Urge Governor Brown to Support #EnergyEquity and Sign AB 523!

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

All Californians deserve #EnergyEquity and the opportunity to participate in our clean energy economy. The California Environmental Justice Alliance and the Women's Foundation of California urge your support of AB 523.

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OAKLAND, California

To: The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
From: [Your Name]

Governor Brown,

I respectfully request your signature of AB 523. This legislation dedicates a minimum of 25% of the available moneys administered by the California Energy Commission (CEC) through the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) for clean energy projects located within and benefiting individuals living in disadvantaged communities (DAC) and an additional 10% of funds to low income communities. This shift in funding priorities would be accompanied by reporting requirements and sunsets in 2023.

The SB 350 Low-Income Barriers Study released in December found that disadvantaged and low income communities face significant barriers to fully participating in the state’s clean energy programs like EPIC. In 2015, EPIC funded 12 projects out of 81 research and deployment projects in disadvantaged communities. By this measure, only 14% of EPIC’s programs are reaching disadvantaged communities even though they constitute 25% of the state, demonstrating a need for more clear targeted investment. Given these barriers, the CEC recommended EPIC target a minimum of 25 % technology demonstration and deployment funding for sites located in disadvantaged communities.

Renewable energy spending, research and programs are not reaching low-income and communities of color who are the most impacted by negative fossil fuel energy production. It is critical that as California's clean energy economy develops we include communities who not only have been overburdened by fossil fuel pollution but also have the most to gain from the economic impacts of the renewable industry.

Furthermore, increasing clean energy investments in low-income and disadvantaged communities will help California transition from fossil fuel dependency to a more sustainable clean energy economy. The bill has no registered opposition.

For these reasons, I support and request your signature on AB 523.