Dear Mayor Combs and Council Members,
Thank you for taking the time during a busy meeting to hear an update on climate measures in Menlo Park. It’s great to see the City move forward with Climate Action Plan Implementation, with this measure on building electrification (CAP#1, Agenda item L2). In order to keep pace with the ambitious CAP goal of zero carbon by 2030, we need to accelerate the timeframe for this and other measures.
Please consider the following suggestions to help streamline the process to develop this important measure and maintain momentum to move measures forward more quickly:
1. Begin public engagement on the measures as quickly as possible with stakeholder meetings or workshops in place of bringing various steps of the rulemaking to city council. The planned additional city council consultations may not be necessary because council already approved action to achieve a 95% conversion to all-electric homes and buildings by 2030.
2. Schedule a Study Session for City Council to hear from local experts (e.g. from Stanford) on the impacts of climate change in Menlo Park – what and where we can expect to experience in the next decade and century from flooding to erratic and extreme weather to more intense wildfires and hazardous air quality. This is an important step to remind stakeholders of the gravity of the climate crisis and impetus for bold action in Menlo Park.
3. Schedule quarterly updates from EQC or staff on CAP implementation to keep city leadership, residents and stakeholders apprised of progress and emerging issues.
It’s imperative to start public outreach right away on the need to phase out all fossil fuels, and to adopt a policy that officially begins that transition as soon as feasible. Every new gas furnace, for example, locks in fossil fuel use and the associated pollution for several decades more.
Thanks very much for your consideration of these comments.
Sincerely,
Diane Bailey
Diane Bailey, Climate Change Professional (CC-P) | Executive Director
MENLO SPARK
diane@menlospark.org | 650-281-7073
Visit us: www.MenloSpark.org & www.FossilFreeBuildings.org
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Climate Neutral for a Healthy, Prosperous Menlo Park
EV, PV & Fossil Free: Guides for Electric Cars, solar & Fossil Free Homes at: http://menlospark.org/what-we-do/
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it. – Amanda Gorman
