Tell Berkeley Councilmembers to Support the Climate Equity Action Fund

By Ben Paulos

The Berkeley City Council will be deciding this week whether to put the Climate Equity Action Fund before voters this fall. If you are a Berkeley resident, please contact your council member to urge their support (contact information below).

While all the councilmembers strongly support the idea of having a climate fund, some are less excited about raising the money to create one. The funding source for the Fund, after extensive debate, polling, and research, is to increase the Utility User Tax (UUT) for electricity and gas, from the current rate of 7.5% to 10%, an approach championed by Councilmember Kate Harrison.

The proposal also exempts low-income customers (on CARE and FERA rate plans) from the tax increase, and authorizes the Council to raise the gas UUT an additional 2.5% when the City works out a way to do separate tax rates for gas and electricity with PG&E.

The proposal would raise about $2.4 million per year for climate action, such as incentives for low-carbon transportation, building efficiency and electrification, and distributed renewable energy. A priority will be put on promoting equity and environmental justice, while cutting carbon emissions. NGOs, businesses, and government agencies would be eligible to seek funding, with recommendations made by a city commission and decisions made by the Council.

While some would like to find an external funding source, such as a tax on a polluting corporation, the UUT increase is the most straightforward way of raising funds currently. Adding new exemptions for low-income customers will help keep it equitable, as will prioritizing spending on equity opportunities. Plus, having funds available to promote building electrification will be more beneficial than the harm caused by a slight increase in electricity costs.

Thanks to wildfires, Greta, and Trump, I believe Berkeley voters are eager for action, and will put their money where their heart is, and fund local action on climate change.  

To contact your specific council member, see the list below. To write to all of them at once, send an email to council@cityofberkeley.info.