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City Council members ,
Dear Menlo Park City Council members,
I wholeheartedly endorse the recommendations of your EQC team. They are intelligent, responsible and timely. Now it is time to walk this talk. Please accept a few suggestions for your consideration, also by the EQC team.
Thanks for your stellar leadership.
Sincerely, David Sowerwine
I know that some people may feel these are ambitious, 'progressive' , impractical or premature. But without such elements, this essential program will suffer from 'leakage', loopholes and work-arounds.
A) Determine with PG&E, and make public knowledge, the areas in Menlo Park served by 'branches" of their gas network. "Branches" are parts of the network that can be turned off on the path to zero consumption--and will serve as guides for groups wanting
to organize 'group buys' of electrification.
B) Set a date certain when gas supply to these branches will end--as proof of Menlo Park's commitment to ending that part of fossil fuel use. It's time to be serious. This is an essential alert to residents to do what is possible to combat climate change
and avoid the waste of investing in gas appliances which will become stranded assets. Perhaps there are laws or legal precedent requiring such advance notice, to avoid claims?
C) Do what is practical and permitted to avoid the sale and purchase of gas appliances in and for Menlo Park destinations. Here are some ideas. There may be many options:
With cooperation from partners (e.g. San Mateo County, Amazon...):
ask vendors to refrain from offering gas appliances, especially in and/or for Menlo Park destination,
find ways to reward those vendors who cooperate, and/or
give potential buyers full info and justification on electric alternatives, perils of stranded assets...
give every property which goes all-electric recognition, e.g. on a city 'climate hero' list, and/or
a map of the city with all-electric properties colored green...
And yes--i agree with this message:
I am writing to you today to voice my wholehearted support for the Environmental Quality Commission's recent recommendations regarding building electrification. The report accurately reflects the steps needed to electrify Menlo Park's buildings and phase
out gas appliances through an equitable plan. These actions are critical right now. We have no time to waste! By supporting these policies, you will be demonstrating to the world what a proper response to this climate crisis looks like.
Please accept the EQC's recommendations at your upcoming city council meeting so that Menlo Park can become a true climate leader. Thank you for reading and thank you for all that you're doing to make Menlo Park a better place to live!
David Sowerwine
david@looma.education
999 Olive Street
Menlo Park, California 94025
