Photo by iStock/rui_noronha
Californians pride themselves on thriving in the face of adversity, no matter the circumstances. The state is beset with the COVID-19 pandemic, social injustice, an economic downturn, and climate change, all of which require bold action in order for all Californians to truly thrive, especially those who have historically been victims of systemic racism and other forms of oppression.
Communities of color are the foundation of the Golden State, and they have built our way of life. My community created the path for me to give back and uphold a higher standard for San Bernardino, which eventually led me to take my oath of office as a board member at the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Upholding this oath means that no challenge is too large, especially when it comes to the health and wellbeing of Californians.
San Bernardino and the South Coast Air Basin experienced over 150 smog days last year, compounded by the smoke from record wildfires. We cannot afford to continue making the same decisions that keep air pollution dangerously high in our communities.
One way California chose to fight climate change and improve air quality was with the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 100. This bill set us on a path to becoming one of the first states to move away from fossil fuels and run on 100 percent clean, local, renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
We won’t achieve these goals until we stop wasting money on gas-burning power plants and invest in the clean energy projects that will not just clean up our air but also create hundreds of thousands of new jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. California cannot afford to continue its dependence on the fossil fuels that are already causing hotter summers and more catastrophic wildfires.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is prepared to make two decisions that have the potential to knock the state back decades by allowing fossil fuels to further sink their hooks into our future. One decision would open the door to more investments in gas plants, despite the fact that last year’s blackouts were caused by gas plants running less efficiently in extreme heat.
As if this decision wasn’t bad enough, the second would halt our transition away from fossil fuels by ensuring that no power plants can retire until 2030, including those that are dirtier and more expensive than clean sources of energy.
The CPUC has a responsibility to pursue a path that will help California achieve its clean air and climate goals. Keeping the state on its course for 100 percent renewable energy will require investment and collaboration from utilities, customers, stakeholders, and the CPUC.
I am asking the CPUC to refrain from making any new investments in gas, and put California on a path toward phasing out fossil fuels and fulfilling the goals of SB 100 at the CPUC’s upcoming meeting on February 11. Communities on the frontlines, who disproportionately bear the brunt of the fallout from climate change, cannot wait any longer. We must rededicate our efforts toward powering California with clean renewable energy, rather than fossil fuels, in the spirit of a better and brighter future for all Californians.