Shane Levy - shane.levy@sierraclub.org, 201-679-9507
SACRAMENTO - As California electric utilities ramp up efforts to stifle clean energy by attacking SB100, a coalition of California mayors, city councilors, and community leaders today delivered a letter to California Assemblymembers to issue their support for moving California to 100% clean energy by 2045. A copy of the letter can be found here.
The coalition of California local officials including San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Mayor Tom Butt of Richmond, several San Diego City Councilors, and many more joins a broad and growing coalition of business, faith, environmental justice, public health, and clean energy groups that have come out in support of the legislation.
“Transitioning California away from fossil fuels to clean and renewable sources of electricity will make our cities and our state stronger, healthier, and more resilient. Expanding California’s commitment to clean energy through Senate Bill 100 will create jobs and new business opportunities while helping our state become a more equitable society where everyone has opportunity in a thriving local economy,” the letter reads.
The letter comes just days after UC Berkeley’s Labor Center issued two reports highlighting how the clean energy sector is benefiting frontline communities. In particular, one report showcases how clean energy is attracting more diverse workers and people of color are enrolling more and more into workforce development programs. The other highlighting how clean energy and climate policies created jobs and economic development in the Inland Empire. California’s existing clean energy policies have created a net benefit of $9.1 billion in direct economic activity and 41,000 jobs from 2010 through 2016 in Riverside and San Bernardino counties alone.
SB100 is poised for a vote in the full Assembly after passing out of the Appropriations committee last week.
###