efficiency appliances, and solar; work
with
the
City
and
PG&E
to
secure
a
commitment
that
electrification
will
not
increase
rates
● Work with building trade unions so that decarbonization projects are performed by highly skilled who
are
paid
a
fair
wage,
receive
benefits,
and
have
decent
working
conditions
● As part of our collaboration with the building trades, ensure local hiring and investment in pre-apprenticeship
programs
that
train
Richmond
residents
for
jobs
in
the
green
economy
Funding our work : we believe that the costs of transitioning off gas should not fall on the backs of working-class
and
poor
communities
who
did
the
least
to
cause
the
climate
crisis.
To
this
end,
we
are
committed
to
ensuring
that
the
costs
of
neighborhood-scale
building
decarbonization
projects
are
fully
covered
for
program
participants.
Possible
funding
sources
include:
● Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) pilot projects approved by recent legislation and/or funding if 100%
of
residents
agree
to
electrify
(speaking
with
PG&E
representatives
about
this)
● Equitable Building Decarbonization funding through the California Energy Commission ● Stacking existing clean energy programs from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and California
Public
Utility
Commission
(CPUC),
and
Solar
for
All
from
GRID
Alternatives
(
stackability
evaluated
per
home
)
How we get there : collaborating with the City of Richmond and other allies to pilot a project across multiple
city
blocks
in
the
Iron
Triangle,
Coronado
or
Sante
Fe
neighborhood.
These
neighborhoods
are
working-class
Black
and
Brown
communities
where
Contra
Costa
ACCE
has
organized
for
many
years.
They
are
also
neighborhoods
where
gas
lines
are
old
and
need
to
be
replaced,
presenting
a
strategic
opportunity
to
electrify
instead.
This
pilot
project
will
demonstrate
that
the
strategy
of
pursuing
For more information, contact David Sharples at [email protected]
community-led neighborhood-scale decarbonization projects works. The project will lay the groundwork to
expand
to
more
blocks
and
neighborhoods
in
the
years
to
come.
For more information, contact David Sharples at [email protected]