Category Archives: Clean energy

Clean energy, Climate action, Fossil fuels, Meeting notices

Our Next Meeting – Tuesday, November 14

MEMBER MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023, 7:00 PM

ZOOM MEETING

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Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 14, at 7pm, held on Zoom.

Carbon Dumping may be coming to the Bay Area, especially refinery communities.  If you aren’t sure what that is, you are not alone.  Another name for it is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).  That sounds good at first glance – who doesn’t want to get rid of the CO2 that is driving climate chaos?

But did you know it has never worked?  Did you know “permanent storage” may be for as little as 50 years?  Did you know that a leak can be FATAL?  YIKES!  This is where national policy to promote Carbon Capture and local interests collide.

Come find out more about the proposals in California, including the proposed Montezuma Carbon Project along the Carquinez Strait.  Victoria Bogdan Tejeda, a Staff Attorney at the Climate Law Institute, Center for Biological Diversity,  will be speaking at our next meeting and filling us in on these new threats.  Please invite your friends.

Speaker Bio

Victoria Bogdan Tejeda (she/her) (pictured right) is a Staff Attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, where she fights false climate solutions like carbon capture and storage, as well as polluting industries such as petrochemicals and biomass energy.  Prior to joining the Center, she worked as an Associate Attorney with Earthjustice.  There, her role included litigating toxic chemical regulations and assisting overburdened communities in advancing environmental justice.  She holds a law degree from U.C. Davis School of Law.

Zoom Sign-In

Our Zoom meeting details are below.

Join PDB Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88555032712?pwd=OFBXVUozV1kycnRBTzgweFhQWEl1UT09

Meeting ID: 885 5503 2712
Passcode: 290521

Don’t miss this important meeting!

See you on Zoom, Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 PM! 

 

Benicia elections, Benicia Unified School District, Clean energy, Renewable energy

Meeting Reflections – March 14, 2023

MEETING REFLECTIONS
March 14, 2023

Our March meeting was held on  Tuesday, March 14, 2023 via Zoom.

Agenda:
  • Call to Order
  • Treasurer’s Report
  • Acknowledgements/Announcements
  • BUSD-5th Dist. Candidate – Ali Mansouri
  • Jed Holtzman, RMI
  • Igor Tregub, CA Solar & Storage Assn.
  • Wrap-up

Announcements

  • Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP) Forum
    • March 27, 2023 at 7 pm – Air Quality, Monitoring & Human Health Risk
    • Register:  www.fenceline.org
    • Panel:
      • Dr. Marjaneh Moini, Oncologist; Physicians for Social Responsibility
      • Don Gamiles, President, Argos Scientific
      • Eric Stevenson, former mgr. BAAQMD; Argos
  • Solano Pride Center – Trans Day of Visibility Rally
    • Friday, March 31, 2023 at 4 pm at 675 Texas Street, Fairfield
  • BBQ in the Park for Solano County Democrats
    • May 20, 2023 at Allan Witt Park in Fairfield
    • Seeking art donations for the Silent Art and Dessert Auction
  • Poetry Reading from Yearning to Breathe Free at the Benicia Public Library, March 19, 2023 at 3 pm
  • City Council Meeting March 21, 2023 at 6 pm will honor Roger Straw. All are invited to attend.
  • March 25, 2023 City Council Annual Goal Setting Meeting 8:30 to 4:30 at Benicia Public Library . All are invited to attend.
  • March 28, 2023 6 pm – special City Council meeting focusing on the pedestrian bridge replacement options
  • City Council will hold several meetings about the budget April through June
  • NEXT MEETING: April 11, 2022 at 6:30 pm in person at the Library

Program

District 5 BUSD “Special Vacancy” Election

We heard from District 5 School Board candidate Dr. Ali Mansouri. He spoke about his background, why he is running, and answered questions from members and attendees.

The recorded video of this section of the meeting can be accessed here.  In addition, the recorded video of District 5 candidate Ariana Martinez from last month’s meeting can be accessed here.

As a reminder, only residents of District 5 are eligible to vote in the April 11 election.

Methane Gas in the Home: What You Need to Know

blue gas flames from a gas stoveGuest speaker Jed Holtzman from RMI (formerly the Rocky Mountain Institute) gave a presentation on how much our gas appliances contribute to air pollution, how new regulations proposed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) could help address the issue, and how they may impact us.  The recorded video of this section of the meeting can be accessed here.

Home Electrification

Kathy Kerridge gave a brief presentation on converting home gas appliances to electric and recommended Green, Blue, and You with useful information for home conversion and upgrades.  The recorded video of this section of the meeting can be accessed here.

Why You May Want to Get Solar Nowtwo workers install rooftop solar panels

Our second guest speaker, Igor Tregub, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the CA Solar and Storage Association and Chair of the California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus, spoke about the recent changes made by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) to how utilities will pay for power from rooftop solar, and provided a lot of useful information needed to make decisions about solar.  The recorded video of this section of the meeting can be accessed here.

To lock in the most favorable rates you must submit the following to your utility BY APRIL 14:

  • a complete and correct interconnection application to your utility;
  • a signed contract with a solar provider;
  • a single-line diagram;
  • a complete California Contractor’s State License Solar Energy System disclosure document;
  • a signed California Solar Consumer Protection Guide; and
    an oversizing attestation (if applicable).

Action: Letter Writing with Vote Forward

You are encouraged to all to sign up for letter writing for the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election through Vote Forward. A member will host a letter writing party on Thursday March 23, 2023. Contact us for details.

Your Membership in PDB – One Last Reminder

If you haven’t yet, please renew your PDB membership by clicking this link to pay your annual $20 in membership dues. While you’re there, please consider making an additional donation to help fund PDB’s future activities.

>>  Yes – Renew my Membership!

http://progressivedemocratsofbenicia.org/pay-dues-donate/

California Senator Bill Dodd, Clean energy, Hydropower, Renewable energy

ALERT! Please contact Senator Dodd before January 15

Vote No / Oppose SB 386

Members and friends,

We need your help in protecting California’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) program and the state’s goal for 100% electricity generation from renewable energy sources.

Senator Bill Dodd will be voting on a bill January 15 – SB 386 – and he should oppose the bill and VOTE NO.  He needs to hear from his constituents!  We vote, too!

SB 386 allows two utilities (Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts) to include large hydropower as a renewable resource and count toward their RPS requirements. California currently excludes large hydropower for RPS because the primary purpose of the Renewable Portfolio Standards program is to reduce the use of fossil fuel energy through the use of clean, renewable energy. This SB 386 would allow the utilities to reduce their commitments to new clean and renewable resources.

Please CALL Sen. Dodd’s office at (916) 651-4003 before this Wednesday, Jan. 15, which is when the Senate Energy Committee will vote on SB 386.  Ask Sen. Dodd to vote NO on the bill.  Last year he voted yes on this bill, which stalled in the 2019 session and has come back before the Committee this year. So, it’s important he hear from his constituents – which is YOU!!!

Some TALKING POINTS on why SB 386 should be OPPOSED:

  • SB 386 would undermine the clean energy targets enacted by the Legislature in SB 350 and SB 100 by removing the need for these utilities to invest in new clean and renewable resources.
  • SB 386 would weaken the RPS program by allowing other utilities to demand similar treatment under RPS, thereby overturning the Legislature’s intent in establishing the RPS program (2002).
  • SB 386 would result in vast quantities of existing large out-of-state hydropower generation to substitute for development of CA-based, new clean energy resources in these two utility service areas.
  • The relief sought by the two utilities is unnecessary. Under existing RPS rules, utilities can adopt cost limitations if RPS compliance creates excessive rate impacts.

Please contact Sen. Dodd’s office NOW
Phone: (916) 651-4003
Twitter: @SenBillDodd
Web mail: sd03.senate.ca.gov/contact