Speak Out for Equity at the EBCE Budget Meeting, Wednesday, June 16

(06/2021) East Bay Community Energy's next board meeting agenda will include the annual budget item  for 2021-2022 on the agenda Wednesday, June 16, starting at 5pm. The proposed budget for the Local Development Business Plan (LDBP) is over $16 million and includes some excellent programs. However, the majority of the budget is still slated to go to projects that will largely benefit only middle- and upper-income customers. In May 2020, the board approved a large 3 year budget for EV infrastructure and vehicle purchase incentives budget with the intent of receiving a matching grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC).

Stop the PG&E Attack on Rooftop Solar

(06/2021) PG&E and California’s other investor-owned utilities are pushing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to gut Net Metering, California's cornerstone rooftop solar policy. 
 
 
The utility proposals in the CPUC’s new Net Energy Metering 3.0 proceeding effectively tank the growth of rooftop solar. Their stated objective is to slash payback period of a solar installation from the current 5-8 years to 20-25 years—so there will be essentially no financial benefit to installing rooftop solar.

The Biggest Climate Emergency of Our Time is Undercutting Equity in Climate Solutions—An Update on East Bay Community Energy

(05/2021) As we approach the one year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of racist police and the Black Lives Matter uprisings that followed, reparations are still being held hostage by institutions.  Since then, we have seen a rise in violence against our Asian community, mostly the elderly and women, who have been scapegoated for this pandemic.  The reality is that capitalism has been at the root of these injustices. East Bay Clean Power Alliance felt that equity has to be explicit in every aspect of our lives and of our work. Electricity is a human right that has been monopolized by investor owned utilities for too long, leaving struggling families literally in the dark by power shut offs.  Our communities advocated for a Community Choice energy program to flip the script and make energy work for our communities.  Our East Bay area has a wealth of community organizing and advocacy for energy democracy.  But, energy democracy is a two way street, our local electeds must hear and act on these demands.

PG&E "Failing Since Bankruptcy" Scorecard Is Out!

(04/2021) On Thursday, April 8th, the Reclaim Our Power Campaign released the "Failing Since Bankruptcy"- a scorecard grading PG&E on their failure to keep Californians safe. Fire survivors, people with disabilities, ratepayers, and young people spoke powerfully about the ways PG&E has harmed our communities since they were allowed out of bankruptcy in June 2020.

Thursday: Take Action to Reject PG&E's "License to Burn!"

(04/2021) Reclaim Our Power is asking for your help! On Thursday April 15th, the CPUC is voting on whether to approve PG&E's "safety certificate"- or as we call it, their "License to Burn." After years of dangerous negligence that have killed more than 100 people, and with the Zogg fire, raising rates, and more shutoffs all since they were let out of bankruptcy, it's long past time to reject PG&E's ability to burn us down and shut us off. We're asking the commission to reject the safety certificate, and move us closer to a safe, reliable, worker and community controlled energy system. Will you join us?

LCEA is in the News Again!

(03/2021) Local Clean Energy Alliance’s Jessica Tovar was interviewed by The Intercept’s Alleen Brown and San Francisco Chronicle’s J.D. Morris about Texas blackouts and transition to renewable energy. 

Stop the PG&E Attack on Rooftop Solar

(03/2021) PG&E and California’s other investor-owned utilities are pushing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to gut Net Metering, California's cornerstone rooftop solar policy. 
 

Battle Looms Over Utility Bilking of California Ratepayers

(02/2021) The California Alliance for Community Energy has recently released a position paper calling for a statewide legislative effort to eliminate a fee on Community Choice energy customers that results in all California ratepayers being bilked by PG&E and the state’s other monopoly utilities. 

CPUC Stymies Community Microgrid Development

(02/2021) Despite public comment from over two dozen community advocates calling for community-driven energy resilience, the CPUC voted unanimously on January 14 to put microgrid development rules in place that fail to meet community needs.
 
At issue is whether frontline communities will be able to create community-based resilience centers where key services can be provided to those most in need when electric power is shut off. These resilience centers would use microgrid technology to continue to provide electricity to schools, community centers, food banks, and other facilities that are critical for community health and safety. Currently there are many barriers to installing microgrid technology at such facilities, especially in low-income communities and those most at risk during power shutoffs. 

Stop PG&E from controlling our "community" energy!

(01/2021) This Thursday, January 14, with little public input, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is rushing a vote to set the rules for building resilient energy in the form of microgrids that could protect our communities from shutoffs in the future. 
 
Reclaim Our Power: Utility Justice Campaign (ROP) has submitted a letter calling for the CPUC to focus on protecting disadvantaged communities, by including community voices in determining rules for microgrid development in order to guarantee equity in access to these critical energy resources. The CPUC must not allow PG&E and other private utilities to control energy resilience in our communities. 

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