Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12b - Supporting Local Control of Energy Solutions DATE: September 3, 2019 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager By: Michael Bruckner, Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7274 SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL OF ENERGY SOLUTIONS Recommendation: Adopt SUMMARY The State is increasingly proposing new legislation and regulations that eliminate consumer choice of energy by mandating technologies to power buildings and public and private vehicle fleets, including transit and long-haul trucking, in order to achieve the State’s climate goals. Namely, there are proposals that would prohibit natural gas systems from being installed in buildings and other limitations to carbon based fuels, even when they are obtained from renewable resources, like bio gas. While there is a need for clean, affordable, renewable, and reliable energy, one-size-fits-all policy from the State is not the answer. The City, its residents, and business are best served by having the ability to choose the policies and investments that most affordably and efficiently enable them to comply with State requirements. Resolution No. 7274 supports balanced energy solutions as means to provide the City the decision-making authority to allow all technologies and energy resources to achieve these goals. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution No. 7274 supporting local control of energy solutions. DISCUSSION In an effort to reduce the State’s carbon footprint, the State legislature and energy agencies have been pursuing ambitious goals for statewide carbon neutrality, defined as removing as much carbon dioxide that is emitted annually as possible. Last year, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 100, which requires all retail electricity to be carbon- free by the year 2045. Further, in a recent report, the California Energy Commission described, “a growing consensus that building electrification is the most viable and predictable path to zero emissions.” The Energy Commission made it easier last year to Resolution No. 7274 Supporting Local Control of Energy Solutions September 3, 2019 Page 2 of 2 build all-electric homes as part of an update to energy-efficiency standards that will also require newly-built homes to be solar-powered starting in 2020. A mandate for new homes to be all-electric would have to come from the Legislature and has been discussed generally. While the City of Arcadia believes in pursuing efficient and environmentally-friendly alternative energy sources, a 2018 analysis conducted by Navigant Consulting found that a push to eliminate natural gas from homes would cost an average family $7,200 to switch their homes to all electricity and $388 per year more in energy bills, all while 80% of Californians oppose prohibiting the use of gas appliances (California Natural Gas Poll - Consumer Survey of 3,000 California Voters, 2018). In consideration of the Arcadia residents and businesses that would be affected by the bills enacted at the State legislature, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7274 in support of balanced energy solutions, such as renewable natural gas, in addition to zero-emission energy sources, as well as maintaining local control of energy solutions. By diversifying the variety of energy sources, it creates a more resilient community and offers more affordable consumer choice. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS This proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7274 supporting Local Control of Energy Solutions. Attachment: Resolution No. 7274