HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/18/2018 Item 14, Bradshaw
Christian, Kevin
From:Justin Bradshaw <me@justinbradshaw.com>
Sent:Tuesday, September
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:GHG targets and Community Choice Energy
Dear Mayor Harmon and Council,
I know I don’t have to convince you about climate change and the crucial leading role we must play in this huge
challenge.
You also already understand how critical a community choice program is going to be for meeting your carbon reduction
goals. So I won’t belabor that.
I want to take this opportunity to commend and thank you on behalf of this community, the state of California and the
world, for taking bold action tonight. History… and our children… will remember that we stood up, stuck our necks out
and made a difference. I think tonight will be an action we can point to when the tide begins to shift in the right
direction.
So let us be bold. Let’s take risks that give us the best possible chance to avoid the very real consequences of inaction…
because we know those risks are enormous. We can see the wildfires, hurricanes, floods and droughts that could and
probably will be in our future.
You have built a wonderful staff and lead a dynamic city that is highly capable of meeting tough goals. So let’s set some
big ones!
1. 2035 is a bold yet achievable date for 100% carbon neutrality
2. Engage partners like Cal Poly, the business, transportation and building sectors to help meet these goals. Having
a bold, articulate goal can push these players to perform at a higher level than expected.
3. Start with the City. Make a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2025.
4. Start the CCA with 100% GHG free generation and set a date for when 100% renewable generation will occur.
5. Establish strong incentives for rooftop solar generation to empower every homeowner to become a mini power
plant, regardless of their current bill. *
6. Include some mandate for carbon sequestration projects
7. Include some mandate for disaster preparedness.
8. Put these in the founding documents of the JPA. That’s the constitution.
I guess I’m one of those wonky citizens who reads staff reports now, but it’s clear they’ve set you up for success with
these guiding principles:
"In addition to the technical requirements to achieve a “net zero City” listed above, staff also identified
important qualitative principles for how these actions are implemented. First, a successful approach prioritizes
commitments to innovation, leadership, learning, and sharing. Second, a successful approach makes a
commitment to seeing opportunity in the community’s challenges, so that climate action isn’t something that is
done instead of other key work, but rather is integrated into organizational, financial and the decision making
culture. Third, a successful approach makes a commitment to considering equity and economy in every
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decision. Taken together, these principles ensure that climate action can be a powerful change agent for
economic development, equity, and enhancing quality of life in the city. "
* My specific idea for solar incentivizing is to have the CCE program pay homeowners a fair rate for the excess power
their roof may generate. Too many homes in this town sit without solar (or too-small capacity) because their electricity
bills are too low to justify it. If they can actually MAKE money from their roof with an investment in solar panels, they
will be excited to help us achieve our renewable generation goals.
Thank you!
Justin Bradshaw
188 Los Cerros Dr.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
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