REQUEST OF MENLO COUNCIL FOR OBJECTIVES SETTING
Dear City Council,
Good morning, I am a resident of San Mateo, working with people in Menlo Park and all over the County, using electrification as an immediate, personal response to the climate crisis. I am co-lead of the San Mateo Climate Action Team, and 350 Silicon Valley San Mateo. I am a member of the Peninsula Clean Energy Community Advisory Committee. These views are my own.
Successful action to turn around the climate crisis will heavily depend on how well all communities work together. As you set your agenda for 2024, I urge you to be part of the climate change solution by adopting the following objective for FY 2024-2025:
“Continue strong Implementation of plans to eliminate fossil gas in new and existing buildings. “
Those too young to vote are growing increasingly concerned about the state of a world they are soon to be responsible for, and the need to implement bold solutions to global climate change. For them, taking climate action is not about doing the “right thing” but about creating a safe future where they won’t have to worry about extreme natural disasters, air pollution, or not having access to clean water.
I speak first on behalf of young people who voice their concerns for a livable world.
Those of us in older generations like me support these pleas for strong climate leadership. We are already experiencing severe climate impacts in our own lifetimes, but younger generations will bear the brunt of this frightening burden, much longer than us. We stand with the youth of all communities in advocating for a livable world - for our children, for our grandchildren, for our youngest generations, and for our future generations.
Unfortunately, there is no time to push off bold action to some future date. With the most recent IPCC report, we know the writing is on the wall: the time to prevent such worsening climate change impacts is now.
The good news is that cities can have a major impact in fighting climate change.
Please once again demonstrate your leadership to rapidly decarbonize your City’s building stock through an equitable approach:
1. Follow state and BAAQMD mandates for Zero NOx in 2027 and 2029.
2. Adopt new building reach codes that ban gas in new and existing construction.
3. Require electric replacements of fossil gas equipment, ahead of the 2027/2029 BAAQMD requirements.
4. Establish Building Performance Standards for electricity usage in commercial buildings.
5. Adopt an electric first policy for City facilities, including funding.
6. Smooth the building permit process for replacing fossil gas equipment with electric alternatives.
7. Establish a fund to assist homeowners and businesses with electrification.
8. Prioritize electrification efforts in the areas of Menlo Park historically affected by pollution.
We are running out of time to solve the climate crisis. There is not a single year to spare. In addition to benefiting Menlo Park, your climate leadership will set an important example for other cities, such as San Mateo, to follow.
Thank you.
Robert Whitehair, San Mateo
650-444-6878
