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From: Amanda Cate <ac70136@gmail.com> <br />Sent: Monday, July 11, 2022 6:56 AM <br />To: 2Mayor <2MAYOR@riversideca.gov> <br />Subject: [External] Net Zero Emissions Riverside <br />Dear Mayor Dawson <br />This past week, cities big and small took meaningful steps towards decarbonizing their existing buildings and becoming <br />net -zero by 2030. Across the United States, buildings account for a large percentage of a city's greenhouse gas <br />emissions. And the urgency to take actions to bring emissions to zero is greater each day, as outlined in the latest IPCC <br />reports from August 2021, February 2022, and April 2022. <br />On Tuesday, June 14th, Menlo Park (CA) City Council approved a partnership with BlocPower to electrify over 10,000 <br />homes and commercial buildings by 2030. Not only will this partnership greatly help to reduce emissions, it will also <br />include job training and job creation. The partnership will also actively engage with the community to prioritize the <br />decarbonization efforts in an equitable way. Here is a link to the press release with more details and information - <br />https://beta.menlopark.org/News-articles/Sustainability-news/20220615-City-of-Menlo-Park-partners-with-BlocPower- <br />to-electrify-over-10000-homes-and-buildings-by-2030. <br />Also on Tuesday, San Jose (CA) City Council passed Electrify San Jose — A Framework for Existing Building Electrification <br />(this link will download a 16 page PDF of the Executive Summary - <br />https://www.sanioseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/86723/637898434660470000). The "framework lays out <br />how to reduce GHG emissions from existing buildings in San Jose through building electrification, while bringing to the <br />forefront the concerns and priorities of historically marginalized communities. In order to equitably address climate <br />change, the City of San Jose will seek to minimize the burdens and maximize the benefits of the transition to all -electric <br />buildings for historically marginalized communities, while considering the needs of all building owners. This includes <br />committing to the pursuit of more affordable and healthier housing, better indoor and outdoor air quality, high quality <br />jobs, and increased reliability of energy for critical facilities and services." The passage of this framework is a next -step to <br />the City's resolution in November of 2021 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. <br />These local actions by cities big (San Jose has a population of over one million residents and more than 230,000 existing <br />buildings) and small (Menlo Park has a population of roughly 35,000 residents and approximately 10,000 buildings) <br />should lead and inspire cities of all sizes to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and to treat the climate crisis <br />with the urgency that it deserves and demands. This is our responsibility to future generations and we must act <br />accordingly. <br />As your constituent, I urge you as our leaders to urgently take bold actions similar to Menlo Park, San Jose, Ithaca (NY), <br />and others, in order for our city/county to achieve net -zero emissions by 2030. <br />With Gratitude, <br />Amanda Siemens <br />2109 Livingston St, Riverside CA 92506 <br />https://beta.menlopark.org/News-articles/Sustainability-news/20220615-City-of-Menlo-Park-partners-with-BlocPower- <br />to-electrify-over-10000-homes-and-buildings-by-2030. <br />1 <br />cc Mayor <br />City Council <br />City Manager <br />City Attorney <br />ACMs <br />