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
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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