Letters from the Public - 1 of 2 — San Jose City Council, June 14, 2022

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This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. latest climate science shows that we must reduce fossil fuel usage rapidly to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change. San Jose’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality will help us get there.

Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address

This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources latest climate science shows that we must reduce fossil fuel usage rapidly to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change. San Jose’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality will help us get there.

Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

I have contractors in my home who are currently remodeling to get rid of natural gas appliances and make us all electric. Please encourage this all over San Jose to improve our chances of turning back the clock on Climate Change!
Sincerely,
Marilynn Smith

San Jose, CA 95127

This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources The Pathway to Carbon Neutrality lays out the steps we will need to take to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, including shifting to electric vehicles, all-electric buildings, and 100% clean electricity. The latest climate science shows that we must reduce fossil fuel usage rapidly to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change. San Jose’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality will help us get there.

Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Sean Mendelson

Campbell CA. 95008

This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Pat Lang
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

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Although I live in Sunnyvale, I know that we share the same climate and many of the same key issues. If the 10th largest US city defines a Framework for Existing Building Electrification and a Pathway to Carbon Neutrality it will be a model for neighboring cities, it will position San Jose as a leader in green jobs and an equitable transition, and will help ensure a livable climate for our children. Please approve items 6.1 and 6.2.

Sincerely,
Kristel Wickham
Sunnyvale, CA

This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Deborah St. Julien
San Jose, Ca 95136
For our children and granchildren

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From: Carole Gonsalves <
Sent: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 6:53 PM
To: <
Cc: City Clerk < info.ca.norcal@mothersouront.org <info.ca.norcal@mothersouront.org>; District1 < District2 < District3 < District4
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Subject: Support carbon neutrality and electriﬁcaon in SJ

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Dear Mayor Liccardo, Vice Mayor Jones, and Councilmembers Arenas, Carrasco, Cohen, Davis, Esparza, Foley, Jimenez, Mahan, and Peralez,
As a supporter of Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley, I support the city staff’s proposed Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 as an essential part of the solution to meet our net zero climate goals in San Jose, and ask that the plans be strengthened with designated financial and human resources and target deadlines.

The Existing Building Electrification Framework incentivizes—but does not mandate—residents to replace old gas appliances “on burn out” or end of life with efficient electric alternatives, including electric or induction stoves, heat pump water heaters, and heat pump space heating—which also provides efficient cooling during our increasingly hot summers.

The plan provides extensive outreach to raise awareness of the negative health and climate impacts of using gas. Many residents would be willing to electrify, but due to limited understanding and resources and much misinformation around electrification, they often stay with conventional (fossil) gas appliances. Most people don’t know that gas stoves pollute indoor air and emit methane continuously, even when turned off, and that children in homes with gas stoves are 42% more likely to develop symptoms of asthma.

This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources The plan also stimulates the creation of new electrification-related job growth with living wages. The plan emphasizes equity, informed by a coalition with representatives from historically marginalized communities.

The plan includes assistance and grants to facilitate potential “retrofit accelerator” programs and other affordability options.

The Pathway to Carbon Neutrality lays out the steps we will need to take to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, including shifting to electric vehicles, all-electric buildings, and 100% clean electricity. The latest climate science shows that we must reduce fossil fuel usage rapidly to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change. San Jose’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality will help us get there.

Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Carole Gonsalves

This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
John McKenna
Menlo Park, CA
P.S. Although I am not a resident of San Jose, I wish to show my support for this plan as the climate crisis is a local, regional, and global issue that needs to be addressed by all concerned. As a resident of Menlo Park, I am voicing my concerns to my local leaders that they treat the climate crisis with the urgency that it demands and deserves.

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June 14 City Council Mtg, Agenda Item 6.1: Support 'Existing Building Electrification Framework'
Glen Garfunkel <
Thu 6/9/2022 8:31 PM
To: District9 <
Cc: City Clerk < Agendadesk < Ruth Merino <

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Dear Council Member Pam Foley,
Please support the Existing Building Electrification Framework that will be presented at the June 14th meeting.

1. Even without mandates, there is a great deal the City can and should do to facilitate a shift away from fossil fuels and toward electrification.

Workforce development and contractor training (for heat pump installations) is urgently needed, as is reliable home(or building) energy retrofit guidance, and informational resources.

Several percent of existing heating and hot water systems are replaced every year due to aging - this is low hanging fruit that can be harvested without mandates; by coordinating the needed services, the framework can greatly facilitate electrification of this and other portions of our existing buildings.

2. Climate Change is real, the consequences are very serious, and local government and individuals need to do the right thing. This issue is unlike any other issue local government has faced - climate change really is a large scale existential threat. The proposed Framework is a modest effort to get the ball rolling in the right direction. To quibble about a perceived small impact to one’s budget is to the miss the significance of the threat we face, and the much higher cost of inaction. To the contrary, with relatively small sacrifice the city can make significant inroads to reducing its carbon footprint. Yes, some of your constituents may object, but we must lead by example, and we must do the right thing in the short term to benefit long term. Please support the Existing Building Electrification Framework.

Thanks
Glen Garfunkel
San Jose Community Energy Advocates
District 9

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Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Kris Karnos
San Jose CA 95124 (district 9)

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The San Jose plan provides extensive outreach to raise awareness of the negative health and climate impacts of using gas. Many residents would be willing to electrify, but due to limited understanding and resources and much misinformation around electrification, they often stay with conventional (fossil) gas appliances.

The plan also stimulates the creation of new electrification-related job growth with living wages. The plan emphasizes equity, informed by a coalition with representatives from historically marginalized communities. The plan includes assistance and grants to facilitate potential “retrofit accelerator” programs and other affordability options.

Please approve the proposed San Jose Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
San Mateo Climate Action Team

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Council Agenda 6/14/22, Item 6.1, "Climate Smart San Jose Existing Building Electrification Framework"
Martin Delson < >
Sun 6/12/2022 9:49 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>

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Re: Council Agenda 6/14/22, Item 6.1, "Climate Smart San Jose Existing Building Electrification Framework"
June 12, 2022
Dear Mayor Liccardo and Members of the City Council,
The policy of electrifying all residential buildings in San Jose to reduce CO2 emissions makes absolutely no economic sense.

The report "Electrify San Jose" attached to the Agenda Item states "The total cost of electrifying all residential buildings in San José is an estimated $2.7 to $4.7 billion. This investment would eliminate more than one million metric tons of GHG emissions." (See Figure 1: "Citywide Residential Building Electrification Costs" on page x.) This amounts to approximately $4,000 per metric ton of reduced CO2:
an enormous price to pay. I fully support the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and doing so as quickly as possible, but any action promoted should aim at the maximum reduction per dollar spent.

A quick search of the web turned up a 2018 report titled "The Cost of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions" (click here). Figure 1 on page 6 of the abstract reproduces a chart produced in 2009 by the McKinsey Consulting Group. This chart shows a range of literally dozens of possible measures that may be taken to reduce CO2 emissions. Some measures are actually net-beneficial: that is, for every dollar spent, the user not only reduces GHG emissions but actually saves money. Chief among this is switching incandescent lights to LED lighting which returns approximately $100 to the end user per ton of CO2 reduction.

At the opposite end of the scale, that is, the most expensive measure shown on the chart, is "gas plant CCS retrofit" which costs about $70 per ton of CO2 reduction. (Note: prices are in euro and use costs from 2009; the actual figure shown is 60 Euro per metric ton.) There is a wide range of other measures ranging in price or benefit from $100 savings to $70 cost per ton of reduced CO2 emissions.

Compared with this, a cost of $4,000 per metric ton of reduced CO2 is absurdly high.

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Yes, let's have San Jose be a leader in the fight against global warming, but let's be smart in what we do.

City Council should reject the goal of electrifying residential buildings as a measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and direct staff to investigate and report on the most cost-effective measures that can be rapidly implemented by the city to achieve a goal that we all agree on: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible, not only in San Jose, but throughout the state, the U.S., and -- ideally -- the entire world.

Sincerely,
Martin Delson
Resident, San Jose

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Please support electrification
Peg Carlson-Bowen < >
Mon 6/13/2022 7:10 AM
To: Foley, Pam <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>; < >
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Dear council member Foley,
As a supporter of Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley, I support the city staff’s proposed Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 as an essential part of the solution to meet our net zero climate goals in San Jose, and ask that the plans be strengthened with designated financial and human resources and target deadlines.

The plan
also stimulates the creation of new electrification-related job growth with living wages. The plan emphasizes equity, informed by a coalition with representatives from historically marginalized communities. The plan includes assistance and grants to facilitate potential “retrofit accelerator” programs and other affordability options.

Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,

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Peg Carlson-Bowen
My gender pronouns are she/her/hers.

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Support of item 6.1 and 6.2 Electrification and Carbon Neutrality Stephanie M < >
Mon 6/13/2022 11:15 AM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]> You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
My name is Stephanie Morris and I’m a volunteer with Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley. I am writing to support two proposals on the June 14th City Council Agenda.

Item 6.1: Existing Building Electrification
Thank you for this comprehensive Existing Building Electrification Plan, developed with open collaboration with community-based organizations. Yes, the climate is the driving force behind the plan, but equity is front and center. This includes the creation of jobs that pay a fair wage and offer career advancement, educational support for homeowners and installers, and financial support such as incentives and rebates. With proactive planning, we can bundle services for neighborhoods, simplify permitting, and help our neighbors afford to make the switch to electric.

I would like to emphasize that this plan does not mandate the removal of any fossil-fuel gas appliances, but it does incentivize and support this important transition to electric power. In San Jose we are fortunate to have San Jose Clean Energy providing residents with renewable power choices and investments in clean infrastructure. Electrification is nothing to fear, and our grid will support this change if we make it step by step.

We will not achieve our Climate Smart goals or truly protect the health and equity of our entire community without this plan. Our children and our communities are counting on your leadership.

Item 6.2: Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030
As a mother, I am deeply concerned about the climate crisis. Today’s children don’t have the power to vote, but they will inherit the consequences of our decisions. Please lead the way for San Jose’s future and for other cities to follow.

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The majority of greenhouse gas emissions (85%) come from transportation and buildings. I support:
• Moving to zero-emission vehicles and supporting charging for multi family residents • Switching our appliances from fossil fuel to electric • Powering our community with 100 percent carbon-neutral electricity Input is needed from all parts of the San José community, especially low-income residents, seniors, disabled residents, and struggling families, to ensure that achieving these goals empowers all of our residents to live better lives.

Thank you so much for taking up these critical climate issues and for your support Stephanie Morris

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June 14th City Council meeting - Climate Policy
< >
Mon 6/13/2022 12:31 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>

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As a member of the Silicon Valley Chapter of Climate Reality, I strongly support the three policies that will be discussed at tomorrow’s meeng.

1. The Framework for Exisng Building Electriﬁcaon provides a path to the eliminaon of fossil fuels as energy sources and to provide access for historically marginalized communies.

2. The Pathway to Carbon Neutrality is an essenal step in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

3. The Transportaon Demand Management and Parking Ordinance is a necessary measure to encourage the use of public transportaon and to reduce automobile traﬃc in the city.

I urge the council to adopt these policies,
Sincerely,
Campbell Sco

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Electrify San José: A Framework for Existing Building Electrification - Item 6.1 Candice Brown < >
Mon 6/13/2022 12:35 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>

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Council Members,
I urge you to support the framework for Item 6.1 Electrify San Jose.

Thank you,
Candice Brown Pacheco

--
Candice Brown, Ph.D.

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Ralf Buengener < >
Mon 6/13/2022 1:20 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>
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Dear Mayor Liccardo, Vice Mayor Jones, and Councilmembers Arenas, Carrasco, Cohen, Davis, Esparza, Foley, Jimenez, Mahan, and Peralez, As a supporter of 350 Silicon Valley, I support the city staff’s proposed Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 as an essential part of the solution to meet our net zero climate goals in San Jose, and ask that the plans be strengthened with designated financial and human resources and target deadlines.

We already feel the effects of the Climate Crisis in San Jose. To mitigate them it is important that we act and that we act now.

Therefore, please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

The plan provides extensive outreach to raise awareness of the

6/13/22, 3:07 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Dr. Ralf Buengener

San Jose, CA95112
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Item 6.1: Framework for Existing Building Electrification Marn-Yee Lee < >
Mon 6/13/2022 2:39 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>

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I'm a resident of Mountain View and a frequent visitor to San Jose.

I strongly urge city council to vote YES on item 6.1: Electrify San José: A Framework for Existing Building Electrification.

We need to mitigate for and prepare for climate change. This plan will set up the long-term infrastructure needed to make building electrification more affordable and accessible for all San José residents. Increasing community resilience to handle the challenges of climate change is no longer theoretical.. Climate change is here and now, not future and faraway.

The city can be an example to others, on creating a framework that equitably make electrification more accessible to all, so the benefits of clean energy use are shared community-wide.

Having resiliency hub is so critical for everyone, across income level and living situations, to be able weather the increasing number of challenging air quality and heatwave days.

Thank you for your time and effort to make San Jose a leader and a great place to live/visit.

Marn Yee Lee
Co-chair, Climate Reality Silicon Valley
Resident of Mountain View

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Support items 6.1 & 6.2: Existing Building Electrification and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality
David Poeschel < >
Mon 6/13/2022 3:02 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>
Cc:

City Clerk <[email protected]>; >

Most people don’t know that gas stoves pollute indoor air and emit methane continuously, even when turned off, and that children in homes with gas stoves are 42% more likely to develop symptoms of asthma.

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Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
David Poeschel
San Jose, California

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Support items 6.1 & 6.2: Existing Building Electrification and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality
Julia Howlett < >
Mon 6/13/2022 3:54 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>
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Subject: Support items 6.1 & 6.2: Existing Building Electrification and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality Dear Mayor Liccardo, Vice Mayor Jones, and Councilmembers Arenas, Carrasco, Cohen, Davis, Esparza, Foley, Jimenez, Mahan, and Peralez,
As a supporter of Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley, I support the city staff’s proposed Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 as an essential part of the solution to meet our net zero climate goals in San Jose, and ask that the plans be strengthened with designated financial and human resources and target deadlines.

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. communities. The plan includes assistance and grants to facilitate potential “retrofit accelerator” programs and other affordability options.

Please approve the Existing Building Electrification Framework and Pathway to Carbon Neutrality to help ensure a livable climate for our children.

Sincerely,
Julia Howlett
San Jose

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Agenda Item 6.1 for the June 14th, 2022 San Jose Council meeting -- COMMENT LETTER Karen Nelson < >
Mon 6/13/2022 4:46 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <[email protected]> Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>;Agendadesk <[email protected]> Some people who received this message don't often get email from . Learn why this is important

Please see the aached comment leer for Agenda Item 6.1 for the June 14th, 2022 San Jose Council meeng.

Karen Warner Nelson
Co-Chair and Founder, Climate Reality Project: Silicon Valley chapter Founding member: NGO Community Engagement commiee, San Jose Clean Energy Board Vice-President: Avenida Espana HDC of the Santa Clara Housing Authority Member: League of Women Voters, San Jose/Santa Clara, Climate Change commiee Consultant, Project Mgr & Instruconal Designer 2020/2021: Silicon Valley Clean Energy, All-Electric 4 hour video course

(m)

June 13, 2022

The Honorable Mayor Liccardo and City Councilmembers
San José City Council
200 E. Santa Clara St.

San Jose, CA 95113

Re: Agenda Item 6.1: Support for San José’s Framework for Existing Building Electrification

Dear Mayor Liccardo and City Councilmembers,

Climate Reality: Silicon Valley writes to express our strong support for the Framework for Existing Building Electrification. We need to create a substantial foundation to expand and make building electrification more affordable and accessible for all San José residents.

We recognize the progress San Jose has made to create significant building decarbonization policies. And we see the time is now to go beyond those early-stage efforts. And we applaud the Cities inclusion of community- based organizations in the Building Electrification framework. The Framework puts forward policies and programs designed to encourage and support the switch to electric by homeowners, property owners, and tenants to electrify their homes and businesses. And reducing the barriers to electrification, for all, including low-income residents and marginalized communities is the only way to successful create an effective shift from fossil fuels to clean energy.

The Framework for Existing Building Electrification prioritizes four key focus areas that we see as a systems view that will accelerate success:

• Improved health and indoor air quality: By switching to electricity, members of these communities can benefit from cleaner air at home.

• Housing and Energy Costs: Current electric appliances are much more energy efficient than gas appliances which means that all-electric homes save money on utility bills. To achieve this shift requires government support to make this significant initial investment. We support the Framework’s suggestions to develop sustainable funding sources and to expand incentives to reduce or cover the up-front cost of electric appliances, especially for low-income communities.

• High Quality Job Opportunities: The Framework acknowledges that we need to expand workforce training opportunities, especially for historically marginalized communities. And with that training the Framework suggests that programs be created to help generate high quality, local jobs. We support this important pillar of the plan which seeks to mobilize the switch to all-electric.

• Clean and Reliable Energy: The Framework also seeks to increase community resilience and make electrification more accessible to all, so the benefits of clean energy use are shared community-wide.

This points to creating programs that will increase access to clean and reliable backup power, provide

access to safe community spaces or ‘community resiliency hubs’ and to build a more resilient electric grid.

By passing the Framework for Existing Building Electrification, the City of San José is taking a big step toward its carbon neutrality goal as well as a long-term commitment to building electrification and to equity.

We realize that the Framework’s suggested policies and programs will require a significant investment, as will require additional staff to implement. But these investments are far less expensive compared to the local costs of inaction to mitigate issues related to health, drought, sea-rise, wild fires, heat waves and the many other devastating problems associated with global warming.

San Jose’s framework is a wonderful next step in the evaluation of our climate policy as we work to create a sustainable future for our children.

Climate Reality: Silicon Valley urges the San José City Council to take two actions related to the Framework on Tuesday, June 14:
• Pass the Framework for Existing Building Electrification, and • Ensure meaningful investments are established to support the Framework’s implementation.

Thank you for your diligence to protect our community and the planet.

Karen Nelson
Climate Reality: Silicon Valley Founder and Co-Chair

6/13/22, 5:21 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Support for San José’s Existing Building Electrification Framework (Agenda Item 6.1) Isabella Luong < >
Mon 6/13/2022 5:18 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: < >;Emily Schwing < >

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On behalf of community-based organizations ICAN and Veggielution, please accept the attached letter of support for San José’s Existing Building Electrification Framework (Agenda Item 6.1) to be heard on Tuesday, June 14.

Thank you,

Isabella Lương
ICAN
Senior Research Coordinator
W. |
Internaonal Children Assistance Network (ICAN)
Sobrato Center for Nonproﬁts
Milpitas CA 95035
ICAN - Family Resource Center
(located inside Vietnamese American Cultural Center)
San Jose, CA 95122
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June 13, 2022
The Honorable Mayor Liccardo and City CouncilmembersSan José City Council200 E. Santa Clara St.San Jose, CA 95113 Re: Support for San José’s Existing Building Electrification Framework (Agenda Item 6.1) Dear Mayor Liccardo and City Councilmembers:

On behalf of ICAN and Veggielution, as well as the other local organizations and valued members of theSan José community who have signed onto this letter, we respectfully request your adoption of theExisting Building Electrification Framework to incentivize the electrification of homes and businesses inSan José.

San José’s Existing Building Electrification Framework is a bold and innovative response to the urgency ofthe climate crisis and will work to further both climate and equity imperatives. The Framework is poisedtoraise awareness of the benefitsof using electricappliances,reduce housing and energy coststhrough supportive city programs, encourage thegrowthof high-quality local green jobs, and increaseaccess toclean and reliable energyin San José.

Your passage of the Existing Building Electrification Framework provides a critical path toward achievingClimate Smart San José’s goal of having 100% of homes be all-electric by 2050 and California’srequirement of 80% emissions reductions from 1990 levels by 2050. Energy use in buildings currentlyaccounts for roughly a third of San José’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and even while San JoséClean Energy brings the City’s electricity supply closer and closer to 100% clean energy, we can’teliminate emissions from buildings without transitioning away from natural gas, which accounts for 19%of GHG community-wide GHG emissions.

But the benefits of existing building electrification reach far beyond meeting climate goals. Electrificationimproves lives by:● Improving indoor air qualityby avoiding dangerouschemicals emitted by gas appliances,including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and nitrous oxide – chemicals tied to an increasedlikelihood of childhood asthma and poor respiratory health;● Mitigating urban heatisland effects caused by gasemissions, making the City more comfortableand reducing excessive energy use for seasonal cooling needs; and● Saving San José residents moneyby shielding themfrom volatile gas prices and cutting utilitybills in the long term.

Due to the innovative co-creation process San José underwent partnering with both ICAN andVeggielution, the City was able to tailor the Framework to the unique priorities and concerns of San Josécommunities, particularly those that have been historically marginalized. This step was essential in theFramework’s development, as building electrification is inextricably linked to housing, and housing is anarea where people – particularly people of color – are most impacted by health and financial inequitiesin society. Through this co-creation process, the recommendations in the Framework were shaped toboth meet community priorities and proactively safeguard against any potential risks of buildingelectrification.

Leveraging the expertise of our partners and members of the community, San José’s Existing BuildingElectrification Framework sets the city on a path to:● Invest in supportive programs and funding to enable an equitable and affordable transition toelectrification;● Advance continued equitable and accessible community-led engagement, coordinated acrossCity departments;● Launch an Equitable Building Electrification Task Force to identify future energy transitionsolutions and hold the City accountable for its goals; and● Co-create further policies and programs to encourage uptake in building electrification retrofits.

Electrification of existing buildings, while absolutely necessary, will require a thoughtful and holisticstrategy which we believe this Framework achieves. We commend the city for centering equity in itsapproach to developing the Framework, to ensure the benefits promised by electrification – such ascleaner air, lower energy costs, and new job opportunities – are shared community-wide.

The present and future generations are looking to you to act in the face of irreversible damage fromclimate change. While the State of California is leading on climate action, we would like to see San Joseemerge as a national leader for local governments. It is not enough to continue our momentum; wemust do everything we can to drastically reduce carbon emissions and prevent irreversible climatecatastrophe. The Existing Building Electrification Framework is more than just a building decarbonizationplan; supporting it would be an affirmation of the City’s commitment to social, racial, economic, andclimate justice. Thus, we strongly urge Council to take this critical step toward making San José a moreaffordable, healthy, and sustainable city for all, for generations to come.

Our organizations as well as the following signatories support San José’s Existing Building ElectrificationFramework, and we strongly urge Council to take this critical step toward making San José a moreaffordable, healthy, and sustainable city for all.

Please vote to pass the Existing Building Electrification Framework.

Sincerely,
Cayce Hill, Executive DirectorVeggielution
Quyen Vuong, Executive DirectorICAN
Organizational Signatories

1. ICAN(Quyen Vuong, Executive Director)2. Vietnamese American Roundtable(Atkinson Tran, President)3. Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action(Pragya Natarajan,Co-lead of San Jose City Action Team)4. Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition(Ruth SilverTaube, Coordinator)5. Bay Area Regional Energy Network(Jeffery Liang, SingleFamily Program Manager)6. Together We Will - San José(Felicia Gershberg & MiriamMartin, Co-leads)7. VIVO (Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation), (Bao Trieu,President)8. Veggielution(Emily Schwing, Public Affairs Director)9. Latinos United for a New America(Mayra Pelagio-Muñoz,Executive Director)10. Latinas Contra Cancer(Darcie Green, Executive Director)11. Si Se Puede Collective San Jose Residential Signatories

1. Duc Lac Diep, 951222. Trung Chanh Vuong, 951313. HaUyDi Do, HaUyDung Do, Steve Nguyen 951324. Vivian Bui, 951275. Cecilia Phan, Rob Payne 951286. Isabella Luong, 951287. James Phan, Joe Phan 951328. Linda Do Nguyen, 951229. Steven Rubalcaba, 95122

10. Huan Pham, 9513611. Tiffany Nguyen, 9503512. Philip Nguyen, 9512313. Candice Phan, 9513514. Huy Tran, 9513115. Hanh Lam, 9514816. Huy Truong, Hanh Le 9512217. Cuong Le, 9512718. Giao Le, 9512719. Hoang Truong, Tien Le 9512220. Minh Truong, 9512221. Thi Truong, Quoc Nguyen 9512222. Tuoi Truong , Anh Le 9513323. Thien Ly, 9513624. Tam Nguyen, Ngu Ly 9512225. Hai Vuong, 9514826. Kim Chi Cao, 9511127. Mai Hien Luu, Dang Vuong 9514828. Phuong Pham, 9511629. Anh Phan, 9511130. Khang Diep, Dien Dinh 9512231. Lac Diep, Tien Tran 9512232. Diem Hoang, 9512133. Nu Nguyen, Nguyen Huynh 9511234. Hong Hoang, Chi Pham 9512235. Ngoc Nguyen, 9512736. Ychi Huynh, 9512137. Thi Trinh, Dinh Nguyen 9511138. Ivy Vuong, 9512439. ThiNghi Nguyen, 9512140. Diep Vo, 9511141. Thuan Pham, Truc Tran 9513142. Tra My Pham, 9511643. Dung Nguyen, 9512244. Lan Anh Dien, 9514845. Nga Nguyen, 9512246. Ha Nguyen, 9511147. Mai Nguyen, 9511248. Christina Tran, 9512249. Phong Tran, 9511250. Hoang Nguyen, 9511251. Thoai Le, 95122

52. Kim Loan Nguyen, 9512353. Maile Del Buono54. Vi Truong, 9513355. Viet Doan, 9513356. Hien Truong, 9513357. Khang Doan, 95133 Support from non-San Jose residents who work or volunteer in San Jose communities

1. Lam Pham, Thinh Nguyen 950542. Helen Lam, 945873. Duke Vuong, 950544. Minh Le, 950145. Maria Marroquin, 940436. Helen Padolina, 940807. Ruth Silver Taube, 940878. Mylinh Ha-Do, Trinh Do, 945559. Phuong Tran, 9503510. Anh Nguyen, 9503511. Nguyen Vo, Phuc Vo, Phuong Dao 9503512. Ty Huynh, Phuc Dao 9408713. Dai Pham, 9412114. Felicia Gershberg, 9408715. Albert Nguyen & Sylvia Mai, 95018 (former resident: 30+ yrs in Santa Clara County including 10+yrs in San Jose)16. Quang Dao, 94538

San Jose City CouncilJune 14, 2022

San Jose City Council
June 14, 2022