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# 350 Contra Costa Action
Local action for a better world
## Posts
### [Protect Clean Air in the Bay Area: Your Voice Matters](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/)
**Published:** March 2, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Protecting clean air in the Bay Area is essential for the health of our families and future generations. With new zero-NOx rules on the horizon, community involvement is crucial. Learn how you can voice your support and make a tangible difference in the fight against air pollution. Together, we can ensure a healthier environment for all.
**Content:**
🚨 NEW: URGENT ACTION NEEDED! This article has been updated with a critical call to action below. Please take a moment to read and help protect clean air in our community. ×
**Picture your children stepping outside in ten years and breathing in truly clean, safe air—or instead facing more days when smog puts their health at risk. The future of our air is being shaped right now, and your voice plays a vital role.**
In 2023, the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) made an important move to cut fossil fuel pollution and keep our air clean. The goal was to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) (a main ingredient of smog and an asthma trigger), from gas-powered appliances like water heaters and furnaces.
BAAD’s **rules 9-4 and 9-6** set limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from these appliances. Beginning in January next year, any new water heater sold in the Bay Area must meet zero-NOx standards. New furnaces will need to meet these standards starting in 2029, still three years away.
These rule changes are important because, according to the [California Air Resources Board](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/zero-emission-space-and-water-heater-standards), “Direct pollution from space and water heaters causes about 10% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 8% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in California.” The potential benefits to our health and pocketbooks in achieving these reductions are enormous.
But some folks are proposing exemptions to these rules before they even go into effect. Some of those exemptions are good. We endorse them. Others? Not so much.
## Exemptions to the Rules: Who Wants Them and Why?
As the deadlines approach, discussions are underway to add exemptions to rules 9-4 and 9-6 to support low-income households facing challenges, while keeping the deadlines in place. The [Bay Area Clean Air](https://www.bayareacleanair.com/) (BACA) coalition, including 350 Contra Costa Action, backs exemptions that help such individuals manage the cost of replacing appliances.
At the same time, it is important to be aware of arguments from the gas industry and its allies, seeking exemptions that would delay, roll back, or eliminate these rules altogether. One common claim is that switching to electric appliances is too expensive. We found that to be false.
### Projected Homeowner Savings Over 10 Years
In reality, according to Rewiring America, the average homeowner can save between $3,700 and $10,000 over 10 years by replacing a gas furnace or other inefficient system with a heat pump instead of a traditional gas unit, thanks to lower energy bills and available rebates. [Rewiring America](https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/articles/heating-and-cooling/heat-pumps-pros-and-cons) says:
The average household in the United States can save $370 per year by switching to a heat pump. Homeowners switching from inefficient systems that run on fuel oil, propane, or traditional electric resistance (like baseboard heat or electric furnaces) can save closer to $1,000 per year.
Another claim you may hear is that electric appliances don’t work well.
### What Do Homeowners Say about Heat Pumps after Installation?
More and [more homes and buildings in the Bay Area](https://www.climaterealitybayarea.org/blog/electrification-in-the-bay-area-paving-the-way-to-a-sustainable-future) are switching to electric appliances, like heat pump water heaters and heat pumps for heating and cooling, without problems.
According to [Canary Media](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/heat-pumps-keep-widening-their-lead-on-gas-furnaces), in 2024 heat pumps sold more in the U.S. than gas furnaces by a record margin. To give you an idea of just how big this shift is, homeowners and businesses purchased more than a million more heat pumps than gas furnaces. That’s enough heat pumps to heat and cool all the 400,000 residential homes and apartments in Contra Costa County two and a half times!
This trend shows how people are moving towards more energy-efficient heating and cooling options.
Were the homeowners glad they bought heat pumps instead of outdated fossil fuel furnaces and ACs? You betcha.
[Mitsubishi Electric](https://www.mitsubishicomfort.com/press-releases/heat-pumps-homeowners-index-2024) says that nine out of ten heat pump owners surveyed would recommend heat pump technology. Reasons cited for their recommendation:
- More energy efficient
- Better heating
- Saved money
If you want to learn more about heat pumps and their benefits, check out [Make the Switch to Heat Pumps—Here’s Why](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-the-switch-to-heat-pumps-heres-why/).
### Common-Sense Exemptions = Dollars Saved, Health Saved, Timeline SAVED
Asking BAAD for fair and compassionate exemptions shouldn’t be a reason to delay cleaner air. We’ve already waited three years for these rules to start. The gas industry and its supporters are trying to use these relief measures to weaken the clean-air rules, but with facts and community support, we can stay focused on protecting everyone’s health.
And remember, every dollar saved through rebates and incentives is a dollar invested in cleaner air for your family, so the savings show up on both your utility bill and your child’s lungs.
## We Need Your Help to Protect Clean Air
To help the Bay Area move toward cleaner air for everyone, it’s important to **support reasonable exceptions to these rules** while ensuring their main goal of reducing harmful air and climate pollution remains strong.
From Richmond to Antioch in Contra Costa County, by protecting the health of children, our elders, and vulnerable neighbors, we strengthen our sense of shared responsibility for one another.
When we speak up together, we show that we care about protecting our families, especially our children and those most at risk from air pollution. Choosing cleaner air is something we all share.
It keeps our neighborhoods safer, supports the health of future generations, and shows our commitment to one another.
So what do you need to know to speak up in support of upholding the Zero NOx rules while allowing for common-sense, compassionate exemptions?
## Understanding the Zero NOx Rules
The Zero NOx rules are straightforward. When your water heater or furnace breaks down, and you buy a replacement, it must be electric. Until your current unit stops working, you don’t need to do anything. Remember, there is no need to remove or replace any equipment that is still working. Only when your current water heater or furnace fails will you need to take action.
### Who will the rules affect, and when?
- Homeowners and small businesses replacing worn-out water heaters, beginning January 2027
- Homeowners and small businesses replacing worn-out furnaces, beginning January 2029
- Companies replacing large-scale commercial water heaters, beginning January 2031
### Are there support programs or incentives?
Yes. [The Switch is On](https://www.switchison.org/incentive-finder) offers a full list of incentives and rebates for homeowners, multi-family building owners, and others. We’ve listed those that apply to homeowners and small businesses in Contra Costa County. Keep in mind that some restrictions may apply, so be sure to check the details.
#### Rebates Available
- PG&E Customers save $400 per 45-55 gallon unit: [Golden State rebate on heat pump water heate](https://incentives.switchison.org/rebate-profile/golden-state-rebates-save-400-water-heater-instant-rebate-heat-pump-water-replacing?view=residents&origin=directory)r
- PG&E Customers save $400-$700 per 45-80 gallon unit: [Golden State rebate on heat pump water heater](https://incentives.switchison.org/rebate-profile/golden-state-rebates-save-700-unit-rebate-heat-pump-water-heater-replacing-gas?view=residents&origin=directory&state=CA)
- California Energy Smart Homes: [Save $6,500 per housing unit – Rebate on Whole Home – Single Family](https://incentives.switchison.org/rebate-profile/energy-smart-homes-whole-house-rebate-single-family?view=residents&origin=directory)
- City of Pinole: [Save Up to $3,000 – Rebate on Heat Pump Water Heater](https://incentives.switchison.org/rebate-profile/pinole-energy-enhancement-rebate-program-heat-pump-water-heater?view=residents&origin=directory)
#### Emergency Water Heater Loaner
[MCE Emergency Water Heater Loaner Incentive](https://incentives.switchison.org/node/976?view=residents&origin=directory)
#### Financing Opportunities
Go Green Financing may cover [up to 100% of the cost for energy upgrades](https://incentives.switchison.org/rebate-profile/gogreen-financing?view=residents&origin=directory)**.**
To ensure these incentives continue to be available, we need to ensure the rules go into effect as scheduled. The BAAD board needs to hear from us. Here’s how.
## Easy Steps to Make Your Voice Heard
**Start with a simple step: Will you pledge your support for clean air in the Bay Area?** Just saying “Yes, I support clean air” is an important first action you can take. This easy commitment helps build a stronger community of people who care about our health and environment.
Protecting clean air in our communities is easier than you might think. Start with a simple action and, as you do more, your impact grows. Here’s how you can get involved. Choose one step or try them all:
### Step 1: Send a Two-Minute Letter
[Send a brief email or letter](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=JFKRyx25AUWclBAjxCCyBeDMH6FmZZk4P-5lZvry87WtSin849rpfGhQwnpKlUfRNXz9J2d3Fa4LLgsiuMKIusEuW6cTYo7KPvKAQxJJTcaFNuqOTJKNqVxq5AecbXZ2khjcKHY4tvm5OTkZaUQKK6zsa3dBlrezfVid7myOTPk&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=air_district_letters_pt_2&n=2) to your Contra Costa County Air District Board members. Every message matters. Not sure what to write? Here are some **ideas to help personalize your message**:
Consider including a short story or specific example from your own experience. Here are a few questions to get you started:
- How has air pollution or wildfire smoke affected your health or your family’s health?
- What does clean air mean to you and your community?
- How would better air quality improve your day-to-day life?
These personal touches help local officials understand why clean air matters to you. You can also ask them to support fair adjustments to the rules that give breathing room to hardworking neighbors on tight budgets. That includes providing exemptions and relief for homeowners who would struggle with the costs of switching to electric appliances.
### Step 2: Learn more and Speak Up at Community Meetings or Webinars
Take it a step further: Speak during the public comment portion of BAAD Board meetings. Simply showing up helps demonstrate broad community support for clean air. Learn about the next BAAD Board meeting and download the [agenda here](https://www.baaqmd.gov/en/about-the-air-district/board-of-directors/resolutionsagendasminutes).
Your participation matters more than you might think: Just one email, comment, or presence in the room can help tip the scales, so every voice counts.
### Step 3: Share with Friends and Neighbors
Share what you’ve learned about the clean air rules with your friends and neighbors. You can forward this page in an email, post it on social media, or start a conversation. The more people who speak up, the stronger our community will be.
No matter how you begin, your efforts make a difference. By working together, we can protect clean air and support our communities.
## 🚨 Urgent Action Needed: Call to Protect Clean Air! 🚨
Industry groups are working hard right now to weaken or delay the Bay Area Air District’s critical clean air rules (Rules 9-4 and 9-6), which protect our health by reducing dangerous NOx pollution from gas furnaces and water heaters. Decision-makers are hearing from them—but not enough from people like you who support strong clean air protections.
**The next few months are critical. Your local representative, Supervisor Ken Carlson (Contra Costa County), needs to hear directly from you.**
Please take two minutes to call Supervisor Carlson and urge him to support strong, timely implementation of Rules 9-4 and 9-6—and to oppose any efforts to weaken or delay them.
**Call Supervisor Ken Carlson:**
Contra Costa County Representative, Bay Area Air District Board
📞 (925) 655-2350
Even a short call makes a real difference for our air, our health, and our communities.
Pub. Mar 2, 2026 / Rev. Jul 13, 2026
Image credit: [Designed by Freepik](https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/close-up-heat-pump-outside-home_22118737.htm)
**Categories:** Blog, Climate Policy
**Tags:** Bay Area Air District (BAAD), Bay Area Clean Air (BACA), End NOx Pollution, GHG Emissions, Heat Pump Water Heaters, Heat Pumps
---
### [Walnut Creek’s Sustainability Plan: Roadmap to a Greener Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/walnut-creeks-sustainability-plan-roadmap-to-a-greener-future/)
**Published:** June 24, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** What does a sustainable Walnut Creek look like? The city’s 2023 Sustainability Action Plan is driving cleaner air, greener transportation, smarter water use, and less waste.
**Content:**
What will Walnut Creek look like in 2030? Maybe you’ll notice quieter streets and fewer exhaust fumes as more bicycles and electric vehicles replace gas-powered cars. You’ll spot more solar panels glinting in the afternoon sun, and see neighbors swapping worn-out gas water heaters and furnaces for electric heating.
These changes aren’t just a distant vision. Step by step, they’ve already begun as Walnut Creek implements its **[2023 Sustainability Action Plan](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/climate-action/sustainability-action-plan)**—pursuing cleaner air, safer neighborhoods, and a more sustainable future.
Change like this takes time, and results won’t show up right away. Still, the city is making progress:
- Promoting air quality alerts
- Setting up resilience hubs
- Improving disaster readiness and community safety, and
- Boosting energy efficiency in city facilities
While the city has begun **[implementing some changes](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/climate-action/sustainability-action-plan/sustainability-action-plan-near-term-dashboard)**, many of these steps will only be getting underway by 2030. It may take years before we see their full impact—especially with some big challenges on the horizon.
## National Roadblocks Threaten Progress
National policy remains uncertain. Despite climate concerns, the federal government is increasing support for fossil fuel extraction and use. At the same time, it has suspended incentives for heat pumps, building energy efficiency, rooftop solar, and plug-in vehicles.
These policy changes make it harder for Walnut Creek to reach its clean energy goals. Still, the city is moving forward and making progress toward a more sustainable future.
## A Clear Vision: The 2023 Sustainability Action Plan
Even with these challenges, local leaders are working on ways to reduce Walnut Creek’s contribution to climate change and adapt to growing environmental pressures. Building on more than a decade of local climate action, starting with its first climate action plan in 2012, the city adopted a new, three-part Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) in 2023.
This updated plan sets interim milestones for 2026 and 2030, with bigger targets for 2045. It lays out a clear path to lower greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen local resilience, focusing on:
- **[Cleaner buildings](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/climate-action/better-building)**
- [**Greener transportation**](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/public-transit)
- Smarter water use
- [**Less waste**](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/reduce-waste)
The plan was shaped by community input and lessons from past efforts. It aims to speed up progress and respond to new science. But making this vision real will take more than just city leadership.
Broad, sustained action from all of us is needed, even as success remains uncertain. The city can’t make residents and businesses change how they travel or run their homes and buildings. Progress will depend on education, **[incentives](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/incentives)**, and encouragement.
This evolving approach reflects both the urgency of climate change and Walnut Creek’s commitment to steady, long-term progress.
## Big Goals for 2030: What’s Changing?
On April 1, Walnut Creek took a big step to reduce pollution by **[banning gas-powered leaf blowers](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)**. More changes are coming as the city works toward its 2026-2030 sustainability goals. In the next few years, residents and businesses will see a series of targeted initiatives. These range from updating buildings, supporting all-electric construction, adding more EV charging, and making the city safer and better for biking.
The plan also aims to cut landfill waste, reuse water, and keep Walnut Creek green and livable with new urban forestry efforts. These actions mark the city’s most significant progress so far toward a more sustainable future.
To reach these goals, Walnut Creek is launching the following series of targeted initiatives—each focused on a different aspect of sustainability.
### Modernizing Our Buildings
The city encourages residents to upgrade homes and businesses as old systems wear out, choosing energy-efficient electric options. The Bay Area Air District’s (BAAD) proposed ban on the sale of gas water heaters and furnaces, phasing in between 2027 and 2031, will cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) and GHG emissions from these appliances.
However, the Air District is **[considering delaying this plan](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/)**, so it is uncertain how quickly Walnut Creek can achieve widespread adoption of electric replacements.
As Walnut Creek Sustainability Manager Candice Rankin Mumby recently explained, “We are focusing our building electrification efforts on implementation of the Air District’s Rule 9-6 related to zero NOx water heaters, and on promoting **[BayREN](https://www.bayren.org/)** and **[MCE](https://mcecleanenergy.org/)** programs.” She added, “We are tracking BAAD’s deliberations on the timing and will continue promoting the benefits of heat pump water heaters in the interim.”
### Expanding Electric Vehicle Charging
To support the gradual shift to electric vehicles, the city plans to add 40 publicly accessible EV charging stations on city property by 2030 and 90 by 2045.
### Building a Bike-Friendly City
The city plans to expand its bike lanes by 25 percent to make biking easier for more people. Still, big changes in how people get around will take ongoing effort and a shift in culture.
### Cutting Waste
Walnut Creek aims to keep 75 percent of waste out of landfills by 2030 by encouraging more recycling, composting, and creative ways to reduce waste. Achieving this will be challenging and depends on community-wide participation.
### Reusing Water Wisely
Working with the Central Sanitary District, the city will expand recycled water systems and cut outdoor water use across Walnut Creek by 15 percent. While we could not find information about their water recycling program, we learned that the city is implementing drought-tolerant measures to reduce water use.
### Greening Our Community
A new citywide tree plan will guide how Walnut Creek plants and cares for its trees, helping keep the city cooler and more comfortable as the effects of climate change intensify.
## It Takes a Village
The Sustainability Plan is a comprehensive set of goals, rather than a step-by-step manual. Reaching these takes strong community involvement at every step.
Sustainability plays a central role in decisions about budgets, capital projects, and other city plans. The city asks for and values community input throughout the process.
City staff work with residents, businesses, and groups to create and run programs that help Walnut Creek move forward. City leaders track progress, but success depends on everyone’s participation, even as outside factors affect the outcome.
The level of success will depend on government mandates and incentives, and on the extent to which individuals, businesses, and agencies voluntarily take action to promote greater sustainability, both locally and around our planet.
## What Can You Do?
Taking local action may seem small compared to global climate problems. But every effort, like threads woven together, helps build a stronger, more resilient community. And individuals’ efforts to live more sustainably can encourage governments and businesses to do the same. Here are some ways you can help:
- **Stay informed**: Visit the City’s **[ECO homepage](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability)** for updates and resources.
- **Make [sustainable choices at home and work](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/top-actions)**, such as using less gasoline and natural gas, cutting water use, recycling more, or trying other ways to get around.
- **Get involved** in local programs, public workshops, or community clean-ups.
- **Create a [Cleaner Contra Costa account](https://cleanercontracosta.org/)** to track your sustainability goals and compete with neighbors and friends.
- **Organize a block party** or host a Sunday supper to connect with neighbors and encourage support for Walnut Creek’s green initiatives.
- **Attend a city council meeting** and share with your elected leaders how important environmental protection is to you.
- **Become a 350 Contra Costa Action** **[Walnut Creek Climate Liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)**.
Every effort matters. When we work together—whether by making changes at home, inspiring neighbors, or stepping up as a Walnut Creek Climate Liaison—we help our city stay vibrant, healthy, and resilient for generations to come.
Pub. Jun 24, 2026
Image credit: City of Walnut Creek, used with permission
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Sustainability Action Plan Walnut Creek;
---
### [The Connect Bay Area Ballot Measure: How Voting Yes Can Save Bay Area Transit](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-connect-bay-area-ballot-measure-how-voting-yes-can-save-bay-area-transit/)
**Published:** May 3, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Nadia’s daily commute shows what’s at stake for Bay Area transit riders. With the Connect Bay Area ballot measure, we have a chance to secure funding, improve service, and keep our region moving forward. Find out how you can help.
**Content:**
## Nadia’s Commute
For years, Nadia commuted five days a week from her home in Pittsburg to her job in the San Francisco financial district. Did she drive? Nope. She watched the stalled cars coming and going each morning and evening from her warm, comfortable seat on BART. When she got off the train, she walked a few blocks to her job. No parking hassles. No parking garage fees. No deadlocked traffic through the Caldecott tunnel and on city streets. Just an easy ride while she caught up on her reading and enjoyed the scenery.
For Nadia—and hundreds of thousands of commuters like her—the Connect Bay Area ballot measure is about protecting a way of life: ensuring access to affordable housing and a reliable connection to jobs, schools, and opportunities across the Bay Area.
## The Bay Area Transit Crisis
Such a commute may soon become much harder for thousands of workers around the Bay. Our region’s public transit systems, lifelines for commuters like Nadia, are facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Without urgent support, service cuts and fare hikes could push more people back into cars, increasing pollution, clogging our highways and making everyone’s trip slower, more stressful, and less sustainable.
## What the Connect Bay Area Ballot Measure Does
This measure covers five Bay Area counties—Alameda, **Contra Costa**, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara—ensuring that the benefits reach the heart of our region.
If passed, it will generate about **$1 billion** in new funding for public transit **each year**. San Francisco will contribute through a 1% sales tax, while the other counties, including Contra Costa, will enact a **half-cent sales tax**, all for a duration of 14 years. This investment isn’t just about keeping the trains and buses running—it’s about averting disastrous service cuts for BART, Muni, Caltrain, AC Transit, and other major operators that so many residents rely on.
Beyond preserving current service, the measure will fund improvements to safety, cleanliness, convenience, and the seamless integration of transit services. In recent years, BART has made major strides in cleanliness and a positive rider experience. This measure would continue and build on those improvements.
Without the measure, the future of Bay Area transit looks far less certain.
## The Consequences of Inaction
According to **[Connect Bay Area](https://connectbayarea.com/)**, if the ballot measure does not pass, the Bay Area’s major transit agencies will be forced to enact deep, disruptive cuts in 2027, including the following:
- **Caltrain** will operate just **one train per hour** and cut weekend service entirely.
- **San Francisco’s MUNI** will see nearly **half its service eliminated**, with fare discounts for vulnerable riders scaled back or removed.
- **BART** will drop from 4,200 trains per week to **as few as 500**—a drastic reduction that will leave many riders stranded.
- **AC Transit** will be compelled to **slash service by 37 percent**, drastically reducing bus availability across the East Bay.
- **County Connection** is also projecting service cuts.
- **Paratransit services** face disruptive losses.
These severe cutbacks would mean longer waits, crowded vehicles, and fewer options for everyone. Who will be most at risk? Workers, students, seniors, and families who depend on public transit every day will bear the brunt of these losses. People who drive will have to leave earlier, get home later, and face more unpredictable traffic-related delays.
This measure is essential to prevent this outcome and keep the region moving. Of course, some voters have questions about how the measure is funded and whether a sales tax is the right approach.
## Questions about the Connect Bay Area Ballot Measure?
We’ve got answers. Here’s what you need to know about how the measure works, who it benefits, and why it matters for the future of Bay Area transit.
- **What is the Connect Bay Area ballot measure?** It is a regional proposal to fund, maintain, and improve public transit in the Bay Area through a short-term sales tax, supporting agencies like BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit across five counties.
- **How long will the tax last?** The measure sets a 14-year duration, ending in 2041, which is shorter than most other transportation taxes.
- **Why use a sales tax?** While a sales tax is not ideal, it is a proven, fast-acting funding mechanism in the Bay Area. The measure’s limited scope and duration help balance the region’s financial needs and protect future local funding capacity.
- **Who benefits from the measure?
Everyone who relies on public transit for work, school, or daily life—including students, seniors, and working families—will benefit from stable, improved, and more integrated services, as will everyone who drives and doesn’t want to deal with hundreds of thousands more cars clogging our roads.
- **Isn’t the Sales Tax Regressive?** Some critics point out that a sales tax is considered “regressive,” meaning it takes a larger share of income from lower-income residents compared to those who earn more. To address concerns, the Connect Bay Area Act ([SB 63](https://www.spur.org/news/2025-10-22/connect-bay-area-act-authorizes-regional-tax-measure-save-transit)) limits the tax’s duration to 14 years, much shorter than most transportation taxes. More, it only allows the measure to appear on the November 2026 ballot. This gives local governments more certainty and flexibility to plan their own tax measures in other election years.
Most importantly, stable transit funding helps those who need it most. Without this measure, service cuts and fare hikes would likely hit lower-income residents hardest, making it harder to get to work, school, and essential services. Ultimately, the measure is about keeping public transit reliable and accessible for everyone, no matter where they live or how much they earn.
## Securing the Future of Bay Area Transit
As Carter Lavin, co-founder of the Bay Area transit advocacy group [Transbay Coalition](https://www.transbaycoalition.org/) and author of *If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy*, reminds us, “When it comes to saving our climate and public transit, the Trump administration has made it abundantly clear that we’re on our own. No one will save it but us.”
For everyday riders like Nadia, this campaign is about more than just transit. It’s about preserving reliable connections, cleaner air, stronger communities, and a more sustainable future for the Bay Area. To secure this future, this spring, we began by gathering signatures to get the measure on the ballot.
In just a few weeks, supporters from every corner of the Bay Area mobilized—collecting petition signatures, spreading the word, and building the momentum needed for change. Every volunteer, every signature, and every conversation brought us closer to our goal.
## Victory! The Measure is on the Ballot
With support from people across the Bay Area, the Connect Bay Area initiative has officially **qualified for the November ballot**! This achievement is a testament to the dedication and energy of our collective efforts.
This victory belongs to a true area-wide coalition—we were just one of many organizations and individuals who helped gather signatures and spread the word. Special thanks to our [**Communications Team**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/), who not only mobilized our members but also hit the streets themselves at events, farmers’ markets, bus stops, and BART stations. We’re proud of what we accomplished together, and we’ll be ready to rally again as November approaches.
We’re celebrating this milestone—and as the election approaches, we’ll be calling on you again to help educate voters and get out the vote to ensure a win in November.
**Stay tuned for updates** on upcoming opportunities to get involved as we shift our focus to **voter education and outreach**. We’ll keep you posted about ways you can support the campaign in the months ahead.
Pub: May 3, 2026; Rev: Jul 1, 2026
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** Blog
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action
June 2026 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-actionjune-2026-newsletter/)
**Published:** June 25, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Spotlight on the power of local action in Contra Costa County and California. Learn about recent climate victories, opportunities to get involved, and how community advocacy is driving progress, even when federal action lags. Join us in building momentum for a healthier and more sustainable future.
**Content:**
### June 2026 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
As we head into summer, many of us are feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of troubling news from Washington. From attacks on clean energy programs to efforts to roll back environmental protections and climate policies, it can be easy to feel discouraged about the pace of progress.
But climate action has never depended solely on what happens at the federal level.
Here in Contra Costa County and throughout California, local communities continue to organize, advocate, and win. This month alone, we’ve seen important victories protecting open space, growing opposition to risky carbon dioxide pipeline projects, and new opportunities to support climate legislation in Sacramento.
While we cannot control every decision made in Washington, we can continue to build momentum where we live. Local action remains one of the most powerful tools we have to protect our communities, strengthen climate resilience, and create lasting change.
This month’s newsletter highlights some recent victories, upcoming opportunities to get involved, and actions you can take to help build a healthier and more sustainable future. Thank you for everything you do to help make that possible.
## Community Climate Forum: California’s High-Impact Climate Bills
June 17 at 5:00 PM | Zoom
## [Register Here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh9l2wH0zsvph-Z88TJge9QZVyfklNLGlkbb677sv9cfstRurF9E-09cuPklsUG6Eom0Iiddi3Ey6Hxrvj1fLiwfWFt9Dnz_n2YWHZ4O5NE_-A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_2026_newsletter_350cca&n=1)
California is considering several important climate bills this year, but they will only succeed if lawmakers hear from the public.
Join 350 Contra Costa Action for a virtual Community Climate Forum on June 17 to learn about key legislation moving through Sacramento and simple actions you can take to help these bills become law.
Topics include:
- Making sure data centers pay for their own energy use—not ratepayers
- Expanding access to portable solar without burdensome permits
- Reducing harmful pollution near warehouses and ports
- Requiring oil and gas companies to fully cover cleanup costs
California’s climate leadership is on the line. Join us to learn what’s at stake and how you can make a difference.
## Local Climate Victories Continue to Build Momentum
We are excited to share some encouraging news from right here in the Bay Area. In May, the Richmond City Council became the first city in California to formally oppose carbon dioxide pipelines and underground carbon storage projects associated with the proposed Montezuma Carbon Sequestration Hub.
The resolution follows years of organizing, education, and advocacy by community groups, environmental organizations, and residents concerned about the risks these projects could pose to communities, wetlands, and local ecosystems. While there is still more work ahead, Richmond’s action demonstrates the growing momentum for climate solutions that prioritize reducing pollution at its source while protecting public health and the environment.
350 Contra Costa Action has been proud to work alongside coalition partners to raise awareness about the proposed Montezuma project and advocate for community-centered climate solutions.
[**Read more about Richmond’s historic action.**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=gftzCdBXyWf_-jWnpfJMZhAbabohouzp40OEZ1Oy5BPFbAnyU5b4NvNie8zWUFXXeBmFlep_Rvte1jBkb7AxrPfybdbpnSAtGJ_RadXybNsunIg34WBTXJtr61Cg0qSxSSuBL_NsqAwqazyFwXDfP-ARuIXTuXhtmPzz5x-AeZ0&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_2026_newsletter_350cca&n=2)
[**Learn more about our work on the Montezuma project.**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=HA_Q1YXuQ06CZnFfh_i09ZkWgRnmM5icECP6CGCn1sfCPa-RlPXShHYVgYSZunyAUgg_a8ytVDykbaQWcOETqyIX35XnzcCOa2b50IWQ4oyefBatL_q2uldpiVFLoYjweRPbGn6xw18uoLY_Im2HFQ&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_2026_newsletter_350cca&n=3)
## Election Results Bring Good News for Open Space Protection
The recent local elections delivered an important win for Contra Costa County’s environment and quality of life. Voters overwhelmingly approved **Measure A**, renewing protections for the county’s Urban Limit Line (ULL), a critical tool for preventing sprawl, protecting open space, preserving agricultural lands, and supporting more sustainable growth.
The Urban Limit Line has helped shape Contra Costa County for decades, safeguarding hillsides, habitat, and farmland from unchecked development while encouraging investment in existing communities. By renewing these protections, voters sent a clear message that preserving the county’s natural landscapes remains a priority.
We were also pleased to see several candidates endorsed by 350 Contra Costa and our partner organizations perform strongly in their races, reflecting growing support for climate action and environmental stewardship at the local level.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered, educated voters, and helped make these victories possible.
## Support Worker and Community Safety at Marathon Renewables
Help Marathon Renewables biodiesel refinery workers ensure their safety and the safety of the surrounding community.
The United Steelworkers International Union Local 5 has been on strike for over six weeks, picketing the refinery 24/7 over on-the-job safety risks. A 2023 fire at the plant that resulted in burns over 90% of a worker’s body was caused by safety failures, according to a federal government investigation.
Since then, Marathon has laid off 700 workers, severely understaffing the refinery. The union reports that employees already working 12-hour shifts are expected to work an additional four hours on top of their long day and existing commute. The company walked away from labor negotiations on April 27, 2026.
The union believes that the use of replacement workers increases the risk of fires and emissions releases that could affect both workers and the surrounding community.
**USW Local 5 asks that you call Cal/OSHA at (925) 602-2665 to request a safety inspection of Marathon’s Concord refinery.**
Suggested script:
*“As a resident of Contra Costa County, I am concerned that the Marathon Renewables refinery is failing to ensure the safety of workers and our community. The use of unskilled workers during the current labor strike could result in refinery fires and dangerous emissions releases. Please send out safety inspectors as soon as possible to assess and help remedy this situation.”*
Should you see an emissions plume from the refinery, call **1-800-334-ODOR (1-800-334-6367)** or file a report online through the Bay Area Air District Air Pollution Complaint Program.
## Veterans for Peace: Take Action and Learn More
Our friends at Veterans For Peace are encouraging community members to submit public comments opposing plans to expand plutonium production. Plutonium is used in nuclear weapons and could increase proliferation; the production process itself endangers the environment. Public input is being accepted through **July 16**, and every comment helps demonstrate public concern about the environmental, health, and global security risks associated with nuclear weapons development.
[**Learn more and submit a public comment before July 16.**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=vVCCEp53cX2mb9QnsdbAOzqDFuA8OwEwXrWgO0vvvuw&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_2026_newsletter_350cca&n=4)
Veterans For Peace also recommends the documentary [**Earth’s Greatest Enemy**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=CekIx-ZDN5-CJpukKbkQpBkitxuBWN_i8S7hcToSLg6vslNr3zSGbZcEQvP0XYsT&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_2026_newsletter_350cca&n=5), which explores the environmental impacts of military activities around the world and highlights the often-overlooked connections between militarism, climate change, and environmental degradation.
Thank you for being part of the 350 Contra Costa Action community. Whether you’re attending events, contacting decision-makers, supporting local campaigns, or helping educate your neighbors, your actions continue to build momentum for a healthier, more sustainable future. Together, we can turn community engagement into lasting climate action.
Thank you,
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta), [X](https://X.com/350CCAction), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/350ccaction.bsky.social)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2026 Climate Legislation, 2026 Primary Endorsements, Community Climate Forum, Marathon Renewables Biodiesel Refinery, Measure A, Montezuma CarbonHub
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action Joins CACTI to Combat the Montezuma Pipeline](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/)
**Published:** August 29, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** We’re excited to announce the formation of Communities Against Carbon Transport & Injection (CACTI) to combat the Montezuma pipeline, which threatens Bay Area neighborhoods and wetlands.Residents in Antioch, Richmond, Benicia, Suisun City, and Vallejo: Sign a petition opposing the pipeline.
**Content:**
## Introducing CACTI: Our New Ally Against the Montezuma Carbon Hub Project
Join us for the launch of a new coalition, **[Communities Against Carbon Transport & Injection (CACTI)](https://cacticoalition.org/)**, to combat the Montezuma pipeline. With members of more than 85 Bay Area, state, and national organizations, we’re working together to champion our communities and safeguard our health from the looming challenge of the Montezuma Carbon Hub Project.
## The Pipeline Threat
Montezuma LLC is pushing for a risky and unnecessary 45-mile pipeline that would snake through our neighborhoods and delicate wetlands, endangering both our communities and local wildlife, all while failing to address climate concerns. As the CACTI Coalition reports on the [proposed carbon dioxide waste dump](https://cacticoalition.org/learn-more/) near the Montezuma wetlands:
> The project, known as the Montezuma Carbon Hub, is a proposed carbon capture and storage facility that would require a massive buildout of pipelines through San Francisco Bay and Suisun Bay. These pipelines and the carbon-capture project itself pose serious risks to wildlife and public health while doing nothing to protect the climate.
This pipeline project would process and transport millions of tons of fossil fuels, posing a significant threat to our communities and the environment. Among those are serious public health risks, particularly for residents in Solano and Contra Costa Counties.
## Take Action Now To Combat the Montezuma Pipeline
If you live in Antioch, Richmond, Benicia, Suisun City, or Vallejo, take a couple of minutes to sign the petition to your local city council urging them to adopt a resolution that expresses the community’s opposition to the proposal and calls on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to refuse the project’s permits.
### In Contra Costa County
**Antioch**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-antioch-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
**Richmond**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-richmond-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
### In Solano County
**Benicia**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-benicia-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
**Suisun City**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-suisun-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
**Vallejo**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-vallejo-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
For more information about the Montezuma Pipeline, and **four more ways you can help** the campaign to stop it, see [Montezuma Carbon Capture Pipeline—Potential Community Hazard](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbon-capture-pipeline-potential-community-hazard/).
### Stand Together for Our Communities
Together, we wield the power to stand up to fossil fuel interests and protect our communities from becoming a hazardous dumping ground. Your voice matters. Make it count.
Pub. Aug 29, 2025 / Rev: Feb 5, 2026
Author: Editorial Team
Image courtesy CACTI coalition
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** CACTI, Montezuma CarbonHub
---
### [California Climate Bills Tracker: The Stakes for Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-bills-tracker-the-stakes-for-contra-costa-county/)
**Published:** April 21, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Discover which California climate bills could shape Contra Costa County’s future—from air quality to clean energy and refinery transitions. See how local voices can make a difference in the legislative process.
**Content:**
California climate bills up for debate this legislative session have the potential to significantly affect Contra Costa County—impacting air quality, clean energy, and environmental justice. What happens in Sacramento will directly affect our communities. To ensure local priorities are represented, community organizations like 350 Bay Area Action play a key role in tracking and vetting these legislative proposals. 350 Bay Area Action reviews bills that 350 Contra Costa Action and other local groups discuss with our state legislators, and has already taken positions on several impactful measures.
Based on that vetting, our local [legislative team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/) supports the passage of thirteen bills so far that are considered high priority for our mission. We oppose one. We are unable to take positions on many significant bills because we lack volunteers to track them. You’ll find a few of these orphan bills listed below the endorsed bills. We welcome and encourage volunteers to help track their progress. To become a bill tracker, sign up below—we’ll connect you with resources and support.
## Key California Climate Bills Affecting Contra Costa County
For Contra Costa County residents, this legislative session carries particular weight. The decisions made in Sacramento on these state bills will shape our quality of life, health, and economy for years to come.
Our county sits at the intersection of California’s most pressing climate challenges—home to major oil refineries, communities that bear a disproportionate share of industrial air pollution, and working families facing rising electricity costs. The bills below touch all of these realities, from clean energy affordability to the long-term future of fossil-fuel infrastructure in our own backyard.
## 350 Bay Area Action Endorsed Bills 2026
The table below provides brief descriptions of already vetted bills and their current state in the Legislature. Curious about a specific bill? Click its number to read the full text, track its progress, and see how your involvement can make a difference. All bills except the first two are still being considered in their house of origin.
### Bills Addressing Electricity Affordability
- [**SB 327**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB327)—Author: McNerney
**Description**: Prohibits electrical and gas corporations from passing through to ratepayers any expenses for lobbying against being converted into governmental entities.
**Status**: In Assembly Committee on Appropriations
- [**SB 868**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868)—Author: Weiner
**Description**: “Balcony Solar, Plug Into the Sun Act”—Exempts portable solar devices from state law and electric utility rules regarding requirements to connect to the electrical distribution system.
**Status**: In Assembly Committee on Appropriations
- [**SB 913**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB913)—Author: Becker
**Description**: Allows electric utilities to count distributed energy resources, such as microgrids and EV’s, towards resource adequacy requirements.
**Status**: To be heard in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations on 6/24
- [**SB 978**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB978)—Author: Perez
**Description**: Requires the CPUC to create a rate structure for large data centers to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers. Sets labor requirements for data center construction and use of renewable energy for backup power.
**Status**: Dead
- [**AB 1577**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1577)—Author: Bauer-Kahan
**Description**: Requires data centers to report energy and water usage. Second try for a bill that died in Assembly Appropriations last year.
**Status**: To be heard in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations on 6/24
### Bills Supporting the Clean Energy Transition
- [**SB 222**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB222)—Author: Weiner
**Description**: Requires streamlining of local permitting for residential heat pump systems and acceptance by homeowner associations.
**Status**: To be heard in the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development on 6/24
- [**SB 982**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB982)—Author: Weiner
**Description**: Allows the Attorney General to sue fossil fuel companies for insurance costs related to damages attributable to climate change.
**Status**: Dead
- [**SB 1259**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1259)—Author: Blakespear
**Description**: Refineries to provide decommissioning and site environmental remediation costs to the California Energy Commission.
**Status**: To be heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee on 6/24
- [**AB 1448**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1448)—Author: Hart
**Description**: Expands permitting requirements for transfers of offshore oil and gas infrastructure and requires new permits for pipelines that haven’t been used for 5 or more years. Sponsored by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Defense Fund.
**Status**: Waiting for a vote by the Senate
- [**AB 1790**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1790)—Author: Connolly
**Description**: Closes the loophole that allows corporations to exclude foreign profits from state taxation. Sponsored by UnRIG California, a labor union campaign.
**Status**: In the Assembly Committee on Appropriations
- [**AB 2157**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1257)—Author: Connolly
**Description**: Turns the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program into a permanent program and requires it to work with the UCB Center for Labor Research and Education.
**Status**: To be heard in the Sentate Appropriations Committee on 6/29
- [**AB 2184**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2184)—Author: Wilson
**Description**: Would use $250 million from cap-and-trade funds for climate solutions on natural and working lands.
**Status**: Dead
- [**AB 2461**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2461)—Author: Hart
**Description**: Strengthens bonding requirements for oil and gas wells when their ownership changes.
**Status**: To be heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water committee on 7/1
## Bills Needing Volunteer Trackers
You may have noticed that several of the endorsed bills above—SB 1259, AB 2461, and AB 2157—address Contra Costa County’s reality: our refineries, the workers who depend on them, and the environmental responsibilities that come with decommissioning. Those bills made it onto the endorsed list because volunteers took the time to vet them carefully.
The bills below need that same attention. These bills could have significant implications for Contra Costa County residents—but we won’t know until someone digs in. These are exactly the kinds of bills that benefit from having local eyes on them. Tracking takes only a few hours a month, and it’s one of the most concrete ways a Contra Costa County resident can influence state legislation.
This list is a selection of the bills we can support or oppose if you help track them.
### Bills Addressing Electricity Affordability
- [**AB 1677**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1677)—Author: Boerner and Harabedian
**Description**: Restricts the profit percentage that publicly owned utilities can earn to no more than 4 percent above the long-term Treasury bond interest rate.
- [**SB 1359**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1359)—Author: Stern
**Description**: Allows the California Public Utilities Commission to authorize the discontinuation of gas transmission lines. Prohibits passing on the costs of gas leaks to customers.
- [**AB 2383**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2383)—Author: Zbur
**Description**: Overlaps with SB 978 in preventing cost shifts of large electricity users to other customers, but has a lower threshold for energy use.
### Bill Supporting the Clean Energy Transition
[**AB 1536**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1536)—Author: Addis
**Description**:This is a new version of AB 1448. Requires CEQA review of offshore pipelines near an environmentally sensitive area. Requires the closure of pipelines that do not use the best safety technology.
### Transportation Bills
- [**SB 1167**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1167)—Author: Blakespear
**Description**: Regulates motor vehicles that look like e-bikes to improve safety and hold manufacturers responsible for misleading advertisements.
- [**SB 1282**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1282)—Author: Becker
**Description**: Requires the California Energy Commission to establish mandated percentages of new electric vehicles that can supply energy to the grid
- [**AB 2748**](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2748)—Author: Quirk-Silva
**Description**: Exempts developers of affordable housing units from EV charging station installation in designated parking areas.
## Help Influence CA Climate Legislation—Become a Bill Tracker
California’s 2026 legislative session is moving quickly, and the window to influence these California climate bills in Contra Costa County is narrow.
Whether you’re new to advocacy or a seasoned activist, becoming a bill tracker is one of the most direct ways to make your voice count—and to ensure that Contra Costa County’s perspective is represented in the process. If any of the bills above caught your attention, that’s a good sign. Sign up below and join our community of local advocates. We’ll save you a seat!
[ Sign up with 350 Bay Area Action to track a bill ](https://350bayareaaction.org/volunteer)
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Pub: Apr 21, 2026
Photo by [Greg Thames](https://www.pexels.com/@greg-thames-12409424) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/california-state-capitol-building-under-blue-sky-8490892/)[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
---
### [Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa---It’s Time to Stop](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
**Published:** February 28, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Gas-powered leaf blowers pollute Contra Costa with harmful emissions and disruptive noise, negatively impacting our health and quality of life. Fortunately, cleaner electric alternatives are available to help us reclaim our neighborhoods. Join us in advocating for a shift to electric leaf blowers for a greener, quieter community!
**Content:**
Across Contra Costa County, we care deeply about clean air, healthy communities, and climate action. Yet every week, in neighborhoods throughout the county, one of the most polluting small engines in California is still in regular use: the gas-powered leaf blower.
You hear it. You breathe it. And increasingly, you feel its impact.
Gas leaf blowers create three distinct problems for our communities: **air pollution**, **noise pollution**, and **direct health impacts**. Each one matters. Together, they make a compelling case for change.
## **Air Pollution: A Preventable Source of Emissions**
Gas-powered leaf blowers use small, inefficient engines that emit high levels of smog-forming pollutants and fine particulate matter.
According to the [California Air Resources Board](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2021-10/2021%20SORE%20Fact%20Sheet_0.pdf) (pdf), small off-road engines, including those used in landscaping equipment, are a significant source of air pollution in our state. In some cases, running a gas leaf blower for one hour can produce pollution **comparable to driving a passenger vehicle hundreds of miles**.
That pollution does not stay contained in one yard. It drifts into neighboring homes. It lingers in the air. It adds to the regional air quality challenges we already face, especially during wildfire season.
Cutting down on local emissions is one concrete way we can help protect the air we breathe.
## **Noise Pollution: A Shared Community Burden**
Gas leaf blowers usually run at 90–100 decibels, which is roughly the level of a motorcycle. What makes them particularly disruptive is the low-frequency sound, which travels well beyond the property being serviced. It cuts through walls. It carries across multiple houses.
This is more than just an inconvenience. It affects daily life. Interrupted work calls. Disturbed sleep. Agitated pets. Lost quiet time outdoors.
In a county where many people work from home and value peaceful neighborhoods, persistent high-decibel noise affects quality of life in real ways.
We share our air. We also share our soundscape. Community livability depends on both.
## **Health Impacts: Who Bears the Cost?**
Air and noise pollution aren’t just abstract problems. They have real [effects on our health](https://www.quietcleanpdx.org/leaf-blowers-facts-myths/).
Fine particles in the air can lead to breathing and heart problems. **Children**, **seniors**, **outdoor workers**, and **people with asthma or lung issues** are especially at risk.
Noise pollution is linked to stress, sleep disruption, and elevated blood pressure. For some residents, particularly those working from home or caring for infants or elderly family members, the impact is ongoing.
**Landscaping workers** themselves face repeated exposure to exhaust and high decibel levels. Cleaner equipment reduces risks not just for homeowners but for the workers operating the tools.
**Public health is not separate from environmental policy. It is central to it.**
## **Cleaner Alternatives Are Here**
The encouraging news is that better options already exist. Modern electric leaf blowers offer several benefits:
- **No toxic exhaust**
- **Significantly quieter**
- **Lower maintenance**
- **Well-suited for residential use**
Many California cities, including **Lafayette** and **Walnut Creek** in Contra Costa County, have already transitioned away from gas-powered blowers. The shift toward cleaner landscaping equipment is accelerating statewide.
This is not a future technology. It’s available now.
## **What We Can Do**
System-level policy matters. So do individual choices.
- If you own a gas leaf blower, **replace it with an electric model** or use manual tools when practical.
- If you hire a landscaping service, **request** that they provide their own electric equipment or supply it for them. (Eligible commercial landscaping services in **Richmond** and **San Pablo** can apply to Bay Area Air District (BAAD) for up to $1400 in their [Commercial Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange program](https://www.baaqmd.gov/en/funding-and-incentives/public-agencies/lawn-and-garden).)
- **Talk with your neighbors** about transitioning away from gas leaf blowers, so more households are aware of the options.
- **Support local policy efforts** by attending city council meetings or signing community petitions.
- **Help start a campaign** to ban gas leaf blowers in your Contra Costa city: Join our [City Liaison team](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/).
Even sharing information about cleaner alternatives on social media or within neighborhood groups helps **build momentum for change**.
We can’t control wildfire smoke. We can’t solve climate change overnight. But we can reduce preventable pollution in our own neighborhoods.
- **Cleaner air**
- **Quieter communities**
- **Healthier families**
- **Healthier landscape workers**
Contra Costa has the **opportunity to lead** through aligning our everyday choices with the clean air and community health values we already hold. Join our **City Liaison** program and help us initiate a gas-powered leaf-blower ban where you live.
[ Join our City Liaison Team ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
Published Feb. 28, 2026
Image credit: [Ansel Lee](https://www.pexels.com/@ansel-lee-1635554/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-blowing-autumn-leaves-at-park-20805905/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Clean Air Solutions, Electric leaf blowers, Gas Leaf Blowers
---
### [Protect Brentwood from Drilling: Close County Plan Loopholes](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-brentwood-from-drilling-close-county-plan-loopholes/)
**Published:** February 4, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Tell Contra Costa County: Protect Brentwood from Drilling and close County General Plan loopholes. Here’s why.
**Content:**
**In 2024, the City of Brentwood banned new oil and gas drilling within the 94513 city limits**. This matters in a city where neighborhoods are growing rapidly, and schools and hospitals sit close to areas that oil and gas developers target. The ban is also critical given that increasing wildfires and bad air quality can already make Brentwood’s air hard to breathe. **Yet the current Contra Costa General Plan could circumvent the ban, leaving residents vulnerable.** To prevent this, we need to close loopholes in Contra Costa’s general plan that allow drilling.
We applaud the city’s ban on fossil-fuel drilling. However, some parts of Brentwood and nearby East Contra Costa towns, such as Antioch, may still be at risk. **A citywide ban, while essential, can’t automatically stop county projects on close unincorporated land.** Airborne drilling hazards drift right back over the city line. Dangerous air emissions, truck traffic, noise, and spill risks don’t stop at a city border.
**The Contra Costa Urban Limit Line (ULL), set to expire at the end of 2026, will be up for a renewal vote on this year’s June 2nd primary ballot. Renewing the updated ULL is key to the existing protections it already provides the county.** Fortunately, the county ULL borders will be updated to align with the city borders, preventing drilling in some areas. Still, there is a dire need for tighter county land-use rules in the general plan so everyone near the Brentwood 94513 area is protected, along with all residents of the unincorporated areas of the county. After all, we know air pollution and contaminated groundwater can extend beyond zip code boundaries.
## Why the Brentwood Drilling Ban and What it Controls
Brentwood’s local protections work through **zoning and land-use rules**. That lets the city prohibit new drilling within its boundaries.
Reporting in February 2024 explained Brentwood’s permanent drilling ban applies within **3,200 feet of “sensitive areas” — schools, homes, and hospitals.** It aims to stop drilling near neighborhoods like Garin Ranch and Sciortino Ranch, which border open-nature spaces. (Source: [Local News Matters](https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/02/20/brentwood-poised-to-ban-oil-and-gas-drilling-county-leaders-urged-to-adopt-similar-stance/) )
Why did Brentwood make its fossil-fuel ban permanent? Here are key reasons:
- **Health and daily exposure**: drilling releases odors, and fine particles that can worsen asthma and other respiratory diseases.
- **Water protection**: spills and leaks from drilling sites and wells cause long-lasting environmental damage and harm to people.
- **Proximity negative impact:** industrial activity next to homes, schools, and medical facilities ruins the quality of life. It can also cause a rapid decline in home values and influx of business to local businesses.
Other cities have taken similar steps to ban drilling, including neighboring Antioch. In addition, provided that ordinances are written as land-use rules, California law supports local governments using zoning to ban or reduce oil and gas activity.
## The Revised ULL Can Help But Not by Itself
The Urban Limit Line (ULL) is a valuable voter-approved boundary that helps control where major urban development can and cannot happen. In Contra Costa County, the ULL was shaped by a series of ballot measures, starting with **Measure C (1990)**, then **Measure J (2004)**, and extended by **Measure L (2006)**. As mentioned before, the ULL will expire by year’s end unless voters renew it on the June primary ballot. [See the county detail here on the 2006 ULL history.](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1145/072506-Board-Order-and-Resolution-No#:~:text=3.%20In%20November%202004%2C%20the,local%20transportation%20sales%20tax%20measure)
The ULL is a growth-management tool used to reduce sprawl and protect open space. The ULL works with the county general plan to maintain a ratio of 65 percent open, undeveloped space to 35 percent urban, developed areas within Contra Costa. The county is planning to update the ULL county border to match city borders, which should help fight new oil drilling in some areas. ULL changes are key in East County, where long commutes and growing wildfire risks mean county decisions can quickly affect residents’ personal lives. While retaining the measure is essential, crucial general-plan revisions are needed to prevent new oil and gas drilling.
## County Loopholes that Threaten Brentwood’s Drilling Ban
Residents of Brentwood remain vulnerable to oil and gas development due to specific “loopholes or gaps” in the Contra Costa County General Plan. Here are gaps or open doors in county-level policy that pose a drilling threat.
### The “Adjacent Unincorporated Land” Loophole
Here’s the main issue: **a city ban doesn’t bind the county**. If Contra Costa County allows new drilling or related industrial work on unincorporated land near Brentwood, families can end up living with severe impacts, despite the city ordinance protections.
- **Border Proximity:** The county can continue to permit exploratory drilling on unincorporated land that sits directly adjacent to Brentwood neighborhoods.
- **Recent Case Example:** an application from Bob Nunn at Sunset Exploration Inc (for Powerdrive Oil and Gas) was reviewed for a **60,000-square-foot well pad** on unincorporated land just about 1,000 feet from Brentwood homes in the Sand Creek area. Since this land is outside the city boundary, Brentwood’s city ban cannot block it.
Remember, a city border is a legal line, not a physical barrier. That means a drilling project just outside Brentwood can still wreak havoc on Brentwood residents. Here are drilling hazards that can hit home:
- **Toxic air emissions** can travel with the wind. Even if emissions meet permit limits, downwind residents can still suffer from odors, irritation, or headaches. Families can’t “opt out” of breathing local polluted air. Sadly, they often discover the health consequences too late to reverse them.
- **Spill risk** extends beyond any fence line. Soil movement, drainage, or roadside accidents worsen damage during transport
- **Truck routes** can run straight through Brentwood to reach a well site. That adds diesel exhaust near school drop-offs, more heavy vehicles at intersections, and a higher crash risk.
- **Noise and nighttime light** can carry, especially in flat areas. A site can look distant on a map, but still disrupt sleep.
#### At-Risk Gray Zones: Growing Neighborhoods Bordering Old Industrial Parcels
This “unincorporated land” loophole matters most in at-risk gray zones where newer subdivisions meet older industrial parcels. These zones are often where a county-approved drilling project can threaten school routes, parks, and homes. One such area is the Old Brentwood Oil & Gas Field in unincorporated Contra Costa. This area had proposed drilling sites historically located on agricultural land south of [Heidorn Ranch Road](https://www.google.com/search?q=Heidorn+Ranch+Road&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS1192US1192&oq=where+is+the+Old+Brentwood+Oil+%26+Mine+field+where+2025+new+wells+were+proposed&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCjI5MjM2ajBqMTWoAgiwAgHxBYClfZC8z4-q&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&ved=2ahUKEwjW1qio8p-SAxWHMzQIHRpME_8QgK4QegQIARAE) and Old Sand Creek Road. This location is close to existing homes and schools.
Closing the “adjacent unincorporated land” gap isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting the health and well-being of *all* Brentwood residents.
### The 30-Acre “Administrative Shift” Loophole
The ULL is intended to be a hard boundary for development. Still, a specific county policy allows it to be moved without a public vote:
- **Board Discretion:** The county Board of Supervisors can move the ULL for areas of **30 acres or less** with a 4/5ths vote.
- **Added Vulnerability:** Developers could use this “minor” adjustment loophole to pull small parcels of land in or out of “urban” designations, potentially opening them up for nearby drilling infrastructure.
### The “Insufficient Setback Distance” Loophole
In 2022, California passed **SB 1137**, establishing a **3,200-foot setback** between new oil and gas wells and “sensitive receptors” (homes, schools, hospitals, etc.). This law was upheld by voters in 2024, and is now state law. It applies statewide, including Contra Costa County. However, local health advocates say this is a regulatory loophole, and the required setback distance is not enough.
- **Scientific Gap:** Studies, including a [2021 Stanford report](https://sustainability.stanford.edu/news/living-near-oil-and-gas-wells-increases-air-pollution-exposure), indicate that toxic emissions and negative health impacts can occur up to **2.5 miles (13,200 feet)** from a well. This suggests the current setback distances from drilling sites are not safe and need to be increased.
- **Effective Failure of Current Buffer:** A 3,200-foot buffer zone still allows drilling close enough to Brentwood, potentially to impact air and groundwater quality within the city.
### The Permissive “Exploratory” Category Loophole
Under current county rules, “exploratory” drilling is often treated differently than permanent production:
- **Negative Declarations:** The county has previously attempted to issue “negative declarations” for exploratory wells. This basically green-lights exploratory wells to bypass full Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) by claiming “no negative impact”.
- **Bridge to Further Production:** An exploratory drilling permit can serve as a bridge to establish ongoing activity. If an exploratory well finds commercial quantities of gas, it can be converted into a permanent production well, effectively setting up a long-term industrial site next to residential areas.
Key for Brentwood residents: county land-use rules influence where heavy industrial companies target land. If the general plan language is not revised, it can cause oil and gas damage to creep into neighborhoods. Vulnerable areas are city edges near open space, agricultural areas, and unincorporated land pockets.
A revised county plan with updates to close drilling-access loopholes can provide real-world protection for area families, as the Brentwood drilling ban aims to do. **Our preferred solution: revise the county general plan to *ban all fossil-fuel drilling countywide* to protect *all* Contra Costa cities.** This will help keep families away from the health risks of fossil-fuel drilling.
## Active Efforts to Close Plan Gaps that Enable Drilling
- **The 2026 ULL Vote:** Contra Costa voters will decide on a **25-year renewal** of the ULL in June 2026. The first step to protection is to pass the new updated ULL. However, key land-use revisions in the General Plan are still essential.
- **Non-Conforming Use Status:** Residents are petitioning the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to designate all oil and gas activities as a **non-conforming land use.** This would legally phase out existing wells and prevent the construction of new ones on all county land.**Now’s the time to push county supervisors to revise the general plan so it is clearly aligned with city drilling bans.** For Brentwood, that could include:
- **Buffer rules near neighborhoods and schools**: Insist the county set new higher minimum-distance separation between drilling activities and sensitive areas, using distances that match scientific health guidance and local experience.
- **No new drilling permits near city boundaries**: Prevent unincorporated neighboring parcels right outside Brentwood from becoming a county workaround for the city’s rules designed to protect against drilling hazards.
- **Stronger groundwater safeguards**: Require higher monitoring, clearer spill-response plans, and limit activity that raises contamination risk near water sources.
When these items are not clearly detailed by the county, agencies can claim compliance while families still suffer the negative impacts of drilling.
## What to Do by June 2026 to Close County loopholes and Back the Brentwood Drilling Ban
The goal is not to rewrite the whole county plan. It’s to make revisions that ensure the county policy can’t undercut Brentwood-area drilling protections.
Start with these short steps:
1. **Email the full** [**Board of Supervisors**.](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9970/Board-of-Supervisors) If you live in or near Brentwood, consider sending a letter to District 3 Supervisor Burgis as well. Letters to the entire BOS can be emailed to the Board Clerk at . Letters to Supervisor Burgis can be emailed to [supervisor\_burgis@bos.cccounty.us](mailto:supervisor_burgis@bos.cccounty.us). Keep it short, and, if applicable, include your zip code (94513 for Brentwood). Describe at least one local impact from drilling (school route risk, asthma, wildfire smoke, well water, traffic). Ask for **the County to enact a total ban on oil and gas drilling, so that drilling in unincorporated areas can’t become a health threat to Brentwood residents and those living throughout the County.**
2. **Sign this [petition from Sunflower Alliance](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-contra-costa/) to ban *all* Contra Costa oil and gas drilling.**
### Try a Short Message to County Supervisors that Gets Results
**Subject:** Revise the General Plan to Ensure Safer Brentwood-area drilling protections:
- **Close loopholes** that allow new oil and gas activity on unincorporated land near Brentwood neighborhoods.
- **Align county land-use rules with Brentwood’s drilling ban goals**, so city limits don’t become a workaround line for drilling.
- **Keep drilling safely away from homes, schools, hospitals, and water sources**, with safe buffers that match science and health findings, and enforceable permit limits.
### Other Ways You Can Help
- Attend key hearings and provide public comment when general plan language or land-use updates are on the county agenda.
- Ask Brentwood and nearby city councils to send letters supporting county revisions to land-use policy to eliminate drilling.
- Coordinate with neighbors and local groups like [350 Contra Costa Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/), and share one personal-impact story plus one clear request for the city or county.
**Tell Contra Costa County: Update the General Plan to explicitly ban oil and gas drilling in *all* of Contra Costa.** A city line alone won’t protect us.
[ Tell Our District 3 Supervisor: Update Plan to Ban All County Oil & Gas Drilling! ](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/Directory.aspx?did=27)
Published Feb. 4, 2026
Image credit: [Jan Zakelj](https://www.pexels.com/@janzakelj/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/oil-well-at-sunset-16862261/)
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Brentwood, Brentwood drilling ban
---
### [Secondhand Smoke](https://350contracostaaction.org/second-hand-smoke/)
**Published:** May 25, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** 350 Contra Costa Action is delighted to share Secondhand Smoke, the work of two young artists who blend words and images, confronting the reality of a warming world.
Their voices challenge us to see, and to act before the future slips away.
**Content:**
**It’s 2050**.
*Three year olds no longer know what the color green looks like. Food pills have reemerged because every field on the planet has dried up. You can go swimming anywhere as long as you don’t mind the e-coli. And Atlantis isn’t just a story anymore, it’s a reality; the physical manifestation of our consequences for every city submerged under the tides of change.*
It may seem unlikely, but this is the world our future generations will one day wake up to. This is the world we inherited, and it’s the world we are passing on. However, the future doesn’t have to remain so bleak; the power to break the cycle courses through each of our veins.
Our way of breaking the cycle begins with art, a fuel with the force to replace fossil fuels.
Poetry is a way of life. A mechanism for the world to see one person’s soul laid bare with the weight of thousands. It is the language of fire, turning silence into music and nature’s grief into its own language. But most of all, it is a way to break apart and piece together on paper when speaking aloud doesn’t feel safe enough. It cannot be mistaken for something small when for so many, it is oxygen, and for nature, it is voice.
Suhani Goyal is a junior at Dougherty Valley High School who can be found at the intersection between creativity, leadership, and a love for storytelling. When not leading or learning, you’ll find her scribbling poetry into the margins of journals, or chasing inspiration wherever it hides. Her poem, ‘Secondhand Smoke’ is a eulogy to nature— a testament to the revitalization of youth action for our planet.
## **Secondhand Smoke**
### **by Suhani Goyal**
we never lit the match
and yet somehow
we’re breathing in the ash
it curls beneath our doorframes
seeps into our skin
settles in the silence
between dinner conversations
finds its home
in the gap between heartbeats
dad says the summers feel angry now
like a cruel mirage bestowed upon us
by the very light that once held warmth
mom counts hurricanes instead of birthdays
my cousin stopped jogging by the bay
the water climbed too high
the air too thick to hold
and me?
i scroll past statistics
with a guilt i can’t name
i write poetry till my hands fall apart
while the planet falls into chasms
a silent departure; felt more than seen
like a secret we all knew
but dared not say aloud
*the sky doesn’t blush anymore
it bruises*
our cities are tired
our lungs borrowed
farmers bury their hopes next to dry roots
while billionaires build bunkers
with money that still won’t buy
a second earth
*they say it’s political
i say it’s personal*
because climate change isn’t a headline
it’s my friend’s medication costs rising
it’s my uncle’s job lost to a dried-out field
it’s the fear that the future
won’t know green
the way we did
but still
i believe in healing
in hands planting more
than they destroy
in change that comes
not in silence
but in song
we are the generation
that inhales smoke
and exhales resistance.
Art, on the other hand, is the epitome of how life can stain. It is the catalyst for change, acting as a new lens through which to see the world. From Da Vinci to Picasso, history has shown us time and time again how artists can possess a Midas touch, turning a bleak atmosphere into one bursting with vibrancy. Nature itself is a work of art, and it’s time that we treat it as such.
Amber Sabrina is a junior at Dougherty Valley High School who finds purpose in the smallest details others may miss. She finds a way to bring to light the overlooked through visual arts, with a penchant for both drawing and painting. Her acrylic painting, ‘Still I Write’ is a visual representation of *Secondhand Smoke*. Although it may seem surreal at present, it foreshadows a potential reality; a world falling apart around us.
 “Still I Write” original artwork by Amber Sabrina of Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, CA
Used with permission
Often, the value of individual action is disregarded in the face of collective action—and yet, what we begin as an individual is the foundation for what we build upon as a society. Every small action that we call insignificant—whether it be creating art, reducing individual plastic use, or buying secondhand—can have a ripple effect. Calling yourself a climate activist does not have to be limited to the level of policymakers or global advocates, because grassroot-level initiatives can matter just as much.
And so, we urge you to create. To inspire. To change— not just the world, but also yourself.
Guest writer Suhani Goyal is a student at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, California.
Pub May 23, 2026
Photo credit: Student photo, used with permission
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Climate poetry, San Ramon Youth Climate Activists
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action
May 2026 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-may-2026-newsletter/)
**Published:** May 14, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Join us at the upcoming Community Climate Forum to explore California’s pivotal 2026 climate bills; meet local candidates we endorse; learn why Measure A is crucial for Contra Costa County’s future; discover moving poetry by high school student Suhani Goyal; and find out how you can get involved.
**Content:**
### May 2026 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
Spring has brought a wave of climate, clean energy, and environmental justice legislation to Sacramento, along with important local races and ballot measures here in Contra Costa County that will shape our communities for decades to come.
In this month’s newsletter, we’re highlighting:
- The next Community Climate Forum: California 2026 High-Impact Climate Bills
- Key California bills we are tracking and supporting
- Local candidates we’ve endorsed for 2026
- Why Measure A is so important for Contra Costa County
- A poem by Suhani Goyal, a student at Dougherty Valley High School
- Ways you can get involved
## California Legislative Update
This legislative session continues to be one of the most consequential in years for climate action, energy affordability, environmental justice, and the clean energy transition. 350 Bay Area Action has already endorsed a number of priority bills aligned with our mission.
To help community members better understand what is moving through Sacramento and how these decisions impact our communities locally, we invite you to join our June 17th Community Climate Forum:
## Community Climate Forum
### California 2026 High-Impact Climate Bills
#### June 17, 2026
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
### **[Register Here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfydj5W3WEGxBbuy2RtKBgmLCpAx433pirYI4gz28x26zSlGg/viewform?usp=header)**
[**This forum** ](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/california-2026-high-impact-climate-bills-community-climate-forum/)will explore several of the major climate and clean energy bills currently moving through Sacramento, including legislation focused on electricity affordability, utility accountability, clean energy adoption, and data center energy use. Our Community Climate Forums are designed to help break down complex issues into accessible community conversations and create opportunities for residents to engage in the policy process.
### Bills Addressing Electricity Affordability
- **SB 868 (Wiener), the *Balcony Solar, Plug Into the Sun Act,*** would expand access to portable solar technology and simplify residential solar adoption.
- **SB 886 (Padilla) and SB 978 (Perez)** both bills require the CPUC to create special rate structures for large data centers to prevent electricity cost shifts onto residential ratepayers.
- **SB 913 (Becker)** would require using consumer energy sources to meet peak electricity demand.
- **AB 1577 (Rebecca Bauer-Kahan) w**ould require data centers to report energy and water usage, an increasingly important issue as AI and data infrastructure rapidly expand.
### Bills Supporting the Clean Energy Transition
- **SB 222 (Wiener)** would streamline permitting for residential heat pumps and prevent homeowner associations from blocking clean energy upgrades.
- **SB 954 (Blakespear)** would require advanced manufacturing facility projects to be subject to CEQA review.
- **AB 1790 (Connolly)** would close the Water’s Edge corporate tax loophole.
- **AB 2170 (Boemer)** would improve CEQA protections for communities overburdened by pollution.
- **AB 2461 (Hart)** would strengthen financial accountability requirements for oil and gas wells when ownership changes hands.
## Vote 2026: Local Elections Matter
Climate action doesn’t only happen in Sacramento or Washington. Local elected officials make critical decisions about transportation, housing, land use, clean energy, public health, and environmental justice right here in our communities. That’s why 350 Contra Costa Action has endorsed candidates in the primary who understand the urgency of the climate crisis and are committed to sustainable, equitable leadership.
At this stage in the election cycle, 350 Contra Costa Action has focused endorsements on primary races where voters are making immediate decisions that will shape the November ballot. For local city races, Richmond is currently the primary jurisdiction with candidates appearing in the primary election, which is why city-level endorsements are limited at this time.
As additional local races move closer to the general election, we expect to evaluate and consider further endorsements based on candidates’ records, climate priorities, environmental justice commitments, and alignment with our values.
Read all of our endorsed candidate profiles and endorsements [**here**](350%20Contra%20Costa%20Action%20–%20Vote%202026%20Endorsements):
**In Contra Costa primary races, we endorsed:**
- **[US Congress District 10: Mark DeSaulnier](https://350bayareaaction.org/us-congress-district-10-mark-desaulnier)**
- **[CA Assembly D16 – Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://350bayareaaction.org/ca-state-assembly-d16-rebecca-bauer-kahan)**
- **[Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 1: John Gioia](https://350bayareaaction.org/contra-costa-county-board-of-supervisors-district-1-john-gioia)**
- **[Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 4: Ken Carlson](https://350bayareaaction.org/ccc-bos-d4-ken-carlson)**
- **[Richmond City Council District 3: Doria Robinson](https://350bayareaaction.org/richmond-city-council-district-3-doria-robinson)**
## Yes on Measure A
One of the most important local environmental issues on the ballot this year is Measure A. Measure A would renew Contra Costa County’s Urban Limit Line through 2051, helping protect open space, agricultural land, and communities from sprawling development into wildfire-prone areas.
Learn more here:
**[350 Bay Area Action – Yes on Measure A](https://350bayareaaction.org/ccc-measure-a?utm_source=chatgpt.com)**
**Why Measure A Matters**
Measure A helps protect open space and agricultural lands, reduce wildfire risk from sprawling development, limit traffic and transportation emissions, preserve habitat and biodiversity, and encourage smarter, more sustainable long-term growth near existing transit and services. At a time when climate change is increasing wildfire threats, heat impacts, and infrastructure strain, smart land use policy is climate policy. This measure gives voters a direct voice in protecting the future shape of Contra Costa County.
## Youth Voices for Climate Action
This month we are also honored to feature creative work from a local high school student, Suhani Goyal. Suhani is a member of the City of San Ramon’s Teen Council and a student at Dougherty Valley High School. This is a reminder that younger generations are already thinking deeply about climate, community, and the future they will inherit.
### Secondhand Smoke
we never lit the match
and yet somehow
we’re breathing in the ash
it curls beneath our doorframes
seeps into our skin
settles in the silence
between dinner conversations
finds its home
in the gap between heartbeats
dad says the summers feel angry now
like a cruel mirage bestowed upon us
by the very light that once held warmth
mom counts hurricanes instead of birthdays
my cousin stopped jogging by the bay
the water climbed too high
the air too thick to hold
and me?
i scroll past statistics
with a guilt i can’t name
i write poetry till my hands fall apart
while the planet falls into chasms
a silent departure; felt more than seen
like a secret we all knew
but dared not say aloud
*the sky doesn’t blush anymore*
*it bruises*
our cities are tired
our lungs borrowed
farmers bury their hopes next to dry roots
while billionaires build bunkers
with money that still won’t buy
a second earth
*they say it’s political*
*i say it’s personal*
because climate change isn’t a headline
it’s my friend’s medication costs rising
it’s my uncle’s job lost to a dried-out field
it’s the fear that the future
won’t know green
the way we did
but still
i believe in healing
in hands planting more
than they destroy
in change that comes
not in silence
but in song
we are the generation
that inhales smoke
and exhales resistance
## Get Involved
The climate movement is powered by people willing to show up, whether that means volunteering, helping track legislation, attending local meetings, supporting endorsed candidates, or simply staying informed and sharing information with others.
Thank you for being part of this community and for continuing to fight for a healthier, more sustainable, and more just future for Contra Costa County and beyond.
Thank you—
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta), [X](https://X.com/350CCAction), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/350ccaction.bsky.social)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2026 Climate Legislation, 2026 Primary Endorsements, Community Climate Forum, Measure A
---
### [Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay!](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)
**Published:** March 31, 2025
**Author:** Illana Weisman
**Excerpt:** Residents of Central Contra Costa: Speak up for climate justice! Urge Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer Kahan to support the Climate Superfund Bill, ensuring fossil fuel polluters pay for the damages they’ve caused to our environment.
**Content:**
Your support is needed! Urge state legislators to hold corporate polluters accountable for climate disasters like the LA fires by demanding passage of the climate superfund bill. It’s simple: fossil fuel polluters should pay for the climate damages their products inflicted on California. They shouldn’t get to dump their costs on the public, especially while making record profits.
The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund bill requires the state to carry out a study to quantify the costs of climate damages in California and establishes a fund into which fossil fuel polluters must pay to cover their fair share of those costs. The [**Climate Superfund Bill**](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/) will protect all Californians if passed. To ensure that happens, legislators need to hear your voice soon! Since Martinez is home to one of the worst refinery polluters, we’re sending out an urgent plea to Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay!
## Polluters Direct Impact in Central County
- **Refinery Impacts** – If you live near the PBF Energy and Marathon Martinez Refinery facilities, you probably have experienced the sore throats, burning eyes, and toxic-laden ash produced by emissions from these plants. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District levied a [$5 million fine](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/communications-and-outreach/publications/news-releases/2024/penalty_marathon_241002_2024_050-pdf.pdf) against the Marathon plant for numerous air quality violations.
- **Wildfires** – Many of our communities are near open space or wooded areas and at risk of wildfires, which have become more intense with climate warming caused by greenhouse gases. [Residents of Moraga](https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/housing-development-fire-california-20136604.php) recently spoke out against a proposed housing development because it would add to the evacuation danger posed by the single road out of town.
- **Sea Level Rise** – Sections of the Capitol Corridor railroad line and I-680 in Martinez are at [risk of inundation](https://www.adaptingtorisingtides.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/BATA-ART-SLR-Analysis-and-Mapping-Report-Final-20170908.pdf) because melting glaciers caused by global warming are raising sea levels.
## How the Climate Superfund Will Help
The money that the fossil fuel companies pay into the Climate Superfund can be used for a multitude of programs to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including:
- Climate-fueled disaster response and climate-resilient recovery
- Accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels and to clean, renewable energy
- Home hardening to lessen the risk from wildfires
- Job training and support for workers impacted by climate change
## Tell Your Legislator to Protect Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay!
**Central Costa Residents:** If you live in **Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, San Ramon, or Walnut Creek or surrounding areas, your Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer Kahan needs to hear from you.** Kahan is a member of the Assembly’s Judicial Committee, which can pass the Superfund bill on for a vote by the full chamber or stop it dead.
Call the San Ramon office at (925) 244-1600 or the Sacramento office at (916) 319-2016. Or click the button below to submit your name and comment online. All you need to say is
**“I urge Assembly Member Kahan to support the Climate Superfund Bill, AB 1243.”**
[ Contact Assembly Member Kahan Today! ](https://a16.asmdc.org/contact)
Pub Mar 31, 2025
Author: Illana Weisman
Image credit: [Recep Tayyip Çelik](https://www.pexels.com/@receptcelik/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-standing-near-a-bushfire-9076532/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** California Climate Superfund Bill
---
### [Join Our Community Climate Forums and Help Shape Our Clean Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/join-our-community-climate-forums-and-help-shape-our-clean-energy-future/)
**Published:** April 14, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join 350 Contra Costa Action's new Community Climate Forums—a free bimonthly Zoom series to learn, connect, and take local action on the climate emergency. First session: April 16, 5–6 PM.
**Content:**
## The Climate Emergency is Local
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the weather bearing down on our communities—climate pollution touches almost every part of life on Earth, and it’s why 350 Contra Costa Action is launching our Community Climate Forums.
The greenhouse gases (GHG) we’ve put into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels are causing rising temperatures worldwide, the extinction of plants and animals, rising sea levels, and severe, erratic weather events.
Closer to home, air pollution from oil drilling and refining, car and truck exhaust, and residential and commercial buildings heated and cooled with methane gas contributes to climate change. According to the [National Institutes of Health](https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution) (NIH), it also affects our health by reducing lung function, causing asthma, and leading to cardiac problems.
We’re in a climate emergency now. But if we work together as a community, we can secure a sustainable, healthy life on this planet for our children and grandchildren—an abundant, green energy future with clean air and water, healthy forests and oceans.
Fast-moving technology is producing better and cheaper ways to replace fossil fuels with energy from the sun, the wind, and geothermal wells. As of 2024, renewable energy accounts for[ more than 41 percent of California’s electricity](https://greeninnovationindex.org/2025-edition/renewable-energy/)—up from 37 percent just a year earlier—a pace of change that would have seemed impossible not long ago.
## You Can Help Shape Our Clean Energy Future
Help speed the transition to green energy! Join our Community Climate Forums, building on the 2025 Climate Circle discussions, to learn what you can do locally and statewide to move more quickly into a clean energy future. We meet every other month via Zoom. In each hour-long session, you will:
- **Learn** about a current 350 Contra Costa Action campaign from team leaders
- **Ask questions** and discuss concerns
- **Take actions** to improve air quality and health in your community and state
It’s a time-effective way to make a difference on important, climate-related issues. Here’s what we’ll be covering in our first four sessions.
## Health, Air Pollution & Our Homes
### April 16, 5-6 PM
At our first Community Climate Forum, we explored how pollution from buildings affects public health in the Bay Area, why reducing it matters for our communities, and how cleaner technologies like electric heat pumps can help create healthier homes.
We also discussed the Bay Area Air District’s (BAAD) upcoming standards implementation that will begin phasing in cleaner replacements for gas appliances as they reach the end of their life:
- **Gas Water heaters** phaseout begins in 2027
- **Gas Furnaces** phaseout begins in 2029
These rules are currently scheduled for review at the next BAAD board meeting on May 6, 2026. Community voices will play an important role in ensuring they remain strong while serving all households well. See [Protect Clean Air in the Bay Area](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/) to learn how you can help ensure strong standards stay in place while protecting low-income families impacted by the rule changes.
## California State Legislation
### June 17, 5-6 PM
The June Community Climate Forum will focus on environmentally consequential California state bills. This year’s California legislative session includes many good proposed bills and some bad ones that could significantly impact pollution and electricity costs. Key issues include:
- **Data centers**’ electricity and water use
- Permitting of **portable solar panels**
- The **right to sue** fossil fuel companies
- A rollback of the **plastic bag ban**
We will discuss the bills 350 Contra Costa Action considers most impactful for the environment, followed by easy actions you can take to help beneficial bills become laws and to prevent the adoption of harmful ones.
Watch this space! We will post registration information for this free event as soon as it becomes available.
## Electric Leaf Blowers & Neighborhood Air Quality
### August (Date TBD)
Did you know that one hour of gas-powered leaf blower use can equal hundreds of miles of car emissions? In August, the Community Climate Forum will explore how switching to electric leaf blowers can dramatically reduce air and sound pollution in your neighborhood. Fine particulate matter from gas blowers poses serious health risks, especially to children and older people with respiratory conditions. **Learn how to encourage and support your neighbors** and landscapers in making the switch.
## Climate Champions & Local Elections
### October (Date TBD)
**Your vote is a climate action**. November brings consequential elections–not just nationally, but right here at home. Join our October Community Climate Forum to find out which local and state candidates 350 Contra Costa Action endorses as climate champions. Climate action was undercut in 2025—**together**, we can bring it back to the forefront for years to come.
## More to Come!
Dates and registration links for all upcoming Community Climate Forums will be posted on our Events Calendar as they are confirmed. Check back often—and we hope to see you there!
[ Watch for Forum News on Our Events Calendar ](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/category/upcoming-events/)
Pub: Apr 14, 2026; Rev: Apr 18, 2026
Image created in Google Gemini
**Categories:** Blog
---
### [Contra Costa Climate Action: What We Did, What’s Next](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-climate-action-what-we-did-whats-next/)
**Published:** April 11, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** We showed up for climate action in Contra Costa in 2025—and we're going even stronger in 2026. From supporting climate champions at the ballot box to launching our new Community Climate Forum and City Liaison Program, there's never been a better time to get involved. The work is serious. The people are wonderful. And yes, we have a genuinely good time doing it. Come be a part of it.
**Content:**
Climate action is one of the most powerful ways to improve your community, and 350 Contra Costa has plenty of ways to plug in. In 2025, our all-volunteer teams fought for cleaner air, cleaner water, and a healthier local environment. We’re going even stronger in 2026. But first, here’s how we showed up for climate action in Contra Costa last year.
- **Hosting a booth** at farmers’ markets and outdoor events, where neighbors could sign postcards urging their state representatives to pass the **[Make Polluters Pay Superfund Act](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)** and engage with us about other climate initiatives on their minds
- **Continuing our leading role** in the **[East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Collaborative](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)**, which, over the next several years, will provide funding for the electrification of some income-qualified homes in Antioch and Pittsburg
- **Facilitating Climate Circles**, where we invited county residents concerned about climate change to discuss current climate issues in virtual meetings
- **Publishing letters to the editor** in local newspapers highlighting climate issues and solutions
- **Talking with our local city councils**, county board of supervisors, and state legislators about meaningful climate legislation to protect our communities
- **Mobilizing concerned citizens** to **[speak up for cleaner air](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/)** at Bay Area Air District meetings and other regulatory bodies
That’s what 2025 looked like. Here’s what we’re building next, and where you come in.
As a community climate activist in Contra Costa County, you can engage neighbors and elected officials on climate issues and real solutions. The tools are varied—in-person outreach, letters to the editor, blogs, newsletters, and social media—and there’s never been a better time to use them.
## Accelerating Community Climate Activism into 2026
All of our 2025 initiatives continue in full force, and there’s a place for you in every one of them. With 2026 now fully underway and an important election year upon us, there’s even more to choose from, starting with supporting climate champions running for office.
In conjunction with 350 Bay Area Action, we are researching candidates and elected representatives at the local, county, state, and federal levels to identify and endorse candidates committed to climate action. We will actively promote their campaigns through door-to-door outreach, postcards, our newsletter, social media and our website, and we’re looking for volunteers to get involved.
We’re not stopping there, however. We’ve launched two exciting new programs this year: our **Community Climate Forum** and our new **City Liaison** program, both mobilizing residents to drive climate action at the local level, where roughly 70 percent of global emissions occur.
### Let’s Talk Climate
Our**[ Community Climate Forum](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/community-climate-forum-health-air-pollution-and-our-homes/)** brings Contra Costa neighbors together every other month for a one-hour online conversation focused on key climate and clean-air campaigns happening right here in our region. Each forum opens with a short overview of a timely topic, moves into open discussion, and closes with simple actions participants can take to help move solutions forward. It’s accessible, engaging, and a great entry point for anyone new to climate action. We’d love to see you there.
### Climate Action City by City
We are assembling **[City Liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)** teams of 2-3 volunteers in each of Contra Costa’s 19 cities to monitor, track, and advocate for climate action at the local level—where it matters most.
Each team will be supported by its own city-focused web page discussing current climate issues and a path forward to a healthier climate future in that community.
We are actively seeking city liaisons to contact their mayors and city council members on behalf of environmental proposals and encourage their neighbors to do the same. Elected officials listen to people who live in their cities, so city liaisons play a vital role.
Liaisons will advocate for climate-forward policies with their city councils, engage their neighbors along the way, and build lasting relationships with local elected officials and other volunteers. The time commitment is light—just 1 to 5 hours per month—and the difference you can make is real.
Our climate work doesn’t stop at city limits. We are equally committed to working at the county level and in unincorporated areas of Contra Costa, home to some of our most vulnerable communities, to advance meaningful climate goals across the region.
And the best part? All of this work is serious—and *seriously fun*. Come be a part of it.
## Join Us in Working for a Cleaner Future
There are many ways to get involved. We’re pushing forward on multiple fronts, including:
- Backing climate champions—researching, endorsing, and volunteering across local, state, and federal races
- Making Contra Costa homes and buildings fossil-fuel-free
- Tracking and advocating for California legislation that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and hold polluters accountable
- Monitoring energy and transportation actions at both the local and state levels
- Helping our local communities achieve a just transition as refineries close
If you care about our air, water, and environment, you’re already a climate activist—and **we want you on our team**. Join us on any of these projects and you’ll find the work rewarding, the connections meaningful, and the people around you inspiring.
[ Take Action with Us! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/)
Published Apr 11, 2026
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** 2025 Climate Action Accomplishments, 2026 Climate Action Plans
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action
March 2026 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-march-2026-newsletter/)
**Published:** April 8, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Inside: Community Climate Forum Launches April 16, Martinez Refinery Pollution and Enforcement Action Update, Help Save Bay Area Transit, Baypoint/Pittsburg Residents: Share Your Input on Community Resilience Hub, California Climate Policy Summit April 13, Get involved with 350 Contra Costa Action—Roles open!
**Content:**
### March 2026 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Launching Our New Community Climate Forum**
We’re excited to introduce a new way for our community to connect, learn, and take action together: the Community Climate Forum.
This re-imagined version of our Climate Circle will bring together community members every other month for a one-hour online conversation focused on key climate and clean-air campaigns happening right here in Contra Costa and the Bay Area. Each session will include a short overview of the issue, time for discussion, and simple actions participants can take to help move solutions forward.
Whether you’re new to 350 Contra Costa or already involved, the Community Climate Forum is designed to make it easy to stay informed and engaged, even if you can only join occasionally.
### **First Forum: Health, Air Pollution, and Our Homes**
### **April 16th, 5pm to 6pm**
### [**Register HERE to be sent the Zoom link**](https://forms.gle/eoFAPHYFfz6yc2yt9)
Most people think of cars or industry when they think about air pollution. But gas appliances inside our homes, especially furnaces and water heaters, are actually one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution in the Bay Area.
NOx pollution contributes to smog and fine particulate pollution that worsen asthma, increase heart and lung disease, and shorten lives. In fact, pollution from fossil-fuel furnaces and water heaters in the region is linked to thousands of asthma attacks each year and dozens of premature deaths, with significant health costs across our communities.
At our first Community Climate Forum, we’ll explore how pollution from buildings affects public health in the Bay Area, why reducing it matters for our communities, and what cleaner technologies like electric heat pumps can offer for healthier homes.
We’ll also discuss the Bay Area Air District’s upcoming standards that will begin phasing in cleaner replacements for gas appliances as they reach the end of their life, starting with water heaters in 2027 and furnaces in 2029. These rules are currently under review, and community voices will play an important role in ensuring they remain strong while working well for all households.
Join us to learn more about this issue and how you can help support clean air protections in the Bay Area.
[**Register for the Community Climate Forum to be sent the Zoom link.** ](https://forms.gle/eoFAPHYFfz6yc2yt9)
## **Update: Martinez Refinery Pollution and Enforcement Action**
Air pollution and safety concerns around the Martinez Refining Company continue to impact nearby communities including Martinez, Pacheco, Vine Hill, and Clyde.
The refinery has experienced multiple pollution incidents in recent years, including a major fire in February 2025. It sent thick smoke containing benzene, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter over surrounding neighborhoods and triggered shelter-in-place orders. These incidents add to ongoing concerns about the cumulative health impacts of refinery pollution in the area.
New enforcement update: In February 2026, the Contra Costa District Attorney and Bay Area Air District secured a $10 million penalty against Martinez Refining Company for numerous violations between 2020 and 2024, including illegal flaring, toxic dust releases, leaking tanks, and strong odors affecting the community. Part of the settlement will fund local environmental and public health projects, such as air filtration systems in nearby schools.
Local advocacy group Healthy Martinez has been closely tracking refinery violations and community health impacts and recently**[ issued a statement on the enforcement action](https://www.healthymartinez.org)**.
For more details see our article, **[Martinez CA Refinery Health Threats](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=HA_Q1YXuQ06CZnFfh_i09ZkWgRnmM5icECP6CGCn1sfH-HcGwyWA1GOFnn9lc9csJKWhxUwH09ofgl7fR5pKAALoa03JMWnj4Y3jEzvQlOk&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=march_2026_newsletter_350cca&n=3&test_email=1).**
## **Help Save Bay Area Transit**
Public transit systems across the Bay Area, including BART, AC Transit, Muni, and Caltrain, are facing a serious funding shortfall. Without new funding, agencies warn that major service cuts could begin as early as 2026, affecting riders, increasing traffic, and undermining the region’s climate goals.
A new state law, the Connect Bay Area Act, creates a path for voters in five Bay Area counties, including Contra Costa, to approve a regional funding measure in November 2026 that could generate about $1 billion per year to stabilize and improve transit service.
Before voters can decide, supporters must gather signatures to place the measure on the ballot. Look out for volunteers collecting signatures in public places and consider adding your name to help ensure voters have the chance to support stronger transit across the Bay Area.
For more information see **[Connect Bay Area Act Authorizes a Regional Tax Measure to Save Transit](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=LgyTQ8r60sPTnZHCvjz5eygJvEsn-8wX-qQZfLnqVMBCVoVAV1bpbavokIhRra2QJ5ljrA_xTR6KSic39Dyjpi1yk6TCobBEKPEPCzh0N7-wgOrhR1Cg5kFo68pwSx9LpgvupMLc0bmyiI_HnhZRcw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=march_2026_newsletter_350cca&n=4&test_email=1)** at SPUR.
## **Bay Point/ Pittsburg Residents: Share Your Input on a Community Resilience Hub**
Contra Costa County and the Ambrose Recreation and Park District are exploring how the Ambrose Community Center in Bay Point could become a Resilience Hub, a place that helps support residents before, during, and after emergencies such as extreme heat, flooding, or power outages.
Community input will help shape what services and resources the center could provide during emergencies.
If you live in Bay Point or Pittsburg, please take a few minutes to complete this short survey and share what resources would be most helpful for you and your family.
[**Complete the survey.**](http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/AmbroseResilienceHub)
## **Upcoming Event: California Climate Policy Summit 2026**
350 Contra Costa Climate Action invites you to join us at the **[fifth annual California Climate Policy Summit](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2026/)**, hosted by The Climate Center, on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Sacramento.
At a time when federal climate progress is under attack, this summit brings together California leaders to focus on what’s next, and what’s possible. Elected officials, climate advocates, environmental justice leaders, scientists, business innovators, and policy experts will gather to share strategies that keep California moving forward on science-based climate solutions.
The summit is a chance to connect across sectors, learn how policymakers are accelerating the clean energy transition, and explore approaches that support healthier communities and a more affordable, resilient future for all Californians.
Get more information and a special 25% discount code for 350 Contra Costa Action participants **[here](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/california-climate-policy-summit-2026/).**
## **Get Involved with 350 Contra Costa Climate Action**
Want to help drive climate action in our community? We’re looking for volunteers to support several key roles:
**Climate Action Newsletter Writer:** Help research and write stories that keep our community informed about local climate issues and solutions. [**Description of role here.**](https://350contracostaaction.org/join-us-as-a-writer-for-climate-action/)
**Social Media Manager:** Help amplify climate news, events, and actions by managing and growing our social media presence. [**Description of role here.**](https://350contracostaaction.org/climatevolunteer-for-social-media-manager/)
**Website Content Assistant:** Help keep our website updated with news, events, blog posts, and resources so community members can easily find the information they need. [**Description of role here.**](https://350contracostaaction.org/web-volunteers-needed/)
**Photographer:** Capture photos at events and in local communities to help tell the story of climate action across Contra Costa.
**City Climate Action Liaison:** Represent 350 Contra Costa in your city by tracking local climate policies and connecting with community leaders. [**Description of role here.** ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
These are just some of the great opportunities to build skills, meet like-minded people, and make a real impact locally.
Contact us on **.**
Thank you—
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta), [X](https://X.com/350CCAction), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/350ccaction.bsky.social)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Bay Area Clean Air (BACA), Brentwood drilling ban, CA Climate Summit, Contra Costa Drilling, leaf-blower ban, Valero refinery Benicia
---
### [It’s Time for California to Make Polluters Pay](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)
**Published:** February 3, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Landmark California Make Polluters Pay bill could change the future for Californians. Learn how you can help make it happen in 2025.
**Content:**
California is poised to make polluters pay with a bold new Make Polluters Pay Superfund Act that will hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in the climate crisis.
The devastating LA fires, and last year’s [explosion at the Martinez Refinery](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-martinez-refinery-fire-the-last-burning-straw/) are just two of many environmental disasters affecting our state. But while we wait, [Vermont](https://www.vpirg.org/news/5-things-to-know-about-the-climate-superfund-act/) and [New York](https://www.commondreams.org/news/new-york-pollution) have already passed groundbreaking Climate Superfund bills—paving the way for polluters to pay their fair share.
Those bills hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate disasters. Now, California must follow suit and pass a Make Polluters Pay Superfund Act.
Advocating for this Act was a key focus for 350 Contra Costa Action’s [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/) in 2025. We knew from the get-go this was not an easy task. As with so many landmark environmental actions, we knew getting a California superfund passed could take years. While our initiative failed to garner sufficient legislative support in 2025, we are doubling down our efforts in 2026 to grow grassroots support for the proposed act, which aims to create a statewide climate superfund to clean up pollution, recover from climate disasters, and protect communities.
We’re doing that by holding **town halls** to inform the public and our local electeds about the proposed legislation. And we’re asking our city and county governments to **adopt resolutions** in support of the superfund legislation.
As California grapples with worsening climate impacts, this act becomes more crucial than ever. Here’s why the Make Polluters Pay Superfund Act is a vital step in addressing the growing crisis.
## Why the California Make Polluters Pay Bill Matters
The climate crisis is impacting our state—wildfires, droughts, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. Fossil fuel companies, responsible for much of the damage, are profiting without paying their fair share. The **Make Polluters Pay Superfund Act** is designed to combat climate change and hold companies responsible for the destruction they cause. Here’s what the act will do:
- **Create a statewide climate superfund** to aid our communities in recovery from climate disasters such as wildfires and floods
- **Fund climate resilient infrastructure** to protect vulnerable areas from future climate impacts
- **Support frontline communities** by providing resources for those who are most affected by climate change
While these objectives are ambitious, they are not out of reach. Let’s take a closer look at New York’s climate superfund success story.
## The New York Superfund Success Story
In 2024, New York became one of the first states to pass a climate superfund law.
This landmark legislation requires polluters to pay for cleanups, following the 1970s era Environmental Superfund model. It extends coverage to include damages caused by climate change and greenhouse gases, addressing a critical gap in environmental accountability. [NY State Senator Liz Krueger](https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/liz-krueger/governor-signs-climate-change-superfund-act), who carried the bill in the Senate, explains.
> Too often over the last decade, courts have dismissed lawsuits against the oil and gas industry by saying that the issue of climate culpability should be decided by legislatures. . . . The Climate Change Superfund Act is now law, and New York has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: the companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable.
New York and Vermont have set the stage. California must follow suit. To ensure the Make Polluters Pay Superfund Act gains enough support to become law in 2027-28, we need your help to grow our statewide grassroots movement. Here’s how you can get involved and make a difference.
## How You Can Help Make Polluters Pay
Speak up and take action: Five ways you can help:
1. **Sign the Petition today**: Demand that Governor Newsom and public officials support a climate superfund that will get money to communities most in need of recovery and resilience.
2. **Contact Your local elected officials**: Call or write to your local city council members and county supervisors, urging them to support a California Superfund Act that makes polluters pay.
3. **Join a local Superfund team** in your city or county and help promote a town hall and a city/county resolution in support of the Act. You can find their names and email addresses on our new [local climate action pages](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/).
4. Join 350 Bay Area’s dynamic, interactive **[Monthly Climate Action Meeting](https://350bayarea.org/event/mcam/2026-02-24)** to learn more about this campaign and how you can make a difference.
5. **Spread the Word**: Share this campaign with your friends and family on social media. The more people who know, the stronger our movement becomes.
**Take Action Now to make California a leader in climate justice:**
[ Sign the Petition ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/californians-make-polluters-pay)
## Together, We Can Hold Polluters Accountable
The future of California’s climate resilience depends on bold action today. Without a change in policy, the burden of climate disasters will continue to fall on vulnerable communities. By supporting the Make Polluters Pay Superfund Act, you can help secure a sustainable, thriving future for all. Don’t wait—take action now to hold polluters accountable and demand the change we need.
Pub: Feb 3, 2025; Rev: 4/3/26
Image Credit: 350 Contra Costa Action Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** California climate bill, climate superfund, Make Polluters Pay, polluter accountability
---
### [How to Influence California Climate Legislation](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-to-influence-california-climate-legislation/)
**Published:** March 18, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Want to help shape California's climate laws? Volunteers research bills, meet with state legislators, and advocate for clean energy and fossil fuel phase-outs. No experience needed — training and support are provided.
**Content:**
Should California **enable people to install portable solar energy units** without getting utility approval? Should the state make sure that **data center electricity costs aren’t passed on** to other customers? Is it okay to **allow fossil fuel companies to circumvent insurance requirements** for wells and production facilities?
These are some of the issues our [350 Contra Costa Action legislative team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/) will bring up with state senators and assembly members in 2026. If you want to help shape California’s climate policies and develop advocacy, research, and communication skills, we invite you to [join us](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer#VolunteerForm). Take an active role in ending fossil fuel consumption, fostering clean energy, and building lasting relationships with fellow volunteers and policymakers. Your engagement can make a real difference.
Keep reading to see how you can get involved and what volunteering is like.
## Partnering with 350 Bay Area Action Legislative Teams
Our 350 Contra Costa Action legislative team partners with our parent group, 350 Bay Area Action, to push for strong climate laws. We share their positions with local lawmakers.
Some of our team members also serve on 350 Bay Area Action Legislative teams. These teams research and track climate-related bills and their impacts on Californians. We encourage anyone interested in shaping California’s climate laws to join one of the [350 Bay Area Action legislative teams](https://350bayareaaction.org/legislative) and see firsthand how the process works.
You’ll learn which bills need to be tracked, choose the ones you want to research, and work with a dynamic group of people who are fascinated, sometimes frustrated, and ever intrigued with the legislative process.
To get started, you can attend a meeting with one of the three policy teams.
## Three Legislative Teams Pushing for Climate Justice
350 Bay Area Action supports three legislative teams, each focused on a different area of climate policy, plus a coordinating committee. If you want to join, pick a team that matches your interests or experience—whether you’re most interested in **moving away from fossil fuels**, **supporting clean energy**, or **improving transportation and land use**.
If you’re not sure where to start, think about what issues motivate you, your skills, and areas you’d like to learn more about. For example, if you like research or advocacy, are interested in renewable energy, or want to learn about housing and transportation, there’s a team for you.
New volunteers can attend a meeting with each group to see what they do before deciding. Team coordinators are happy to help you find the best fit. Here’s a quick overview of the three teams.
- ****End Fossil Fuels (EFF) Action Team:**** Meets Tuesdays at 5:00 pm, except the fourth Tuesday. EFF advocates for phasing out fossil fuels, connects with decision-makers and environmental partners, and rallies public support.
- **Clean Energy Action Team:** Meets Wednesdays at 4:00 pm. This team champions energy justice, 100% clean energy, and sustainable practices, and tracks bills while suggesting positions to the Legislative Committee. Team members meet with key legislators and their staff to discuss the bills and ask for their votes.
- **Transportation/Land Use Action Team:** Meets Tuesdays at 4:30 pm. This team promotes affordable housing near transit, zero-emission vehicles, and sustainable transportation laws.
## Shaping California’s Climate Future
Helping 350 Bay Area Action decide which positions to take on bills that may have far-reaching effects on the climate is a vital and intriguing role in shaping California’s climate future.
In 2025, 350 Contra Costa Action [supported nine bills](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/#2025EndorsedPassedBills) that were researched and tracked by the 350 Bay Area Action legislative teams. One important bill stops investor-owned utilities like PG&E from passing lobbying costs on to customers. All nine bills passed and were signed by the governor.
These successes were made possible by the dedicated efforts of our volunteers, who researched complex policy details, crafted clear summaries for legislators, and spoke directly to their representatives about why these bills matter for our communities. Such local research helps decision-makers see how the legislation would benefit their own districts and influences the outcome.
## A Sampling of Bills We’re Watching in 2026
350 Bay Area Action is looking at several new bills introduced this legislative session. Here are some of the areas being addressed so far, with more to come:
- **Large-scale data centers**: Making sure new data centers pay their share of electricity costs, report energy and water use, pay fair construction wages, and use clean backup generators to avoid pollution.
- ****Balcony solar****: Exempting plug-in solar panels from PG&E installation permitting.
- ****Heat pumps****: Standardizing permitting to speed up timelines and lower costs.
- ****Offshore oil****: Tightening regulation of new offshore oil drilling to reduce environmental and safety risks.
- ****Environmental assessments: Several bills aim to close loopholes in a recent law that exempts many projects from CEQA environmental reviews.****
- **Oil and gas bonding**—Competing bills would tighten or loosen bond requirements.
- ****Refinery closures****: Setting rules for shutting down refineries, cleaning up soil and water, and supporting workers who lose their jobs.
- ****Transportation projects****: Some bills require climate impacts to be considered in planning, while others reduce environmental requirements.
- ****Bidirectional electric vehicles****: Requiring a certain percentage of vehicles to connect to the electric grid.
## Help Shape California’s Climate Legislation
If you want to help shape California’s climate legislation, sign up to research and track bills with a 350 Bay Area Action legislative team. You don’t need previous experience. All new volunteers get training and support, including learning the basics of bill tracking, advocacy skills, and communicating effectively with legislators. Anyone can participate.
After you sign up, a team member will get in touch by email to welcome you, answer your questions, and help you get started. You will be invited to a team meeting and paired with an experienced volunteer to guide you through the process.
Most volunteers spend about 3 to 6 hours a month on meetings, bill research, and related tasks. Activities include joining virtual meetings, researching bills, sharing findings with the group, talking with legislators and their staff, tracking updates, and helping write letters or position statements. Some people spend more time during peak legislative periods. This flexibility lets you contribute in a way that fits your schedule.
## Join Us to Track Bills with 350 Bay Area Action
Join our 350 Contra Costa Action Legislative team in partnering with 350 Bay Area Action legislative teams to **shape climate policy**, **deepen your knowledg**e of the legislative process, and **help secure a sustainable climate outlook** for California. We welcome your participation—sign up today and make a difference.
[ Join a 350 Bay Area Action Legislative Team ](https://350bayareaaction.org/volunteer)
Published Mar 18, 2026
Image credit: [Alex Ohan](https://www.pexels.com/@alex-ohan-204757441/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/intricate-sacramento-capitol-interior-dome-design-29861359/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** 350 Bay Area Action Legislative Teams, California Climate Legislation, Legislative climate action
---
### [Want Climate Action? Elect Local Climate Champions!](https://350contracostaaction.org/want-climate-action-elect-local-climate-champions/)
**Published:** June 25, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** The climate emergency is on a global scale, but solutions can and must happen at every level of government—including city councils and county boards. Inside: What you can do.
**Content:**
 We gathered for a sunny potluck and post-carding in June!
The climate emergency is on a global scale, but solutions can and must happen at every level of government—including city councils and county boards.
Local governments can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in lots of ways, and every locality needs to do its part in moving the planet toward a zero-emission future.
Here in Contra Costa, we’ve seen meaningful climate action in cities around the county. For example, Antioch and Brentwood banned oil and gas drilling; Pinole banned construction of new gas stations; and Richmond put a refinery tax on the ballot.
These actions would never have happened without climate-forward candidates getting voted onto city councils. And much more climate action is needed in these and other cities.
## That's Where You Come In!
With the primaries weeks away, and general elections coming up in November, your help is needed to identify which local candidates are serious about climate solutions and deserve the endorsement of our parent organization, 350 Bay Area Action (350 BAA). In partnership with 350 BAA, our team researches and recommends for endorsement qualifying climate champions running in districts throughout Contra Costa County. These include state senate and assembly candidates in Contra Costa districts, as well as county supervisors and city council members.
Once 350 BAA announces our endorsed candidates, we ramp up to get out the vote and put those climate champions in public office!
As the election season moves into high gear, candidates will need our help. There’ll be phone-banking and postcard-writing events so we can do good and have fun at the same time.
Here are **seven ways** you can get involved. Pick one. Pick two. Pick all seven!
- **Join** the 350 Contra Costa Action (350 CCA) [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/) to help research candidates and recommend those who are climate champions for our organizational endorsement
- **Support** our endorsed candidates by buddying up with other 350 CCA folks to:
- - **Show up** at their events and cheer for them
- **Donate** to their campaigns
- **Table** at farmers markets, etc., to help publicize their campaigns
- **Knock** on doors to speak with voters about them
- **Write** postcards and or make phone calls to help get out the vote for them
Won’t you please join us? Shoot an email to for more information. Someone will contact you within the week.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Rev: Mar 13, 2026
Pub: June 25, 2024;
Image Credit: Gary Farber
**Categories:** Electoral Blog
**Tags:** 2024 Election, 350 Contra Costa Action Electoral Team, Local climate champions
---
### [Brentwood: The Ban Continues](https://350contracostaaction.org/brentwood-the-ban-continues/)
**Published:** April 8, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** On March 28, the Brentwood, CA, City Council voted unanimously to extend the city’s moratorium on oil and gas drilling for another year.
**Content:**
On March 28, 2023, the Brentwood City Council voted unanimously to extend the city’s moratorium on oil and gas drilling for another year. The temporary ban applies to drilling within 3200 feet of “sensitive areas” such as schools and hospitals. While it’s in effect, city staff are crafting ordinances that would permanently ban oil and gas drilling. Yay! Learn more **[here](https://www.thepress.net/news/brentwood/ban-on-oil-drilling-extended/article_930d4798-cf1b-11ed-80e0-83a6504b1612.html?utm_source=thepress.net&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1680699603&utm_medium=email&utm_content=read%20more).**
---
Photo by [Pixabay](https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/industrial-machine-during-golden-hour-162568/)
This article appeared first in our [April 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Brentwood drilling ban, Fossil Fuel Drilling Ban
---
### [Website Content Volunteers Needed](https://350contracostaaction.org/web-volunteers-needed/)
**Published:** August 11, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** 350 Contra Costa Action is looking for volunteers to assist the webmaster in updating pages and formatting blog posts. Details inside.
**Content:**
Join us as a web volunteer and build new digital skills, gain valuable experience working with websites and online tools, and connect with a dynamic team making an impact in Contra Costa County. You’ll help our webmaster keep the website current by uploading photos and videos, proofreading and formatting blog posts, updating event listings, and organizing resources in our website library.
By keeping our online content accurate and easy to find, you’ll help more people discover local climate solutions and get involved. Each week, you may receive a request to do one or more updates, have a quick check-in with the webmaster to discuss priorities, and then spend some time making changes and reviewing your work before it goes live.
## We Will Train
No experience? No problem. We’ll teach you everything you need to know. Bring your enthusiasm, attention to detail, and willingness to learn, and you’ll fit right in. Experience helps, but you don’t need it to get started.
Our webmaster will train you one-on-one so you can get started right away and will always be available to answer questions and guide you as you learn. You’ll have support every step of the way. We welcome volunteers with any level of experience.
## You’ll Be Part of an Energetic Team
As a web content volunteer, you’ll be part of the dynamic 350 Contra Costa Action [communications team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/). This team connects with people in Contra Costa County to help them learn about and engage in local climate action. We do this through tabling at events, our monthly newsletter, promoting our climate campaigns at speaking engagements, and, of course, through the website.
## Help Build Out Our New City Liaison Program
As a trainee, you’ll help build and update web pages for our new [City Liaison program](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/). This program connects volunteers with local city governments to support climate solutions and involve more people. Your work will make information easy to find and help empower residents to take impactful climate action.
## Time Required
Meet one-on-one with our webmaster in your first week to get introduced to the team, website, and tools. Plan to spend two to three hours as you get comfortable with the process. Learn our WordPress dashboard, upload photos, format blog posts, and make simple changes together. Follow your checklist for your first tasks and ask questions as needed.
Spend about two hours a week after training until you feel confident. Reach out to the webmaster anytime by text or email, and check in weekly to discuss your progress and troubleshoot any challenges.
Once you grow comfortable, plan to work as little as 2 to 4 hours a month—more if you like. Choose hours that fit your schedule. Request additional hours if you’d like more experience. There’s always plenty to do!
## Equipment Needed
To get started, you’ll need a computer and a reliable internet connection. We primarily use the WordPress platform for website updates and the Elementor plugin for page building. We also use Google Drive to share documents and images. Training will be on Zoom, so make sure your computer has a camera and microphone. Being familiar with these platforms is helpful, but we will provide guidance every step of the way.
## Ongoing Support
You’ll mostly work independently, but you’ll have regular check-ins with the webmaster and can connect with other Comms Team volunteers to share ideas and get support. This lets you be part of a team while maintaining flexibility and ownership of your work.
## Grow Your Skills / Promote Local Climate Action
If you want to learn WordPress and the Elementor plugin and become familiar with managing web content, this is an opportunity to build your skills while helping promote local climate action in Contra Costa County.
To join us, fill out our [Volunteer form](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer#VolunteerForm) or email today!
Revised: Mar 13, 2026
Photo by [Pixabay](https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/beverage-break-breakfast-brown-414630/)
This article first appeared in our [July 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog, Volunteer
**Tags:** Volunteers Needed
---
### [Fight Climate Change Locally: Be a City Liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
**Published:** October 11, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Help fight climate change locally to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and create lasting change right here in our hometowns and communities. Sign up to become a City Climate Action Liaison with 350 Contra Costa Action!
**Content:**
 San Ramon City Hall
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
### Sign up to Combat Climate Change as a City Liaison
Help fight climate change locally to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and create lasting change right here in our hometowns and communities. [***Sign up*** ](#Signup)to become a City Climate Action Liaison with 350 Contra Costa Action!
We are assembling teams of 2-3 volunteers in each Contra Costa city to combat climate change at the local level. Help us build climate-focused teams in all nineteen cities!
Cities are responsible for about [70 percent of global emissions](https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/resource-efficiency/what-we-do/cities-and-climate-change). With over [80 percent of the U.S. population living in urban areas](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural/2020-ua-facts.html), focusing on local climate solutions offers both urgency and opportunity to make a real impact where we live and work.
### Monitor, Track, and Advocate for Environmental Sustainability
Our teams of 2 to 3 volunteers in each Contra Costa city will monitor, track, report, and advocate for environmental justice and sustainability. Team roles include:
- **Monitoring City Council agendas** for discussions on
- Climate
- Housing
- Transportation and
- Land-use policies
- **Attending Council meetings** to
- Listen and observe
- Take notes
- Speak, when appropriate, and
- Review minutes afterward
- **Tracking Council Sustainability Committees and Planning Commissions** for topics on environmental sustainability
- **Reporting back** to the 350 Contra Costa Action [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/) by
- Attending monthly meetings and
- Providing a brief update on significant developments
### Your Time Commitment
**1–5 hours per month.** You control how much time you dedicate!
### Support from Our Experienced Climate Advocacy Teams
Our leadership team and experienced volunteers will provide orientation and ongoing support, tailored to your interests and needs.
### Sign Up to Help Drive Local Climate Change Solutions
If this City Climate Action Liaison role sounds like a fit for you, reach out to us at for more details, or click the button below to fill out our online volunteer form. Be sure to include “**City Liaison Volunteer**” and the **name of your city** in the subject line of your email, or on the “Other” line of the form.
[ Yes! Sign me up for the City Climate action liaison team ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/#VolunteerForm)
Image credit: 350 Contra Costa Action Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** Local Policy
---
### [Benicia Concerned About Tank Farm Status](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-concerned-about-tank-farm-status/)
**Published:** February 18, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Benicia’s city leaders and residents Benicia residents are worried as Valero Refinery plans to shift to importing refined gasoline post-closure in April, risking higher gas prices and safety issues due to its earthquake-prone location. Mayor Steve Young demands clarity on operations, stressing potential financial fallout from losing 17 percent of local tax revenue. Residents are urged to voice their concerns to officials.
**Content:**
Benicia city officials and residents are worried after learning that the Valero Refinery will begin importing and storing refined gasoline for distribution once it closes in April. City officials were left out of state-level talks about this decision, so Benicia is unsure how the new tank farm status will affect the community.
Valero says the Benicia refinery now makes about 10 percent of California’s gasoline. According to the [U.S. Department of Energy Information Administration](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65704), the state will lose about 17 percent of its refining capacity with the closure of this refinery and another in Southern California this year. This raises concerns that gas prices in California could go up.
The Valero Refining Company and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office recently announced that importing refined gasoline for distribution in California should stabilize supply as well as gas prices that would otherwise increase when the refinery stops producing its 145,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
## Benicia Refinery to Become Tank Farm
While the Governor’s office and Valero were pleased that importing gasoline to Benicia could help steady supply and prices, city officials were decidely less optimistic about the refinery becoming a ‘tank farm’ that stores large amounts of gasoline.
“I understand on a macro level this is a necessity,” to prevent gasoline price increases and shortages, Benicia Mayor Steve Young said at a recent meeting of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia. “We have empty storage tanks and a deep-water port.” But the mayor also said that the important details have not yet been shared with the city.
## Safety Concerns
Young pointed out that the refinery sits on an earthquake fault, and that refined gasoline is much more volatile and flammable than the crude oil currently stored there. “Which tanks?” he asked. “How many tanks? Who will operate it? Will the infrastructure be improved?”
## Financial Hardship for Workers and the City
The refinery’s approximately 400 union workers will receive the chance to transfer to other Valero facilities or outplacement job services, according to an [NBC Bay Area story](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/valero-import-refined-gasoline-idling-benicia-operations/4010339/) quoting a Valero official. It is unclear whether Valero’s contract workers will receive these benefits. Additionally, some Benicia and area businesses are expected to take a financial hit from the refinery’s and its workers’ loss of business.
Economic and environmental questions for the city boil down to “how big and how long” the gasoline importing operation will be, Young said. If the import terminal operates for only two to four years, it will take that long for Valero to dismantle the main refinery before the city seeks another use for the area.
Longer than that could hobble any plans to transition the site to another tax-producing commercial use, which the city needs. Currently, Valero provides about 17 percent of the city’s tax revenues. Stopping production will remove most of that revenue, as production rather than storage is the main source of tax revenue.
Gasoline imports will come through Benicia’s port, which the city has leased to Amports. That lease is set to expire in 2032, and there is discussion of raising port fees to generate more income. However, any significant increase could be said to interfere with interstate commerce, Young said. Complicating matters, [the city doesn’t own the port’s land](https://www.beniciabusiness.com/port-rail). The city has hired an attorney to investigate these matters.
## Concerned? Stay Informed and Talk to Your Elected Officials
Benicia city officials are working to learn more about the Valero Refinery’s new import terminal. If you have concerns about safety, economic, and environmental issues, we encourage you to stay informed and make your voice heard.
- Talk to your [elected officials](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/citycouncil).
- Get notices of upcoming [City Council meetings](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/index.asp?SEC=E7B25E1F-6673-48A1-8738-89B4019F91D0&DE=6A718DD8-8932-480D-A54C-BB6DF51F6068&Type=B_BASIC) and their agendas.
- Watch for updates about the Benicia refinery in the 350 Contra Costa [newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/) and [blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/blog/), as well as your local news sources.
**NOTE:** Although Benicia is in Solano County, 350 Contra Costa is reporting on some Benicia refinery and related environmental issues because:
- Cities in Contra Costa County have refineries and may share some common issues in the future.
- Air quality in Martinez and possibly other Contra Costa locations may be affected by the Valero refinery, with only the Carquinez Strait separating the communities, according to the Bay Area Air District.
- The economic fallout from the refinery closure will likely affect Contra Costa County, as some current Valero workers live here.
Published Feb. 18, 2026
Image credit: Christine Stevens
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Bay Area Air District (BAAD), Benicia CA, Valero refinery Benicia
---
### [Martinez CA Refinery Health Threats](https://350contracostaaction.org/martinez-ca-refinery-health-threats/)
**Published:** February 15, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** After the 2025 Martinez Refinery fire, the Bay Area Air District fined the Martinez Refining Company for violating air monitoring regulations. Learn how 350 Contra Costa Action and other advocacy groups are mobilizing to push for cleaner air and safer living conditions in Martinez.
**Content:**
On December 23, 2025, the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) announced that the Martinez refinery still is out of compliance with fenceline air monitoring regulations that measure pollution concentrations near its property line. The Air District fined the refinery $20,000 and required it to abide by the District’s tracking rules and provide real-time and historical data to area residents.
Historically, the Martinez Refining Company has been a source of air and water pollution. Concerns about Martinez refinery health threats and what is going to happen next remain high for residents of Martinez and the unincorporated communities of Pacheco, Vine Hill, and Clyde.
## Toxins Released at Martinez Refinery
The continued lack of compliance comes after the most recent pollution-heavy incident, which occurred on February 1, 2025, when a fire broke out and burned out of control for several hours. Thick clouds of black smoke containing toxic chemicals and particulate matter blew over the area, mostly north of the refinery.
On February 11, Contra Costa Health issued a [press release](https://www.cchealth.org/Home/Components/News/News/886/415), later posted on its website, noting that chemicals and combustion byproducts spewed into the air by the fire contained substances that can cause cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. The press release said that toxins released at the Martinez refinery included petroleum and petroleum distillates, and noted that the combustion byproducts, including particulate matter, benzene, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and xylene, posed the greatest health threat. The county initially issued a health advisory to residents of Martinez and the nearby unincorporated communities of Pacheco and Clyde. Then, when the smoke got closer to the ground, ordered people in Martinez north of the refinery to shelter in place.
## Radio Incompatibility Delayed County Fire Assistance
On Dec. 9, 2025, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Aaron McAlister told county supervisors that the refinery’s lack of radios compatible with the normal county frequency initially left county crews stalled outside the facility.
According to the [East Bay Times](https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=8b8a4251-d654-4fd0-b5b3-c0b32c6b939b&appcode=EAS596&eguid=72af8827-1a1b-4a55-88bc-4420337a8efa&pnum=4#), this incompatibility delayed the establishment of a unified fire command center by two hours[. ](https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=8b8a4251-d654-4fd0-b5b3-c0b32c6b939b&appcode=EAS596&eguid=72af8827-1a1b-4a55-88bc-4420337a8efa&pnum=4#)The refinery does not have a dedicated fire department, as some other refineries do, and relies on cross-trained employees from their fire brigade. It appears likely that speedier county fire assistance could have been helpful.
To correct the radio communications issue, ConFire suggested that employees of the refinery’s fire brigade carry radios that access the county frequency.
## Workers Injured, Shelter-In-Place Order
Six workers injured in the fire were sent to a nearby hospital. While County Health lifted the shelter-in-place order later that night, the fire continued to burn until February 4.
As far as long-term health issues, the county [press release](http://cchealth.org/Home/Components/News/News/886/415) states that
> Air-quality measurements taken by Contra Costa Health’s hazmat staff during the incident showed that concentrations of chemicals in the air during the event were mostly below the threshold considered dangerous. There was a short period when the smoke from the fire stayed closer to the ground and particulate matter immediately north of the refinery measured at a high level, but because that was not sustained over a long period it is not expected to have a significant health impact on most people.
But the county’s bulletin relating to this single event doesn’t show a longer-term picture of the cumulative effect of long-term exposure to industrial pollutants. Research indicates that even short-term, intense pollution exposure can have health consequences.
Data from the [American Lung Associatio](https://www.lung.org/research/sota/health-risks)n shows that short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution causes or aggravates cardiovascular issues, asthma, stroke, and pneumonia, and is linked with a higher risk of lung cancer even in never-smokers.
## Martinez City Officials Angry
After the February 1 fire, Martinez city council members, including Mayor Brianna Zorn, and staff expressed strong concerns about the continuing emissions from the refinery. According to a [CBS News story](https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/martinez-refinery-fire-report-inadequate-training-contractors/), County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, who represents the unincorporated area where the refinery is located, called for a full audit of the facility. Supervisor Scales-Preston said she was working to find answers to how the fire was caused and how future fires and emissions could be prevented.
After an investigation, human error by two refinery contract workers was determined to be the cause of the fire. According to KQED, the workers were found to have loosened the wrong flange on the wrong side of an isolation unit, causing an ignition from the release of flammable hydrocarbon material. Inadequate training and supervision of the workers was determined to be the cause of the fire.
## Other Recent Toxic Emissions
Between 2018 and 2022, BAAD fined the Martinez refinery $5 million for multiple air quality violations, mostly for flaring rather than processing vapors and gases, including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and particulate matter. The State Water Resources Control Board also fined the refinery $4.5 million for discharging millions of gallons of wastewater into the nearby marshes in 2022 and 2023.
Additionally, on Thanksgiving Day, in November 2022, the refinery released about 20 tons of toxic spent-catalyst metallic dust onto the surrounding community. After belatedly warning residents that the dust was dangerous, the refinery advised them not to grow or eat crops in the soil where the dust had fallen. Six months later, a toxicologist hired by the [county determined](https://www.cchealth.org/Home/Components/News/News/682/415) that the release did not “increase exposure of hazardous metals in local soils,” as the quantities of hazardous metals where the dust fell were within the range of quantities found throughout the state.
## Toxic Metals in Our Soil
This raises but does not answer questions about the safety of local soil for agriculture or home gardening. A related Contra Costa County health [press release](https://www.cchealth.org/Home/Components/News/News/682/415) states that “the soil testing did underscore that **metals in the ground are a fact of life in developed areas like Contra Costa** with heavy industry and agriculture.”
The release further states that metals found in the samples tested included lead and arsenic, but indicated that the amounts were no higher than in soil areas not involved in the refinery release. The county states that “**there is no absolute safe amount of arsenic that humans and animals can ingest**,” but said most edible plants don’t absorb enough to be a “health concern.” County Health Officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli said in that press release that if people are concerned about toxic metals in their soil, they can use clean, store-bought soil to grow food in their yards.
## Get Involved for Cleaner Air in Martinez
Want to get involved in promoting cleaner air in Martinez? Martinez residents face shelter-in-place orders with unnerving frequency. Three ways you can act:
- **Learn more** about the history of emissions from the Martinez Refinery, and stay up to date about current monitoring measures, at the city’s [Martinez Refining Company Oversight Webpage](https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safety-information/hazmat-programs/martinez-refining-company-oversight).
- **Get information** about [Healthy Martinez](https://www.healthymartinez.org/), a local grassroots refinery accountability group.
- **Join 350 Contra Costa Action** (350 CCA) in pursuing clean air and soil in Martinez. [Volunteer with us](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/). We have many roles for concerned citizens. And if you’re ready for a deep dive, become a 350 CCA Martinez [city liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/).
[ Become A 350 CCA Martinez City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
Published Feb. 15, 2026
Image credit: Christine Stevens
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Martinez Refinery
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action
February 2026 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-february-2026-newsletter/)
**Published:** February 6, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Benicia Refinery Closure & Fines Updates, Protect Brentwood from Drilling; Help Protect Clean Air in the Bay Area; Walnut Creek Banning Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers, and California Cliamte Policy Summit 2026.
**Content:**
### February 2026 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Benicia Refinery Closure, Updates About Fines**
Residents and city officials in Benicia are raising important questions as Valero’s Benicia Refinery is slated to close in April 2026. So far, the city has received limited information about what comes next. What is known is that the site is expected to continue operating as a fuel import and storage facility (“tank farm”), with refined gasoline brought in, stored, and distributed from existing tanks.
At the same time, there has been a significant development around fine funds tied to the refinery’s long history of air pollution. In January, the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) approved revised guidelines that make it easier for Benicia to access its share of the $82 million in penalties assessed to Valero. Under the new rules, Benicia can apply directly for up to $40 million, without needing to partner with a nonprofit, a change city officials say will help them respond more quickly to a projected $10 million annual budget shortfall once refinery tax revenues decline.
The Air District is distributing about $60 million total to impacted communities. While Benicia can independently apply for part of that funding, the remaining funds will still require partnerships with nonprofit organizations and must be used for health and environmental purposes, subject to Air District approval. Potential uses discussed by city leaders include electric city vehicles, charging infrastructure, and incentives for residents to replace gas appliances with cleaner electric options.
Despite this progress, many questions remain. City officials have expressed concern about safety risks associated with storing refined gasoline, how long fuel imports will continue, how the site will eventually be dismantled, and whether long-term fuel storage could limit future reuse of the property.
The good news: there is still time for community input. As Benicia begins conversations about how these funds should be spent, residents are encouraged to engage early and share priorities that support health, safety, and a cleaner energy future.
**[Read the full blog here for more details and ongoing updates](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-refinery-closure-updates-about-fines/).**
## **Protect Brentwood from Drilling: Close County Plan Loopholes**
In 2024, the City of Brentwood took an important step by banning new oil and gas drilling within city limits (94513). This matters in a fast-growing community where homes, schools, and hospitals are close to areas targeted by oil and gas developers, and where wildfire smoke and poor air quality already affect daily life.
But the work isn’t finished. Loopholes in the Contra Costa County General Plan could still allow drilling just outside Brentwood’s city boundaries, on nearby unincorporated land. And pollution doesn’t stop at a city line. Air emissions, truck traffic, noise, spill risks, and groundwater impacts can all drift back into Brentwood neighborhoods.
One key tool in this conversation is the Urban Limit Line (ULL), a voter-approved boundary that helps limit sprawl and protect open space. The ULL is up for renewal on the June primary ballot, and updated boundaries would better align with city limits. That’s important progress, but the ULL alone won’t fully protect Brentwood. Stronger county-level land-use rules are still needed to prevent drilling near homes, schools, and water sources.
Why this matters:
- Health impacts: Oil and gas drilling releases pollutants that worsen asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
- Safety risks: Refined fuels, heavy truck traffic, spills, and noise can affect nearby neighborhoods.
- County loopholes: City bans don’t automatically apply to unincorporated land, and current county rules still allow “exploratory” drilling and insufficient setback distances.
### What You Can Do
There is still time to act, and community voices matter.
**Here’s how to get involved:**
- Email your County Supervisor (include your zip code, especially 94513) and ask for updates to the General Plan that:
- Close loopholes allowing drilling on unincorporated land near cities
- Increase setback distances based on health science
- Align county land-use rules with city drilling bans
- Support renewal of the Urban Limit Line on the June ballot.
- Share your story, whether it’s a concern about air quality, school routes, wildfire smoke, or water safety.
- Stay connected with 350 Contra Costa Action for updates, hearings, and ways to speak up together.
A city ban is a strong start, but county policies must back it up. Protecting Brentwood means closing the gaps that still put families at risk.
[**Read the full article and take action here**](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-brentwood-from-drilling-close-county-plan-loopholes/).
## **Help Protect Clean Air In The Bay Area**
In 2023, the Bay Area Air District adopted strong, science-based standards to reduce dangerous air pollution from fossil fuel appliances in homes and buildings. These rules, Regulation 9, Rules 9-4 and 9-6, set zero nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission limits for new appliances, taking effect in 2027 for water heaters and 2029 for furnaces.
These protections matter. Pollution from gas appliances contributes to asthma, heart disease, and other serious health problems, especially for children, seniors, and communities already overburdened by poor air quality.
As the implementation dates approach, the Air District is considering common-sense updates to ensure the rules work for everyone, including reasonable protections for low-income households. Unfortunately, the gas industry and its allies are using this reopening as an opportunity to try to weaken or roll back the rules altogether.
### **We Need Your Voice**
We’re asking residents to speak up and urge Air District Board members to:
- Protect the core purpose of the rules, cutting harmful air and climate pollution
- Support targeted, practical amendments that help households transition without undermining public health
- Reject attempts to delay or dismantle these life-saving standards
### **Take Action, It’s Easy**
If you haven’t already signed the petition, use the link to send a letter to your Air District Board representative. You can personalize it, or send it as-is.
**Add your name to the BACA petition and send a letter today** **[Contra Costa County link here](https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-zero-emission-appliance-standards-via-rules-9-4-and-9-6-cc?source=direct_link&)**
[**Alameda County link here**](https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-zero-emission-appliance-standards-via-rules-9-4-and-9-6-al?source=direct_link&)
Clean air standards save lives. Let’s make sure the board stays strong.
## **Walnut Creek to Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Starting April 1**
Starting April 1, the City of Walnut Creek will ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, marking an important step toward cleaner air and quieter neighborhoods.
Gas leaf blowers are a significant source of local air pollution, emitting smog-forming pollutants and fine particles that can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions. They’re also loud, disruptive, and often affect the people who use them and those living nearby, especially children, seniors, and outdoor workers.
The new policy was approved by the City Council in November and will soon be reflected in the municipal code. A summary of the ordinance is already available on the City’s Leaf Blower webpage, with more detailed information to be added when the ban takes effect.
This is a smart, practical example of local action making a real difference. Electric alternatives are widely available, quieter, and far less polluting, and city policies like this help speed the transition.
We’d love to see other Contra Costa County cities follow Walnut Creek’s lead by phasing out gas-powered equipment and prioritizing clean air, public health, and community well-being. If you want to help by joining a campaign in your city, reach out to us at **,** and let us know which city you live in, and we will get back to you.
[**Learn more on the City’s Leaf Blower page: walnutcreekca.gov/leafblowers**](https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/departments/e-c-o-sustainability/leaf-blowers).
## **Upcoming Event: California Climate Policy Summit 2026**
350 Contra Costa Climate Action is helping promote the fifth annual California Climate Policy Summit, hosted by The Climate Center, on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Sacramento.
At a time when federal climate progress is under attack, this summit brings together California leaders to focus on what’s next — and what’s possible. Elected officials, climate advocates, environmental justice leaders, scientists, business innovators, and policy experts will gather to share strategies that keep California moving forward on science-based climate solutions.
The summit is a chance to connect across sectors, learn how policymakers are accelerating the clean energy transition, and explore approaches that support healthier communities and a more affordable, resilient future for all Californians.
**For more information and to register: **
Thank you—
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta), [X](https://X.com/350CCAction), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/350ccaction.bsky.social)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Bay Area Clean Air (BACA), Brentwood drilling ban, CA Climate Summit, Contra Costa Drilling, leaf-blower ban, Valero refinery Benicia
---
### [Montezuma Carbon Hub: A dangerous distraction from real climate solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/)
**Published:** November 13, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** What is a Carbon Hub and why is the proposed Montezuma Carbon Hub bad for Contra Costa County?
**Content:**
These days, even the oil and gas industry admits that greenhouse gas emissions are a bad thing. It’s agreed—before our planet becomes uninhabitable, we need to stop insulating it with carbon dioxide (CO2) from our power plants, refineries, tailpipes and so on. Fortunately, safe, affordable, proven ways to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions already exist: solar and wind power. The fossil fuel industry is a dinosaur, and it’s time for that dinosaur to go extinct.
## Burning the stuff is not the only problem
The oil and gas companies, fighting to survive, are staking everything on Carbon Capture and Storage, or CCS. It’s okay to keep burning fossil fuels, they say—we’ll just grab the emissions and stick them far underground. CCS enables them to continue their business as usual while claiming it’s safe for the planet—the ultimate green-washing scam.
The whole process of extracting, transporting, and refining fossil fuels requires vast amounts of energy and does horrific damage to the environment—burning the coal, oil, and gas is just part of the problem. And these fossil fuels aren’t a sustainable energy source; Nature needed millions of years to produce the petroleum, and there’s only so much.
CCS is basically more of this unsustainable, destructive technology: more drilling, more pipelines, more ecosystem degradation. And it doesn’t even work! Despite decades of development and billions of dollars of investment, CCS has [proven consistently](https://ieefa.org/resources/carbon-capture-crux-lessons-learned) to be ineffective, unsafe, economically unsound, and unnecessary. We prefer to call it Carbon Waste Dumping.
## Carbon Waste Dumping in the Bay Area: Montezuma Carbon Hub
The proposed Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub (aka Carbon Hub) would drill a huge injection well under wetlands in southern Solano County, across Suisun Bay from Pittsburg. Carbon dioxide from oil refineries and power plants in Contra Costa and Solano would be collected and transported to the wetlands by barge and pipeline.
This project, one of more than twenty Carbon Waste Dumping projects currently proposed in California, poses serious risks to public health and wildlife. And it would perpetuate environmental injustice in our frontline communities.
## Risking catastrophe
Before carbon dioxide can be transported and injected into a well, it must be compressed into a very cold liquid. When this liquid CO2 leaks into the air, it turns back into gas and spreads quickly, remaining low because it’s heavier than the air.
This dense cloud asphyxiates humans and animals, and it disables all gas-powered cars and trucks.
CO2 pipelines are especially difficult to build and protect against leaks; any tiny amount of water in the pipeline creates a corrosive acid that leads to long “zipper” fractures.
In 2020, a [CO2 pipeline leaked](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gassing-satartia-mississippi-co2-pipeline_n_60ddea9fe4b0ddef8b0ddc8f) into the small town of Sartartia, Mississippi. More than 300 people were evacuated, and 45 were hospitalized. Townspeople were found unconscious, foaming at the mouth, or roaming around like zombies. Many still suffer from long-term health consequences of the disaster.
Here in earthquake-prone California especially, CO2 pipelines are simply too big a risk.
## Few or no safety regulations in place
Across the country, CO2 pipelines are un- or under-regulated. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is working on a regulatory overhaul, but those regulations are still several years away. California currently has no regulations governing how CO2 is moved in pipelines. The state has even imposed a partial moratorium on building new CO2 pipelines until the federal rulemaking is complete.
Lifting the moratorium before that time could lead to a rapid, dangerous buildout of pipelines across California.
## Environmental injustice
Across the country and in California, big polluters have sited their refineries and power plants in lower-income areas; as a result, these frontline communities are disproportionately suffering the health and environmental consequences of air pollution.
Now, heavily subsidized by federal and state incentive programs, the fossil fuel industry is investing in carbon dumping projects. Public funds are being used to prop up fossil fuel companies so they can continue harming these same vulnerable communities. Instead, these funds should go to phasing out the polluting facilities and cleaning up the land they sit on.
With federal tax incentives for dumping carbon waste, the Montezuma Carbon Hub would enable facilities that have polluted local communities for decades—such as the PG&E power plant near Antioch—to continue polluting for decades to come.
Montezuma Wetlands LLC is hoping that affected communities in Contra Costa and Solano won’t fight Carbon Waste Dumping. But when they find out about the real dangers involved, these communities will fight for the real climate solution: a just transition to renewable energy sources.
## Threats to biodiversity
The Montezuma Wetlands are supposed to restore 1800 acres of tidal wetlands in the Delta ecosystem and protect threatened and endangered species including the salt marsh harvest mouse, salmonids, Delta and longfin smelt, and the California least tern. Drilling injection wells and building pipelines in and through this critical habitat is no way to protect these species.
Of course, any leak in the proposed 45 miles of pipelines along the Bay could asphyxiate wildlife as well as humans.
## Pivoting to real climate solutions
According to the [United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change](https://www.ipcc.ch/), CCS is unnecessary as a climate solution.
We know what the real solutions are. We need to end this era of fossil fuels for good and ensure all communities are healthy and thriving. The billions now being pumped into Carbon Waste Dumping should instead go to cleaning up the mess the industry has left behind—and to building out a clean, renewable energy system that works for everyone.
## How we can stop this project
Currently, the Montezuma Carbon Hub project developers are applying to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 9 for a permit to drill an injection well, which they would use to dump the carbon pumped in from nearby facilities.
The EPA has the power to deny permits for this dangerous project. They will probably hold public hearings where we can testify about our concerns and urge them to do so. The project cannot move forward without the EPA permit, so it’s vitally important that they hear from as many community members as possible.
What’s more, stopping this Bay Area project is not all that’s needed. Nearly two dozen Carbon Waste Dumping projects are being proposed across the state, especially in frontline communities in the Central Valley. If we successfully stop the project in the Bay Area, we must also ensure it isn’t simply moved along and developed in those frontline communities instead.
## Get Involved
The wonderful folks at [Center for Biological Diversity](https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/) are coordinating the efforts of many local environmental groups, including 350 Contra Costa Action, to oppose the Montezuma Carbon Hub. To learn how you can get involved, please email us at . Together, we *can* shut down this project!
Pub: Nov 13, 2023; Rev: Feb 12, 2026
Image Credit: [Ferenc Tibodi](https://www.pexels.com/@tibodif/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-great-egret-standing-on-grass-near-body-of-water-2895673/)
**Categories:** Blog, Local Policy
**Tags:** Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Fossil fuels and our health
---
### [Benicia Refinery Closure, Updates About Fines](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-refinery-closure-updates-about-fines/)
**Published:** February 3, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Benicia’s city leaders and residents are concerned about the Valero refinery's closure, slated for April 2026, but city officials are optimistic about accessing $40 million from recent air quality fines to address the budget shortfall.
**Content:**
Residents and city officials in Benicia are asking questions and voicing serious concern about the upcoming Benicia Refinery closure and disbursement of fine funds. Valero Benicia is slated for closure in April of 2026. City officials are getting little information about the future of the site except that, for the present, refined gasoline will be imported to and distributed from some of the refinery tanks.
However, Benicia officials are optimistic after the [Bay Area Air District (BAAD) voted January 28](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/communications-and-outreach/publications/news-releases/2026/cio_260129_2026_006-pdf.pdf?rev=9a2886f86d77416cb7bdf48dd6a07b98&sc_lang=en) to make it easier for the city to access its share of the $82 million in fines recently assessed to the refinery. Under new revised BAAD guidelines, Benicia can by itself apply for $40 million without involving non-profit organizations, as the original guidelines had proposed. City officials say they need tine money to help stem the approximately $10 million annual operating budget shortfall that will come with the steep drop in tax revenues from Valero’s closing.
## Details of Valero Refinery Fine Distribution
The Air District assessed Valero $82 million for continued air pollution over a recent 15-year period, and BAAD is disbursing about $60 million to affected communities. Benicia city officials said the application guidelines as originally proposed—including non-profit collaboration required to access the $40 million portion earmarked for Benica—would have hampered and delayed the application process. According to the new guidelines, Benicia and some nearby communities still will need to partner with non-profit organizations to access the remaining $20 million, and some of that $20 million will go solely to non-profits.
All applications still have to meet BAAD guidelines requiring that the money be spent generally for health and environmental uses and will have to be approved by the Air District. It remains unclear whether uses such as parks would qualify. Speaking at a recent Progressive Democrats of Benicia meeting, Mayor Steve Young said health and environmental improvements could take many forms, including:
- Electric police vehicles
- More charging stations
- Incentives for residents to swap gas furnaces and water heaters for healthier electric appliances
He also mentioned the possibility of a city electric utility as the nearby city of Pittsburg has, but noted that all of this is very preliminary.
BAAD officials have stated that if the following cities and areas partner with non-profits, they may be eligible for a portion of the remaining $20 million. These cities include Martinez, Vallejo, Benicia, Pittsburg, Concord, and Crockett, as well as unincorporated areas such as Vine Hill, Mountain View, Pacheco, and Clyde. Non-profits located in these regions can apply as well.
## Benicia Displeased with ‘Tank Farm’ Status
The mayor also confirmed that Benicia will likely become a “tank farm” with Valero continuing to import, store and distribute already-refined gasoline at the facility. State and Valero officials reached agreement to do this amid concern by Governor Gavin Newsom and others that gasoline prices could rise steeply when Valero closes.
The refinery currently supplies about 10 percent of the gasoline California uses, according to Valero figures. Young said it does not appear that the city has much if any choice about the tank farm, which would produce a small fraction of the current refinery’s tax revenues for the city.
## Safety, Economic Questions Unanswered
Mayor Young noted that serious unanswered questions include:
- The duration of the gasoline imports
- The fact that refined gasoline is more flammable and dangerous to store in tanks than the crude oil they are currently used for
- How and when parts of the refinery apparatus will be dismantled
- The financial and environmental issues resulting from possible inability to use the site for other purposes if the import depot remains long-term
## The Good News: There’s Time to Get Involved!
We urge Benicia residents to get involved and make their voices heard when Benicia officials seek community input about how the Air District fines could be spent. Start talking now to local officials about your environmental wish lists. And watch for updates in the 350 Contra Costa [newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/) and [blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/blog/).
Published Feb. 3, 2026
Image credit: Christine Stevens
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Bay Area Air District (BAAD), Benicia CA, Valero refinery Benicia
---
### [East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project Moving Forward](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)
**Published:** October 28, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** 350 Contra Costa is helping Pittsburg and Antioch families create healthier, all-electric homes through the East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project. This effort improves air quality, saves energy, and opens doors to good local clean-energy jobs—building a stronger, more equitable East Bay.
**Content:**
350 Contra Costa is helping lead the way toward a healthier, more equitable East Bay. We recently took a significant step to promote an equitable transition from natural gas to clean electric heat pumps for income-qualified homeowners in Pittsburg and Antioch, convening local nonprofits into the new East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Collaborative.
The collaborative, funded by California Jobs First through the **[Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative Program](https://www.siliconvalleyonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/jay.pdf)** (pdf), plans a large-scale home electrification and retrofit initiative. This project aims to enhance comfort, safety, and energy efficiency, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also create pathways for residents to access career opportunities in clean-energy construction and building electrification.
Collaborative partners include GRID Alternatives, CocoKids, Healthy and Active Before 5, Lift Up Contra Costa, and Open Opportunities. Another partner, RCF Connects, serves as the fiscal and administrative lead for the project.
## Reducing Dangerous Air Pollution
Across the Bay Area, homes now produce more nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter than passenger vehicles. Studies link these pollutants to premature deaths, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma. The East Contra Costa Healthy Homes project will tackle these dangers by helping residents reduce pollution. We will accomplish this through energy-efficient retrofits and weatherization. Additionally, we will focus on installing high-efficiency, all-electric appliances. These may include heat-pump HVAC systems, electric water heaters, and solar with battery storage where feasible.
A priority focus will be on home-based child care providers, ensuring cleaner air and greater comfort for both caregivers and the children they serve.
## Electrification Equals Environmental Resilience
Gas-burning appliances—such as stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and dryers—release harmful emissions outdoors and degrade indoor air quality. Studies show that **[gas stoves contribute to roughly 12.7% of childhood asthma cases](https://rmi.org/insight/population-attributable-fraction-of-gas-stoves-and-childhood-asthma-in-the-united-states/)** in the U.S. According to 2022 data from SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association), **[nitrogen oxide and particulate pollution from gas-using buildings is four times higher](https://www.spur.org/sites/default/files/Gas%20appliances%20and%20Smog%20(NOx%20Report).pdf)** (pdf) than that produced by the state’s electric power generation.
To meet California’s climate goals and cut greenhouse gas emissions, we must transition away from natural gas and invest in clean, all-electric buildings.
## Healthy Jobs: A Just Transition
The Healthy Homes Collaborative is equally focused on building a clean-energy workforce in East Contra Costa. The initiative aims to expand job training programs for women, youth, people of color, and formerly incarcerated residents. It will prepare them for well-paid work in heat pump installation, home electrification, and other climate-friendly construction careers.
## Current Progress
The East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project is now in its information-gathering phase, actively seeking input from you, our residents, community organizations, and other stakeholders. Your insights are crucial in making the program as impactful as possible.
If you live in Pittsburg and Antioch and you are interested in helping with this project please reach out to us at .
Stay tuned for updates on this vital effort and other ways 350 Contra Costa is working to improve air quality and advance climate justice. Together we can build a cleaner, healthier future for every household in our community.
Published Oct 28, 2025
Image courtesy East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project
**Categories:** Environmental Justice
**Tags:** Building Electrification, East Contra Costa Healthy Homes, Gas Stove emissions, Heat Pump Water Heaters
---
### [350 CCA Volunteer Lou Flores: Energizing Change for the Climate](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-cca-volunteer-lou-flores-energizing-change-for-the-climate/)
**Published:** November 13, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** An email, a meeting, and a word sparked 350 CCA volunteer Lou Flores to take action for local climate change. “What’s really neat about this work,” he says, “is that you connect with people, and it leads to another, and then another. … If you have a little time, give a little. If you have more, give more. You start out slow; every little bit counts.”
**Content:**
## Retirement? Not for Lou!
**How one “retired” teacher turned his free time into full-time climate action**
When most people retire, they might slow down. Not 350 CCA volunteer Lou Flores. When Lou first retired he had a lot of energy that needed direction. He didn’t just want to build models or watch sports. He had dedicated his life to supporting others, first in a variety of non-profits and then as a Special Education teacher. He wanted to help—to continue making a difference in the world.
## Answering the Call to Action
**An email, a meeting, and the spark that ignited his passion**
“I must have gone to some event and put my name down,” he recalls. Whatever the reason, he got an email from 350CCCA inviting him to a meeting. It was the “Action” in the name that drew him in: “I wanted to do something,” he says, “not just talk about it.
And do something he did. He jumped in and started tabling with the [Communication Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/) right away. But when he didn’t feel like he knew what he was talking about, he joined the [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/), the [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/), and the [Leadership Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/leadership-team-meeting/2025-11-05/) to learn more.
“I just followed my nose,” he says, “getting involved in one thing and another.” He loves that he has been able to learn so much from so many different people. He marvels that “it’s amazing how everyone—heart and soul—is working to improve the situation, be it climate or environmental justice.”
## Learning, Leading, and Leaping In
**From tabling to team leadership—Lou’s unstoppable curiosity at work**
In the two years he’s been volunteering with 350 CCA, Lou has become what another volunteer described as “a real mover and shaker.” In addition to his work on the teams, Lou has collaborated with other environmental organizations and programs, often serving as a liaison between us and them: [350 Bay Area’s End Fossil Fuels Action Team](https://350bayareaaction.org/legislative), [CACTI](https://cacticoalition.org/) (Communities Against Carbon Transfer and Injection), the [Contra Costa HazMat Commission](https://www.cchealth.org/about-contra-costa-health/leadership/commissions-advisory-groups/hazardous-materials-commission), mobile air monitoring in Pittsburg with the [East Bay Air Coalition](https://sustainablecoco.org/cleanaircoalition/), [Urban Habitat](https://urbanhabitat.org/), the [Sierra Club Delta Chapter](https://www.sierraclub.org/louisiana), and others have been lucky enough to benefit from Lou’s boundless energy and enthusiasm for improving the climate and the lives of his neighbors.
## Lou’s Advice: Just Show Up!
**Real change can start with simple steps**
“What’s really neat about this work,” he says, “is you connect with people and it leads to another and leads to another. I’ve learned quite a bit, I feel like I kind of know what I’m talking about now.”
“If you’re questioning,” Lou advises, “just volunteer. The climate needs you and future generations need you.” And for those concerned about not having the energy or the knowledge that Lou demonstrates, he says, “If you have a little time, give a little. If you have more, give more. If you feel inadequate about not having knowledge, you start out slow. You learn a little here. You learn a little there. It’s ok. Like I’ve heard about certain jobs: 98 percent of the job is just to be there.”
## Inspired by Lou’s story?
[Become part of 350 Contra Costa Climate Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/) (350 CCA) today—because every moment and effort contributes to our communities and to the sustainability of life on our planet.
Published Nov 13, 2025
Image credit: Lucas Flores
**Categories:** Blog, Volunteer Spotlight
**Tags:** 350 CCA Volunteer
---
### [Virtual Power Plants and Microplastics: Tell Governor Newsom to Sign Now](https://350contracostaaction.org/virtual-power-plants-microplastics-tell-governor-newsom-to-sign-now/)
**Published:** September 29, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Two critical climate and public health bills regarding **virtual power plants** and **microplastics** are on Governor Newsom’s desk. **I****mmediate action is required**. Tell him to **sign these vital measures into law today**
### Overview of the Bills
#### [AB 823 – Microplastics](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB823) (Boerner)
This legislation bans the use of harmful microplastics as abrasives in personal care and cleaning products, and prohibits the use of plastic glitter in cosmetics.
- **Impact**: It would protect our oceans, soil, food, and bodies from millions of unnecessary plastic particles.
- Microplastics have been shown to damage DNA and disrupt gene activity in animals, increasing cancer risk.
- This bill builds on California’s microbead law with proven, low-cost enforcement, keeping California at the forefront of fighting plastic pollution.
#### [AB 740 – Virtual Power Plants](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB740) (Harabedian)
This bill requires a comprehensive plan to tap into the electricity stored in devices we already own—such as smart thermostats, electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and water heaters—and network them into **“virtual power plants.”**
- **Benefits**: This initiative would enhance the reliability of our electric grid and lower energy costs for all Californians.
- A recent **Gridlab/Kevala** study found that VPPs could save **$13.7 billion** through 2030 by reducing expensive peak demand.
- The bill has passed the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support; now, Governor Newsom must sign **it into law immediately**.
### Why Immediate Action is Necessary
Both bills are on Governor Newsom’s desk, and **we cannot afford to wait**. The decisions made today will have lasting impacts on our environment, public health, and energy costs. Your voice is crucial in urging the Governor to take swift action.
### How You Can Help
#### Tell Governor Newsom to Sign the Bills
Here are sample messages you can copy, paste, and personalize on his contact page. Please note that the page requires emails to discuss only a single bill.
**Subject: Urgent: Please Sign AB 823**
Dear Governor Newsom,
I urge you to **sign AB 823 immediately**. This bill will protect Californians and our environment by banning microplastics and plastic glitter in everyday products. With strong public support, it is a common-sense solution for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Please sign AB 823 without delay.
Thank you.
(Your Name)
#### Prefer to Call?
Here’s a quick script you can use. Call: **(916) 445-2841**
“Hello, my name is \[Your Name\], and I’m calling to urgently ask Governor Newsom to **sign AB 740** and **AB 823**. These bills will lower electricity costs, reduce pollution, and protect Californians from harmful microplastics. Please sign both into law immediately. Thank you.”
**Subject: Urgent: Please Sign AB 740**
Dear Governor Newsom,
I urge you to **sign AB 740 immediately**. This bill will enhance grid reliability, reduce pollution, and save billions in energy costs by accelerating the adoption of virtual power plants. With strong public support, it is a common-sense, low-cost solution for a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable future.
Please sign AB 740 without delay.
Thank you.
(Your Name)
### Act Now: Make the Call, Send the Emails
The bills are on the governor’s desk. Call or email his office today. By urging Governor Newsom to sign these bills, we can make a significant impact on California’s future. Together, we can help create a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.
Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Pub. Sep 29, 2025
Image credit: [Alexander Grey](https://www.pexels.com/@mccutcheon/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/pink-and-silver-glitter-textile-5922574/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** AB 740: Virtual Power Plants, AB 823: Microplastics
---
### [December 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** December 17, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Gratitude for our community, volunteer spotlight—Lou Flores—Climate Superfund Update, and our 2025 core focus: Building Electrification
**Content:**
### December 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
As we reach the end of the year, many of our communities are navigating uncertainty and real challenges. Rising costs, extreme weather, and uncertainty have taken a toll on us all. It’s also been hard to watch climate science come under renewed attack and see progress made under the Inflation Reduction Act increasingly targeted.
Even so, this work continues, grounded in science, lived experience, and real results. We see it in neighbors organizing for cleaner air, in families choosing healthier energy options, and in local leaders and advocates who keep showing up for climate solutions that protect people and communities.
As we reflect on the year, we do so with honesty about the challenges ahead, deep gratitude for everyone carrying this work forward, and determination to keep building a healthier, more sustainable future together.
## **With Gratitude for Our Community**
None of this happens without volunteers, advocates, and community members who give their time and energy to make change possible. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who shows up, consistently and with heart, for our climate and our communities. One of those people is Lou Flores.
### **Volunteer Spotlight: Lou Flores**
Retirement didn’t slow Lou down, it gave him a new direction. A former Special Education teacher and longtime nonprofit supporter, Lou turned his “free time” into full-time climate action after joining 350 Contra Costa Climate Action.
Drawn by the desire to *do something*, Lou jumped in, tabling, learning, and quickly taking on leadership roles across multiple teams. Over the past two years, he’s become a trusted connector, working with local policy groups and environmental organizations across Contra Costa County. Lou often reminds us that real change starts by simply showing up. [**Read Lou’s full volunteer story here**](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-cca-volunteer-lou-flores-energizing-change-for-the-climate/).
## **Climate Superfund: Down, But Not Out**
California’s Climate Superfund bills **have stalled in the legislature**, but the movement behind them is far from over.
The Climate Superfund would require the largest fossil fuel polluters to help pay for the real costs of climate damage: wildfires, flooding, extreme heat, rising insurance premiums, and public-health impacts. Today, those costs are largely shouldered by taxpayers and communities, even as polluters continue to post record profits.
Despite fierce industry opposition, the bills generated unprecedented grassroots momentum and strong public support. Californians want solutions that address both the climate crisis and the cost-of-living crisis, and holding polluters accountable remains a powerful way to do both.
While this year’s bills may be stalled, the coalition behind the Climate Superfund is clear: the work continues. Climate action is an economic imperative, and we’ll stay engaged and ready as this effort moves forward. [**Read the full press release here**](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xauPKpaerFN2qNe0Wb6oNtlaoYrYK-IkXxopwiu4ym0/edit?tab=t.0).
## **Building Electrification: A Core Focus, Growing Momentum**
One of 350 CCA’s key focus areas this year has been building electrification, especially through our work on the [**East Contra Costa Healthy Homes**](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/) project. This work is about practical, people-centered solutions, reducing pollution in homes, lowering energy bills, and improving health, particularly in communities most impacted by fossil fuels.
Encouragingly, our local efforts are part of a much bigger shift. The Building Decarbonization Coalition’s [**2025 Wrapped: Building Decarb Edition**](https://buildingdecarb.org/2025-wrapped-decarb-edition) highlights growing momentum for electrification across California and beyond. Cities and states are updating building codes, supporting all-electric new construction, and making it easier for homeowners to switch to efficient electric systems like heat pumps when equipment needs replacing.
What’s especially promising is the role of local and city-level action, where smart policies, incentives, and community partnerships are turning electrification into a practical, affordable option for everyday households. That’s exactly the approach behind East Contra Costa Healthy Homes.
The takeaway is clear: building electrification is no longer a niche idea. It’s a proven pathway to healthier homes, lower bills, and more resilient communities, and Contra Costa County is part of that momentum.
[**Read the Building Decarbonization Coalition’s 2025 Wrapped blog here**](https://buildingdecarb.org/2025-wrapped-decarb-edition#building_code).
As we head into the new year, we’re grateful for everyone who shows up for our communities and our climate. Progress is built by people, neighbors, volunteers, and local leaders working together. Thank you for being part of the solution. We look forward to continuing to partner with you in the year ahead.
Thank you—
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta), [X](https://X.com/350CCAction), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/350ccaction.bsky.social)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 350 CCA Volunteer, Building Electrification, climate superfund
---
### [In Case of Emergency–Take Local Climate Action!](https://350contracostaaction.org/in-case-of-emergency-take-local-climate-action/)
**Published:** March 18, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Many of us feel a sense of urgency at the alarming actions of the Trump administration and the accelerating pace of climate change. We want to do something, but fear our individual actions are too little or too late. Every small step towards supporting democracy and fighting climate change matters. Learn how you can help protect your community and push for larger-scale change with 350 Contra Costa Action. Together, we can build a sustainable and just future.
**Content:**
Many of us feel a sense of urgency at the alarming actions of the Trump administration and the accelerating pace of climate change. We want to do something, but fear our individual actions are too little or too late. Every small step towards supporting democracy, fighting climate change, and working towards a more sustainable and equitable future matters. Now, in this climate emergency, acting at the local level is more critical than ever.
## How Local Action Combats Climate Change
Local climate action is powerful. By focusing on your community, you can help create long-term, sustainable change. Whether it’s organizing clean-up events, advocating for local policies, or joining environmental organizations, every action counts.
When people come together, it creates a ripple effect. Your efforts here can help push for larger-scale environmental action, making a difference both locally and globally.
## Act Now to Protect Our Contra Costa Communities
We have the power to create change in our communities. We can help slow the rate of climate destruction and address emerging climate emergencies. Every step we take towards a sustainable, just, and equitable future counts.
When we come together, we are stronger. That’s why joining a group like 350 Contra Costa Action is so important. You don’t have to fight alone. Whether you’re a seasoned activist or new to the cause, there is a place for you in our community.
We offer opportunities to get involved through volunteering, advocacy, and grassroots organizing—actions that are crucial in this critical time to reduce the impact of climate change in Contra Costa county.
## What You Can Do Today
Ready to take action? It’s easy to get started! Here’s how you can make a difference.
### **Volunteer**
Help with local clean-up efforts, tree planting, or community energy projects. Join a local Earth Day event this spring! Here are a few in the SF-Bay-Area to choose from:
- [Climate Action in Contra Costa ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-action-in-contra-costa-tickets-1231688676989) Thursday **March 20th** 6-8 pm Danville, Lynda Deschambault EPRPD
- [Sustainable Walnut Creek Earth Day Celebration](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-month-2025/), Saturday April 19th 11am-2pm Civic Park Walnut Creek, CA
- [El Cerrito Earth Day Celebration](https://www.el-cerrito.org/645/Earth-Day-Celebration#:~:text=The%20City%20encourages%20individuals%2C%20families,for%20their%20work%20party%20activity.)
- [Oakland Earth Day Saturday April 19th](https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/oakland-earth-day)
- [SF Earth Day at Yerba Buena Gardens April 19th](https://yerbabuenagardens.org/events/2025earthday/)
### Learn Together
- [Register](https://ecovote.zoom.us/meeting/register/9GwXbh8zRQerFEaWmGqMeQ#/registration) and attend the **March 20 In-district lobbying Training** for Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 & AB 1243).
- Attend the [Contra Costa Climate Circle](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/april-climate-circle-californias-electric-rates-are-too-high/), a Zoom discussion group for the climate concerned. Connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space, each month, the first Monday, from 12-1 pm. All are welcome.
### Advocate
- Send a [Letter to the Editor](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/) to your local newspaper urging support for climate-friendly policies.
- Become part of a [City Liaison team](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) for climate-forward legislation at the County or City level.
- [Register](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=cW2Zy9UBMDOxX750GPQSlzW03J7BPH4cGTwfaqoRtqSUkBA4h7ysziboeGSBAkBqjGRuBmeYs728Pn3jh_5_hDNSgDyZFoly_Pgvw3EPS1Q&e=c8f4a325d9daa6e2111a0ef2879094ab&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=march_2025_contra_costa&n=14) and meet with 350 Contra Costa members at the **CA Climate Policy Summit 2025** on Tuesday April 22nd in Sacramento. Catch a lobby training with Center for Biological Diversity on March 20.
- Join us at the **Sacramento Lobby Day** on April 23rd. [Register here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=cW2Zy9UBMDOxX750GPQSlzW03J7BPH4cGTwfaqoRtqSUkBA4h7ysziboeGSBAkBqUvo_R3t3TWhFgcHQC_40T3uQSgtYC-9D2As7btAceb4&e=c8f4a325d9daa6e2111a0ef2879094ab&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=march_2025_contra_costa&n=15). No experience necessary.
These last two are excellent events for an immersive experience in California Climate Policy. [Contact us ](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-us/contact-us/)to carpool or meetup in Sacramento.
### Speak Up
Push for policies in Contra Costa County and the state that support a sustainable, equitable future.
A great start: Support the **Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill (**[**SB 684**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=W6NhFzLjr250dMP0_BeTbGd757X2RhY0z_5IoH6bBlUXfF7IL-Zyduqiy3ajRUR_2oEVjHJnCMiaoOa2oSyPXprwRsebjkAm8my68NcB8IYWFFkCEkHm1QK0K7kN07dF&e=c8f4a325d9daa6e2111a0ef2879094ab&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=march_2025_contra_costa&n=2)**/** [**AB 1243**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=W6NhFzLjr250dMP0_BeTbGd757X2RhY0z_5IoH6bBlXDKuwBLW9spEndyqBt94T1rEvdD_YG0QLwUtsoDRKhAvgRVX2LgAM-ddtNDm4K7frOprROygOMYoVE_QM-jj7W&e=c8f4a325d9daa6e2111a0ef2879094ab&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=march_2025_contra_costa&n=3)**).** Urge state officials to hold corporate polluters accountable for climate disasters like the LA fires. Demand they pass a climate superfund bill. It’s simple: Fossil fuel polluters should pay for the climate damages their products inflict on California. [Contact your legislators using this easy link](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8zSQJRkUcpoelzBj3C9WKzWQVF-rNVSdhWnTbLyGcFpyIBRtMEjKlSoi5Nn3A8N7oAnlzDuKfq8MTU1tBG1qvA&e=c8f4a325d9daa6e2111a0ef2879094ab&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=march_2025_contra_costa&n=5).
### Educate
Share vital climate change information on social media to spread awareness. See [**Eight ways to make your climate change social media posts matter**](https://theconversation.com/eight-ways-to-make-your-climate-change-social-media-posts-matter-from-a-communication-expert-161026).
### Join a Group
Become part of the [350 Contra Costa Action Community](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/) and collaborate with others dedicated to climate action.
The choices we make today will shape the world of tomorrow. Every small step counts in creating a more sustainable and just future. Together, we can make a difference. Let’s get to work!
[ Join 350 Contra Costa Action ](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/#VolunteerForm)
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: Image Credit: [Jason Leung]() on [Unsplash](“https://unsplash.com/photos/red-emergency-pull-lever-N2JUQtT5i40?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash”)
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Local climate actions, Why Local Climate Action Matters
---
### [Ban Contra Costa Drilling: Protect Our Children’s Health---Sign the Petition Today](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)
**Published:** March 30, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Send a strong message to our Contra Costa County Planners and Supervisors: Protect our children’s health and ban Contra Costa Drilling. It’s time to stop new oil and gas permits and phase out existing drilling.
**Content:**
Send a strong message to our Contra Costa County Planners and Supervisors: Protect our children’s health and ban Contra Costa Drilling**.** It’s time to stop new oil and gas permits and phase out existing drilling**.**
[ Ban Contra Costa Oil & Gas Drilling | Sign the Petition ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-contra-costa/)
## Oil Wells Harm Our Children: Health Risks Near Oil Drilling Sites
Can you imagine your children facing lifelong breathing problems just because they live near an oil well?
Living close to oil and gas wells increases the chances our children will face serious health issues such as asthma and reduced lung capacity, which may lead to lifelong breathing problems, and even blood-related cancers like leukemia.
In their publication[ *Oil Wells Harm Communities*](https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/OILandGASHarmsFactSheetEdited.pdf), **Consumer Watchdog** cites several studies that highlight risks for children living near pollution-emitting oil and gas wells:
- **Leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma**—Higher risk for children and youth ages 5-24
- **Asthma, wheezing, and reduced lung function**—Reported in residents near fossil fuel drill sites
- **Premature birth**—Increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth, the leading cause of infant death in the U.S.
- **Low birth weight**—Babies born to mothers living near oil and gas wells are more likely to be underweight
- **Birth defects**—Conditions like spina bifida, anencephaly, and congenital heart defects are more common
- **Radioactive particles exposure**—Oil wells can release harmful radiation that deposits particles in the lungs
## Adults Aren’t Safe Either: The Hidden Dangers of Oil and Gas Wells
The chemicals, pollution, and radiation from oil and gas wells affect adults as well.
A 2019 study found that “oil and natural gas extraction emits pollutants associated with **cardiovascular disease**, the leading cause of mortality in the United States.”[ Read study](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935118306339?casa_token=KXD6qqTb2ikAAAAA:eDFgt5qscAqxwri1NS2oP20FUo2jgw97pGCTFKhh5XHlCI8DaI6PRcCIDy7I3te1jvRh8v4).
Our **mental health** also suffers when we live close to oil and gas drilling operations. Studies link environmental pollutants to increased rates of depression, anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders.[ Learn more](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cns-spectrums/article/abs/environmental-pollution-and-mental-health-a-narrative-review-of-literature/8897C57318452CEF109294F57B66FE18).
While these risks are unacceptable, other regions, and a few cities in Contra Costa have already taken steps to protect their residents. It’s time we protect our own.
## The Time to Ban Contra Costa Drilling is Now
We are lagging behind. In September 2021, the **Los Angeles County** Board of Supervisors voted to protect their citizens from the health risks of oil and gas drilling. Despite a long history of drilling, they chose to stand up for their people.
Closer to home, **Alameda County** acted swiftly, banning fracking in 2016 and revoking oil drilling permits in 2018—bringing an end to drilling operations there.
Here in Contra Costa County, Antioch and [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/brentwood-the-ban-continues/) are leading the way. Both have passed ordinances banning drilling. The cities of **Antioch**, **Brentwood**, **Richmond**, **Pinole** and **El Cerrito** all have [adopted resolutions and sent letters](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-campaign-to-stop-oil-drilling-in-contra-costa/) asking the county to ban drilling in unincorporated areas.
County planners are listening. In the new General Plan, just adopted before the beginning of the new year, they made a commitment to do a feasibility study and prepare a drilling ordinance. **We must keep up the pressure and make sure they follow through.**
## Sign–and share–the Petition to Ban Oil and Gas Drilling in Contra Costa
We owe it to our children, our families, and our communities to take action now. By signing this petition, you are standing up for the health and future of all who live in our county.
Tell our leaders to end oil and gas drilling:
- No new permits for oil or gas drilling
- Phase out existing drilling
- Provide support to **transition fossil fuel workers** to climate-friendly industries
Then **share the petition** with your community groups, clubs and organizations. Ask them to send it out to their mailing lists. We’ve got this! Sign and share.
[ Sign the Petition: No New Oil & Gas Drilling in Contra Costa! ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-contra-costa/)
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: [David Brown](https://www.pexels.com/@ninobur/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/machine-for-the-extraction-of-petroleum-18905774)
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Gas and Oil Drilling Bans, No drilling petition
---
### [Richmond Makes Chevron Pay](https://350contracostaaction.org/richmond-makes-chevron-pay/)
**Published:** September 10, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** The settlement calls for $50 million to be paid to Richmond per year for the first five years, rising to $60 million per year for the next five years.
**Content:**
## But Not With a Tax
Richmond makes Chevron pay through a settlement, rather than a tax. On August 14, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to approve a $550 million settlement with Chevron, to be paid out over the next ten years.
Back on June 18, [Richmond City Council had voted](https://350contracostaaction.org/richmond-tax-will-make-polluters-pay/) to put an excise tax targeting Chevron’s Richmond Refinery on the November ballot. If the Polluters Pay Initiative had passed—which seemed likely—it would have added $60 to $90 million per year to the city’s General Fund. Two grassroots groups, [Asian-Pacific Environmental Network Action](https://www.apenaction.org/) and [Communities for a Better Environment Action](https://www.cbecal.org/organizing/northern-california/richmond/), spearheaded the [Make Polluters Pay campaign](https://richmondpolluterspay.com/).
The settlement calls for $50 million to be paid to Richmond per year for the first five years, rising to $60 million per year for the next five years. In exchange, the council has voted to remove the tax initiative from the ballot. Read the details in [this article from the Richmond Progressive Alliance](https://www.richmondprogressivealliance.net/20240814_historic_win_for_make_polluters_pay_campaign).
Now, the campaign to make polluters pay will focus on making sure these funds are used to address the harms Chevron has caused and meet immediate needs of frontline communities—and to invest in a just transition that builds a future beyond oil for Richmond.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: [Bastique](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chevron_Richmond_Refinery_viewed_from_Mira_Vista_Field.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Make Polluters Pay
---
### [Richmond Make Polluters Pay](https://350contracostaaction.org/richmond-make-polluters-pay/)
**Published:** June 13, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Urgent Climate Action: Tell Richmond CA City Council--Put Polluters Pay on Nov. Ballot! RSVP Now to Rally/Council Mtg: Tue June 18 or Art-Build Sat June 15
**Content:**
## Tell Richmond City Council: Put the Polluters Pay Initiative on the November ballot!
On Tuesday, June 18th, Richmond City Council will vote on putting the **Polluters Pay Initiative** on the November ballot. If this initiative becomes law, it will be **great news** for the city!
The Polluters Pay Initiative is a refinery tax aimed at Chevron. Revenues, based on the amount of raw materials or “feedstock” that Chevron processes, could add 60 to 90 million dollars per year to the city’s General Fund. That will bring Richmond the resources it needs to clean up the water, provide health services, and begin to cover the costs ahead of a transition when the Chevron Refinery closes.
There’s no question that the refinery’s toxic emissions have had serious negative consequences for Richmond residents. Air pollution-related diseases—including chronic asthma, cancer, and heart disease—occur at higher rates in the surrounding neighborhoods than elsewhere. It’s only right to make polluters pay for the health problems they’ve caused.
Find out more about the Polluters Pay Initiative **[here](https://richmondpolluterspay.com/).**
## What Can You Do?
- Come to the rally/press conference, stay for the council meeting---and bring a friend!
Tuesday, June 18th, from 5 to 6pm
Richmond City Hall
440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond 94804
The City Council meeting will start at 6pm.
- Come to the Art Build
Join the Asian-Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) for a fun day of painting and community building!
Saturday, June 15th, from 11am to 2pm
RSYE Center
3939 Bissell Ave, Richmond 94805
## To let the organizers know you’re coming to either event, please **[RSVP here.](https://actionnetwork.org/events/june-18-make-polluters-pay-rally-and-council-vote?source=email&)**
Add your voice—it’s time to **make polluters pay!**
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Image Credit: Ava Jackson
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Polluters Pay Initiative, Refinery Tax
---
### [Everything We Burn We Breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 Has an App for That](https://350contracostaaction.org/everything-we-burn-we-breathe-clean-air-week-2025/)
**Published:** September 14, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Everything we burn, we breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 invites you to explore solutions for eliminating fossil gas pollution from our homes. Join us for informative webinars on air quality, electrification, and the launch of the Natural Gas Quitline. Everyone's voice matters in creating a cleaner, healthier future—let's breathe easier together!
**Content:**
Well, not an app. Solutions! Steps each of us can take to breathe easier in our homes and embrace a cleaner, healthier future. Clean Air Week 2025 is all about ways we can purge fossil gas pollution from our homes, because it’s true: *Everything we burn, we breathe*. The “natural” gas we burn in our kitchen ranges, clothes dryers, and furnaces is [making us sick](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/p/benzene-the-toxic-chemical-in-both).
Ah, but you’re a renter? You’re in luck. [Electrify Now and its Clean Air Week 2025 partners](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/) offer solutions for everyone, including renters. *Yes!* Plus, your participation is crucial in a national conversation about the future of our air—all happening **September 21-27**. Everyone’s voice matters in this discussion.
## Ready? Learn How to Clear the (Home) Air During Clean Air Week 2025
From steps you can take right away to begin clearing the air at home, to why we need to do it, to the latest in policy development, there’s a webinar for that during Clean Air Week. Follow the links to register and join live!
- [**The Dangers of Burning Gas in the Home**](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/p/the-dangers-of-burning-gas-in-the)
September 22, 2025, 12:00 PM Pacific“In some ways, burning gas in your home can be as dangerous as secondhand smoke.” Learn what’s at stake for your family’s health and the best steps to protect yourselves.
- [**Home Air Filtration**](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/p/home-air-filtration)
September 23, 2025, 10:00 AM PacificHow to use and understand home air filtration systems to improve the indoor air in your home and protect your family from common pollutants.
- [Home Air Quality Monitors](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/p/home-air-quality-monitors)
September 24, 2025, 10:00 AM Pacific
Do we need home air quality monitors? The short answer: Yes. Electrify Now’s expert Brian Stewart explains why we need them, how to choose the right ones, and how to get the most from them.
- [**Electrify 101**](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/p/electrify-101)
September 25, 2025, at 12:00 PM PacificWhether you’re a renter or a homeowner, learn how to electrify your home with safer, more efficient, cleaner appliances.
- [**Decarb Policy Panel**](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/p/virtual-expert-panel-policy-pathways)
September 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM Pacific
- What’s happening in the courts
- Ongoing challenges
- Visions, concerns, predictions for the next 5-20 years
- Which policymakers (government, energy companies, local advocates) are accelerating or obstructing progress
But wait, there’s more!
## Need Help Getting Off Gas? Call the Free *Quitline*!
Electrify Now and its partners are launching a [Natural Gas Quitline](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/p/need-help-getting-off-gas-call-the)—a hotline you can call to talk to an expert who can answer all your questions and help you decide where to start cutting fossil gas from your lives and letting the fresh air in.
## Dive Deeper, Learn More About Home Electrification
Ready for a deeper dive into eliminating fossil gas and upgrading electrification in homes and commercial buildings on a local level? Visit our [Building Electrification](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub#BuildingElectrification) article series and watch our video, [Making the Switch to Electric Appliances](https://youtu.be/gz_QMKQJQEg). These resources provide information and practical tips for those who want to take their commitment to clean air to the next level.
Pub. September 14, 2025
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: [Clean Air Week 2025](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/s/shareable-graphics), used with permission
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Clean Air Week 2025
---
### [Make the switch to HEAT PUMPS! Here’s why](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-the-switch-to-heat-pumps-heres-why/)
**Published:** June 13, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Make the switch to heat pumps! Enjoy cleaner air, lower energy costs, and a smaller carbon footprint while keeping your family safe and healthy.
**Content:**
## Keep your family healthy and safe
- Gas appliances release carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and other harmful pollutants into your community’s air. Heat pumps emit ZERO pollutants.
- If your home has an older gas furnace or water heater, those pollutants may be leaking into your living spaces! With heat pumps, no worries about gas leaks, especially during earthquakes!
## Shrink your carbon footprint
Combined, your gas furnace and AC make up about **47 percent** of your home’s total energy use. Your gas water heater uses another **14 to18 percent.**
When you replace those gas-burning, polluting appliances with heat pumps, you radically reduce your carbon footprint!
## Save money
- Heat pumps are super energy-efficient! According to PG&E, residential customers can save up to **$78 a month** by switching from gas to heat pump technology.
- Electric heat pumps heat *and* cool your home. Depending on your current furnace and AC system, you could [save $375-$1,000 per year](https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/articles/heating-and-cooling/heat-pump-savings) switching from a gas furnace and a separate AC unit to a heat pump.
- Many rebates and cost-saving incentives are available. [Quit Carbon](https://www.quitcarbon.com/), [The Switch is On](https://www.switchison.org/ca), or your contractor will have all the info.
 Concord Vice Mayor Laura Nakamura is delighted with her heat pump water heater
Photo by Greg Colley, used with permission.
## Plan ahead
The moment your gas appliance conks out is no time to start looking into alternatives. Be ready.
- If your furnace is more than 13 years old, the time to plan is now. Furnaces can last up to 20 years, but many don’t. Don’t wait until that furnace firebox cracks, allowing deadly CO2 into your home!
- If your water heater is more than 8 years old, look into replacing it. Most don’t last more than 10 years. Don’t wait until the tank cracks, causing a costly leak!
## Free resources
Find all you need to know in these:
- [A Guide to Home Electrification](https://www.pge.com/assets/pge/docs/account/rate-plans/guide-to-home-electrification.pdf) from PG&E
- [A Pocket Guide to All-Electric Retrofits of Single-Family Homes](https://www.redwoodenergy.net/research/a-pocket-guide-to-all-electric-retrofits-of-single-family-homes) from [Redwood Energy](https://www.redwoodenergy.net/).
- [A Homebuyer’s Guide to All-Electric Living in a Newly Built Home](https://www.switchison.org/all-electric-homes?utm_campaign=4566404-SIO%20Consumer%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8BiAEdofc5S2BQ4GcU5eILJW-WUFJ6NjsjKKPIcbMW_deK8_q1JaOKwl3x8FybZ5FhKjCukPUKXC1-O9mF7bnm-x_NxA&_hsmi=357235851&utm_content=357235849&utm_source=hs_email) from [The Switch Is On](https://www.switchison.org/ca)
Explore products, incentives, and contractors at [The Switch is On](https://www.switchison.org/ca).
Get free, personalized, expert guidance and contractor referrals from [Quit Carbon](http://quitcarbon.com/).
Get a good deal on a home energy improvement loan with [Go Green Financing](https://www.gogreenfinancing.com/energy-efficiency-home-loans-california/).
## How heat pumps work
To learn about space heating and cooling, see [How Heat Pumps Work in the Summer and Winter](https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/articles/heating-and-cooling/how-do-heat-pumps-work) at Rewiring America.
To learn about water heaters, see PG&E’s [Buyer’s Guide to Heat Pump Water Heaters](https://www.pge.com/assets/pge/docs/clean-energy/building-electrification/heat-pump-water-heater-guide.pdf).
Author: Emily Wheeler
Graphic credit: Emily Wheeler, used with permission
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Heat Pump Water Heaters
---
### [Big Wins for Contra Costa: Polluter Penalties & AB-1465](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)
**Published:** December 11, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Big wins for Contra Costa! AB-1465 and major polluter settlements are holding Chevron and Valero accountable. Cleaner air and healthier communities start now—join the fight!
**Content:**
## We’re making polluters pay in Contra Costa County and California!
Celebrate with us! Two big wins for Contra Costa—polluter penalties and AB-1465! Local environmental justice activists and climate-astute legislators are driving meaningful change to hold polluters accountable. Activists had a direct impact on settlements against heavy polluters in Richmond and Benicia, while climate-concerned legislators, whom activists helped elect, then lobbied, sponsored and passed AB-1465—making polluters pay.
[ Help Hold Polluters Accountable ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/)
## AB-1465: A Win for California and Contra Costa County
California has taken a bold step toward environmental justice by enacting [AB-1465](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1465). This new law targets communities, such as Richmond and Martinez, which are burdened by air pollution, while holding polluters accountable.
Key highlights of **AB-1465 air pollution penalties**:
- **Stronger penalties**: Triples fines for severe air quality violations
- **Targeted action**: Focuses on high-pollution areas
- **Accountability**: Ensures polluting industries face real consequences
This law is more than increased fines. It’s a call for lasting change. For communities in Contra Costa County, where oil refineries and oil wells remain significant sources of pollution, AB-1465 provides a critical tool to address these ongoing threats to health and safety. Communities near industrial facilities deserve protection. AB-1465 helps make that possible.
## Bay Area Polluters Face Major Penalties
Recent victories in the Bay Area show the power of community action. The first is the Richmond-Chevron settlement. The second, the multi-million dollar penalty Valero must pay for excessive emissions.
### Chevron Settlement in Richmond
In exchange for withdrawing a controversial tax measure, Chevron reached a [major settlement agreement ](https://350contracostaaction.org/richmond-makes-chevron-pay/)to pay the City of Richmond $550 million over ten years.
The settlement wins big for Richmond three ways:
- **Investment**: Richmond plans to fund millions in **community health initiatives** and environmental programs.
- **Deficit erased**: Richmond’s budget deficit was resolved through the settlement.
- **Community power**: Vice Mayor Claudia Jimenez credited activists for pushing Chevron to pay. “This is what people can do when we organize,” Vice Mayor Jimenez told the [RichmondSide](https://richmondside.org/2024/08/14/richmond-city-council-oks-chevron-settlement/).
### Valero Settlement in Benicia
The [Bay Area Air Quality Management District ](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/communications-and-outreach/publications/news-releases/2024/settle_valero_241031_2024_023-pdf)(BAAQMD) and the [California Air Resources Board](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/news/bay-area-air-district-and-carb-fine-valero-refining-co-82-million-air-quality-violations) (CARB) have announced an $82 million penalty for violations at Valero’s Benicia refinery dating from 2017 to 2022.
The largest penalty assessed in the Air District’s history, nearly $80 million of the fines will benefit directly communities most impacted by the factory’s emissions.
Projects financed will include:
- **Reducing** air pollution exposure
- **Mitigating** air pollution impacts
- **Improving** public health in areas surrounding the refinery
- **Fund** beneficial clean air projects in overburdened communities throughout the Bay Area
- **Offset** costs of investigating and prosecuting the case
These settlements send a strong message: Polluting companies must pay for their harm to public health and the environment.
## What’s Next for Environmental Justice in Contra Costa County and the State?
The recent victories against polluters in Contra Costa County and across the state lay the foundation for a cleaner, more equitable future. Moving forward, we will continue pushing local policymakers to ensure:
- **Polluters pay:** We will fight for tougher penalties to hold polluters accountable.
- **Community health matters:** We will demand that local investments tackle long-standing environmental injustices.
- **Stronger protections are in place:** We will keep up the momentum for more robust environmental policies.
## Hold Polluters Accountable: Join the Fight for Cleaner Air
The fight for environmental justice needs you! Get involved today and help make a difference in Contra Costa County:
- Volunteer your time
- Advocate for stronger policies
- Spread the word to hold polluters accountable
[**Sign Up Now**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/) and be part of the change. Together, we can protect our communities and the planet.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: 350 Contra Costa Action Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** 2024 CA Climate Legislation Passed, Benicia Refinery, Make Polluters Pay, Martinez Refinery, Richmond Refinery
---
### [Refineries Damage Contra Costa: 4 Ways to Fight Back](https://350contracostaaction.org/refineries-damage-contra-costa-4-ways-to-fight-back/)
**Published:** February 27, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** A majority of residents agree: fossil-fuel refineries damage Contra Costa. Read about 4 Ways to Fight Contra Costa Fossil-Fuel Damage.
**Content:**
## **The Majority Agree: Fossil Fuels Damage Our Climate**
A full 67 percent of adults in Contra Costa County believe that fossil fuel companies are responsible for global warming. This is based on a survey of Americans by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Plus, 72% of those surveyed say they distrust fossil fuel companies.
[](https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/fossilfuel-lawsuits/)Image source [Yale Program on Climate Change Communication](https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/fossilfuel-lawsuits/)These Yale survey findings are no surprise to locals given the multiple explosions and fires in our fossil-fuel laden county, where major oil refineries line the route 680 corridor. The cities of Martinez and Richmond, home to big-oil refineries, know first-hand just how badly refineries damage Contra Costa environments.
## **More Health Risks: Martinez Refinery Fires**
On top of climate-warming damage, oil refineries also pose ongoing health risks to people living in nearby locations. Case in point: a major refinery fire blackened the skies on February 1st at the Martinez Refining Company.
As reported 10 days after the fire in KQED News:
> The cloud of thick black smoke that billowed over the East Bay community contained petroleum products at various stages of refinement and several other hazardous chemicals including benzene, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and xylene. … Health officials said some of the substances that were released can cause cancer and heart and lung disease.
>
> Source: [KQED News: 10 days after Martinez Refinery Fire](https://www.kqed.org/news/12026572/10-days-after-martinez-refinery-fire-new-details-toxic-chemicals-released)
Sadly these refinery health threats are not new. There’s a history of refinery fires endangering community health in both Richmond and Martinez, CA. Martinez residents, just like Richmond residents, are fed up with the delayed or lack of community warning, the non-disclosure of all chemicals released, the continued safety failures, and the endangerment of community health and welfare. (More at [Sunflower-Alliance](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-martinez-refinery-fire-the-last-burning-straw/), [Healthy Martinez](https://www.healthymartinez.org/in-the-news), and [Richmond Make Polluters Pay Tax](https://350contracostaaction.org/richmond-tax-will-make-polluters-pay/).)
So how can we reduce big oil and fossil fuel dangers? Here are four ways to start fighting back.
## **4 Ways to Fight Contra Costa Fossil-Fuel Damage**
1. **Speak Out Against Refineries—Contact Your County Supervisor** Tell the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to protect citizen health and to enforce safety reforms at the refineries. [Find your Supervisor on the map with links to call or email](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5715/Supervisor-Who-Represents-Me). Even if you don’t live by the refineries, your supervisor needs to hear that YOU CARE about your neighbors’ health.
2. **Attend “Protest on Trial” Webinars with GreenPeace San Francisco** [Mobilize to protect and exercise the right to rally against big oil in these weekly webinars](https://www.mobilize.us/greenpeace/event/751852/). This is a response to the SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) lawsuit by [Big Oil against Greenpeace for $300 million](https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/72706/greenpeace-international-files-lawsuit-against-energy-transfer-in-first-use-of-eu-anti-slapp-directive/) for supporting indigenous land rights at the Dakota Access Pipeline. The lawsuit is an attempt to erode the right of public protest and to intimidate and bankrupt environmental activist organizations.
3. **Donate to Legal Funds to Stop Fossil-Fuel Wells** Donate to help the Sunflower Alliance CalGEM lawsuit going to the California Supreme Court! Kudos to our ally Sunflower Alliance for their lawsuit to fight against gas-well reopenings. The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) allowed an oil drilling company to reopen a dry gas well without any CEQA environmental impact review. The well had been closed for a **whopping 47 years**! This action has dire implications for reactivating closed wells throughout the state. **DONATE** to Sunflower’s legal expenses to stop reopening wells in CA. Read more and donate here to the [Sunflower Alliance Lawsuit](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/our-ongoing-lawsuit-against-calgem-one-victory-one-defeat-and-petitioning-the-supreme-court/)!
4. **Sign this Make Polluters Pay Petition to Create a CA Climate Superfund
[Sign up to support the Polluter Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/californians-make-polluters-pay). The act creates a full program to assess damages and collect funds from major polluters, with at least 40 percent of funding directed to communities hit hardest by fossil fuels—cities like Martinez and Richmond.**
**Join our Local Climate Action Team. Let’s Build Momentum Together!**
[ Volunteer for 350 Contra Costa Action! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer)
Pub: February 27, 2025
Image credit: [Contra Costa County Health]()
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Martinez Refinery
---
### [Contaminated Soil in Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/contaminated-soil-in-martinez/)
**Published:** March 27, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Remember that white powder that blanketed Martinez back In November? A chemical accident at Martinez Refinery covered the surrounding area with 20 tons of dust containing heavy metals such as aluminum, chromium, and barium—but didn’t report the incident to the county health department.
Now, out of concern about toxic contamination, Contra Costa Health Services has **[warned residents](https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/contra-costa-county-refinery-dust-warning-17825161.php?fbclid=IwAR3EbRFRHlQBJ4Iayj86ImeDw4RgWxQzo3hnwlQWeY2zOPz6vgFbWQiJOB0)** of Martinez and nearby Pacheco not to eat the veggies growing in their home gardens.
This is not the kind of world anyone wants to live in. All of us deserve clean air and healthful, locally grown produce. Let’s be clear: fossil fuel production has simply got to go.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Pub: March 27, 2023; Author: Editorial Team
This article first appeared in our March 2023 Newsletter
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Fossil fuels and our health, Martinez Refinery
---
### [October 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** November 2, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: In memory of Jane Goodall, Contra Costa County air quality, protecting clean air standards for all our communities, East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project, a mixed bag for climate action in Sacramento.
**Content:**
### October 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **In Memory of Dr. Jane Goodall (1934–2025)**
This month, we remember the extraordinary Dr. Jane Goodall, whose lifelong work for animals, people, and the planet continues to inspire action across generations. Her words remind us that real hope is not passive, it’s what we do when we choose to care and to act.
*“Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement.”
— **Jane Goodall**, *The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times*
Her message captures exactly why we keep fighting for clean air, climate justice, and a livable planet for all.
## **The Air We Breathe in Contra Costa County**
How many of us know a child who carries an inhaler or a friend who struggles to catch their breath on bad air days? It’s hardly surprising here in Contra Costa County, where pollution from refineries, freeways, and heavy industry has left a visible mark on our health.
**[The American Lung Association reports that about 6 percent of Contra Costa](https://www.lung.org/research/sota/city-rankings/states/california/contra-costa)** children and nearly 9 percent of adults live with asthma, while another 4 percent of adults cope with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Rates are even higher in neighborhoods along refinery corridors and major transportation routes where families live closest to the sources of pollution.
The Bay Area now ranks among the nation’s worst regions for air quality:
- Fourteenth for high ozone days
- Eleventh for short-term particle pollution
- Sixth for annual particle pollution
As pollution intensifies and the climate grows hotter, we have a responsibility to act. Supporting stronger clean-air rules from the Bay Area Air District is one important step we can take to protect our health and our communities.
### **So What Can We Do?**
We can stand up for stronger clean-air standards that protect our families and our future. The Bay Area Air District is deciding how to move forward and now is the time for our communities to speak up. See below for more details.
## **Protecting Clean Air Standards for Our Communities**
In 2023, the Bay Area Air District adopted strong clean-air standards **Rules 9-4 and 9-6** to reduce dangerous nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from fossil-fuel appliances in our homes and buildings. These rules set a path toward zero-emission water heaters and furnaces, beginning in **2027 for water heaters** and **2029 for furnaces**.
With these deadlines approaching, the Air District is considering updates to ensure low-income households are supported through the transition. Unfortunately, the gas industry and its allies are using this moment to push for rollbacks that would undo years of progress toward cleaner, healthier air.
**Take Action:** Tell the Air District Board you support protecting these clean-air standards while ensuring fairness and accessibility for all families. It only takes a minute and your voice matters.
**Send a Letter:**
[Letter to **Contra Costa** County](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=JFKRyx25AUWclBAjxCCyBeDMH6FmZZk4P-5lZvry87WtSin849rpfGhQwnpKlUfRNXz9J2d3Fa4LLgsiuMKIusEuW6cTYo7KPvKAQxJJTcaFNuqOTJKNqVxq5AecbXZ2khjcKHY4tvm5OTkZaUQKK6zsa3dBlrezfVid7myOTPk&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=air_dist_appliance_rules_sm&n=2) Board members
[Letter to **Solano** County](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=JFKRyx25AUWclBAjxCCyBeDMH6FmZZk4P-5lZvry87WtSin849rpfGhQwnpKlUfRNXz9J2d3Fa4LLgsiuMKIusEuW6cTYo7KPvKAQxJJTcaFNuqOTJKNqVxq5AecbXZ2t8TfUe-YNSHN1sSbzHOT85abjtkhw2MIdTpDl1xC3j4&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=air_dist_appliance_rules_sm&n=8) Board members
[Letter to **Alameda** County](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=JFKRyx25AUWclBAjxCCyBeDMH6FmZZk4P-5lZvry87WtSin849rpfGhQwnpKlUfRNXz9J2d3Fa4LLgsiuMKIusEuW6cTYo7KPvKAQxJJTcaFNuqOTJKNqVxq5AecbXZ2IMc2Zw2FaWotRKpYmS2ewlkvufXnWKBLFAvH_Z1VoFI&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=air_dist_appliance_rules_sm&n=1) Board members
## **East Contra Costa Healthy Homes**
The energy we use in our homes matters for both our personal health and the planet’s. Getting gas out of buildings is now a priority for government agencies and a growing desire among residents. By switching to electric heat pump technology, we can power our homes with cleaner, climate-friendly electricity while eliminating the indoor and outdoor air pollution that harms our health.
350 Contra Costa has taken a major step to promote an equitable transition from gas to clean electric heat pumps for low-income homeowners in Pittsburg and Antioch, convening a coalition of East Contra Costa nonprofits into the East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Collaborative.
The collaborative, funded by California Jobs First through the Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative is now planning a project to retrofit homes for comfort and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also create pathways for local residents to access good-paying clean-energy jobs, ensuring a just transition as California moves toward a clean-energy future. Tired of that gas smell when you turn on your stove? So is Mother Nature!
**[The Healthy Homes Project](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)** is helping Antioch and Pittsburg residents replace gas appliances with efficient, electric alternatives. Gas fumes not only affect indoor air quality but also contribute significantly to air pollution outdoors.
Collaborative partners include RCF Connects, 350 Contra Costa, Lift Up Contra Costa, CocoKids, Healthy and Active Before 5, GRID Alternatives, and others working together to design a blueprint for clean, healthy homes, train a local workforce in home electrification, and support contractors in building a more resilient East Contra Costa.
The project is now in its early outreach phase, sharing information about the benefits of moving away from gas and gathering community input on how best to implement the program.
If you live in Pittsburg or Antioch and are interested in helping spread the word in the community about this project, please contact us at **.**
[**Read this article on a webpage here**](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/).
## **This Year in Sacramento: A Mixed Bag for Climate Action**
The California state legislative session that ended on September 12 was mostly a letdown for people who care about the climate. Both legislators and Governor Newsom prioritized bills they perceived as reducing utility costs and increasing housing over efforts to promote a clean, equitable future for all.
We know better: now is not the time for short-term rollbacks or weakened environmental protections. Global warming is intensifying wildfires, drought, heat waves, and flooding right now. Setbacks are part of the political process but we must keep working with legislators to restore California’s role as a beacon of climate hope for the nation.
Governor Newsom did approve three worthwhile bills supported by 350 Contra Costa Action that move us toward a clean-energy economy:
**[Public Campaign Financing SB 42](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB42)
Your November 2026 election ballot will include a proposition allowing state and local governments to fund election campaigns giving progressive candidates without deep-pocketed donors a fairer chance and more support for pro-climate initiatives.
**[Public Transit Funding SB 63](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB63)
A new Bay Area–wide transit revenue district will ask voters in November 2026 to approve a 0.5–1 percent sales tax increase to stabilize our financially struggling transit systems. Reliable public transportation is vital for reducing greenhouse gases from personal vehicles.
**[Transit Project Environmental Review Exemptions SB 71](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB71)
This law exempts climate-friendly projects like bike lanes, pedestrian plans, and transit-station construction from lengthy environmental reviews making them easier, cheaper, and faster to complete.
Thank you—
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta), [X](https://X.com/350CCAction), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/350ccaction.bsky.social)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [August 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** August 14, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Join us on June 14 for the peaceful No Kings March and Rally in Walnut Creek as we stand up for democracy. Democracy is the most pressing climate issue we face today. Please bring signs and plenty of water. Let's promote peace and protect our democratic values together!
Plus learn what’s on for the July Climate Circle!
**Content:**
### August 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Economic Reality Is Leaving Fossil Fuels Behind—The U.S. Must Catch Up**
The Green Energy Revolution is here to stay, even as the Trump administration promotes the fossil fuel industry. As environmentalists move through stages of denial and grief at the defunding of clean energy projects across the nation, the fact remains that solar energy is the cheapest and most accessible energy in the world. Other nations are awake to this technological reality and will continue to accelerate the pace of solar, wind, and battery technologies and infrastructure because it simply makes financial sense- independent of benefits to the global climate and human and ecological health.
**[Bill Mckibben writes in the New York Times](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=MWMxNlKf1dbEjRyidmNsDdMMtFoUkwXSEhw0uMHy61-EsIIJ2xZ5F9egGMayMedZp1PIl5W8t2AxBfPTJ_kGEtaMU1XwvQutMWVs5ol66G0&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=1&test_email=1),** the cost of solar panels has dropped 99% since 1980. . .“Last year almost 96 percent of new electricity generation globally came from sun and wind technologies and batteries. . . China **[installed](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YQB138ryniNn5jhVjz-_dN4F1Chn3a1rbNvonIU1733ep7OdSg_hIKDTRvSU7ukSHzP3uTnqKXS1dPbIAgPXmdiAoMr4dGG6y3qlYs-QdfK68SJrtbZRjWnIO-FKxwY0Zb6s6pr5ZSwLXkt6F6oMi6K_V0u9QZN1cgRMQFnMHid20MN_8ciAiHOf_YIxn1kF&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=2&test_email=1)** almost 100 solar panels a second in May, smashing its record.” While the United States remains mired in a fossil fuel oligarchy, in 2024 China’s BYD rolled out **[4.3 million](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=ImM4rcumI9d42K-b_KLUWWSeqW-lobXYxlwzR7qWV5sbaIsJ2eO1DF8OR7a2nbKzaDUsdavhgNZ9g3qvFgxRu5qe4t1c2Qqg_ZynjKSY7bsasZvHKmR37BqMA4tlkPOFSwENAvbDembxvJF2GzKFBxFKFv0E82mvtbhyKSMAacQ&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=3&test_email=1)** $10,000 electric vehicles driven by happy customers all over the world. As expressed in a recent **[New York Times Opinion](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=MWMxNlKf1dbEjRyidmNsDSTCnk99uVYq80UgI4iEbx762caKM_mo2kx2g3pl0OUiH22hOnm4oEgaDXz-94bip-deDunh8FO3_6rBSyuJ_wxSyF69bYhlPHJDrPmwGyIn&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=4&test_email=1)**, we are practicing **“economic idiocy”** that will leave America as a loser in future clean energy technology.
Increasingly, renewable energy is no longer considered “alternative energy,” rather it is the first choice in many developed and developing economies. Even when unsubsidized it is cost efficient and quick to install relative to fossil fuel plants (McKibben, **[Solnit](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YQB138ryniNn5jhVjz-_dKGaOTM9zYClYFItH6D2JuTXqaiaRgng5hFEFCMa7ntK-6TZxmE6SN5fjGQ8z6zFYusSLuTjAInREQKBMId7cyekdGMtvgzOSHxlzRuwmGkKN0v9N7P89f7TP2efKHalRw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=6&test_email=1))**.
Energy demand is soaring as rising temperatures increase the necessity for air conditioning and by the voracious demand for power **"[for IT datacentres](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YQB138ryniNn5jhVjz-_dLeQGIrxt5NCtp-3cwOAyHEbKxMirIWnG2AQ45Jk0lG8_zrnIjK6Ab0ODfvo4V5vh4BWBY8PRt1se3sdeU94KsYDSN40yFFBJ3xfZmIkIM1tauoR_JqThF17_NY3JR4RtGTHvcrUlC11Qbv1QJnGR0c&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=7&test_email=1), [including for AI](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YQB138ryniNn5jhVjz-_dDUuOpVnId9Qwz-8GO-i3zIr3r4LpkjQBxkdSLBNNdBxTkORXyFgZXJaiuWPgUptCl-xIcE8FouFNt8_ybRCoWimvNwQ_MtYqZe50-gXQYQ_&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=8&test_email=1).” The UN secretary general, **[António Guterres](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YQB138ryniNn5jhVjz-_dN4F1Chn3a1rbNvonIU1733lmxNwZunn3YmKjjRq8uoCalZkZwdpjoeFyHYnYdQ8Mw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=9&test_email=1),** called on big technology companies to commit to sourcing 100% of their electricity demands from low-carbon generation by 2030. San Francisco is the center of the AI boom and we should lobby these companies to ensure they use ONLY renewable energy to power data centers.“If even a proportion of this energy increase is devoted to fossil fuels it will become impossible to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C above preindustrial levels, as "**[countries have vowed to do](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YQB138ryniNn5jhVjz-_dDUuOpVnId9Qwz-8GO-i3zI1AtwARce68gh_c8qIALZ7TrjDicTrSAP9Ni9mxnYD9nVvlLBNbDy1prbcagCWFxicISffmDsQvnT7APhGKNxAA1W-maRA6HOjEOH5pnBfmxUITyQVTHnW4SLdn_qW8pg&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=10&test_email=1),” ([The Guardian](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YQB138ryniNn5jhVjz-_dDUuOpVnId9Qwz-8GO-i3zKJe5lxH1JSPpm42BiDXHzjch1tR1I8z4CyakPrZq3JbEadvhp1wL_EIJHwWPkRDrfeblt5vp4NVOmXKo0gJOnAenbYWcn3Ctsm6h1GJ7ESKgqMIdaqMO6n2qRX0zWL0cY&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=11&test_email=1), [International Renewable Energy Agency](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=Ivra5JqJpBvvhnAiFcIhh1Vz9D7OBVvT4ki7Pdbu3Rr0resTfbRKCxuvqL7spi47H1dRWBM2_Z8Rg5N6qF0IMjkTLbx44TLP-sguIcTvBzODChxDkXyfjKnFPX8HLeJ5&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=12&test_email=1))**. California can and must set the standard for AI powered by green energy. This would put high tech companies in the beneficial business of clean power generation, free from the whims of the government.
Unless U.S. policies change in the next election, America will not be leading the green energy revolution. But there are still things we can do as individuals in a climate friendly state.
- Buy an electric vehicle before tax credits expire on September 30th, 2025. **[Costco has additional incentives](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=ydfCKl08IPAgNLtSffib14LxkfM_WelAdTMviMjzCSBPjwBz2E_So0ZEwE3ZhMSJgEYDhSUZ7kjEHwuk2wyIsLgISMSLGmQHsTpBvc_o304&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=13&test_email=1).**
- Upgrade your home heating and cooling systems to energy efficient Heat Pumps and Hot water heat pumps. Consider adding a battery or solar to your home before federal and state incentives expire on December 31st, 2025. [**Find your local incentives here.**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=vbJPcXQeJohuB9TLDbdQh_MJekOw4bTe1WEH1nGst6rvARM0TvpxY7B1By4vP6zLhTaDWLAx99eerDWLcKbArw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=14&test_email=1)
- **Help California progress towards a clean energy future by emailing or phoning your state legislators to support our positions on pending bills. [Here is a link](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-qnWSMQJqAxd_t3hgqzhElKU6G2izH0rl7QvIsoo3LzmOubQ6Tbzuxv09D_B9N-dBKNb-_eA0R0PZFziMhw2Ic0&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=15&test_email=1) to sample emails and contact information for legislators. Personalizing your email is helpful. If you prefer to call your legislators’ offices, you can simply provide the numbers of the bills you want supported or opposed, without describing them.**
- Provide feedback - **[Take this survey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cctasummer25surveyweb)** on public transportation from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority for a chance to win $100.
## **Get ready for Sun Day!**
## **September 21, 2025**
On September 21, 2025—the Fall Equinox—you can join people across the country to celebrate solar and wind power and push for a cleaner, healthier future. Hear from Bill McKibben, inspiring storytellers, and community leaders showing how solar is transforming lives—from Navajo Nation to Utah to the Gulf South.
[**Check online for local events closer to the event date.**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=dXB67U5f5NBsLhRu6ppD0UosMH7x5ymxH0lhe8EGjZPvujsdjynLbt_fojtZg3HdfMfFDVz5_LyoAD2Cue5yRpX4znXWXN0pNDpmrzp88ac&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=contra_costa_august_2025_newsl&n=17&test_email=1)
Thank you—
Jackie
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Get Ready for Sun Day, Green Energy Revolution, solar energy cheaper
---
### [September 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** September 18, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Local activists oppose the Montezuma pipeline, BAAQMD settles with Tesoro Refining on Martinez air monitoring, and there's still time to benefit from heat pump incentives before they end in 2025.
**Content:**
### September 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Standing Up to the Montezuma Pipeline**
[**The proposed Montezuma carbon capture pipeline**](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbon-capture-pipeline-potential-community-hazard/) might sound like a “climate solution,” but the reality is far riskier for our community. Running through Contra Costa and Solano County, this project would carry compressed CO₂ under high pressure — a serious safety concern if leaks occur, and one that adds yet another layer of fossil fuel infrastructure instead of moving us toward clean energy. Local residents would face the hazards, while polluting industries continue to profit in the face of mounting climate disasters throughout the state and beyond.
That’s why 350 Contra Costa Action has teamed up with the **Communities Against Carbon Transport & Injection (CACTI)** and other partners to stop it. Together, we’re lifting up community voices, making sure the facts are clear, and pressing for climate-smart alternatives.
Now the campaign is moving into a new phase with a public launch event. This is your chance to learn more, connect with neighbors, and make your voice heard. [**Learn more about CACTI, the Montezuma pipeline, and how you can get involved.**](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/)
**Tuesday, September 9th, 11:45 AM**
**Where: Solano County Board of Supervisors Building, Fairfield, CA**
**Time: 11:45am – 1:30pm**
**RSVP: Sign up to attend the event [here](https://www.mobilize.us/fww/event/831304/)!**
## **Cleaner Air, Stronger Oversight in Martinez**
Good news: community voices are making a difference! After years of pressure for more accountability, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has reached a settlement with Tesoro Refining & Marketing on air monitoring at the Martinez refinery.
As part of the agreement, Tesoro will install a fenceline system with six monitors for hydrogen sulfide, provide real-time and historical pollution data online, publish quarterly reports, and host a public feedback meeting by the end of the year. The company also faces penalties if it fails to follow through.
This kind of transparency is a win for public health and climate accountability — and it shows how sustained local action leads to concrete change.
Read the Air District’s full announcement **[here](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/communications-and-outreach/publications/news-releases/2025/tesoroagreement_250819_2025_037-pdf.pdf?rev=73d2189b61774a13ba154b26477d22bf&sc_lang=en).**
## **Act Now: Heat Pump Incentives End in 2025**
Time is running out to take advantage of federal and state incentives for clean home upgrades — they expire on **December 31, 2025**. That makes now the perfect time to consider switching to heat pump technology for your home.
Heat pumps provide both [**heating and cooling in one system**](https://www.switchison.org/electric-solutions/space-heating-and-cooling), using far less energy than traditional furnaces or AC units. They’re efficient, quiet, and work beautifully with rooftop solar.
The same applies to water heating. [**A heat pump water heater**](https://www.switchison.org/electric-solutions/water-heating) can cut energy use by up to 60 percent, saving money while eliminating indoor air pollution from gas appliances.
Families who’ve already made the switch often say their homes feel healthier, with cleaner air and steady year-round comfort. These upgrades also play a big role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping California meet its climate goals.
Explore your options and find local incentives [**here**](https://www.switchison.org/ca).
Thank you—
350 Contra Costa Action
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [Vote for Laura Patch for Walnut Creek City Council](https://350contracostaaction.org/vote-for-laura-patch-for-walnut-creek-city-council/)
**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Vote for Laura Patch for Walnut Creek City Council! As a dedicated climate activist, she brings passion and experience to champion clean energy and sustainable practices
**Content:**
 Walnut Creek City Council At-Large Candidate Laura Patch
Vote for Laura Patch for an at-large seat on the Walnut Creek City Council. As a dedicated climate activist working for the Sierra Club, she develops digital tools to empower activism and drive change.
### Strong Community Leadership
Laura has extensive community and regional involvement and leadership experience. She is a member of the Walnut Creek Transportation Commission. She is the External Vice President of the Contra Costa Young Democrats. Laura also serves as Secretary for the Diablo Valley Democratic Club. Additionally, she is a Board member for the University of San Francisco’s Women in Leadership Program.
### Climate Goals for the City
Laura plans to enhance Walnut Creek’s climate initiatives by collaborating with city committees. Her goals include:
- Increasing clean energy production
- Improving public transportation to reduce traffic
- Preserving open spaces
- Adding bike lanes, especially around downtown and to/from BART stations
- Encouraging clean transportation and sustainable buildings
- Increasing EV charging stations
- Requiring electrification in new construction
- Incentivizing solar and wind power installations for commercial and residential landlords
Laura Patch will bring strong leadership and fresh ideas to the council. She is committed to fostering environmental and community-focused policies.
Website: [https://www.laurapatch4wc.org](https://www.laurapatch4wc.org/)
Volunteer:
Image credit: Laura Patch campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Endorsee 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Walnut Creek_LP
---
### [Attention Pinole Residents and Visitors!](https://350contracostaaction.org/attention-pinole-residents-and-visitors/)
**Published:** June 2, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Plastic waste. It's everywhere. If you live in Pinole or visit frequently, be part of the solution to the plastics problem, and complete this brief survey.
**Content:**
The City of Pinole would like to have your thoughts about plastic waste. They’re looking for ways to transition away from single-use plastic bags and foodware for a healthier, cleaner Pinole.
To be part of the solution to the plastics problem, please fill out this **[brief survey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P8PVLBG).**
---
Photo by [Magda Ehlers](https://www.pexels.com/@magda-ehlers-pexels/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-plastic-bottles-2547565/)
This article first appeared in our [May 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Plastic Pollution
---
### [MCE Rebates for EV Charging](https://350contracostaaction.org/mce-rebates-for-ev-charging/)
**Published:** June 5, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** MCE, the not-for-profit public agency that provides clean energy for residential customers, also offers an electric vehicle (EV) charging rebate to businesses and multifamily properties, as well as technical assistance.
**Content:**
By now, most of us know about **[MCE’s options](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/compare-options/)** to help residential energy customers switch to renewable energy sources. Did you know they also offer an electric vehicle (EV) charging rebate to businesses and multifamily properties? The **[MCE rebate program](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/ev-charging/)** includes significant savings on hardware and installation costs—as well as technical assistance to get those Level 2 chargers up and running.
---
Photo by [Kindel Media](https://www.pexels.com/@kindelmedia/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/street-summer-industry-charging-9800002/)
This article first appeared in our [May 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** EV Rebates
---
### [Stop Burning Fossil Fuels. Period.](https://350contracostaaction.org/stop-burning-fossil-fuels-period/)
**Published:** June 26, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** The only solution to safeguard life as we know it on Planet Earth is to stop burning fossil fuels. There is no other option. Here's why.
**Content:**
## The Only Solution to Safeguard Life as We Know It
> “Carbon dioxide levels measured at NOAA’s Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory peaked at **424 parts per million** in May, continuing a steady climb further into territory not seen for millions of years…”
So starts the **[latest report](https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/broken-record-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide-levels-jump-again)** on atmospheric CO2 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For millennia, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere was 350 parts per million or below, and this level created the ideal conditions on earth for us to thrive. Scientists warn that levels above 430 parts per million of carbon would mean catastrophe for the web of life that all humanity depends on.
The report quotes NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, PhD: “Every year, we see carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere increase as a direct result of human activity. Every year, we see the impacts of climate change in the heat waves, droughts, flooding, wildfires and storms happening all around us. While we will have to adapt to the climate impacts we cannot avoid, we must expend every effort to slash carbon pollution and safeguard this planet and the life that calls it home.”
Why are carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) still going up, and why so fast? Simply put, emissions are going up because we’re continuing to burn more and more fossil fuels. “Net Zero” policies don’t reduce emissions; they only require emissions to be “balanced” by “carbon offsets.” Think about it: if a corporation buys offsets for the privilege of polluting, they’re still polluting. Offsets may be used to build wind turbines or plant trees, but they can’t solve our emissions problem.
To safeguard Earth, our home, there’s only one solution: keeping fossil fuels in the ground. Investing in clean energy won’t help unless we also phase out oil and gas production—and *fast.*
For more on the necessity of cutting production, see this article by our friends at Sunflower Alliance: **[The Economic Case for a Restrictive Supply-Side Policy](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-economic-case-for-restrictive-supply-side-policy/).**
---
Photo by [Chris LeBoutillier](https://www.pexels.com/@chrisleboutillier/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-ship-on-body-of-water-screenshot-929382/).
This article first appeared in our [June 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** climate change, Fossil Fuels, Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs)
---
### [Earth Day 54, Defeating Big Oil, Cleaning Up Pollution, and Five Bills That Need Your Support](https://350contracostaaction.org/earth-day-54-defeating-big-oil-cleaning-up-pollution-and-five-bills-that-need-your-support/)
**Published:** April 22, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Earth Day is 54 years old! Support 5 Top Bills to Clean Up Pollution & Stop Big Oil. Protect our climate for future generations.
**Content:**
## Earth Day 54: The Right to Clean Air, Water, and a Healthy Environment
It’s been 54 years since the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970—and Mother Nature needs us now more than ever. We can all do our part by getting strong climate bills through our state legislature and made into law. There are lots of worthy bills that need our support. It’s a big year for the climate in Sacramento!
In fact, 2024 could be the year that environmental rights are enshrined in the California Constitution. **[ACA 16](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240aca16?slug=CA_202320240ACA16)** proposes to add *“The people shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment”* to our state’s governing document.
Right now, ACA 16 is making its way through the Assembly; it has passed the Natural Resources Committee and is headed to Appropriations. If this bill passes the Assembly, it will go to the Senate; if it passes both houses, the proposed constitutional amendment will be on the November ballot.
Montana, New York, and Pennsylvania have already passed “**[green amendments](http://www.ncelenviro.org/issue/green-amendment/)**“ like ACA 16, and **[many more states](https://forthegenerations.org/active-states/)** have one in the works.
These green amendments can make a big difference in the outcome of lawsuits like ***[Held v Montana](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/20/what-happened-montana-climate-trial-decision)***, which made history last year when a judge ruled in favor of young people who accused the state government of violating their constitutional right to a “clean and healthful environment.” The legislature had passed a law that barred agencies from taking climate effects into account when considering new fossil fuel projects.
Read more about the significance of green amendments **[here](https://legal-planet.org/2024/03/12/states-may-be-warming-to-green-amendments/)**.
## Defeating Big Oil, Cleaning Up Pollution: Five Top-Priority Bills That Need Your Support
### [AB 3233](https://legiscan.com/CA/drafts/AB3233/2023)
In August 2023, the California Supreme Court handed the oil industry a big win: it ruled in their favor in **[*Chevron v Monterey*](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/california-supreme-court-strikes-down-countys-drilling-ban-2023-08-04/)**. This lawsuit challenged Monterey’s Measure Z, which mandated a phase-out of oil and gas drilling in that county. The court ruled that the measure conflicted with a state law granting the**[ CA Geologic Energy Management Division ](https://www.conservation.ca.gov/calgem)**(CalGEM) the power to approve drilling of new wells.
The fate of Measure Z has made other municipalities hesitate to enact similar ordinances. That’s why AB 3233 is so important—this bill will clarify state law and affirm the right of local governments to limit or ban oil and gas operations. It will also require CalGEM’s Oil and Gas Supervisor to “minimize harm from oil and gas activities.”
This one’s a must! Read **[Legal Planet’s excellent explainer ](https://legal-planet.org/2024/03/25/new-bill-takes-up-local-oil-drilling-phase-outs/)**to find out more.
### [AB 1866](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1866/id/2957399)
Here’s the problem: idle oil wells are a major source of methane emissions, ground water contamination, and air pollution. And California has about 40,000 of them! Current law allows oil companies to postpone plugging these wells indefinitely just by paying as little as $150 per well. And when the owners of these non-producing wells go bankrupt, it’s up to us taxpayers to cover the cost of plugging—a cost which will run to the billions of dollars.
AB 1866 will provide a common-sense solution to this problem. It will require oil operators to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to plug all the state’s idle oil wells within the next ten years. And it will require them to prioritize plugging wells within 3,200 feet of where communities live, play and work.
Learn more about AB 1866 **[here](https://a37.asmdc.org/press-releases/20240312-hart-authors-legislation-address-californias-idle-oil-well-crisis)**. You can bet the oil companies will be working hard to defeat this bill and avoid having to clean up their own messes!
### [AB 2535](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2535)
In California, the single biggest source of climate-warming pollution is the transportation sector—all those tailpipes account for **[more than 35 percent](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/zak-accuardi/transportation-investment-clean-air-california-1)** of our greenhouse gas emissions. So instead of growing our freeway system with more lanes for all vehicles to use, we need to improve it in ways that reduce emissions, especially in communities that are already suffering the health consequences of air pollution.
We need to stop funding highway expansion of any kind in these impacted communities. In other areas, adding trucks-only or trucks-privileged lanes to freeways can be a good idea. When freight trucks are not stuck in traffic, they don’t put as much diesel exhaust into the air.
And of course, we need to include freight trucks in the big transition to electric vehicles.
AB 2535 does all these things! This bill will mandate allocation of 50 percent of **[Trade Corridor Enhancement Program](https://catc.ca.gov/programs/sb1/trade-corridor-enhancement-program)** (TCEP) funds to zero-emission heavy duty vehicle infrastructure—like charging stations for EV trucks.
Read more about the benefits of this common-sense bill **[here](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/zak-accuardi/transportation-investment-clean-air-california-1)**.
### [ SB 1305](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB1305/id/2930818)
This bill will require electricity providers to use [**Virtual Power Plants** ](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-news/what-is-a-virtual-power-plant/)(VPPs) to generate some of the power they provide to customers. A VPP is a network of small-scale energy resources—rooftop solar arrays, EV batteries, and smart thermostats, for example—that are coordinated to respond to the needs of the grid. Using “smart grid” technology, VPP operators can quickly reduce energy consumption and deploy additional clean energy supply during peak demand times.
VPPs cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need for power from fossil fuel-powered “[peaker plants](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-news/how-peaker-plants-impact-california-communities/).” What’s more, they can mean fewer outages, lower energy costs, and more solar energy available when the sun’s not shining.
Get the details on SB 1305 **[here](https://energychangemakers.com/california-virtual-power-plants-bill/)**.
### [ SB 1497](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB1497/id/2932777)
This bill’s name says it all—it’s the Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act. It will direct the CA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Polluters Pay Climate Fund and assess fees from businesses that are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions through the extraction, protection, and sale of fossil fuels in our state. The fees will be collected from the largest polluters and will be based on the amount of pollution produced. Then the CA EPA will allocate expenditures from the fund to address climate damage.
SB 1497 is modeled on the federal legislation that created the US EPA’s **[Superfund program ](https://www.epa.gov/superfund)**back in 1980.
Climate-related cleanups will certainly cost in the billions of dollars, and those who did the damage—while making profits in the billions—should pay their fair share. Learn more about SB 1497 **[here](https://sd20.senate.ca.gov/news/protecting-californians-sb-1497-assessing-cost-climate-damages-states-largest-polluters)**.
## Stay tuned!
In May, these and other important climate bills will, if all goes well, come up for a vote on the floor of their “first house”—either the Assembly or the Senate. We’ll be sure to let you know when it’s time to call and email your elected officials and tell them to vote YES for our fossil fuel-free future.
Author: Editorial Team
Image Credit: [Markus Spiske](https://www.pexels.com/@markusspiske/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/climate-people-street-crowd-2990610/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** Defeating Big Oil, Earth Day 2024, Green Amendment
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action June 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** June 24, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### June 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **TWO action items: Please call Sacramento today!**
In both the Assembly and the Senate, your help is needed to turn key climate bills into laws.
In the Assembly, **SB 674** will very likely be voted on this week—possibly early tomorrow—and **SB 1006** is expected to pass out of Appropriations onto the floor soon. (Both bills have already passed the Senate.)
**[SB 674](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_674_gonzalez_refinery_fence-line_monitoring_factsheet.pdf) – Refinery air pollution** (pdf)
SB 674 protects the health of millions of Californians who live near refineries and have to breathe air that’s polluted by their toxic emissions.
SB 674 sets minimum standards for all California refineries to provide the same level of transparency on the types and amounts of their emissions.
It also requires them to set threshold levels that align with federal and state limits. When thresholds are exceeded, refineries must notify nearby communities about this threat to their health and safety. And refineries must make data on their toxic emissions easily available to the public.
[**SB 1006**](https://autl.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2024-06/sb-1006-padilla-consent.pdf) **– Upgrading the grid** (pdf)
A new grid-enhancing technology, **[advanced reconductoring](https://www.eenews.net/articles/grid-rewiring-an-answer-for-bidens-climate-goals/)**, has the potential to greatly increase the transmission capacity of the electric grid—just in time for a rapid transition to our all-electric future. The technology involves re-stringing existing high-voltage towers with new cables made from advanced materials.
SB 1006 requires transmission utilities to jointly prepare a strategic plan for implementing this technology.
**First, call your assemblymember**
Please don’t delay! If you’re not sure which district you’re in, find out **[here](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/).**
Here’s a suggested message for your assemblymember:
*“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the assemblymember to vote YES on two common-sense bills:*
- *SB 674 to protect communities from refineries’ air pollution, and*
- *SB 1006 to increase the capacity of the electrical grid."*
**Phone numbers**
[Lori Wilson](https://a11.asmdc.org/) District 11916-319-2011[Buffy Wicks](https://a14.asmdc.org/) District 14 916-319-2014[Tim Grayson](https://a15.asmdc.org/) District 15916-319-2015[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan ](https://a16.asmdc.org/) District 16916-319-2016**Then, please call about [AB 3233](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GXPFuBPRfP0-eF6g-wR1uU841kj_Op0A/view)** (pdf)
In the Senate, AB 3233 is now in the Local Government Committee. It must get enough votes there to be passed onto the floor for a vote.
Why does it matter? It’s well known that oil and gas production threatens public health and safety—but Big Oil’s misinterpretation of a **[2023 CA Supreme Court decision](https://legal-planet.org/2023/08/06/california-supreme-court-finds-county-ordinance-limiting-oil-gas-development-preempted-by-state-law/)** has created confusion and cast doubt on local governments’ authority to ban new oil and gas wells. AB 3233 updates the state’s oil and gas codes to clarify that local governments *may* act to regulate, limit, or prohibit oil and gas operations within their jurisdictions.
This is crucial! We need all four of the Bay Area senators listed below to vote YES—so please give them a call!
**Phone numbers**
[Steve Glazer](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/) District 7916-651-4007[Nancy Skinner](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/) District 9916-651-4009[Aisha Wahab](https://sd10.senate.ca.gov/) District 10916-651-4010[Scott Wiener](https://sd11.senate.ca.gov/)District 11916-651-4011You don’t need to be a constituent to call these committee members—but if you *are* a constituent, be sure to mention that. Say something like this:
*“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. I’m urging the senator, as a member of the Local Government Committee, to vote YES on AB 3233.* Counties and cities should have the right to protect community health and safety by banning oil and gas production.”
## **Richmond’s Polluters Pay Initiative passes**
Fantastic news! On June 18, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to put a refinery tax on the November ballot. The tax could bring $60 million to $90 million annually into the city’s general fund, depending on how many barrels of raw material enter Chevron’s Richmond plant.
**[Communities for a Better Environment](https://www.cbecal.org/)** and **[Asian-Pacific Environmental Network Action](https://apen4ej.org/)** worked together on the tax proposal, known as the **[Polluters Pay Initiative](https://richmondpolluterspay.com/).**
Read more about the proposal and the City Council meeting **[here](https://ccpulse.org/2024/06/20/richmond-chevron-tax-will-be-on-november-ballot/).** Yay!
## **Attention Concord residents!**
A small group of Concord residents is gearing up to push their city council to do much more to address the climate crisis.
City governments can do a *lot* to ensure their community’s health and safety and bring in a livable future, even if they aren’t home to oil wells or refineries. Of course, they can pass building electrification ordinances. They can also reduce emissions from their buildings and vehicles—and show the way for residents to do the same.
The City of Pinole is an **[excellent example](https://www.pinole.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=10947056&pageId=14630071)**; they’re showing real leadership by encouraging residents to go solar, change to EVs, use less plastic, get rebates for energy-efficient appliances, and so on.
If you live in Concord—or anywhere in Contra Costa—please shoot an email to ****. We’ll help you connect with climate-minded folks in your community.
## **See you on the Fourth in El Cerrito**
El Cerrito’s annual WorldOne Festival is coming up Thursday, the Fourth of July—and we hope to see you there!
This admission-free, multicultural celebration features wonderful food, kids’ activities, and loads of live music from around the world. If you come, be sure to stop by the 350 Contra Costa booth and say hello!
[**WorldOne Festival**](https://www.el-cerrito.org/702/July-4th-Festival)
**Thursday, July 4, from 11am to 5pm**
**950 Pomona Ave, El Cerrito**
Thank you —
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [#ClimateVolunteer for Social Media Manager](https://350contracostaaction.org/climatevolunteer-for-social-media-manager/)
**Published:** October 11, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Become a #ClimateVolunteer Social Media Manager with 350 Contra Costa Action! Dedicate 1–3 hours weekly to create engaging content and foster community engagement on X and Bluesky. Join us in the fight against climate change!
**Content:**
Join our team as a **\#ClimateVolunteer Social Media Manager** and help raise awareness and inspire action against climate change! We’re looking for a climate savvy volunteer to manage our social media accounts on [X](https://x.com/350CCAction) (formerly Twitter) and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/@350ccaction.bsky.social).
### Your Role as Social Media Manager
As our Social Media Manager, you will:
- **Create and schedule engaging content** using blog posts, images, videos, and stories from 350 Contra Costa Action and 350 Bay Area Action.
- **Monitor and respond** to comments, messages, and mentions in a timely manner to foster community engagement.
- **Track and report** on social media metrics, adjusting strategies as needed to maximize impact.
- **Collaborate with the Communications Team** to ensure your social media efforts align with our overall campaigns and initiatives.
### Estimated Commitment
Dedicate **1–3 hours per week** to post **1–2 tweets/posts weekly** on Bluesky and X and build our following on those accounts. Your posts will draw from our monthly newsletter, upcoming events, and relevant stories in the press.
### Ready to Make an Impact?
If you’re interested in this volunteer position, contact us at or fill out our [Get Involved form](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/#VolunteerForm) online. Please include “Social Media Manager” in the subject line of your email or in the “Other” field on the volunteer signup form.
**Categories:** Blog
---
### [June 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** June 9, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Join us on June 14 for the peaceful No Kings March and Rally in Walnut Creek as we stand up for democracy. Democracy is the most pressing climate issue we face today. Please bring signs and plenty of water. Let's promote peace and protect our democratic values together!
Plus learn what’s on for the July Climate Circle!
**Content:**
### June 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Join 350 Contra Costa Action**
## **to Rally and March on**
## **NO KINGS DAY**
## **Saturday June 14th**
The biggest climate issue is Democracy!
This month, we encourage you to take local action by protesting against the federal government. The Trump administration is assaulting both the environment and democracy. Without a functioning democracy that follows the rule of law, our efforts to protect the environment are being aggressively undone. The federal government is overturning national clean air and water protections, and de-regulating industrial pollution that harms the health of our communities and beloved natural spaces. These actions are without public input or due process and break the law. They are illegal.
Trump has launched a devastating assault on scientific research in all fields, especially climate change science. This anti-science administration has overturned most of our bedrock environmental regulations that were passed by bipartisan majorities in the 1970s. Trump’s mega budget bill includes a complete repeal of Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which was the largest climate investment in U.S. history, allocating over $391 billion to various initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy. Trump has canceled previously approved projects and **[rescinded funds from clean energy projects](https://apnews.com/article/climate-energy-projects-funding-canceled-cf3e9b5da749eb76a71c901ded20d711)** that are shovel ready. The federal reversals have led to cancellations of billions of dollars of green projects throughout the nation, **[such as battery plants in Arizona and Georgia](https://www.utilitydive.com/news/inflation-reduction-act-canceled-projects-q1-2025-kore-freyr/746737/)****.** The federal government is interfering with state’s rights, by revoking California projects and laws that were approved by our elected officials. Newsom is fighting back Trump's attempt to **[“Make America Smoggy Again.”](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/05/22/make-america-smoggy-again-governor-newsom-responds-to-illegal-senate-vote-aiming-to-undo-states-clean-air-policies/)** California is standing up to the bully and letting the Trump administration know that we will fight to protect our democracy.
**No Kings Day** is a nationwide day of defiance organized by **[Indivisible](https://indivisible.org/), [Mobilize.us](https://www.mobilize.us/)** and a coalition of pro-democracy organizations. People across the country will come together for marches, rallies, and demonstrations to reject corrupt, authoritarian politics in the United States.The event is counter-programming to Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C. on his birthday.
This is an extremely challenging time for people who are worried about the climate and our country. Yet, our message remains the same. Action is still the best medicine for our angst. Your voice, energy, and time are the greatest gifts you can give. We encourage you to turn out with family and friends to protect our country and planet, and be uplifted as you join your neighbors and community. This is what Democracy looks like.
## **NO KINGS NATIONWIDE DAY OF DEFIANCE**
## **SATURDAY JUNE 14TH, BROADWAY PLAZA WALNUT CREEK**
## **11:30am-1pm**
## **Our Constitution, Our Liberty, Our Rights, Our Freedoms**
This is a non violent, peaceful rally and people’s parade. Bring big signs, patriotic costumes, water, sun hats.
Meet 350 friends in the plaza. We will have signs. If you see someone with a 350 Contra Costa shirt, say hello and introduce yourself!
[](https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/787022/ "Register Here") [Register Here](https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/787022/)
**How to Prepare for Your Event:**
✅ Bring signs or props → Make your message visible! (Ideas: “NO KINGS IN AMERICA!”, “THE PEOPLE UNITED”, “NOT YOUR PIGGYBANK!”)
✅ Recruit friends → The more people, the more power.
✅ Record everything → Post photos/videos with #NoKings
**We’re fighting for democracy. Let’s make them listen.**
##
Can you bring a friend?
Just copy the message below and email or text it to your friend, and they’ll receive a unique signup link.
*I’ve signed up to attend the visibility event with No Kings on Saturday, Jun 14, 2025. Are you free to join me? Use this link to sign up: **[https://mobilize.us/s/YyiPXt](https://track-mg.mobilize.us/CL0/https:%2F%2Fmobilize.us%2Fs%2FYyiPXt/1/010001971f5d07a1-0cd8a487-adcb-46aa-8fe3-f3be966a80c7-000000/qZQGww3pmi_dYzkLDTXHJYH_el63-bsDNiEl8EC1QBE=407)***
*This event was organized by a volunteer for No Kings. Contact No Kings at **events@nokings.org.***
## **Join Our Climate Circle: Monday July 7th 12-1pm**
## **Refinery Shutdowns: Consequences for Our Communities**
Are you concerned about Valero's announced closure? What happens if Chevron shuts down? Environmentalists point to improved health outcomes and progress towards a carbon-free future. Industry argues that gasoline prices and pollution will increase because we will have to import less-regulated gas. Unions fear their members will not find well-paying jobs if the refinery closes. Local city and state officials worry about loss of tax revenues.
[**We will discuss this multi-layered topic at our next Climate Circle on Monday, July 7, at 12:00 pm.** ](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/navigating-change-the-impact-of-refinery-shutdowns-on-communities/)
[](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog "Register Here") [Register Here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog)
Thank you—
Jackie
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** democracy is a climate issue, No Kings March and Rally
---
### [Contra Costa Earth Day 2024](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-earth-day-2024/)
**Published:** April 16, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Earth Day 2024 Activities around Contra Costa County
**Content:**
It’s time to celebrate Contra Costa Earth Day 2024! You’ll find plenty of Earth Day events all over the county this year. Several cities and towns are planning activities for **Saturday, April 20.** Check out the ones near you below.
## Contra Costa Earth Day 2024 Celebrations
We’ll be at the Walnut Creek and Pinole events—if you go, be sure to stop by our table and say hi!
- Antioch: **[Keep Antioch Beautiful](https://www.antiochca.gov/keep-antioch-beautiful/)** planting at the Water Park and trash pickup at Waldie Plaza
- Antioch: Earth Team’s **[Cleanup at Upper Sand Creek Basin](https://eastcountytoday.net/antioch-earth-day-cleanup-scheduled-at-upper-sand-creek/)**
- Concord: **[Earth Day](https://cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11351/Concord-Earth-Day-flyer-2024)** cleanups and gardening at nine locations
- Crockett: **[Earth Day Cleanup](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCDmf2coALjq3Wa0ybKj8IMFI8D6Wn_wsNo6SLArq__Torqg/viewform)** at Crockett Waterfront
- El Cerrito: **[Citywide volunteer work parties](https://www.el-cerrito.org/645/Earth-Day-Celebration)**
- El Sobrante: **[Earth Day](https://www.spawners.org/event/earth-day-2024/)** gardening and cleanup at El Sobrante Library
- Oakley – **[Earth Day Dune Restoration](https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/activity/search/detail/51333?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true)** at Big Break Visitor Center
- Pinole: **[Earth Day Walk](https://www.ci.pinole.ca.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=10947056&pageId=20163796)** at Fernandez Park
- Pittsburg: **[Civic Pride Day](https://www.pittsburgca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/9444/19)** cleanup at Highlands School and Buchanan Park
- Richmond – **[Earth Day Celebration](https://urbantilth.org/event/save-the-date-earth-day-celebration/)** at Unity Park Community Plaza
- North Richmond: **[Wildcat Creek Cleanup](https://urbantilth.org/event/2024-earth-day-in-north-richmond/)**
- North Richmond: **[Hope Gardens Community Planting Day](https://thewatershedproject.org/event/north-richmond-earth-day-2024-hope-gardens-community-planting-day/)**
- Rodeo: **[Earth Day Rodeo Creek Cleanup](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCDmf2coALjq3Wa0ybKj8IMFI8D6Wn_wsNo6SLArq__Torqg/viewform)**
- Walnut Creek: **[Earth Day Celebration](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-month-2024/)** at Civic Park
But don’t stop at Earth Day events. See all our [upcoming events](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/list/).
Author: Editorial Team
Image Credit: [Akil Mazumder](https://www.pexels.com/@akilmazumder/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-a-green-plant-1072824/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Earth Day 2024 Contra Costa County
---
### [Montezuma Carbon Capture Pipeline—Potential Community Hazard](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbon-capture-pipeline-potential-community-hazard/)
**Published:** May 22, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** The proposed Montezuma Carbon Capture Hub threatens the safety of Contra Costa and Solano counties with the risk of deadly gas leaks. Learn how you can help oppose this project.
**Content:**
Theo LeQuesne, climate organizer with the Center for Biological Diversity, is encouraging us to take action to stop the dangerous Montezuma carbon capture pipeline project. This project could expose residents of Contra Costa and Solano counties to **potentially deadly concentrated carbon dioxide gas**. The proposed Montezuma Norcal Sequestration Hub could become one of Contra Costa and Solano County’s most serious community hazards.
LeQuesne recently spoke to the Progressive Democrats of Benicia about the Montezuma project. This project would pipe compressed carbon dioxide from facilities in Contra Costa County along the Carquinez Strait. The carbon dioxide would then be injected into wells near the environmentally sensitive Suisun Marsh in Solano County. The project developers propose capturing carbon from a PG&E power plant near Pittsburg and Antioch, then expanding their pipeline network down the straits, connecting to power plants and refineries in Contra Costa County.
## Deadly Gas Leak Potential Along Carquinez Strait
The major problem is that the transportation pipes can leak or rupture, spewing deadly carbon dioxide substantial distances from the pipeline. Compressed, or “supercritical” carbon dioxide is heavier than air. It displaces oxygen, making it impossible to breathe. A [carbon capture pipeline ruptured in 2020 in rural Mississippi](https://www.npr.org/2023/05/21/1172679786/carbon-capture-carbon-dioxide-pipeline), sending people to the hospital foaming at the mouth and incoherent or unconscious. Forty-five people were hospitalized. Some people experienced lasting medical problems. Rescue vehicles had difficulty reaching the victims, as gas engines need oxygen to run, and simply stop after such a leak.
LeQuesne also noted that any water inside the pipelines forms an acid which can lead to zipper fractures along the length of a pipeline. The acidification can produce a long-lasting and wide-spreading “dead zone” in environmental water. The proposed terminus of the Montezuma Carbon Sequestration Hub lies adjacent to the Montezuma wetlands marsh southeast of Suisun City, making it a potential hazard to the community as well as to the environment.
## Safety Guidelines for the Pipeline on Hold
The Biden administration allocated financial incentives and tax breaks for carbon capture projects but also proposed safety guidelines for the pipelines. However, the safety guidelines were not published before the Trump administration took over. LeQuesne doubts that they will be put in effect any time soon.
At this point, LeQuesne said, the federal Environmental Protection Administration has asked project developers for more information about possible geologic and other issues involving the project. The EPA is awaiting Montezuma’s response before processing its request for permits to drill CO2 injection wells.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors has asked Montezuma for more information, as Montezuma needs County Board permission to drill a test well in the area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers likely will also need to consult, as the pipeline will run under water.
LeQuesne was asked how he thinks the advent of the Trump administration will affect the Montezuma carbon capture pipeline project. He called this “an interesting question.” The new administration might be reluctant to allocate money for a project put forward as environmental, he said. He is not sure that this and other carbon capture projects would go forward without federal tax breaks and incentives. Another attendee at the meeting, Benicia City Council member Kari Birdseye, noted that Big Oil appears to want the project, which could cause it to gain favor in Washington.
## Urge Your City Council to Say No to the Montezuma Pipeline
If you live in Antioch, Richmond, or other communities along the Carquinez straits, take action. Sign a petition and use other means to let your city council members know that you want them to oppose this dangerous project.
### In Contra Costa County:
**Antioch**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-antioch-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
**Richmond**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-richmond-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
### In Solano County:
**Benicia**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-benicia-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
**Suisun City**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-suisun-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
**Vallejo**: [Sign the Petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-vallejo-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
## Four More Ways to Help
There’s more you can do.
- Learn more about the Hub here: [Montezuma Carbon Hub: A Dangerous Distraction from Real Climate Solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/).
- Tell your [member of Congress](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/) that you object to the project.
- If you live in Solano County, tell your [county supervisor](https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/bos/default.asp) to oppose drilling of the test well—the initial phase for the Montezuma Hub project—to prevent the potential community hazard from starting.
- Write a [letter to the editor](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/).
- Watch our [blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/blog) for updates on the project.
Working together we can protect our communities from the potential hazards of the Montezuma Carbon Capture Hub and ensure a safer, healthier future for everyone!
Pub. May 22, 2025
Author: Christine Stevens
Image credit: Christine Stevens
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Montezuma CarbonHub, Montezuma Wetlands
---
### [May 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** May 18, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Who Pays for Climate Disasters?
When climate disasters strike, it’s the American taxpayer who bears the cost. We are all paying the steep price of climate change. Support the Climate Superfund Bill to hold polluters accountable for the damage they’ve caused.
Also, meet Margaret, a dedicated volunteer with 350CCA, and discover her inspiring story. Plus, find out what’s on the agenda for the Climate Circle discussion this June!
**Content:**
### May 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **When a climate disaster strikes, who pays?**
## **You, the American taxpayer!**
That’s right, we are all paying the costly price of climate change. Climate adaptation and disaster costs directly hit our pocket books. We pay for higher insurance premiums, higher PG&E energy costs, loss of housing, local and state taxes for disaster recovery, infrastructure repairs, emergency response expenses, and health harms from extreme weather disasters.
The Climate Superfund Bill would make polluters pay into an emergency fund that could help communities recover from the impacts of climate change. These companies are reaping record profits while taking no responsibility for their dangerous greenhouse gas emissions that alter our climate. The Climate Superfund shifts existing costs from taxpayers to the major polluting oil companies that helped supercharge the climate crisis and extreme weather events. **[Read more on our website blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/).
## **Act Now and support the Climate Superfund Bill**
## **Tell Your Legislator to Protect Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay!**
Central Costa Residents: Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer Kahan needs to hear from you. Kahan is a member of the Assembly’s Judicial Committee, which can pass on the Superfund for a vote by the full chamber, or stop it dead. Call her office at (925) 244-1600 or (916) 319-2016. Say, “I urge Assembly Member Kahan to support the Climate Superfund Bill, AB 1243.” **Make sure to tell them you are a constituent and give them your street address.**
**Or click below to submit your name and comment online.**
[](https://a16.asmdc.org/contact "Submit your name and comment online") [Submit your name and comment online](https://a16.asmdc.org/contact)
**You can also RSVP to join a Make Polluters Pay Rally on May 27** **[HERE](https://actionnetwork.org/events/mobilize-to-make-polluters-pay).** We want to have a huge turnout from across the state to demonstrate the power and momentum behind this bill.
## **Valero Refinery Closure**
Valero Refinery in Benicia announced that it will close next year. The refinery has a contentious relationship with the city and was recently fined for long standing air pollution violations. Four hundred full time workers will lose their jobs and Benicia will lose a major source of tax revenue. Read more on our **[website blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/pending-valero-refinery-closure-shocks-benicia/)** or listen to **[NPR Forum](https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101909783/benicia-contends-with-valero-refinery-closure)****.**
## **June 14th NO KINGS Nationwide Day of Protest**
The biggest climate issue is saving democracy! Keep up the fight! **[Join a Rally or March near you.](https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/)**
**[Indivisible And Partners Announce ‘NO KINGS’ Nationwide Day of Defiance on Flag Day, During Trump’s Birthday Parade](https://indivisible.org/statements/indivisible-and-partners-announce-no-kings-nationwide-day-defiance-flag-day-during)**
## **The Contra Costa Climate Circle**
## **Monday, June 2nd, 2025 at 12:00 PM**
[**The Contra Costa Climate Circle** ](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/climate-breaking-the-spiral-of-silence/)is a Zoom meeting for the climate concerned. Come connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting you!
**This month: Climate: Breaking the Spiral of Silence---Why We Don’t Talk and How We Can Start**
Are you comfortable talking to friends, family, or neighbors about climate change? If not, you’re far from alone. A recent global study found that **89% of people are concerned about climate change**, yet most of us rarely talk about it. This silence—known as the *Spiral of Silence*—stems from fear of conflict, judgment, or just not knowing what to say. But silence slows progress. Facts alone don’t shift opinions—emotion, trust, and connection do. Join us for the next **Climate Circle** on **Monday, June 2**, to explore how to break the silence and start climate conversations that matter.
**[Sign up here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350_cc_climate_circle_week_2&n=3&test_email=1) [](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350_cc_climate_circle_week_2&n=4&test_email=1)to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.**
## **Volunteer Spotlight - Margaret**
Margaret has been volunteering with 350 CCA since April 2020 and is the co-lead of the Communications Team. It is a natural fit, as she has always been fascinated by language and how people communicate and has worked with K-12 English learners, as well as international MBA students and international tech executives. Her favorite part of working with 350 CCA is that “we are a team, that we work together, that we listen to each other, that we can express differing opinions.”
Margaret encourages anyone who is curious to take a chance on volunteering. “We can accelerate change faster the more people that we have helping,” she says. “You don’t need to be an expert. It just takes time and exposure and willingness.”
“I love to see people come in, find their niche and keep going,” Margaret says. “I really think that everybody has a special gift. You have to give them a chance to show their colors.”
**[Read the full Spotlight article on Margaret here](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer-spotlight-margaret/).**
Thank you—
Jackie
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [Write and Submit a Letter to the Editor---It’s Easy!](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/)
**Published:** February 5, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Writing a Letter to the Editor (LTE) is a powerful way to voice your opinion on climate change and environmental policies. Here's a quick guide to help you craft and submit your LTE for publication.
**Content:**
## How to Write and Submit a Letter to the Editor on Climate Issues
Writing a Letter to the Editor (LTE) is a powerful way to voice your opinion on climate change and environmental policies. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness, influence public opinion, and even impact decision-makers. Whether you’re calling for action or holding bad actors accountable, your LTE can be a catalyst for change in your community and beyond. Here’s how to write and submit an LTE that gets noticed.
## **Process**
Follow this guide to craft a clear, polished letter that’s ready for publication.
1. **Pick Your Paper**
Choose a local newspaper to submit your LTE. Send your LTE to only one publication at a time.
2. **Check Guidelines**
Check the newspaper’s submission rules (word count, process) to ensure your LTE meets their criteria. Most papers have a strict word limit of 150-250 words. If you can’t find the guidelines, try searching “\[Newspaper Name\] letter to the editor submission guidelines.” Such a search takes us directly to [East Bay Times Letters to the Editor submission page](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/).
3. **Write Your Letter**
Respond to a current event or issue related to climate change in your area. Be clear, concise, and to the point.
4. **Include Contact Info**
Always sign your name and provide your location (e.g., city or neighborhood). Some papers may also ask for a phone number or email for verification.
5. **Submit Your LTE**
Follow the submission instructions and send your letter off! Many newspapers allow submissions via email or an online form.
## **Best Practices**
Keep these tips in mind to make your LTE more effective and increase its chances of getting noticed.
- **Reference a Recent Article**
Tie your LTE to a specific article, event, or local issue to make it timely and relevant. For example, “In your recent article about the city’s new development plan…”
- **Stay Brief**
Stick to the word count and focus on your main points. A concise letter is more likely to get published.
- **Specify an Ask**
Be clear about what action you want to see. Whether it’s calling for a policy change, more coverage, or action from local officials, make sure your request is straightforward.
- **Share Why You Care**
Adding a personal story can make your LTE more compelling. Explain why the issue matters to you, your family, or your community. This makes the letter more relatable and can help inspire others to care.
## Why Letters to the Editor Matter
Writing an LTE isn’t just about getting your message out; it’s about creating change at the local level. LTEs give you a chance to influence local media and directly engage with decision-makers. They can highlight key issues, spark conversations, and even inspire change at the community level. Here’s why taking the time to write one can make a real difference.
- **Raise Awareness**
LTEs help shine a light on important issues like climate action. They show that people in your community care about these topics and want to see change.
- **Influence Local Policymakers**
Local officials pay attention to LTEs because they represent the concerns of voters. A well-crafted LTE can motivate them to act on climate policies or environmental protections.
- **Shape Local Media Coverage**
The topics that appear in LTEs can influence what newspapers cover. If enough people write about climate issues, it can lead to more stories in the paper and encourage broader public conversations.
## Final Tips
Before submitting your LTE, take a few minutes to proofread it. Look for any spelling or grammar errors and make sure your message is clear. A polished LTE is more likely to be published, and it shows that you’re serious about your message.
Even if your LTE doesn’t get published, the process of writing and submitting it can still help bring attention to important issues and contribute to the conversation. So, get writing and let your voice be heard!
## Want more tips to strengthen your climate advocacy?
[Visit our Resources Hub](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub#HowToTalkAboutClimateChange) to learn how to talk about climate change with your friends and neighbors, and explore additional tools for engaging your community in the fight for a sustainable future.
Pub. Feb 5, 2025
Image Credit: [Andrea Piacquadio](https://www.pexels.com/@olly/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-blue-denim-jeans-sitting-on-floor-3807737/)
**Categories:** How-To
---
### [Volunteer Spotlight: Margaret’s Journey with 350 CCA](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer-spotlight-margaret/)
**Published:** May 13, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Margaret, a fourth-generation Californian, shares her inspiring journey with 350 CCA, highlighting her role in the Communications Team and the power of community action.
**Content:**
Margaret is a fourth generation Californian who spent a large chunk of her life in New England, where she started a family and established a career. She has been working with 350 CCA since she moved to Contra Costa County from Berkeley in April 2020. In that time, she has become the co-lead of the Communications Team and has helped start the Climate Circle and the speaker training initiatives.
What first struck Margaret about 350 CCA was that they seemed like “people on the move” who were taking real action for change. Although she felt a little lost when she first started volunteering, she let herself listen and learn: she attended meetings for every team and became “a fly on the wall.” She has been impressed with the dedication and knowledge of both the founders and other volunteers, as well as their friendliness and welcoming warmth.
Margaret felt most drawn to the [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/), which was a natural fit, as she has always been fascinated by language and how people communicate. After teaching K-12 English learners, Margaret built a career supporting, first, international MBA students and, later, international tech executives in developing their communication styles with an eye toward cultural differences. The Communications Team offered “things to be done that I can and like to do,” like writing letters to the editor and interacting with people while tabling.
Since becoming the co-leader of the Communications team, Margaret is most proud of the camaraderie and team spirit. “I like feeling that we are a team, that we work together, that we listen to each other, that we can express differing opinions,” she says. “We have grown to a robust team—and people seem to enjoy being a part of it.”
Margaret encourages anyone who is curious to take a chance on volunteering. She says,
> *We can accelerate change faster the more people that we have helping. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be present, listen, ask questions, and educate yourself as well as you can. It just takes time and exposure and willingness. I love to see people come in and find their niche.*
Pub. May 13, 2025
Author: [Vanessa Siino Haack](http://vanessasiinohaack.substack.com/)
Image credit: Wayne Shipman
**Categories:** Volunteer Spotlight
---
### [Pending Valero Refinery Closure Shocks Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/pending-valero-refinery-closure-shocks-benicia/)
**Published:** April 24, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Valero’s proposed Benicia refinery closure by 2026 could reshape the city’s finances and future. Here’s what residents should know—and do next.
**Content:**
The Valero Energy Corporation’s recent notice of the pending Valero Refinery closure in Benicia by April of 2026 has sent shock waves through the city—it’s the number-one topic of discussion for pretty much everyone in this southern Solano County town of 28,000. We all pretty much knew it would close sometime due to a decreasing need for fossil fuels, but we felt that closure was safely “in the future.” Now, although the notice is for possible closure, it is quite likely that this will be the case.
## Valero’s Complex Legacy in Benicia
Benicia has had a tumultuous relationship with the refinery, which opened in 1969 as a Humble Oil facility. Its tax revenues currently amount to nearly 17 percent of the city’s $60 million annual operating budget. But a history of dangerous emissions, including a 15-year stint of emissions of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and Xylene that the refinery allowed to continue without reporting, have made residents angry and uneasy with their 900-acre neighbor.
The end of the refinery means more than lost tax revenues—Valero currently employs more than 400 workers and about 200 contract workers. Many do not live in Benicia, although the exact number is unclear, but this will impact the county as a whole. Also, Valero has contributed millions of dollars over the years to Benicia schools for STEM programs and given very generously to the Little League and food bank.
## What’s Behind the Potential Closure of the Valero Refinery
It is coincidental that the notice comes a month after the city approved a new Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO) that would require additional monitoring and transparency of the facility’s emissions. However, it appears highly unlikely that the ISO caused Valero to decide to close. Fees for the ISO have not been set, but city council discussion indicates that they might be similar to the $331,320 fee Valero is already paying the city in a cooperative air quality agreement.
One of the more likely reasons, according to those knowledgeable about the matter, is Senate Bill X1-2, known as the California Gas Price Gouging and Transparency Law, which may require significant capital improvements to the facility and others like it in California, depending upon the condition of their equipment, which is not publicly known. It is possible that Valero officials think the ISO’s additional monitoring could bring these issues to light sooner rather than later, however.
It should also be noted that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District recently fined Valero a record $82 million for the 15 years of unreported pollution, which may also have soured the Valero brass on the site.
## Possible Futures for the Benicia Refinery Site
For Benicia, there are four possible scenarios for the closure:
1. Valero could sell the refinery to another refiner or similar industry. This happened in Martinez some years ago. The concern here is that, as appears to be the case in Martinez, the new owner doesn’t maintain it as well as the original refinery owner did and there are more problems related to the Valero refinery closure in Benicia.
2. The site becomes an energy hub, greener/renewable energy, hydrogen, battery storage.
3. Prolonged stagnation and site blight. There are federal, and much stronger state, requirements for cleanup for sites that contain toxic materials. However, the time frame and speed with which Valero actually does the cleanup would be unclear.
4. Full site remediation in which the site is cleaned up and transformed into a mixed-use area with business, industry and recreation. This depends on how much and how fast Valero cleans up the site, as well as whether other businesses want to locate in Benicia. It is likely to take some time.
In the meantime, we in Benicia are likely facing at least a few years of significantly-reduced services—weed abatement, recreation, parks, public safety and the library.
## What You Can Do Now to Prepare
- If you live in Benicia, get involved in the [2025-2026 fiscal year budget planning process](https://engagebenicia.com/en/folders/bridgetoprosperity) – see [links on the city website](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/citycouncil) or the email [newsletters the city manager sends out](https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?u=6b92b6340c41394384d7c695c&id=5a7111c573) weekly (sign up for these on the website). Some budget cuts will need to be made for the fiscal year starting July 1, and significant ones will be on the horizon the following year.
- If you live in a Contra Costa city where there is a refinery, start talking with your elected officials and city staff about planning for the day that refinery might close—planning to attract new business and industry, etc.
🍃🍃🍃
*A thank you to Benicia resident Justin Lockwood for pulling together and referencing industry and other sources for much of this information and posting on [Benicia Happenings](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1506873452918323/) to better inform our residents.*
Pub. April 24, 2025
Author: Christine Stevens
Image credit: Christine Stevens
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Valero refinery Benicia
---
### [April 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** April 1, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### April 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## EARTH DAY 2025, OUR POWER, OUR PLANET!
## NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
## APRIL 5TH
## It’s Time to Fight Back!
There has never been an **Earth Day** like this one. Our environment is under assault by the Trump administration. In just a few devastating months, we have lost years of hard fought environmental progress. We are living with the consequences of global heating that have led to repeated wildfires and natural disasters and skyrocketing insurance and electrical rates. This **[New York Times article](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/climate/trump-us-climate-policy-changes.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8E4.jLnR.9YbZomZHm4gW&smid=url-share)** details how Trump is crushing US climate policy and gutting protections for Americans and the agencies designed to deliver them.
Earth Day is a global celebration of stewardship and conservation of natural resources. We must cherish and guard our beautiful world. Let your love of our planet lead you to a celebration, protest, or action to protect our Earth.
**On April 5**, we're taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: **Hands Off!** our Democracy and government institutions. Join the nationwide grassroots protests against the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its oligarchic allies.
 If you care about Environmental Protection, Clean Air and Water, Climate Change, and Clean Energy
 If you love our National Parks, Forests, Seashores, and Public Lands
 If you care about government institutions like the National Park Service, the EPA, NOAA, FEMA, and so many others-
**It’s time to fight back!**
Contra Costa County residents, bring your friends and families and join the resistance at peaceful community rallies in Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Orinda, San Francisco, Sacramento, or anywhere in the U.S.
Organized resistance depends on ***real people taking real action***.
Only you can resist this coup!
Our Power, Our Planet!
## Hands Off! Rallies
## April 5th 12 noon to 1:30pm.
**[Contra Costa Fights Back ](https://www.mobilize.us/activateamerica/?tag_ids=26053&emci=041dbc73-920a-f011-90cd-0022482a9fb7&emdi=76b53623-930a-f011-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=5753763)**
**[Tesla TakeDown Walnut Creek](https://actionnetwork.org/events/tesla-takedown-protest-every-saturday-in-walnut-creek-6) (every Saturday)**
**[HandsOff!2025](https://handsoff2025.com/?SQF_SOURCE=indivisible) or [Fiftyfity.one](https://www.fiftyfifty.one/)**
Click on the links above for more details.
## Concord Rally and March
## April 19th 1 to 3pm
**[Stop the Trump Attacks on People and the Environment](https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/769023/)**
**Meet at Concord Bart Plaza at 1, then march to Todos Santos Plaza.**
**Please support and thank our local businesses during these peaceful, community rallies!**
## The Contra Costa Climate Circle
## Monday, April 7th, 2025 at 12:00 PM
[**The Contra Costa Climate Circle**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=HA_Q1YXuQ06CZnFfh_i09ZkWgRnmM5icECP6CGCn1sf6-3DWsAcAz_TsR7EB5o1YK33jV-IW3AdgwHIOAaip40g4bGr-xKe7EfyTIU9-9tb6iciiag-5GZwtrW9cH4MPAAFqklPGsl8eZHqxXitYwA&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350_cc_climate_circle_week_2&n=2&test_email=1) is a Zoom meeting for the climate concerned. Come connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting you!
**This month we will discuss:** California's electric rates are too high! According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, residential rates rose by 47% between 2019 and 2023. There is general agreement on the causes of the rate increase, but considerable disagreement about solutions.
How can we generate more local, affordable electricity? Join the next Climate Circle on Monday, April 7th to discuss issues and possible solutions.
**[Sign up here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350_cc_climate_circle_week_2&n=3&test_email=1) [](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350_cc_climate_circle_week_2&n=4&test_email=1)to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.**
## Petition to Ban Oil and Gas Drilling in Contra Costa County
We owe it to our children, our families, and our communities to take action now. By signing this petition, you are standing up for the health and future of all who live in our county. [**Read more here.**](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)
**Tell our leaders to end oil and gas drilling**:
- No new permits for oil or gas drilling
- Phase out existing drilling
- Provide support to **transition fossil fuel workers** to climate-friendly industries
**Sign and** **share the petition** with your community groups, clubs and organizations. Ask them to send it out to their mailing lists. We’ve got this!
[](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-contra-costa/ "Sign Petition Here") [Sign Petition Here](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-contra-costa/)
## Tell Your Legislator to Protect Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay!
**Central Costa Residents:** If you live in **Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, San Ramon, or Walnut Creek or surrounding areas, your Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan needs to hear from you.** Bauer-Kahan is a member of the Assembly’s Judicial Committee, which can pass the Superfund bill on for a vote by the full chamber or stop it dead.
Call the San Ramon office at (925) 244-1600 or the Sacramento office at (916) 319-2016. Or click the button below to submit your name and comment online. All you need to say is
**“I urge Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan to support the Climate Superfund Bill, AB 1243.”**
[](https://a16.asmdc.org/contact "Contact Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan Today!") [Contact Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan Today!](https://a16.asmdc.org/contact)
[**Read more about this important bill here**](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)
## Take a Survey and share your Comments
The Bay Area is taking the lead on addressing global climate change, and we need you to weigh in on how we do it: Please take our Bay Area Regional Climate Action Plan (BARCAP) Survey today!
We are gathering feedback from Bay Area communities on priorities and concerns regarding regional climate goals and potential strategies and actions. Public input is critical to guiding the priorities for BARCAP development — we urge you to forward this on to your networks. This survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete.
**Secure Link: [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BARCAP\_Survey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BARCAP_Survey)**
## 350 Contra Costa County Family Earth Day Events
## ALL ON APRIL 19TH, 2025
**[Walnut Creek Earth Day](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-month-2025/)** 11am-2pm, Civic Park
**[El Cerrito Earth Day: A morning of Volunteerism](https://www.el-cerrito.org/645/Earth-Day-Celebration)** 9am-12pm. Pre-register for many different activities and work parties.
**[Pinole Earth Walk](https://www.pinole.gov/our-community/earth-day/)** Fernandez Park April 19th 9am-12pm, 3 mile walk followed by family activities in the park. Other April earth activities include a community clean up, storytime, and a native plant workshop.
[**El Sobrante Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration**](https://keepelsobrantebeautiful.info/) April 19th 9:30am cleanup, 12pm celebration at library.
[**Oakland Earth Day - Saturday, April 19, 2025**](https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/oakland-earth-day)
[**2025 Earth Day Festival - Yerba Buena Gardens**](https://yerbabuenagardens.org/events/2025earthday/)
Thank you—
Jackie
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** BAR-CAP Survey, Central Contra Costa, Contra Costa Climate Circles, Earth Day 2025, Make Polluters Pay, National Day of Action, No drilling petition
---
### [The Growing Momentum of Climate Action: Contra Costa County’s Protest on April 12](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-growing-momentum-of-climate-action-contra-costa-countys-protest-on-april-12/)
**Published:** April 20, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Thousands across Contra Costa County took to the streets in joyous but determined protest against the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks. From Walnut Creek to Richmond, communities are uniting to protect climate progress—and push for a cleaner, fairer future.
**Content:**
## Contra Costa County’s Climate Protests
Contra Costans turned out in force on Saturday, April 12 for the “Hands Off” protests, and the mood was joyous, determined, and hopeful. Whether they joined several thousands of others, like in Walnut Creek, or one of the many smaller but no less mighty protests all over the county (1000+ in Richmond! 400+ in Orinda!), the people of Contra Costa County showed up to speak out! Many of us came away from the protest with a needed sense that we are not alone in our distress and outrage over the Trump administration’s gutting of our democracy and destruction of the social supports that have been put in place over the years to improve our quality of life.
## How Trump’s Environmental Rollbacks Threaten Climate Action and Clean Energy
Here at 350 Contra Costa Action, we are especially concerned about the climate and other environmental policies being espoused by this administration, which include:
- **United States withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement**: As the second largest greenhouse gas emitting country in the world, the US’s withdrawal will be a significant setback to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.
- **Illegally freezing funds appropriated by Congress** to fund clean energy projects
- **Stopping approvals for wind farms** on both private lands and federal lands and waters, and ordering a review of previously issued permits
- **Reopening Alaska** for oil and gas drilling
- **Slowing the EPA’s ability to respond to climate change** and other environmental problems through massive deregulation, delay of litigation, removal of references to “climate change” from federal websites, and threats of staff cuts: The EPA under the Trump Administration has become a bound and gagged version of its former self.
- **Pushing Congress to overturn California’s ban** on the sale of all new gas-powered cars by 2035, a move that is likely illegal.
## Taking Action Beyond the March: How You Can Keep the Climate Movement Alive
The “Hands Off” marches were an important start in challenging the administration’s plans to take us backward in the fight against climate change, but we need to keep the pressure on. And we need your help!
Keep marching and bring your friends. Tesla Takedown protests happen [every Saturday from 12-1 in Walnut Creek](https://indivisibleeb.org/event/tesla-takedown-protests-in-walnut-creek/2025-04-05/) (as well as [Berkeley, San Francisco, and Corte Madera](https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/teslatakedown)). Another Hands Off protest happened at Concord BART on April 19 from 1-3 pm and [more are in the works here and around the Bay](https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/769023/).
Post your protest signs in your front yard or window between marches.
Tell your [elected](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/) [officials](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/) about your experience at the march and encourage them to keep up the pressure too.
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Pub: April 20, 2025
Author: [Vanessa Siino Haack](http://vanessasiinohaack.substack.com/)
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Climate protests
---
### [Contra Costa Earth Day Events 2025: Celebrate, Connect, and Take Action!](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-earth-day-events-2025-celebrate-connect-and-take-action/)
**Published:** April 3, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join us for Earth Day 2025 events in Contra Costa County and nearby cities. We’ll be at several of these events—stop by and chat! Celebrate, connect, and take meaningful climate action!
**Content:**
Looking for a fun and meaningful way to celebrate Earth Day this year? Here are **five Contra Costa Earth Day 2025 events** happening right here—perfect for families, eco-enthusiasts, and anyone looking to make a positive impact.
We’ll be at several of these events, so make sure to stop by our booth and say hello! We’ll have games for the kids, sign-up sheets for Earth-healing actions, and plenty of information about how you can make a difference right here in our community.
Plus, if you’re up for a little adventure, we’ve included some Earth Day celebrations in neighboring Alameda and San Francisco. There’s no shortage of opportunities to get involved this Earth Day!
## Contra Costa Earth Day 2025 Events
We’ll have a booth at several of the events below on Saturday, April 19—be sure to stop by and chat with us!
- [ El Cerrito Earth Day: A morning of Volunteerism, 9 am-12 pm. Pre-register for many different activities and work parties. (Catch us there!) ](https://www.el-cerrito.org/645/Earth-Day-Celebration)
- [ El Sobrante Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration: 9:30 am cleanup, 12 pm celebration at library. (Join us at the library!) ](https://keepelsobrantebeautiful.info/)
- [ Pinole Earth Walk: Fernandez Park, 9 am-12 pm. 3-mile walk followed by family activities in the park. Other April Earth activities include a community clean up, storytime, and a native plant workshop. ](https://www.pinole.gov/our-community/earth-day/)
- [ San Ramon Earth and Arbor Day: Forest Home Farms, 11 am-2 pm. (Say hello to our friends of the San Ramon Valley Climate Coalition!) ](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/san-ramon-forest-home-farms-earth-and-arbor-day-celebration/)
- [ Walnut Creek Earth Day: Civic Park, 11 am-2 pm. (Don’t miss our booth!) ](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-month-2025/)
There’s more! On April 26th, test and ride e-bikes, learn about exciting and innovative mobility options, and enjoy food, music, and games for all ages at the [El Cerrito Go Green Mobility Fair](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/el-cerrito-go-green-mobility-fair-april-26th/).
## Nearby Earth Day Celebrations
Planning to head over to Oakland or San Francisco? Don’t miss these exciting Earth Day events:
- [ Oakland Earth Day---Events around the city! ](https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/oakland-earth-day)
- [ San Francisco 2025 Earth Day Festival---Yerba Buena Gardens 10am-3pm. ](https://keepelsobrantebeautiful.info/)
## Celebrate, Then Roll Up Your Sleeves and Act!
Earth Day isn’t just about celebrating our beautiful planet—it’s a call to action. This year, it’s more important than ever to raise our voices and demand accountability for the environmental and human rights under threat. This year we’re fighting. Fighting for survival.
We at 350 Contra Costa Action urge you to take advantage of the many Earth Day 2025 climate actions here and around the Bay. Join with thousands of others demanding accountability and restoration of environmental and human rights—won over decades of hard work—now being discarded like dandelion fluff in a matter of months. As the editorial team stated in our April newsletter,
> *Earth Day is a global celebration of stewardship and conservation of natural resources. We must cherish and guard our beautiful world. Let your love of our planet lead you to a celebration, protest, or action to protect our Earth.*
350 CCA Newsletter April 2025
So while you celebrate our still-verdant planet and its life-giving waters, soil and air, take time to notice what we are losing. Make a plan to take action to save the living Earth for your children and generations to come. There is a way you can help, whatever your circumstances. Like drops of water filling a river, every action, no matter how small, makes a difference.
[ Join an Action Team ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
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Pub: April 3, 2025, Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Concord March and Rally, Earth Day 2025, HandsOff! Rallies
---
### [March 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** March 14, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Climate Activism in a Brave New World: California Strong, with the Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill, Martinez Refinery Fire Updates, CA Climate Policy Summit and Sacramento Lobby Day, plus Bay Area Earth Day 2025 Celebrations
**Content:**
### March 2025 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Climate Activism in a Brave New World: California Strong**
California continues to resist the Trump administration with protests and to press forward with important environmental legislation. In the past few weeks there have been protests in Sacramento and San Francisco to protest the firing of Federal Workers, defunding National Parks, a Stand up for Science March, a Women’s March, and numerous demonstrations at Tesla dealerships. **In Contra Costa you can join weekly Tuesday rallies in Lafayette with Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center and** **[Mobilize Us](https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/758677/)**. Resistance makes a difference!
## **Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill([SB 684](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB684) / [AB 1243](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1243#99INT)****)**
Your support is needed! Urge state officials to hold corporate polluters accountable for climate disasters like the LA fires by demanding they pass a climate superfund bill. It’s simple: fossil fuel polluters should pay for the climate damages their products inflicted on California. They shouldn’t get to dump their costs on the public, especially while making record profits. The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund bill requires the state to carry out a study to quantify the costs of climate damages in California and establishes a fund into which fossil fuel polluters must pay to cover their fair share of those costs. The **[Climate Superfund legislation](https://drive.google.com/file/d/10DFYvCp50kz8jdBPkyk9-jwUXMI2p9uI/view)** will protect Californians.
**[Contact your legislators using this easy link](https://act.biologicaldiversity.org/RiV-eYzxG0yoMLeJFVfdMw2?)**.
## **Take a Climate Survey and share your Comments**
The Bay Area is taking the lead on addressing global climate change, and we need you to weigh in on how we do it: Please take the Bay Area Regional Climate Action Plan (BARCAP) Survey today!
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District are gathering feedback from Bay Area communities on priorities and concerns regarding regional climate goals and potential strategies and actions. Public input is critical to guiding the priorities for BARCAP development — we urge you to forward this on to your networks. This survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete.
**Submit a response for a chance to win one of four $50 Amazon gift cards!**
Secure Link: **[https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BARCAP\_Survey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BARCAP_Survey)**
## **The Contra Costa Climate Circle**
## **April 7th, 12pm to 1pm**
[](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog "SIGN UP HERE") [SIGN UP HERE](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog)
[**The Contra Costa Climate Circle** ](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/april-climate-circle-californias-electric-rates-are-too-high/)is a Zoom meeting for the climate concerned. Come connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting you!
**This month we will discuss:** California's electric rates are too high! According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, residential rates rose by 47% between 2019 and 2023. There is general agreement on the causes of the rate increase, but considerable disagreement about solutions.
How can we generate more local, affordable electricity? Join the next Climate Circle on Monday, April 7th to discuss issues and possible solutions.
**[Sign up here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog) [](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog)to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.**
## **Martinez Refinery Fire Updates**
PBF refinery released a **[list of toxic chemicals released in the fire](https://www.thepress.net/news/martinez-oil-refinery-discloses-toxic-chemicals-released-during-recent-fire/article_23cbbfea-eefe-11ef-a69b-232810b0caf6.html?utm_source=thepress.net&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2Fmonday%2F%3F-dc%3D1740407429&utm_medium=email&utm_content=read%20more)****.** They will release a report about the incident in March. The Air District and the DA continue **[investigations](https://patch.com/california/walnutcreek/s/j5v2d/refinery-fire-air-district-contra-costa-da-issue-joint-statement?utm_term=article-slot-1&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&user_email=6e30c8ec0866a3ef78c4ff8884d063bbf067285f90865cdec50da5231c42dccb&user_email_md5=d0d1353835d99ec9942fe426b9c397d1&lctg=60a6e038330bcc02e04d15e9)** into previous violations. The county has hired an independent firm to investigate the incident and do a root-cause analysis. Yada, yada, yada, we’ve heard this song before.
**Go Team! 350 Bay Area in the News**
[**350 Bay Area and Healthy Martinez**](https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/community-groups-to-give-away-free-air-purifiers-due-to-refinery-fire/) give away 1000 free air purifiers in Martinez.
## **California Climate Policy Summit 2025: Tuesday April 22nd**
Meet 350 Contra Costa members at the summit in Sacramento. [**Register Here.**](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2025/)
Sacramento Lobby Day on April 23rd. **[Register Here](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-lobby-day-2025/)**. No experience necessary.
These are excellent events for an immersive experience in California Climate Policy. Contact us to carpool or meetup in Sacramento.
## **EARTH DAY APRIL 2025: Our Power, Our Planet**
**[Climate Action in Contra Costa](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-action-in-contra-costa-tickets-1231688676989)**
Thursday March 20th 6-8 pm Danville, Lynda Deschambault EPRPD
**[Sustainable Walnut Creek Earth Day Celebration Day](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-month-2025/)**
Saturday April 19th 11am-2pm Civic Park Walnut Creek, CA
**[El Cerrito Earth Day Celebration](https://www.el-cerrito.org/645/Earth-Day-Celebration#:~:text=The%20City%20encourages%20individuals%2C%20families,for%20their%20work%20party%20activity)**
**[Oakland Earth Day Saturday April 19th](https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/oakland-earth-day)**
**[SF Earth Day at Yerba Buena Gardens April 19th](https://yerbabuenagardens.org/events/2025earthday/)**
Thank you —
Jackie and Lisa
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** BARCAP Survey, California Climate Policy Summit, California Strong, Contra Costa Climate Circles, Earth Day 2025, Make Polluters Pay, Martinez Refinery, Sacramento Lobby Day
---
### [Why Aren't More of Us Talking About the Climate Crisis?](https://350contracostaaction.org/why-arent-more-of-us-talking-about-the-climate-crisis/)
**Published:** February 27, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Locally and nationally, there’s a big disconnect between the severity of the climate crisis and its share of the public discourse. Why aren’t more of us talking about climate change—and what can we do about it?
**Content:**
Locally and nationally, there’s a big disconnect between the severity of the climate crisis and its share of the public discourse. Why aren’t more of us talking about climate change—and what to do about it?
Despite the megadrought, the forest fires, the floods, and the horrific heat waves, President Biden has not seen fit to declare the Climate Emergency we are experiencing. As the IRA makes blindingly clear, oil and gas companies still hold enormous influence over public energy policy. To push the president and defeat Big Oil, broad consensus favoring the transition to renewables is critically important.
According to a **[recent study](https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/)** by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, a large majority of adults in Contra Costa County perceive climate change as a serious threat and support climate-forward policies. Most of us are worried and want something done. But most of us are not even talking about climate change with our family and friends. Nationally, only about 35 percent of adults say they talk about it occasionally.
The July 19 **[*New York Times’ Climate Forward*](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/19/climate/climate-communication.html)** newsletter offers an explanation for this disconnect. First, many of us see climate change as a controversial topic and want to avoid conflict. And we don’t realize we’re in the majority. As a result, there’s a silo effect—neighbors each believing the other isn’t open to discussing climate issues, while in reality they both are.
## **What we can do**
When enough ordinary folks in every community speak up for bold, fair climate solutions, they will happen. Each of us can reach out to family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, listen to their concerns, and help them overcome their reluctance to engage with the issues. Break out of that silo!
---
A version of this article first appeared in our August 2022 newsletter. The Yale Climate Opinion Map for 2022 is no longer available. We’ve substituted the 2023 map.
Image credit: [Ekaterina Bolovtsova](https://www.pexels.com/@ekaterina-bolovtsova/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-women-talking-to-each-other-4051134/)
**Categories:** How-To
**Tags:** Climate Crisis
---
### [How and Why to Join 350 Contra Costa Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-and-why-to-join-350-contra-costa-action/)
**Published:** March 16, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Are you feeling anxious about climate change? You don’t have to face it alone. Join 350 Contra Costa Action (350 CCA) to be part of grassroots efforts fighting fossil fuel extraction, pushing for climate action plans, and electing leaders who prioritize the climate. Volunteering is easy and impactful---come make a difference with us!
**Content:**
## Climate Anxiety? Get Involved!
If you’re concerned about climate instability and want to do something about it, join 350 Contra Costa Action (350 CCA) volunteers.
## Why 350CCA?
We’re already on the ground, at the grass-roots level, doing what individuals like *you* imagine yourselves doing to mitigate the climate crisis.
- **Fighting Fossil Fuel Extraction**: We’re [actively campaigning to keep fossil fuels in the ground](https://350contracostaaction.org/goodbye-gas-the-all-electric-future/).
- **Pushing for Climate Action Plans**: We’re [urging local governments](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team#AdvocacyProjects) throughout the county to develop and follow [state-mandated Climate Action Plans](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/11/16/california-releases-worlds-first-plan-to-achieve-net-zero-carbon-pollution/) to reduce emissions and our carbon footprint.
- **Electing Local Climate Leaders**: We’re identifying, researching, and [endorsing candidates](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/) who take the fossil-free pledge and make climate and equity their key issues.
- **Holding Legislators Accountable**: We’re [tracking state and county-level legislation](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/), making sure lawmakers pass laws that lead to real climate improvements. by both individual citizens and businesses of all sizes
- **Getting the word out:** We keep our communities informed on how it’s all going through our [monthly newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/) and [public events](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/) that inform, call to action, and highlight our progress.
Curious about our where we came from and how we got here? Learn about our origins [here](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-350-contra-costa-action/).
## How You Can Help
Getting started with us is easy. Whether you have a few hours a week or want to dive deeper, there’s a place for you.
- [**Volunteer Your Skills**](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer#VolunteerJobs): Lend a hand with behind-the-scenes tasks. Organizing, event planning, outreach—whatever you’re good at, we can use it.
- **Learn the Ropes**: Spend time with one of our experienced volunteers and get up to speed on the policies we’re working on.
- [**Join a Team Meeting**](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/category/action-team-meetings/): Want to know more? Sit in on a meeting to see what we’re working on and how you can fit in.
## Are You In?
At 350 Contra Costa Action, we’re excited to collaborate with people ready to make an impact. Whether you’re contributing a few hours a week or diving into policy work, your efforts help us progress in the fight against climate change. Whatever you can contribute will help drive climate action. People with diverse skills working together make it happen.
***Come on in! The door is open!***
[ Take Local Climate Action Now---Volunteer with 350 CCA ](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer)
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: 350CCA Volunteer Staff Photo
**Categories:** How-To
**Tags:** How and Why to Join 350CCA
---
### [Local Climate Solutions Are Within Our Reach: Take Action Now](https://350contracostaaction.org/take-action-now-local-climate-solutions-are-within-our-reach/)
**Published:** December 2, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Take Action Now: Local Climate Solutions Are Within Our Reach! Local action in Contra Costa County and across California is more crucial than ever. The recent elections show that bold, community-driven climate leadership can drive real change. 350 Contra Costa Action is leading efforts to reduce emissions, boost clean energy, and prepare for climate impacts. Take action today to help build a cleaner, healthier future for our communities.
**Content:**
## Local Climate Action: Why It Matters for Contra Costa County
With the post-election threat to national climate progress, it’s up to us to lead the way with local climate solutions. The recent election shows that grassroots action in Contra Costa County and across California can drive real change. Here’s why. Plus, one quick action you can take right now to reduce emissions in CCC.
## Local Wins: How Elections Drive Climate Progress in California
State and local election results mark a win for climate action. Many of the [candidates we supported](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/) triumphed, showing strong community backing for bold climate leadership. As the final votes are counted, we’re excited about the progress that will shape a sustainable, equitable future for Contra Costa County and California.
While federal climate efforts face setbacks, local initiatives are more crucial than ever. Cities and counties hold the power to make a difference. 350 Contra Costa Action is working on the city and county level to:
- [**Slash emissions**](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-too-damn-hot/)
- [**Boost clean energy**](https://350contracostaaction.org/goodbye-gas-the-all-electric-future/)
- [**Hold polluters accountable**](https://350contracostaaction.org/richmond-makes-chevron-pay/)
- [**Prepare for climate impacts**](https://350contracostaaction.org/must-pass-legislation-sb-253-and-sb261-make-corporations-disclose-climate-impacts-and-risks/)
From electing leaders who support and sponsor climate initiatives, to electrifying homes, to protecting open spaces, community-driven climate action and clean energy initiatives protect our planet, help reduce emissions, and improve the quality of life in Contra Costa County and beyond.
## What You Can Do Now: Action to Reduce Emissions in Contra Costa County
***Wednesday December 4 is the deadline!***
We need your help to clean up the air in the Bay Area! On **December 4th**, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) will review [new rules that will require all water heaters and furnaces to emit zero nitrous oxides (NOx)](https://www.baaqmd.gov/en/community-health/building-appliances-rule-implementation) starting in 2027 and 2029.
Gas appliances are a major source of NOx pollution—worse than gas plants—and hit disadvantaged communities hardest. Electrifying these appliances will boost air quality and protect public health.
### Send a message to the BAAQMD Board urging them to support these crucial rules
- [**Sign the petition.** ](https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/SanFranciscoBay?actionId=AR0487449)Send a letter to the BAAQMD Board urging them to support the new air quality rules.
- [**Speak up at the meeting**](https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?actionId=AR0487449&data=7b6692f4d12c71480015af1c2bd2f764cabffe7e03fb0183daf2efe29b598211&formcampaignid=701Po00000RzPOYIA3). Sign up to give public comment at the Board meeting in support of these critical rules.
- [**Join us live**](https://www.baaqmd.gov/en/about-the-air-district/board-of-directors/resolutionsagendasminutes?event=a2ea3249-2b9e-4d59-bac1-f289ebda6272). Attend the meeting on Zoom or in person to show your support for cleaner air in the Bay Area.
Together, we can ensure cleaner, healthier air for our communities!
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Author: Editorial Team
Image by: [Pixabay](https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/three-light-bulbs-hung-207489)
**Categories:** Local Policy
**Tags:** BAAQMD Rules 9-4 and 9-6, California climate solutions, local action drives change in Contra Costa County, zero NOx furnaces, zero NOx water heaters
---
### [Join Us as a Writer for Climate Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/join-us-as-a-writer-for-climate-action/)
**Published:** January 15, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
 Volunteers draw prize-winner names at our booth at the Electrification Fair in September
### Make a Difference Writing for Local Climate Action and Environmental Justice
Are you an enthusiastic writer eager to make a difference in the fight against climate change? Join us as a Volunteer Writer for Climate Action and create engaging and accessible blog posts for our website.
### Why This Opportunity Matters
- **Make an Impact:** Your writing can inspire action and engage readers in climate solutions.
- **Team Collaboration:** You’ll be part of a supportive team that drafts content for you to refine in a consistent voice and add sparkle.
- **Flexibility:** If you’re ready to research and draft your own pieces, even better! Writing letters to the editor is another way you can help us reach a wide audience.
### What You Need to Succeed
- **Clear and Friendly Communication:** Ability to communicate clearly and in a relatable tone with a wide audience.
- **Time Commitment:** Just 3-6 hours a month to make a meaningful difference.
- **No Environmental Expertise Needed:** All that’s required is a desire to contribute to climate action and strong writing skills. Knowing how to write for SEO would be nice, but is unnecessary.
### Ready to Make a Difference with Your Words?
If you’re enthusiastic about writing for local climate action and ready to help us tackle the climate crisis, we’d love to have you on our team as a **Volunteer Writer for Climate Action**! **Apply Now** and join us in adding content to our website that inspires change.
[ Join Our Team ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/#VolunteerForm)
[ Learn About Us ](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-us/)
Image credit: 350 Contra Costa Action volunteer staff photo
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Volunteers Needed
---
### [California Climate Policy Summit and Lobby Day 2025: Register Now!](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-policy-summit-and-lobby-day-2025/)
**Published:** March 28, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join 350 Contra Costa Action at the California Climate Policy Summit on April 22nd in Sacramento, then at Sacramento Climate Lobby Day on the 23rd. Hear from experts, connect with activists, and inspire lawmakers to act.
**Content:**
## You’re Invited!
Join 350 Contra Costa Action at the California Climate Policy Summit 2025 on Tuesday, April 22nd, in Sacramento. Then meet up with us on Wednesday, the 23rd, for California Climate Policy Lobby Day. We invite you to connect and collaborate at both events with members of our [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/) and other 350 CCA activists.
## California Climate Policy Summit 2025, Tuesday, April 22
The summit, hosted by[ The Climate Center](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2025/), unites a powerful group of state leaders, elected officials, climate advocates, business innovators, environmental justice champions, scientists, and policy experts. Together, they’re driving efforts to advance science-based climate policies. Their shared mission: to create a sustainable future for California.
At this dynamic gathering, you’ll hear from climate leaders who are driving bold solutions. They’re advancing the goals of developing clean energy, cutting carbon emissions, and crafting policies for a resilient future. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with experts, advocates, and policymakers who are leading the charge on the frontlines of climate action.
### Focus on Key Climate Topics
The California Climate Policy Summit 2025 will address critical issues at the center of California’s climate policies. Here’s a preview of some key topics:
- **Accelerating the Phaseout of Fossil Fuels** Hear from climate leaders such as [Katharine Hayhoe](https://theclimatecenter.org/about/people/dr-katharine-hayhoe/) and [Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi](https://theclimatecenter.org/about/people/al-muratsuchi/) championing the shift away from fossil fuels, with a focus on equity and social justice.
- **Scaling Up** **Carbon Drawdown** Dive into solutions that [remove carbon from the atmosphere](https://theconversation.com/it-is-time-to-draw-down-carbon-dioxide-but-shut-down-moves-to-play-god-with-the-climate-220422) and accelerate large-scale emissions reductions.
- **Building a Resilient, Clean Energy System** Participate in discussions on creating a [reliable, sustainable energy grid](https://calmatters.org/commentary/2019/08/microgrid/) for California’s future.
### Learn, Build, Empower
But it’s not just about listening. This is your opportunity to:
- **Gain Actionable Insights****:** Learn from the latest innovations in climate solutions, clean energy, and policy that you can apply in your own work here at home.
- **Build Valuable Connections****:** Network with professionals, thought leaders, and activists who share your commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
- **Empower Your Efforts****:** Leave feeling inspired and equipped with new ideas, strategies, and a stronger sense of direction for **driving change in Contra Costa County** and beyond.
With actionable takeaways and networking opportunities, this event will empower you to contribute to California’s ambitious climate goals and join the movement for a sustainable, resilient future throughout the state and here in Contra Costa County.
[ Register for California Climate Policy Summit 2025 ](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2025/)
## California Climate Policy Lobby Day, Wednesday, April 23
The next day, [take that enthusiasm to the statehouse](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-lobby-day-2025/) and join us in lobbying our Assemblymembers and Senators. No experience necessary!
This is your opportunity to directly engage with lawmakers and their teams, advocating for critical climate policies that will shape a sustainable future for all.
The Climate Center offers a Lobby Day prep session the week prior. On the day itself, you’ll be paired with a team leader and given essential talking points on key climate legislation.
Enjoy coffee during check-in in the morning, and a catered lunch at a nearby restaurant near the Capitol.
Don’t forget: Registration is required!
[ Register for California Climate Policy Lobby Day ](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-lobby-day-2025/)
Author: Editorial Team
Image Credit: Volunteer Staff
**Categories:** Climate Policy
**Tags:** CA Climate Policy Summit, Sacramento Lobby Day
---
### [March 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** March 7, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: After the Berkeley ruling: Moving ahead with building electrification; Climate Leadership in Action; Chevron and Martinez Refinery Co. to cut emissions; ACTION ITEM: All-electric affordable housing; and much more!
**Content:**
### March 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
**After the Berkeley Ruling:**
**Moving Ahead with Building Electrification**
Practically everyone agrees that to cool the climate, we need to stop burning fossil fuels—coal, oil, and gas—to generate power. Instead, we need to use energy from the sun and wind to power the electrical grid. Then, we need to use this clean, renewable energy—not so-called “natural” gas—to power our buildings.
In California, residential and commercial buildings account for about **[25 percent](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/building-decarbonization)** of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s clear that decarbonizing buildings is essential. That’s why, back in July 2019, Berkeley **[became the first city](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/23/berkeley-natural-gas-ban-environment)** in the nation to ban gas hookups in most new construction.
On January 2, a federal court decision doomed this groundbreaking ordinance. That ruling against Berkeley was certainly a setback for the building electrification movement—not just for the city but also for other municipalities that have enacted similar ordinances since 2019.
As an example, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors last week voted to [**suspend enforcement**](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/8536/All--Electric-Buildings) of the county’s building electrification ordinance.
Fortunately, other approaches to building electrification are very doable, and lots of people—including Contra Costa County staff—are busily working on them.
To find out more about these promising pathways, [**read on.** ](https://350contracostaaction.org/after-the-berkeley-ruling-moving-ahead-with-building-electrification/)
## **Brentwood to Ban Oil and Gas Drilling!**
The Brentwood City Council is [**set to approve a ban**](https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/02/14/brentwood-moves-to-ban-any-future-drilling-or-production-of-oil-and-gas/) on oil and gas drilling (OGD) that’s been in the works for almost two years. The ordinance was heard and unanimously approved at its February 13 meeting; it’s expected to become law at a second hearing soon.
Back in March 2022, the council enacted a moratorium, proposed by Councilmember Jovita Mendoza, on OGD within city limits. Since then, the moratorium has been extended twice while city staff worked on an ordinance.
Last August, when the California Supreme Court struck down a local drilling ban in **[Chevron v Monterey County](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/california-supreme-court-strikes-down-countys-drilling-ban-2023-08-04/),** the city went back to the drawing board to craft a ban that takes that ruling into account. The new ordinance specifies two locations within the city where OGD will be disallowed. It also bans OGD from any development area unless that area has already been specifically listed as permitting it.
With the new law, Brentwood becomes the second Contra Costa city to outlaw oil and gas drilling. Antioch passed **[its ordinance](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/01/12/ebt-l-nodrilling/)** in January 2022.
This is a big win for the climate—and for the health and safety of the Brentwood community!
## **Climate Leadership in Action**
At a press conference on February 7, Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe signed a **[pledge](https://portsforpeople.pacificenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2023-Global-Mayors-Pledge-and-City-Proclamation-on-Fossil-Fuel-Infrastructure-003.docx.pdf)** to reject public investments in new, renewed or expanded fossil fuel infrastructure in the city of Antioch. He’s the first mayor to sign the pledge, which was originated by the global nonprofit **[Pacific Environment](https://www.pacificenvironment.org/).**
Find out more **[here](https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/02/07/mayor-pledges-to-work-toward-public-investment-in-clean-energy-reject-fossil-fuels/).**
The City of Antioch was already on the cutting edge of climate policy with its 2022 **[ban on oil and gas drilling](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/01/12/ebt-l-nodrilling/)** in the city.
Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe and the Antioch City Council have shown what climate leadership looks like. Now, it’s time for other Contra Costa cities—and the county—to follow their example.
## **Chevron and Martinez Refinery Company to Cut Emissions**
**[Fantastic news](https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2024-news/021324-announcement)** from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD):
“The Air District announced \[on February 13\] it has reached two separate agreements with Chevron and PBF Energy’s Martinez Refining Company resulting in an end to the litigation against the agency over its groundbreaking Regulation 6, Rule 5; major emissions reductions from both refineries; unprecedented penalties and other payments of up to $138 million; and a Richmond-area Community Air Quality Fund, among other benefits. The Air District estimates that the emission reductions achieved by the rule will result in tens of millions of dollars per year in health benefits by reducing early deaths and other health impacts of exposure to particulate matter.”
Response to the BAAQMD announcement was not 100 percent positive. The settlement with the Martinez refinery does not include some beneficial elements found in the settlement with Chevron. On February 15, the Substack newsletter **[*Martinez News and Views* reported](https://martineznewsandviews.substack.com/p/settlement-reached-between-air-district)** that Mayor Brianne Zorn was “disappointed in the agencies and the lack of protection of the Martinez community.”
But on February 18, the newsletter published a clarification from Mayor Zorn acknowledging the settlement’s achievement of significant reductions in emissions and “major wins” for the Martinez community. For more information on her remarks—and on the differences between the Chevron and PBF Energy agreements—click **[here](https://martineznewsandviews.substack.com/p/martinez-unified-braces-for-millions).**
## **ACTION ITEM: All-Electric Affordable Housing**
Here’s a great opportunity to speak up for building electrification in the Bay Area!
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) is planning a **[regional bond measure](https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-01/BAHFA_Explainer_Regional_Funding_for_Housing_Solutions-.pdf)** for the November ballot. The measure will ask voters to approve borrowing $10 - 20 billion for construction of affordable housing in nine counties and four cities.
Please tell BAHFA—don’t let any of this money go to gas infrastructure! Ask them to include an all-electric requirement in the Bay Area housing bond. Find out more and send a letter to BAHFA **[here](https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-the-bay-area-housing-finance-authority-electrify-affordable-housing-units?source=direct_link&).**
## **Clean Cars for All**
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has announced they’re expanding their **[Clean Cars for All](https://www.baaqmd.gov/?sc_itemid=CBAE9738-E434-49FE-A090-FDF74F655AD3)** program throughout the Bay Area. They’re now offering grants for income-qualified residents to retire their older car and replace it with a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery, or hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, or a pre-paid card for public transit and e-bikes.
Grant amounts range from $7000 to $12,000 depending on income and the type of vehicle to be purchased. Learn more **[here](https://www.baaqmd.gov/funding-and-incentives/residents/clean-cars-for-all/program-overview).**
## **Bay Area leads in EV Transition**
Yesterday, the **[New York Times reported](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/06/climate/hybrid-electric-vehicle-popular.html)** on the percentage of electric vehicle registrations in metropolitan areas across the country. San Jose came in first with EVs accounting for **40 percent** of all new auto registrations, and San Francisco came in second with 34 percent. Yay!
## **Climate Policy Summit, March 19**
**[The Climate Center](https://theclimatecenter.org/about/)** has announced its third annual **[California Climate Policy Summit](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2024/),** set for Tuesday, March 19 in Sacramento. This all-day event “will bring together elected and business leaders, policy experts, state officials, activists, and environmental justice advocates to build support for climate policy commensurate with what science demands.”
Find out more **[here](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2024/)**—then register **[here](https://whova.com/portal/registration/ccps_202403/).**
**Thank you,**
**Emily and Lisa**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Follow us on Facebook [**@350contracosta**](https://www.facebook.com/350ContraCosta/), Twitter [**@350ccaction**](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action?e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mar_2024_newsletter&n=24)**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Clean Cars for All, Climate Policy, Martinez Refinery
---
### [Oil and Gas Setbacks on Hold Until 2024 Election](https://350contracostaaction.org/oil-and-gas-setbacks-on-hold-until-2024-election/)
**Published:** February 13, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Widespread reports say petition signers were misinformed that signing would help protect communities from oil drilling—although the opposite is true.
**Content:**
## A Setback for the Setbacks
The oil companies have succeeded in stalling efforts to reduce the harm they’re doing to California communities.
Last September, Governor Newsom signed **[SB 1137](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/ann-alexander/gov-newsoms-welcome-announcement-oil-drilling-setbacks),** which requires a 3,200-foot health and safety setback around both new *and* reworked existing oil wells. This legislation bans all drilling within a kilometer of homes, schools, or hospitals—improving the health of more than 2.7 million Californians.
But oil and gas companies have forced the state to **[put the law on hold](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06022023/california-drilling-setback-lena-gonzalez/)** until the 2024 election. To get the law on the ballot, they filed a referendum with the CA Attorney General’s office and mounted a 20-million-dollar campaign, paying petition circulators to collect signatures supporting the referendum. Widespread reports say petition signers were misinformed that signing would help protect communities from oil drilling—although the opposite is true.
On February 3, the California Secretary of State announced that enough signatures had been certified to get the referendum on the ballot as a proposition. So, in the next election, voters will decide the fate of SB 1137. One more reason to get out the vote in 2024!
## Update June 27, 2024
**[Controversial Measure Overturning Oil Well Restrictions Won’t Be on California Ballot](https://calmatters.org/environment/2024/06/oil-ballot-california/)**
The oil companies have declined to pursue the ballot measure, now appear to think their chances are better in the courts than with the voters.
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: [Yuri Shkoda](https://www.pexels.com/@yurashkoda/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-gray-steel-pumpjack-under-blue-sky-7392237/)
This article also appeared in our February 2023 newsletter
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** California SB1137, Climate Crisis, Fossil Fuel Drilling, Fossil fuels and our health
---
### [Lynda Deschambault for East Bay Regional Parks Board!](https://350contracostaaction.org/lynda-deschambault-for-east-bay-parks-board/)
**Published:** September 2, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Elect climate champion Lynda Deschambault to East Bay Regional Parks Board of Directors!
**Content:**
 East Bay Regional Parks Ward 2 Board of Directors Candidate Linda Deschambault
We’re very excited to endorse climate champion [Lynda Deschambault](https://lyndad4parks.com) for East Bay Regional Park District’s Board of Directors! She’s running in [EBRPD’s Ward 2](https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/maps/District-Map-wardmap-2020-19x17.pdf), which includes Lamorinda and much of Oakland. Lynda has amazing credentials for this post. An environmental scientist, she’s not only a 20-year veteran of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9, but also founding director of Contra Costa County’s Climate Leaders (4CL). Lynda has a deep understanding of environmental issues and local climate policy. She has developed greenhouse-gas emissions inventories and drafted climate action plans for 15 cities.
EBRPD is now writing its Second Century Plan, a blueprint to guide agency policy. As a board member, Lynda will help create a comprehensive, forward-looking plan that combines new technologies with the wisdom of Native land stewards. She’ll work to ensure EBRPD has a strong plan for climate resilience and sustainable park operations.
While at USEPA, Lynda worked extensively with underserved communities. At EBRPD, she will emphasize representation and involvement of underserved and low-income communities in shaping the district’s plans. Let’s get Lynda elected! Find out how you can [get involved in her campaign](https://lyndad4parks.com/volunteer/).
**[→ Return to 2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)**
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee E Bay Regional Parks Board
---
### [October 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** October 16, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### October 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Why Local Elections Matter for the Climate**
Air quality. Emissions. Transit. Wildfires. Heat waves. Greener neighborhoods—or not.
Local leaders—mayors, city councils, and county supervisors—make decisions that profoundly affect our daily lives. Their choices shape energy use, public transportation, land development, and emergency plans. They determine how well we prepare for heat waves, floods, and wildfires. They can support or hinder efforts for renewable energy, improved transit, and greener communities.
These leaders wield significant power with local and global implications. Cities contribute approximately 75% of global emissions, and more than 60% of the U.S. population resides in urban areas. In Contra Costa County, that figure is around **[90%](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5342/Demographics)**. Nearly all of us live in urban or suburban settings, which means we are part of the problem.
However, we can also be part of the solution. Electing local leaders who recognize their role in addressing climate change is a crucial step. That’s why we are endorsing twenty local and state candidates committed to championing climate and environmental justice for everyone. Learn about our **[2024 Endorsees here](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/).**
## **Big Legislative Wins for Climate and Community Health!**
It’s been an exciting year in the California Legislature! While we didn’t win on every front, we’re thrilled that some of the key bills we were fighting for got signed into law. Here are a few highlights:
- [**AB 3233**](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240ab3233) gives local governments the power to ban or limit oil and gas operations to protect community health, safety, and the environment.
- [**AB 1866**](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240ab1866) takes on California’s 40,000 idle oil wells, requiring oil operators to create a plan to plug them all within the next decade—starting with those near homes, schools, and parks.
- [**AB 2716**](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240ab2716) cracks down on low-producing wells that are still polluting within the 3,200-foot setback zone. The new law imposes a $10,000-per-day penalty for operating these wells near sensitive areas.
Explore the successful bills we lobbied for this year [**here!**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/) These wins help push California closer to a safer, cleaner future for all!
## **Turn Climate Anxiety into Action: Join Our Local Volunteer Team Today!
Feeling overwhelmed by climate change? Volunteer with us and make an impact locally!
Taking action is a powerful way to overcome climate anxiety. By joining us, you can:
- Help make a real difference in your community’
- Connect with like-minded people, and
- Take concrete steps toward solutions.
It’s empowering to know you’re part of the movement pushing for a healthier planet. We have volunteer roles right now where you can make a difference:
- **[Become a Climate Action Newsletter Writer](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-an-impact-volunteer-for-newsletter-writer-for-local-climate-action/)**
- **[Help Lead as a Social Media Manager](https://350contracostaaction.org/climatevolunteer-for-social-media-manager/)**
- **[Serve as a City Climate Action Liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/sign-up-become-a-city-climate-action-liaison/)**
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/#VolunteerJobs "Ready to make a change? Check out our volunteer roles here.") [Ready to make a change? Check out our volunteer roles here.](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/#VolunteerJobs)
## **Save Big on E-Bikes! Contra Costa Rebates Available Now!**
Thinking about going electric? Now’s the time! Contra Costa residents can get a rebate when they buy a new e-bike, conversion kit, or electric moped.
- $150-300 for all residents
- If you are **[income qualified](https://511contracosta.org/biking/electric-bicycle-rebate/#lowincome)*,*** your rebate increases to $300.
This deal applies to:
- Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bikes
- Mopeds with speeds under 30 MPH.
There’s no catch—just show off your new ride, and maybe give a few test rides to your friends.
Apply for your rebate here: **[511 Contra Costa E-Bike Rebate](https://511contracosta.org/biking/electric-bicycle-rebate/).**
## **Events
## **Climate March and Rally--Walnut Creek**
**Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Civic Park Gazebo, Walnut Creek (Civic Dr. & Broadway)**
This event features a rally followed by a march through downtown Walnut Creek, with participants pausing at key intersections to raise awareness about climate action through music, chants, and banners. Join like-minded folks to foster community connections, and take collective action on one of the most urgent issues of our time—climate change.
[**Find out more here.**](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/walnut-creek-climate-march-and-rally/)
## **Home Electrification Fair Recap + Upcoming Online Events on Heat Pump Water Heaters**
On Saturday, September 14th, 350 Contra Costa Action and Citizens Climate Lobby hosted the Contra Costa County Home Electrification Fair. Twenty-six organizations, contractors, and vendors explored the "why, how, when, and what" of home electrification. With over 200 residents in attendance, it was a great success!
If you missed the fair, don’t worry—three upcoming online events will focus on Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs), the most energy-efficient water heaters on the market:
**DIY Heat Pump Water Heater Install**
***Monday, Oct 21, 2024 | 9:00 AM PT** Watch as expert Steve Brotton installs a heat pump water heater. Learn tips for DIY installation and save money on this energy-efficient upgrade.
[**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y-UrJU_8QQSkW7iPxZV2wg?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#/registration)
**Heat Pump Water Heaters--Lowest Cost, Lowest Carbon Hot Water**
*Tuesday, Oct 22, 2024 | 12:00 PM PT
Get the basics on how heat pump water heaters save money and cut carbon emissions. This quick 30-minute webinar will give you all the info you need!
[**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bbfmmHuaSO6hM3JOin-_kA?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#/registration)
**Heat Pump Water Heater Day**
*Wednesday, Oct 23, 2024 | 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM PT
This full day of sessions on HPWHs includes a featured session on new manufacturers entering the market at 1:15 PM and much more in-depth information. [**Register here**](https://www.advancedwaterheatinginitiative.org/hpwh-day?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email)
**Don't miss these chances to learn more about making your home more energy-efficient!**
Thank you—
Lisa, Kate, and Illana
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2024 CA Climate Legislation Passed, CoCo Home Electrification Fair, Heat Pump Water Heaters, Local Election Endorsees 2024
---
### [February 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** February 14, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** In Case of Emergency—Take Local Action! Join the Contra Costa Climate Circle. Call your County Supervisor and demand they protect citizen health by enforcing safety reforms at the refineries. Rally in SF to support Greenpeace against Big Oil: “We Will Not Be Silenced!” And more! We can act. Let’s do it!
**Content:**
### February 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **In Case of Emergency—Take Local Action!**
Many of us feel a sense of urgency at the alarming actions of the Trump administration and the accelerating pace of climate change. We want to do something, but fear our individual actions are too little or too late. Our 350 Contra Costa Action team wants to remind you that ***every*** action we do to support democracy, to fight climate change, and to work towards an equitable and sustainable society makes a difference. It is a critical time to take local action, join a group, become a volunteer, or work for positive change. Our collective resistance and dream of a better world are acts of hope, unity, and creation. What we do today, matters to the future. The 350 Contra Costa Action community can show you how. Together, let’s take action. The time is now.
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/ "Sign up here") [Sign up here](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/)
## **The Contra Costa Climate Circle**
[**The Contra Costa Climate Circle** ](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/join-a-contra-costa-climate-circle/2025-03-03/)is a Zoom meeting for the climate concerned. Come connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting you!
This month, the focus is on wildfire. Wildfires in California in the past 10 years have destroyed thousands of homes and burned millions of acres of forest, polluting the air we breathe and releasing harmful carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. As a result of catastrophic wildfires, homeowners’ fire insurance is becoming prohibitively expensive, or unavailable. How could future local wildfires impact us and our neighborhoods? What can we do to make our homes and communities more fire safe? The Climate Circle takes place the first Monday of the month from 12-1pm.
[**Register here** ](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog)to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.
## **Martinez Refinery Fire**
The **[Yale Program on Climate Communication](https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/fossilfuel-lawsuits/)** shows that here in Contra Costa County, 67 percent of adults believe that fossil fuel companies are responsible for global warming. That’s no surprise to locals with the number of explosions and fires in our fossil fuel friendly county with major oil refineries lining the highway 680 refinery corridor.
A major refinery fire blackened the skies February 1st at the Martinez Refining Company. Martinez residents are fed up with the delayed or lack of community warning, the non-disclosure of chemicals released, continued safety failures, and the endangerment of community health and welfare. Here is **[Mayor Zorn’s instagram post](https://www.instagram.com/cityofmartinezca/p/DFs2dq6TpDv/?img_index=1)****.** Read more at this **[Sunflower-Alliance Blog](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-martinez-refinery-fire-the-last-burning-straw/)** and **[Healthy Martinez](https://www.healthymartinez.org/in-the-news).**
**ACTION**: **Speak Out!** Tell the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to protect citizen health and to enforce safety reforms at the refineries. **[Find your Supervisor on the map with links to call or email](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5715/Supervisor-Who-Represents-Me)****.** Even if you don’t live by the refineries, your supervisor needs to hear that YOU CARE about your neighbors’ health.
## **RALLY: Support Greenpeace**
**RALLY:** Support Greenpeace [**"We Will Not Be Silenced" Rally in San Francisco on Tuesday 2/18 -- Noon - 2 pm.**](https://www.mobilize.us/greenpeace/event/754044/) This is a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) lawsuit by **[Big Oil against Greenpeace for $300 million](https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/72706/greenpeace-international-files-lawsuit-against-energy-transfer-in-first-use-of-eu-anti-slapp-directive/)** for supporting indigenous land rights at the Dakota Access Pipeline. It is an attempt to erode the right of public protest and to intimidate and bankrupt environmental activist organizations.
## **Sunflower Alliance CalGEM lawsuit is going to the California Supreme Court!**
We applaud our ally Sunflower Alliance in the success of their lawsuit. CalGEM allowed an oil drilling company to re-open a dry gas well without any CEQA review, after the well had been closed for a **whopping 47 years**! This has frightening implications for reactivating closed wells throughout the state.
**DONATE**: 350CCA has made a donation to support Sunflower’s legal expenses. Read more about the **[Sunflower Alliance Lawsuit](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/our-ongoing-lawsuit-against-calgem-one-victory-one-defeat-and-petitioning-the-supreme-court/)** and make a donation to help support their legal expenses!
## **Championing Our Future: A Big Game Win for Climate Action**
Kudos to the **[Science Moms Superbowl commercia](https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/science-moms-urge-climate-action-in-regional-super-bowl-ad/)****l** for a universal values message to protect the people and places we love.
Thank you—
Jackie and Lisa
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Contra Costa Climate Circles, Greenpeace rally, Local climate actions, Martinez Refinery, Sunflower Alliance
---
### [Contra Costa County Voters Prove They’re Ready for Climate Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-county-voters-prove-theyre-ready-for-climate-action/)
**Published:** January 27, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Contra Costa County voters made their voices heard in the 2024 local elections, electing 15 climate champions committed to bold environmental policies. Read about the leaders set to shape a sustainable future for the community.
**Content:**
## Climate Action Candidates Set to Lead Contra Costa County
In the 2024 local elections, Contra Costa County voters sent a powerful message: climate action is essential. With overwhelming support for candidates dedicated to bold environmental policies, the results highlight the county’s growing commitment to climate leadership. Here’s a closer look at the 15 climate champions set to lead the charge.
These leaders have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to tackling climate change, prioritizing public health, and building a sustainable future for all residents. We look forward to seeing them implement strong local policies that protect both our environment and the well-being of our communities.
## Meet the 2024 Climate Champions Elected in Contra Costa County
Thanks to your support, these climate leaders are stepping into their new roles:
- **Board of Supervisors D5:** [Shanelle Scales-Preston](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-shanelle-scales-preston-for-contra-costa-supervisor-d5/), climate advocate and community organizer
- **East Bay Parks Ward 2:** [Lynda Deschambault](https://350contracostaaction.org/lynda-deschambault-for-east-bay-parks-board/), environmental steward and parks advocate
- **Brentwood City Council D3:** [Jovita Mendoza](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/), champion for clean energy and sustainable growth
- **Concord Council D4:** [Pablo Benavente](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-pablo-benavente-for-a-sustainable-concord/), forward-thinking leader for climate justice
- **El Cerrito Council at-large seats:** [Lisa Motoyama](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/), [Rebecca Saltzman](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/), and [William Ktsanes](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/), all strong advocates for clean, affordable transit, green housing, and climate resilience
- **Hercules Council at-large seat:** [Alex Walker Griffin](https://350contracostaaction.org/alex-walker-griffin-hercules-climate-action-champion/), committed to sustainable transportation and local green initiatives
- **Lafayette Council at-large seats:** [Carl Anduri](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/) and [Gina Dawson](https://350contracostaaction.org/gina-dawson-for-environmental-sustainability-in-lafayette/), both passionate about green solutions like building electrification and expanding EV charging infrastructure.
- **Pinole Council at-large seats:** [Devin Murphy](https://350contracostaaction.org/devin-murphy-building-a-sustainable-energy-future-for-pinole/) and [Maureen Toms](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/), leaders in promoting environmental education and sustainable practices
- **Richmond Council D6:** [Claudia Jimenez](https://350contracostaaction.org/claudia-jimenez-leading-environmental-justice-in-richmond/), dedicated to fighting for environmental justice and green infrastructure
- **Walnut Creek Council at-large seats:** [Cindy Darling](https://350contracostaaction.org/cindy-darling-for-environmental-justice-in-walnut-creek/) and [Kevin Wilk](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/), advocates for energy efficiency and low-carbon development
These newly elected officials are poised to shape the future of Contra Costa County with climate policies that will protect the environment. Their efforts will also promote long-term economic resilience and public health.
## Get Involved and Stay Informed
Want to support these climate champions and stay up-to-date on their progress? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on local climate policies, events, and ways you can get involved in making Contra Costa County a leader in climate action in 2024. Together, we can build the future our planet deserves.
[ Subscribe to our newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
Your voice matters—let’s keep building a brighter, greener future together.
Image Credit: [Bekky Bekks](https://unsplash.com/@bekkybekks) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/together-we-have-force-text-overlay-on-white-background-Fd5B3nn3TpM)
**Categories:** Electoral Blog
**Tags:** 2024 election Contra Costa County, climate action 2024, climate leaders elected
---
### [January 2025 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2025-newsletter/)
**Published:** January 16, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Start 2025 strong with 350 Contra Costa Action. Support climate champions, get involved in local advocacy, and help tackle climate change in your community. Read about legislative wins, volunteer opportunities, and the latest climate action news.
**Content:**
### January 2025 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## **2025: A Time to Help Each Other**
The New Year started with events which have increased our climate anxiety and feelings of fragility for those of us who care deeply about the environment. The devasting LA wildfires have again brought home the effects of a 1.5 degree C warmer world to our California Community. Our hearts go out to Angelenos who lost their homes or loved ones, and to those who will suffer indirect impacts from this massive disruption in the local economy and society. This will be the **[most expensive climate disaster in U.S. history](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/09/los-angeles-wildfire-economic-losses/)**, estimated at over $100 billion dollars. This is a time to take care of each other, and to continue our work on local and state climate policies.
We are inspired by President Jimmy Carter’s environmental legacy, whose prescient actions in his one term in the 1970s set in motion positive changes that continue to influence clean water, air, and energy in this country. We celebrate his Clean Air Act, strengthening the Clean Water Act, The National Energy Act, and creation of the Department of Energy. In the same way, our work today will ripple outward in creating a healthier and cleaner society.
California will continue to be a national leader in climate action. Despite the Trump Administration’s hostility to clean energy, the Biden Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will generate clean energy growth throughout the country. California is the fifth largest economy in the world, and our leadership “trickles up” to the rest to the nation. Our elected officials believe in a cleaner energy future. They need to hear our voices and feel our support as they wrangle over legislation and regulation!
In Contra Costa County, we celebrate the wins of candidates we supported through our electoral work (see list of Climate Champions below). Legislative victories in the last session include AB 1465 on **[pollution penalties for refineries](https://www.baaqmd.gov/en/news-and-events/page-resources/2024-news/092324-ab-1465)** and other stationary sources, AB 1886, which pushes oil and gas companies to **[clean up idle and low producing wells](https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/gov-newsom-signs-bill-to-clean-up-dangerous-idle-oil-gas-wells-2024-09-25/),** and **[AB 3233 Local Environmental Choice and Safety](https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/california-bill-to-affirm-local-choice-on-oil-gas-operations-passes-assembly-2024-05-22/)** which allows local regulation over pollution from previously excluded industries. Voters approved a $10 million bond under **[Proposition 4](https://calmatters.org/environment/2024/12/environment-review-2024/)** which will fund statewide projects related to wildfire, flooding, extreme heat, safe drinking water and protection of natural lands. There will be a lot happening in the upcoming legislative session and we may see new legislation on wildfires and water.
## **Join, Support, and Inspire Action in 2025**
At 350 Contra Costa Action we want you to know that our door is open! We invite you to join our volunteer advocates, join our Climate Club starting this spring, step up to become a liaison with your city, or just learn from others who are doing climate work in your neighborhood. Please get in touch at ****.
Volunteerism, as President Carter exemplified, is an action of faith, hope, and community building. Let 2025 be the year that you take time to help others and join us in local climate policy action. Together we can make the world a better place.
- **Donate** to help LA wildfire victims at **[Mutual Aid LA Network](https://mutualaidla.org/)** or **[World Central Kitchen](https://wck.org/news/meal-locations-ca)** or **[California Community Foundation](https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/)**
- **Coming Soon**: 350 Contra Costa Climate Club, a book club format that will meet monthly on Zoom or in person to discuss a current climate article or podcast. **[Sign up here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform?usp=dialog)** to join the group and we will be in touch.
- We are sharing strength and optimism from two recent podcasts from climate heroes **[Leah Stokes](https://www.climateone.org/audio/leah-stokes-2024-schneider-award-winner)** and **[Rebecca Solnit](https://www.climateone.org/audio/rebecca-solnit-why-its-not-too-late).** You can also read them as a transcript.
## **Big News! New York’s Climate Superfund becomes law!**
The State of [**New York just passed their own Climate Superfund Bill.**](https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/liz-krueger/governor-signs-climate-change-superfund-act) This landmark legislation requires polluters to pay for cleanups, following the superfund model. This law extends coverage to include damages caused by climate change and greenhouse gases. In California, we are working to pass a similar bill. This will be a 2025 legislative focus of the Eliminate Fossil Fuels Team (EFF) in our work with the 350 Bay Area Action Legislation Team.
Now it's California's turn. **[Add your name to the list](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/californians-make-polluters-pay)** of thousands of Californians calling on the State Legislature and Governor Newsom to pass this bill this year and join our movement to #MakePollutersPay!
### Here's what we can do:
**Fight for a California "Polluters Pay" Climate Superfund Bill**, which would require CalEPA to establish a program to assess damages and the biggest polluters to pay into a fund based on their historical emissions.
The fund would be used for:
- Climate disaster relief and recovery
- Infrastructure improvements for climate resilience
- Supporting communities most affected by climate change
[SIGN THE PETITION](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/californians-make-polluters-pay)
Find out more about this campaign, our other 2025 Climate Action priorities, and how you can get involved at our parent organization, 350 Bay Area's **[first Monthly Climate Action Meeting of the year on January 28th.](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=DkvtxRkTWxaQg5WXsTnkEJhLEzzZeG55ni_CPZP_mKNLwHFp6Kg84vx7rvSmKZhf&e=b4e795c94f9ad84fa0a552f57943511f&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=climate_disasters_mpp&n=7)**
## **Contra Costa County Climate Champions take office**
**Congratulation to 2024 local Election Victories!**
Voter’s support for climate candidates proves again that Californians are ready for climate action.
We are thrilled to welcome the **[15 newly elected officials we endorsed](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)** in Contra Costa County as they step into their roles. These leaders have demonstrated a commitment to bold climate action and public health, and we look forward to seeing them implement strong local policies that prioritize our environment and well-being.
Board of Supervisors D5: Shanelle Scales-Preston
East Bay Parks Ward 2: Lynda Deschambault
Brentwood City Council D3: Jovita Mendoza
Concord Council D4: Pablo Benavente
El Cerrito Council at-large seats: Lisa Motoyama, Rebecca Saltzman, and William Ktsanes
Hercules Council at-large seat: Alex Walker Griffin
Lafayette Council at-large seats: Carl Anduriand Gina Dawson
Pinole Council at-large seats: Devin Murphy and Maureen Toms
Richmond Council D6: Claudia Jimenez
Walnut Creek Council at-large seats: Cindy Darling and Kevin Will
Thank you—
Jackie and Lisa
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2025 climate priorities, Climate Change Solutions, Environmental justice initiatives, Legislative climate action, Wildfire recovery support
---
### [Lisa Motoyama Drives El Cerrito’s Green Transformation](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/)
**Published:** September 26, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Four-year El Cerrito City Councilmember and Mayor, Lisa Motoyama drives El Cerrito's Climate Action Plan with renewable transit, sustainable housing, and EV infrastructure, while restoring financial stability and championing resilience.
**Content:**
 El Cerrito City Council At-Large Candidate Lisa Motoyama
In the last four years, as El Cerrito City Councilmember and Mayor, Lisa Motoyama drove the city’s Climate Action Plan with renewable transit, sustainable housing, and EV infrastructure. She also spearheaded initiatives that promote sustainability, while working to restore financial stability and championing resilience. Here are some key highlights from her tenure:
- **Climate Action:** Passed the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), taking crucial steps toward California’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
- **Transit Transition:** Achieved a shift from diesel-fueled transit vehicles to renewable diesel, a first step marking a move toward cleaner public transportation under the CAAP.
- **Sustainable Housing:** Advocated for transit-oriented housing planning that integrates sustainability into new developments.
- **Stabilized Finances:** Steered El Cerrito away from fiscal instability when the pandemic hit in 2020. Today, the city enjoys a strong financial footing with a dedicated Emergency Relief fund and resources for future pension obligations.
Looking ahead, Motoyama commits to enhancing California’s climate goals by:
- **Expanding EV Infrastructure:** Advocating for more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
- **Creating Resilience Centers:** Working to secure funding for an expanded library at the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station, transforming it into the city’s first heating, cooling, and clean-air center.
- **Building Electrification:** Supporting all-electric in new buildings.
With 30 years experience in low-income housing, including as a senior housing finance consultant, Motoyama has worked tirelessly to create affordable homes and streamline sustainable development. A 19-year resident of the city, Councilwoman Motoyama proudly celebrates El Cerrito’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Support Lisa in building a greener, more resilient El Cerrito!
**Learn more about her campaign:** [Lisa for El Cerrito](https://www.lisaforelcerrito.com/)
**Get involved:** [Volunteer with Lisa](https://www.lisaforelcerrito.com/volunteer)
Image credit: Lisa Motoyama campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee El Cerrito City Council_LM
---
### [November 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** November 21, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### November 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Local Climate Action Is More Important Than Ever!**
While the election was a blow to progress on global warming, there’s plenty we can do at the city, county, and state level. The recent election underscores the critical importance of local climate action, particularly here in Contra Costa County and across California. As national climate progress remains uncertain, our communities have a unique opportunity to lead the way:
- In reducing emissions
- Advancing clean energy, and
- Building resilience
Local efforts—like electrifying homes, protecting natural spaces, and strengthening climate policies—are essential to safeguarding our environment and health. Working together, we can set an example for bold, community-driven solutions that inspire statewide and national progress.
Many of the candidates we endorsed for local elected positions have been successful. Their success demonstrates strong support for climate action and community well-being. As we await the final outcomes in a few remaining races, we’re encouraged by the progress made at the local level. Once all votes are certified, we’ll share a full update on the winners who will help lead Contra Costa County toward a sustainable and equitable future.
## **Support Bay Area Clean Appliance Rules!**
We need your support to ensure cleaner air for all by backing critical appliance rules in the Bay Area! On December 4th, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) will review progress on regulations that will require all new water heaters and space heating systems to emit zero nitrous oxides (NOx) starting in 2027 for water heaters and 2029 for furnaces. Gas appliances are a major source of harmful NOx pollution—far surpassing emissions from gas powered plants. In-home gas appliances hit disadvantaged communities the hardest. By electrifying these appliances, we can improve air quality and protect public health.
### **Sign the petition [here](https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/SanFranciscoBay?actionId=AR0487449)**
Please take a moment to send a letter to the BAAQMD Board urging them to support these crucial rules. You can also sign up to give public comment at the board meeting in support of the rules.
## **Celebrate the wins! AB-1465 passes.**
California has passed [**AB-1465: Nonvehicular Air Pollution: Civil Penalties**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1465), which significantly increases fines for major polluters like Chevron in communities burdened by environmental injustice. The law triples the maximum penalties for serious air quality violations in areas already struggling with high pollution levels. This is a critical step toward holding industrial facilities accountable for their disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. AB-1465 also strengthens enforcement tools for regulators, emphasizing the state’s commitment to addressing long-standing environmental justice concerns.
## **Holding Polluters Accountable**
Bay Area polluters are getting hit with major penalties for the damage they do. Earlier this year, Richmond negotiated a major settlement with Chevron, securing millions for community investments in exchange for withdrawing a proposed tax measure. Now, Valero is facing a $82 million settlement for violating toxic emissions limits at its Benicia refinery between 2017 and 2022. **[This settlement, reached with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (pdf)](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/communications-and-outreach/publications/news-releases/2024/settle_valero_241031_2024_023-pdf)****,** ensures penalties for the harmful impacts on local communities. The funds will support air quality enforcement programs and community projects, demonstrating how polluters can be made accountable while advancing public health and environmental justice in the Bay Area.
## **Contra Costa Secures $15.9M for Zero-Emission Buses**
Contra Costa County is set to receive a $15.9 million grant to fund **[27 new zero-emission County Connection buses](https://countyconnection.com/grant-2024/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGo1m1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWPa1IAbMuUi3m1WufflWmdm0rv8SNjoSIbb0oDX4TjuKtDhQ12Cb1XF8A_aem_DEWMj_MpGhomBuIhP4A3ug)****.** This grant marks a major step toward cleaner, more sustainable public transportation. The funding, part of the California Clean Transportation Program, will help replace older diesel buses with electric ones, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality across the county. This initiative aligns with the region's efforts to expand clean energy solutions and enhance environmentally-friendly transit options for residents.
## **Calling Concord Residents: Party On with The Switch is On!**
**[The Switch is On](https://www.switchison.org/ca)** is looking for Concord residents to host a neighborhood electrification event in early March 2025! As a host, you’ll invite 20-30 neighbors to your home, backyard, or communal space and receive $500 for your time and support. Highlights include:
- A live cooking demo by a professional chef
- A contractor discussing induction cooktops and heat pumps, and
- A presentation on electrification tools
All event supplies, catering, and rentals will be covered.
We’re seeking commitments by December to ensure everything is ready. This is a great opportunity to help your community transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions! Contact us at **[info@350contracostaaction.org](mailto:info@350contracosta.org)** if you are interested.
Thank you —
Lisa, Kate, and Illana
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2024 CA Climate Legislation Passed, Bay Area Clean Appliance Rules, Bay Area Polluters, The Switch Is On, Why Local Climate Action Matters, Zero Emission Buses
---
### [Concord Residents: Earn $500 hosting an Electrification Party!](https://350contracostaaction.org/concord-residents-earn-500-hosting-an-electrification-party/)
**Published:** December 12, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Concord residents: Earn $500 by hosting an Electrification Party! Share the benefits of clean energy with neighbors through a live cooking demo, expert tips on induction stoves and heat pumps, and hands-on tools. Sign up by December 31!
**Content:**
## Spark Home Electrification in Concord!
Concord residents: Earn $500 hosting an Electrification Party and help your community transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. Our friends at [The Switch is On](https://www.switchison.org/ca) are looking for Concord residents to host a neighborhood electrification event in early March 2025. As a host, you’ll invite 20-30 neighbors to your home, backyard, or communal space and receive $500 for your time and support. Interested?
[Sign up before December 31](#SignUp).
## What is Home Electrification?
Home or building electrification is the key to a cleaner, healthier future. Switching to all-electric appliances reduces greenhouse gas emissions, cuts energy costs, and improves indoor air quality, which in turn improves our [cognitive abilities and community health](https://350bayarea.org/get-gas-out-buildings) over time.
[Read more about the benefits of electrification.](https://350contracostaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BE-FAQ-internet-version-final-9-24.docx.pdf)
## What’s in a Concord Electrification Party?
Hosting or attending an electrification party offers a one-of-a-kind experience:
- **Live cooking demo**: Watch a professional chef prepare delicious meals on an induction cooktop.
- **Expert insights**: Learn from a contractor about the benefits of induction stoves and heat pumps, including cost savings and efficiency.
- **Hands-on tools**: Discover electrification solutions that make switching easy and affordable.
The Switch Is On will provide everything you need, including event supplies, catering, and rentals.
[Learn more about The Switch Is On](https://www.switchison.org/ca/about).
## Act Now!
Spots are limited. We need commitments by December 31 to make it happen. This is your chance to inspire change, earn $500, and lead your community toward cleaner, more efficient energy solutions.
Email us at [**info@350contracostaaction.org**](mailto:info@350contracostaaction.org) to sign up or learn more.
Not ready to host? Share this opportunity with your friends and neighbors in Concord! Together, we can electrify Concord and build a cleaner future.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: [Kampus Production](https://www.pexels.com/@kampus/) on [Pexels]()
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Home electrification
---
### [Sacramento Watch: Climate Bills We're Tracking Now](https://350contracostaaction.org/sacramento-watch-climate-bills-were-tracking-now/)
**Published:** April 15, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Watch for these five climate bills the 350 Contra Costa Action Legislative Team is tracking in Sacramento right now.
**Content:**
This legislative session has brought a good number of climate-related bills. Here are some key bills to watch.
## SB 252 Fossil Fuel Divestment Act
Arguably, the most important bill we’re watching is [SB 252](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB252), the **[Fossil Fuel Divestment Act](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_252_the_fossil_fuel_divestment_act_fact_sheet.pdf)**, back after last year’s defeat. This bill prohibits the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) from investing in fossil fuel companies, and it requires them to divest any current holdings in these companies by 2030. So far, so good—this bill passed out of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee on April 12 and is now headed to the Judiciary Committee.
**Status 6/15/23:** *Referred to Assembly Committee on Natural Resources*
## Zero-Emission Buses, Solar, and EVs as Emergency Power Backups
**[AB 579](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB579)** mandates a move to zero-emission school buses, requiring all new purchases and contracts to be ZEVs by 2035.
**Status 6/19/23:** *From Senate Committee on Ed chair, with author’s amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.*
[**SB 49**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB49#98AMD) encourages construction of solar canopies over parking lots and directs the Department of Transportation to plan for solar installations along its highway rights-of-way.
**Status 6/19/23:** *Re-referred to Assembly Coms. on U. & E. and REV. & TAX. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.*
[**SB 233**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB233) addresses the use of electric vehicles as a source of power for grid reliability and emergency backups. It requires the Energy Commission to establish goals to accelerate the use of vehicle-to-home, vehicle-to-building, and vehicle-to-grid technology. It also makes funds available to provide higher incentive levels for such bidirectional-capable EVs.
**Status 6/15/23:** *Referred to Assembly Coms. on TRANS. and U. & E.*
## SB 674 Refinery Fence-Line Monitoring
[**SB 674**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB674#99INT) creates a statewide standard for the refinery fence-line monitoring program, ensuring that noxious pollutants are measured and best practices deployed to protect the well-being of surrounding communities. Its passage will be very good news for the folks in our county who live near a refinery.
**Status 6/19/23:** *From Assembly committee with author’s amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.*
Watch for our updates and action alerts as these and other climate bills make their way through the legislature.
---
Last updated 6/27/23
Photo by [Greg Thames](https://www.pexels.com/@greg-thames-12409424) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/california-state-capitol-building-under-blue-sky-8490892/)
This article appeared first in our [April 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/april-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** bidirectional EVs, Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, solar parking lot canopies, Zero Emission Buses
---
### [Urgent Action Alert: YES on SB 674/An Update](https://350contracostaaction.org/urgent-action-alert-yes-on-sb-674/)
**Published:** May 12, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Update 5/24/23: SB 674 has passed the Senate! Now it’s onward to the Assembly and then (hopefully) to Governor Newsom’s desk.
**Content:**
### Update 5/24/23
## Senate Passes—Onward to Assembly!
Great news for folks who live near refineries—[SB 674](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_674_refinery_fence-line_monitoring_factsheet_final_2.16.pdf) has passed the Senate! Now it’s onward to the Assembly and then (hopefully) to Governor Newsom’s desk. All three of our county’s senators—Dodd, Glazer, and Skinner—voted YES on this important bill. A big shout out to all of you who called and emailed them!
## Contact Your Senators Prior to Monday’s Vote on SB 674
[SB 674](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB674/2023) is headed to the Senate floor! This important bill will make sure that refineries protect the health of people who live nearby. It creates a statewide standard for the refinery fence-line monitoring program, ensuring that noxious pollutants are measured and best practices are deployed to protect the well-being of surrounding communities**.**
**UPDATE 5/16/23:** The vote, originally thought to come as soon as the afternoon of Monday, May 15, has been delayed. A firm floor vote date has not been provided, though it could come as early as next week, so we have a little more time to contact our senators and urge their support.
Please call or email your state senator today, and tell them to vote YES on SB 674! If their office is closed, leave a voicemail message. Calls are more effective than emails.
## **Who’s your senator?**
Click on a senator’s name to see a map of their district.
[Steve Glazer](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/district) District 7 916-651-4007
[Nancy Skinner](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/district) District 9 916-651-4009
[Bill Dodd](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/district) District 3 916-651-4003
## **Suggested phone script**
My name is ***\_\_***, and I live in (city or town). As your constituent, I urge you to support SB 674, the Refinery Air Pollution Transparency and Reduction Act. The refineries have not been doing an adequate job of monitoring and reducing their toxic emissions, and I am very concerned about the threat to our communities’ health. Please vote YES on SB 674.
## **Suggested email**
Dear Senator ******\_\_\_******,
As your constituent and a resident of (city or town), I urge you to support SB 674, the Refinery Air Pollution Transparency & Reduction Act. I am very concerned about neighboring refineries’ conduct and lack of transparency.
SB 674 addresses critical gaps in the implementation of AB 1647 (2017 – Muratsuchi), and at an insignificant cost to state taxpayers. SB 674 would require refineries to conduct third-party audits of their monitoring systems, ensure proper facility coverage, provide adequate public notification when emissions thresholds are exceeded, and make data from the fence-line monitors readily accessible to the public.
I believe that the Act is crucial to our city and to many others in your district, and urge your yes vote.
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** Fossil fuels and our health, Martinez Refinery
---
### [Action Alert: It's Time to Call Sacramento!](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-alert-its-time-to-call-sacramento/)
**Published:** May 29, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** We’ve got the power—let’s use it! This is the week our state legislators will be voting on several key climate bills, so it’s time for you to make two quick phone calls to your senator and assemblymember.
**Content:**
This is the week our state legislators will be voting on several key climate bills, so it’s time for you to make two quick phone calls to your senator and assemblymember. Elected officials pay more attention to constituents’ phone calls than to emails. When you call their Sacramento office, the staffer who answers the phone will be happy to take your message.
We don’t know exactly when each bill will be voted on, so please **call today!**
Not sure who represents you? You can use **[this tool](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/)** to find the names of your senator and assemblymember.
### **Call your senator**
These three Senate bills really need your senator’s YES vote:
- **[SB 252](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB252) – Divestment** prohibits California’s biggest pension funds, for Public Employees (CalPERS) and Teachers (CalSTRS), from investing in fossil fuel companies, and requires that they divest any current investments by 2030.
Update 6/29: [Check here ](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB252)for updates as the bill works it way through committees and to the floor.
Update 5/25: Passed! In Assembly.
- [**SB 233**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB233&search_keywords=community+choice+energy) **– EV Bidirectional Capability a**ddresses the use of electric vehicles as a source of power for grid reliability and emergency backups. It requires the Energy Commission to establish goals to accelerate the use of vehicle-to-home, vehicle-to-building, and vehicle-to-grid technology. It also makes funds available to provide higher incentive levels for such bidirectional-capable EVs.
Update 6/29: [Check here ](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB233)for updates as the bill works it way through committees and to the floor.
Update 5/31: Passed 5/30; In Assembly.
- [**SB 674**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB674#99INT)**– Refinery Air Pollution Transparency and Reduction** creates a statewide standard for the refinery fence-line monitoring program, ensuring that noxious pollutants are measured and best practices deployed to protect the wellbeing of surrounding communities.
Update 6/29: [Check here ](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB674)for updates as the bill works it way through committees and to the floor.
Update 6/1: Passed 5/22; In Assembly 5/23; Referred to Coms. on Nat. Res. and Jud 5/26.
You can really make a difference by calling your senator and leaving a message like this:
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the senator to vote YES on three very important climate bills:
- SB 252 to stop public investment in the fossil fuel industry
- SB 233 to improve the grid’s reliability, and
- SB 674 to protect the health of people living near refineries.”
**[Bill Dodd](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/)**
District 3
916-651-4003
**[Steve Glazer](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/)**
District 7
916-651-4007
**[Nancy Skinner](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/)**
District 9
916-651-4009
### **Call your assemblymember**
On the Assembly side, please call about these three key bills. Make sure your assemblymember knows you’re looking for their YES vote on:
- [**AB 421**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB421/id/2778127) **– Referendum Accountability** brings real reforms to the state ballot initiative process, which the oil and gas, tobacco, and other industries have used to block good laws.
Update 6/1: In Senate, read 1st time; to Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Update 6/29: [Check here ](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB421)for updates as the bill works it way through committees and to the floor.
Update 5/31: Passed! On to the Senate.
- [**AB 579**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB579/2023) **– Zero-Emission Schoolbuses** requires all new schoolbus purchases and contracts to be ZEVs by 2035.
Update 6/29: [Check here ](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB579)for updates as the bill works it way through committees and to the floor.
Update 5/31: Passed! On to the Senate.
- [**AB 1167**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1167) **– Orphan Well Prevention** requires companies that buy oil wells to post a bond covering cleanup costs after the well stops producing. Read why this is important **[here](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/ann-alexander/ab-1167-putting-brakes-orphan-well-catastrophe).**
Update 6/21: [Check here ](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1167)for updates as the bill works it way through committees and to the floor.
Update 6/1: Passed 5/25! In Senate 5/26; to Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Here’s a suggested message for your assemblymember:
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the assemblymember to vote YES on three very important climate bills:
- AB 421 to stop powerful industries from overturning good laws
- AB 579 to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and
- AB 1167 to make sure the public doesn’t get stuck with the cost of cleaning up oil wells.”
**[Lori Wilson](https://a11.asmdc.org/)**
District 11
916-319-2011
**[Buffy Wicks](https://a14.asmdc.org/)**
District 14
916-319-2014
**[Tim Grayson](https://a15.asmdc.org/)**
District 15
916-319-2015
**[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan ](https://a16.asmdc.org/)**
District 16
916-319-2016
That’s it! We’ve got the power—let’s use it!
---
Photo by [Bibhash Banerjee](https://www.pexels.com/@perventuator/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-ceramic-cup-on-table-1047254/)
This article appeared first in our [May 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, Fossil fuels and our health, Referendum Accountability, Zero Emission Buses
---
### [Now is the time to get AB 7 passed on the Assembly floor!](https://350contracostaaction.org/now-is-the-time-to-get-ab-7-passed-on-the-assembly-floor/)
**Published:** May 29, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** California cannot reach its ambitious climate targets while continuing to invest heavily in projects that increase our dependence on fossil fuel-powered vehicles. AB 7 will turn this situation around! Call your Assemblymember before NOON on Tuesday, May 31st. Here's how.
**Content:**
## Call your assemblymember before NOON on Tuesday, May 31st!
Our sister organization, 350 Bay Area Action, sent the following email blast today, calling for all climate activists to call their CA Assemblymembers *before noon tomorrow*. We are publishing the information here so you can tweet it, post it on Facebook and other social media, and send it to your friends and family.
This is a pivotal week in the legislature for climate action.
**Now is the time to get [AB 7](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB7) passed on the Assembly floor!**
Our transportation sector plays a central role in driving the climate crisis, contributing approximately 40% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, and accounting for nearly $30 billion in state and local funds. A recent report from the Strategic Growth Council shows significant misalignment between the transportation projects the State funds and our climate goals.
**California cannot reach its ambitious climate targets while continuing to invest so heavily in projects that increase our dependence on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.**
### **[AB 7](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB7) will turn this situation around!**
### **PLEASE call or write your Assemblymember before noon on Tuesday, May 31st.**
**(find your [rep](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/) here)**
**Phone Script**
I’m (name) from (community) and I request that Assemblymember **\_\_\_\_** vote ‘Yes’ on **AB 7** at the upcoming Assembly Floor vote. This is why:
- 40% of California’s carbon emissions and $30 billion of the budget are in the Transportation sector.
- AB 7 requires additional transportation project selection criteria that reflect the Governor’s Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI), as well as the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This bill will result in significant carbon emission reductions, clean energy transit systems, and needed pollution relief for disadvantaged communities.
- California cannot successfully combat the climate crisis unless we approve more Transportation projects that reduce our dependence on single-occupant driving and reduce ‘Vehicle Miles Traveled,’ support clean transportation alternatives with ZEV charging stations, electric rail and buses, AND more walk/bike paths to achieve our carbon emissions reduction targets by 2030. AB 7 will facilitate all of the above.
Can I count on Assemblymember \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to vote **AYE** on **AB 7**?
**Sample Email**
Dear Assemblymember **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_,**
I am emailing you as a constituent asking for your **support on** **AB 7 (Friedman)**.
Extreme weather events and sea level rise are progressing faster than climate models predicted. California is in a climate emergency, and your leadership is needed now to advance policies that reduce climate risks and promote solutions. Forty percent of California’s carbon emissions come from the transportation sector. State transportation programs must begin to significantly reduce these emissions, especially given that transportation projects are allocated $30BN in the state budget. CARB data indicates the state has made very little progress within the Transportation sector toward the 2030 carbon emission reduction goals. **The science is clear: we must reduce carbon emissions by 40% as of 2030.**
**AB 7** requires that Caltrans, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), and the California Transportation Commission (CTC) incorporate principles of the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI), and the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), into their processes for transportation project development, selection, and implementation, starting in 2025. Re the California Transportation Plan (CTP) process, AB 7 requires a financial element that summarizes the full cost of implementation of the CTP, realistic projection of available revenues, and a discussion of trade-offs within the Plan. The bill also requires accountability via an analysis of how effectively Caltrans, CalSTA, and CTC are achieving the principles outlined in the CAPTI, IIJA, and the Federal Justice40 initiative.
Examples of AB 7 transportation project selection criteria include:
- improvement of transportation infrastructure safety, resilience and overall condition, including ADA accommodations,
- “future-proofing” of transit, including incorporation of innovative clean energy technologies, EV charging station ramp-up, and progress toward development of a statewide integrated rail and transit network,
- development of ZEV infrastructure—from light to heavy-duty vehicles and big rigs,
- creation of walkable communities where feasible, as well as other Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reduction strategies, such as compact infill development near job centers,
- inclusion of disadvantaged communities in project selection processes, resulting in certain projects benefitting these disproportionately-harmed residents,
- protection of Natural and Working Lands—as well as supporting biodiversity, including pollinators, via conservation.
To date, the vast majority of California transportation projects reflect outdated selection criteria—primarily the expansion of roadway capacity. AB 7 will ensure that in addition to addressing safety and maintenance improvements to existing systems, transportation decision-makers will be required to prioritize projects that will lead to meaningful carbon emission reductions, reduction of VMT, construction of compact infill housing developments, and improvement of overall system reliability and resilience—all while leveraging innovative clean energy systems, and conservation of Natural and Working Lands.
For all of these reasons, I strongly support **AB 7 (Friedman)** and respectfully request your “**AYE**” vote.
Thank you,
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\[Name\]
*A reminder about the legislative process: After bills pass their house of origin, they head to the other house where the process repeats—the bills go through the relevant committees, appropriations, and then the final floor votes.*
**Thank you for taking action today!**
Nick Ratto, for the 350 Bay Area Action Legislative Committee
You can [support the work of this dedicated team of volunteers here](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/donate_to_350ba_action).
---
Photo by [Florian Wehde](https://unsplash.com/@florianwehde) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/yeqidtd7k1A)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, Transportation and Climate
---
### [Update: Both Passed! Let's get SB 253 and SB 261 passed on the Senate Floor!](https://350contracostaaction.org/crunch-time-in-sacramento-lets-get-sb-253-and-sb-261-passed-on-the-senate-floor/)
**Published:** May 29, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Two critical climate bills addressing corporate accountability are up for vote in the California Senate at noon May 31st. Call or email your State Senator immediately and urge them to vote "Aye!" on SB253 and SB 261.
**Content:**
#### Update 5/30/23
## We did it! On to the Assembly!
See how your senator voted on SB 261 and SB 253 here.
Senate vote on SB 261Senate vote on SB 253Do call and thank your senators for their Yes votes!
## Please call or write your State Senator by noon on Tuesday, May 31st
![Protestors carrying signs, including one that says "Planet Over Profit" Update: Both Passed! Let’s get SB 253 and SB 261 passed on the Senate Floor! - 350 Contra Costa Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/pexels-markus-spiske-2559749_wb.jpg "Protestors carrying signs, including one that says "Planet Over Profit" - 350 Contra Costa Action")We know we’re sending a lot of alerts today, but the legislature is in full swing this week and addressing climate bills as you read this. This is the second of two email blasts our sister organization, 350 Bay Area Action, sent this morning. This one covers two bills coming for a vote on the Senate floor. We are publishing the information here so you can tweet it, post it on Facebook and other social media, and send it to your friends and family. And don’t forget to call your senators!
**It’s crunch time in Sacramento. Let’s get [SB 253](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB253) and [SB 261](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261) p****assed on the Senate floor!**
**Senate Bill 253 (Weiner)—the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act—**would require all US-based corporations that do business in California with annual gross revenues of $1 billion USD or greater to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory each year, in a way that is understandable and accessible to the people of California.
At present, many of the largest corporations doing business in California are not subject to carbon reporting laws, and those that currently report their emissions often do not report their full GHG footprint. They leave out crucial aspects of their supply chain and operations. **The result is a continuing lack of transparency from corporate polluters, and an inability to properly regulate them due to a lack of accurate information.**
***Status 6/15/23:** Referred to Committee on Natural Resources* *(Assembly)*
**Senate Bill 261 (Stern)—Financial Climate Risk Disclosures—r**equires “covered entities” to annually prepare a Climate Risk-related Financial Disclosure document and submit it the California Air Resources Board and the Secretary of State.
Disclosure will help mitigate the risk of over- or undervaluing investments that could slow economic growth and our progress towards a healthier, more resilient, carbon-neutral future. Changes associated with a transition to a zero-carbon economy can present significant risk, but they can also create significant opportunities for promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions.
Both bills establish a public right to know which companies are polluting our environmental commons, how much they are emitting, and if they are decreasing—or increasing—climate risks, offering a transparent and public way of verifying corporate claims of climate leadership.
***Status 6/22/23***: *Set for first Assembly hearing; canceled at the request of author*.
### **SB [253](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB253) and [261](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261) will expose the nexus between climate and capital.**
### **PLEASE call or write your State Senator by noon on Tuesday, May 31st.**
**(find your [senator](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/) here)**
#### **Phone Script for SB 253:**
I’m (name) from (community) and I request that Senator **\_\_\_\_** vote ‘Yes’ on **S****B 253** at the upcoming Senate Floor vote.
Many of the largest corporations doing business in California—which contribute the majority of the pollution—are not publicly transparent about their carbon footprint.
The Climate Corporate Leadership and Accountability Act (SB 253) would require all large U.S.-based corporations doing business in California that make over $1 billion annually to publicly disclose their full carbon footprint in a way that is easily understandable and available to the public.
#### **Sample Email for SB 253:**
I am writing to you in support of SB 253.
Just 100 fossil fuel companies are responsible for 71% of global industrial emissions. However, the vast majority of large corporations doing business in California are not reporting their full carbon footprint to the public.
SB 253 would require U.S.-based corporations doing business in California that make over $1 billion annually to report their ENTIRE greenhouse gas footprint in a way that is easily understandable and available to the public.
Californians deserve transparency and accountability, especially from corporations responsible for so much pollution.
I strongly support **S****B 253 (Weiner)** and respectfully request your “**AYE**” vote.
Thank you,
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\[Name\]
####
**Phone Script for SB 261:**
I’m (name) from (community) and I request that Senator **\_\_\_\_** vote ‘Yes’ on **SB 261** at the upcoming Senate Floor vote.
SB 261 requires risk reporting and public disclosure of the steps large financial institutions and businesses in CA are taking to mitigate global climate change. Climate-related risk reporting is essential for effective financial planning and retaining customer confidence in the 21st century. Please vote yes on SB 261!
#### **Sample Email for SB 261:**
**Please vote yes on SB 261.** [Califo](https://climateassessment.ca.gov/)[r](https://climateassessment.ca.gov/)[nia is more susceptible to the growing effects of climate change](https://climateassessment.ca.gov/) than other parts of the country. To help address this challenge, SB 261 requires businesses with annual revenues of at least $500 million to report and publicly disclose the steps they are taking to mitigate and adapt to global climate change.
Disclosure of the significant financial risks from global climate change is essential for effective financial planning in the 21st century. In fact, April 8, 2022, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which includes California’s Insurance Commissioner, adopted a new standard for insurance companies to report their climate-related risks. Without accurate information about climate-related financial risk from all corporations, governments, money managers, companies, and consumers can only guess at strategies that will carry them through the changes that are already underway.
I strongly support **S****B 261 (Stern)** and respectfully request your “**AYE**” vote.
Thank you,
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\[Name\]
*A reminder about legislative process: After bills pass their house of origin, they head to the other house where the process repeats—the bills go through the relevant committees, appropriations, and then the final floor votes.*
**Thank you for taking action today!**
Valerie Ventre-Hutton, for the 350 Bay Area Action Legislative Committee
You can [support the work of](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/donate_to_350ba_action)[ this dedicated team of volunteers here](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/donate_to_350ba_action).
---
Photo by [Markus Spiske](https://www.pexels.com/@markusspiske/) at [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-blue-jacket-holding-white-and-black-i-am-happy-to-be-happy-print-paper-2559749/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation
---
### [Solar Lobby Day is June 6](https://350contracostaaction.org/solar-lobby-day-is-june-6/)
**Published:** June 1, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Investor-owned utility lobbyists are at the State Capitol every day, spreading misinformation about rooftop solar to your elected officials. Lawmakers need to hear directly from you, their voters, about why they should stick up for the public and keep rooftop solar growing.
**Content:**
Photo by [Moritz Kindler](https://unsplash.com/@moritz_photography) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/gD8IO0E4OZM)
Investor-owned utility lobbyists are at the State Capitol every day, spreading misinformation about rooftop solar to your elected officials. Lawmakers need to hear directly from you, their voters, about why they should stick up for the public and keep rooftop solar growing.
So, our friends at **[Solar Rights Alliance](https://solarrights.org/)** are planning Solar Lobby Day in Sacramento on Tuesday, June 6. If you can be in the capital that day, they’ll provide all the support you need—rideshares, training, a meeting schedule, and lunch. Sign up for Solar Lobby Day **[here](https://solarrights.org/solarlobbyday/?emci=dd3766d8-e6f0-ed11-907c-00224832eb73&emdi=695a0b2a-31f3-ed11-907c-00224832eb73&ceid=10563817).** Questions? Shoot an email to **.**
---
Photo by [Moritz Kindler](https://unsplash.com/@moritz_photography) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/gD8IO0E4OZM)
This article appeared first in our [May 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** Rooftop solar, Solar Lobby Day
---
### [Update from Sacramento](https://350contracostaaction.org/update-from-sacramento/)
**Published:** July 5, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Good news! During the Legislature’s floor session, May 30th – June 2nd, many important climate bills passed their “first house”—the Senate or Assembly—and are now making their way through committees in their second house. Among these, two Senate bills aiming to shed light on corporations’ carbon emissions and climate-related financial risks.
**Content:**
Good news! During the Legislature’s floor session, May 30th – June 2nd, many important [**climate bills passed** ](https://350bayareaaction.org/legislative-committee#endorsed-bills)their “first house”—the Senate or Assembly—and are now making their way through committees in their second house.
Among these are two Senate bills aiming to shed light on corporations’ carbon emissions and climate-related financial risks:
[**SB 253**](https://envirovoters.org/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-Climate-Corporate-Leadership-and-Accountability-Act-SB-253.pdf)**,** the **Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act,** requires large corporations doing business in California—those earning more than $1 billion per year—to publicly disclose their carbon emissions in a manner that’s clear and easy to understand.
[**SB 261**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261)**,** the **Climate-Related Financial Risk Act**, requires large companies that do business in California to submit annual climate-related financial risk reports to the public.
For far too long, corporations have kept their polluting ways—and the risks they pose to our financial security—unavailable for public scrutiny. We’ll keep you posted about how you can support both these critical climate bills.
**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**
Photo by [Greg Thames](https://www.pexels.com/@greg-thames-12409424) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/california-state-capitol-building-under-blue-sky-8490892/)
This article first appeared in our [June 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, climate financial risks, corporate climate accountability
---
### [The Inflation Reduction Act: Opportunities for Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-inflation-reduction-act-opportunities-for-contra-costa-county/)
**Published:** July 6, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** In May, 350 Contra Costa, Diablo Valley College, and Greenbelt Alliance presented a conference for elected officials, government staff, community-based orgs, and labor, education, and workforce development groups. The topic was IRA---the $369 billion federal Inflation Reduction Act.
**Content:**
On May 18th, 350 Contra Costa partnered with Diablo Valley College and Greenbelt Alliance to present a conference for elected officials, government staff, community-based organizations, and labor, education and workforce development groups. The topic was [IRA—the federal Inflation Reduction Act](https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/inflation-reduction-act-guidebook/). This landmark legislation includes $369 billion for energy security and climate programs over a ten-year period.
More than 125 attendees learned about the many resource opportunities that IRA offers and brainstormed ways to collaborate with local governments and community organizations for maximum benefit. The conference focused on three main areas of IRA.
- All-electric energy transformations that bring health and safety to our communities as we address the climate crisis
- Programs that ensure equity and opportunities for low-income and environmentally impacted communities
- Green economic development and workforce advancement
Now, you can view videos and slide decks from the Inflation Reduction Act conference, as well as workshop handouts and notes, on our website. It was a full day! Check it out [here](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/inflation-reduction-act/). Plus, we’re constantly updating our IRA resources companion page so you can [*Keep Plugged In*](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/inflation-reduction-act/keep-plugged-in/).
---
Volunteer staff photo
This article first appeared in our [June 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Climate Policy
**Tags:** Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
---
### [Public Transit Funding in Cal Budget!](https://350contracostaaction.org/governor-signs-budget-deal-providing-transit-aid/)
**Published:** July 7, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Good news! In our June newsletter, we asked you to call Governor Newsom’s office and request that he support the legislature’s budget calling for public transit systems funding. On July 30, the governor announced that he and the legislature had “reached an agreement that provides $5.1 billion in emergency relief to support statewide public transit systems and their workers.”
**Content:**
Good news! In our [June newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/), we asked you to call Governor Newsom’s office and request that he support the legislature’s budget calling for public transit systems funding. On July 30, the governor [announced](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/06/30/what-theyre-saying-governor-newsom-signs-budget-deal-providing-5-1-billion-for-local-transportation/) that he and the legislature had “reached an agreement that provides $5.1 billion in emergency relief to support statewide public transit systems and their workers.”
## Why This Matters
According to our friends at [Seamless Bay Area](https://www.seamlessbayarea.org/blog/2023/5/29/saving-california-transit-some-progress-but-not-enough-countdown-to-615-budget-deadline), and thanks to thousands of riders speaking up about the importance of funding transit, the draft state budget released by legislators last month included transit operations funding *for the first time*. As approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, the new funding will stave off the immediate threat of service cuts.
## What We Asked the Gov to Support
The Senate-Assembly agreement provided $1.1 billion over three years to transit agencies for operations. Plus, the agreement restored $2 billion in previously announced cuts to transit capital funding. We asked the governor to approve the budget proposed by the legislature reversing the $2 billion in transit capital cuts and providing $1.1 billion for operations. We also asked him to support using one-time federal highway funds to further meet transit operations’ funding needs.
## What the Gov Signed
In his published statement, the governor quoted Masood Samereie of the San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations (SFCDMA), who said, “With regards to transit, an allocation of $5.1 billion over four years has been designated, fully restoring the $4 billion for construction and incorporating an additional $1.1 billion from cap-and-trade funds.”
If you called the governor’s office, in support of this funding, now is a good time to give them another call to thank him for his support of public transit and the reduction of greenhouse gases.
**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**
Portions of this article first appeared in our [June 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, Public Transit Funding
---
### [The Heat Is On--We Must Act Now](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-heat-is-on-we-must-act-now/)
**Published:** August 1, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Climate advocacy takes time and energy. But when our house is on fire, we do whatever it takes to quell the flames. Let's work together today so our children can have a livable home tomorrow.
**Content:**
July 3, 2023, was the [hottest day](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/05/tuesday-was-worlds-hottest-day-on-record-breaking-mondays-record) for Planet Earth in about 125,000 years—until July 4, when the average global air temperature climbed even higher.
Global climate change is unfolding just as scientists have predicted. [All around the world](https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/is-it-hot-enough-yet-for-politicians-to-take-real-action?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_McKibben_07112023&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5be9dad424c17c6adf408920&user_id=17002027&hasha=3185fa25758f9a9348aa6ac3fb3e7bd8&hashb=1a5b4cbfdd57d26e4ed81860a1b1bc4c02017326&hashc=b72fd93b097bf2196354ba44bc352b1f674db095374ae01a474c402d8de8649b&esrc=&utm_term=TNY_ClimateCrisis), extreme heat, drought, fires, and floods are devastating communities. We know that these calamities will become more and more severe and widespread—and happen more and more often—if we continue on our current path. If we don’t change our ways, humanity’s future looks [grim indeed](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/01/climate-endgame-risk-human-extinction-scientists-global-heating-catastrophe).
## We Have the Solutions
**We know what we need to do**, but we’re not doing it. Short-sighted people who are benefiting from the status quo—oil company executives, for example—have distracted us with false solutions like [carbon-capture technology](https://thebulletin.org/2022/09/plagued-by-failures-carbon-capture-is-no-climate-solution/) while greenhouse-gas emissions [continue to rise](https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/greenhouse-gases-continued-to-increase-rapidly-in-2022). They’ve controlled the public discourse and obscured the plain truth about the climate crisis: we must rapidly and radically reduce the amount of oil and gas we’re burning.
**This is totally doable**. We can accelerate the transition from coal, oil, and fossil gas to renewable energy sources like solar and wind. We can make our homes and offices all-electric. We can make public transport fast, cheap, and easy to use. And by doing these things, we can [create good jobs](https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/california-building-decarbonization/) and bring in a [more equitable](https://greenlining.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Greenlining_EquitableElectrification_Report_2019_WEB.pdf) future.
## Only One Way Forward: We Must Insist Our Governments Act
But we as individuals can’t make any of this happen on our own. There’s only one way forward—our governments must enact new laws and policies that put us on the right track. And that’s not going to happen unless we, the people, insist on it.
For the sake of all our futures, many more of us must advocate *now* for sane climate policies; Reducing our personal carbon footprints is important, but it’s not enough. We need to join with friends, family, and neighbors to make sure our city council members and state lawmakers do the right thing despite pressure from oil interests.
Climate advocacy takes time and energy. But when our house is on fire, we do whatever it takes to quell the flames. Let’s work together today so our children can have a livable home tomorrow.
To find out how you can advocate for steep, rapid reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions,
please email us at .
Photo by [Paul Bulai](https://unsplash.com/@pcbulai?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/XOQJa4OC8P0?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
This article first appeared in our [July 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Legislative Blog
**Tags:** Climate Solutions
---
### [Goodbye Gas: The All-Electric Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/goodbye-gas-the-all-electric-future/)
**Published:** December 13, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Claims for “natural” gas as a sensible, necessary “transition fuel” in the shift away from fossil fuels are simply false. The future is all electric.
**Content:**
Whenever the talk turns to ending the era of fossil fuels, it seems somebody is sure to say, “We can’t phase out natural gas too quickly. That would break the grid.”
It is true that the transition to all-electric buildings and vehicles requires expanding our electrical infrastructure—the vast network of power plants, substations, and transmission lines that make up [the grid](https://decarbonization.visualcapitalist.com/how-does-the-power-grid-work/). And safe, reliable delivery of electrical power is absolutely critical. The task is becoming more challenging as the [changing climate](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16112023/fifth-national-climate-assessment-regional-impacts/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2659db90-e3b8-4e48-89bb-b4b6eb6d0893) brings disasters like severe storms, flooding, and extreme temperatures.
For example, during the “[Texas freeze](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629621001997)” of February 2021, a power outage lasting several days affected more than 10 million people, caused 111 deaths, and cost economic losses totaling around $155 billion. And across the US, hotter weather is causing millions to use their air conditioners more. But thanks to innovations in power distribution, battery storage capacity, and energy efficiency, this increasing demand can be met without relying on so-called “natural” gas.
## Smart grid
The power grid is rapidly evolving into a “[Smart Grid](https://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid/smart_grid.html)” capable of two-way communication between a power company and its customers, allowing the system to sense and respond to what’s happening along its transmission lines. The Smart Grid will use [distribution intelligence](https://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid/distribution_intelligence.html) to re-rout power automatically in case of trouble; detect and contain outages; and, after an outage, restore power to higher-priority users (say, hospitals) first. This new technology is making the grid much more reliable and resilient than before.
## Virtual power plants
The grid can connect power sources as well as power users. Buildings that produce their own power, with rooftop solar for instance, are of course much less vulnerable to outages. What’s more, these local power sources can transmit the power they produce back to the grid when need be. And they can be networked to create a [Virtual Power Plant](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-news/what-is-a-virtual-power-plant/) (VPP), replacing or supplementing energy from the power company during emergencies like severe storms or peak demand times like heat waves.
VPPs can reduce or eliminate the need for [peaker plants](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-news/how-peaker-plants-impact-california-communities/)—gas-powered plants that supply electricity when renewable energy sources are less available. Peaker plants usually switch on between 4pm and 9pm, polluting the air with greenhouse gases. Contra Costa County is home to two peaker plants, both located in Antioch.
VPPs are already happening in the Bay Area and elsewhere.
In Richmond, [MCE](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/)’s VPP [pilot program](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-news/what-is-a-virtual-power-plant/) is providing energy upgrades to 100 homes and networking them so their systems can be remotely coordinated in response to grid needs.
The city of [Santa Barbara is setting up](https://www.microgridknowledge.com/community-microgrids/article/33010977/santa-barbara-microgrid) one VPP connecting industrial customers and several more VPPs connecting households. And Green Mountain Power, a Vermont utility, is [setting up microgrids](https://energynews.us/2022/11/30/solar-powered-microgrids-add-climate-resilience-in-rural-vermont-communities/) around the state—leasing solar panels and batteries to households in the more remote towns, then paying these customers for the energy they supply to the microgrid in time of need.
Virtual Power Plants are already [reducing the need](https://news.yahoo.com/giant-batteries-drain-economics-gas-071607545.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2659db90-e3b8-4e48-89bb-b4b6eb6d0893) to build new, massive, expensive “actual” power plants fueled by gas. That’s big.
## Battery storage
An awful lot of electricity can be stored in the batteries connected to rooftop solar arrays, in electric vehicle (EV) batteries—even in [heat pump water heaters](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/pierre-delforge/heat-pump-water-heaters-clean-energy-batteries). In case of an outage, this power can be used to keep the lights on. For example, an EV’s battery can store roughly 60 kilowatt-hours; with [bidirectional charging](https://www.microgridknowledge.com/electric-vehicles/article/33015536/bidirectional-charging-gains-ground-with-toyota-project-and-federal-california-bills?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2659db90-e3b8-4e48-89bb-b4b6eb6d0893) capability, this could power a home for two to three days during an outage.
[HB 6178](https://legiscan.com/US/sponsors/HB6178/2023), the bidirectional EV charging legislation recently introduced in Congress, would mandate bidirectional capability in EVs by 2027. In California, [SB 233](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB233), introduced last year and headed back to the legislature in 2024, would make all EV batteries bidirectional by 2030. PG&E’s [Vehicle to Everything](https://www.pge.com/en/clean-energy/electric-vehicles/getting-started-with-electric-vehicles/vehicle-to-everything-v2x-pilot-programs.html) (V2X) pilot program already offers incentives to help customers use their EV batteries to power their homes.
What’s more, most EV batteries are still useful after they’re retired and removed from vehicles. They can be combined and used to store the energy generated by wind towers or solar panels for a few years before they’re disassembled and recycled. A solar facility in Southern California is [doing just that](https://grist.org/energy/ev-batteries-stationary-storage/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2659db90-e3b8-4e48-89bb-b4b6eb6d0893).
## Energy efficient appliances
Because it’s imperative to stop putting carbon into the atmosphere, old fossil fuel-powered appliances—furnaces, air conditioners, ovens, water heaters, and clothes dryers—have to be replaced with new, all-electric ones. But because these new appliances [use much less energy](https://grist.org/cop28/the-overlooked-climate-solution-making-headway-at-cop28-doing-more-with-less/) compared to their fossil fuel-powered counterparts—and compared to the all-electric machines of the past—the rise in energy demand is minimized.
[Heat pumps](https://carbonswitch.com/how-does-a-heat-pump-work/) are a great example. [Up to five times](https://grist.org/cop28/the-overlooked-climate-solution-making-headway-at-cop28-doing-more-with-less/) more energy-efficient than a gas or oil furnace, one heat pump can replace both a furnace and an air conditioner. In cold weather, it moves heat from the outdoors into the building; in hot weather, it moves heat from inside the building to the outdoors. Because it’s transferring heat instead of generating heat, this appliance is very energy-efficient. In fact, when used to warm interiors in cold weather, heat pumps use [65 percent less energy](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-systems) than traditional electric furnaces.
Across the country, [45 percent](https://eyeonhousing.org/2023/10/hvac-in-new-construction-in-2022/) of new homes were built with heat pumps in 2022. In California, 55 percent of new single-family homes have heat pumps instead of traditional furnaces and air conditioners, and the 2022 Energy Code sets heat pumps as the new standard for home construction. The state has set a goal of installing [6 million heat pumps](https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2023-10/top-global-building-appliance-manufacturers-and-distributors-commit-help) by 2030.
## Good-bye gas
Fossil fuel companies continue to tout so-called “natural” gas as a clean, safe way to power appliances. But the process of extracting, transporting, and burning this gas, which is mainly methane, is [neither clean nor safe](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101). Methane leaks occur all along the way, releasing this potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
Then there’s the health issue. [Recent research](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-health-risks-of-gas-stoves-explained/) makes clear that cooking with a gas stove increases risk of asthma and other respiratory problems as well as cancer. Fortunately, [induction cooktops](https://www.energy.gov/articles/making-switch-induction-stoves-or-cooktops) offer a safe, affordable, energy-efficient alternative to gas stoves.
Claims for “natural” gas as a sensible, necessary “transition fuel” in the shift away from fossil fuels are simply false.
## It’s happening now
The future is all-electric. To get away from gas, we have to build up our electrical infrastructure—and this task is already well underway. Technological innovations are making it more and more doable. It’s a big job, but it can and must be completed without delay.
Author: Editorial Team
Image Credit:[Pixabay](https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/300-sl-alternative-energy-blue-sky-clouds-371900/)
A portion of this article appeared in our [December 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Climate Policy
**Tags:** All-Electric, Grid Resilience, Renewable Energy
---
### [Richmond Tax Will Make Polluters Pay](https://350contracostaaction.org/richmond-tax-will-make-polluters-pay/)
**Published:** July 17, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Polluters Pay Initiative Will Tax Refinery---In June, the Richmond City Council unanimously voted to put a refinery tax—known as the Polluters Pay Initiative—on the November ballot. This initiative is the ...
**Content:**
### Polluters Pay Initiative Will Tax Refinery
In June, the Richmond City Council unanimously voted to put a refinery tax—known as the [Polluters Pay Initiative](https://richmondpolluterspay.com/)—on the November ballot. This initiative is the result of grassroots organizing by [Communities for a Better Environment](https://www.cbecal.org) and [Asian-Pacific Environmental Network Action](https://apen4ej.org).
And it’s something to celebrate! The excise tax, once approved by the voters, will be levied on the raw material coming into Chevron’s refinery. Tax revenues will go into the city’s general fund and pay for essential services like public health access.
For the year 2023, Chevron reported a [net income of 21.37 billion dollars](https://www.statista.com/statistics/277059/net-income-of-chevron-corporation/)—in other words, 21,370 million dollars in profits. That’s a good number to keep in mind when considering that the excise tax could cost the company 60 to 90 million dollars each year, depending on how much raw material they refine.
### Refinery Pollution Harms Our Health and the Environment
Then, consider the vast health harms that Chevron has brought down on the people of Richmond by polluting their air, water, and land. The [Public Health Advocate](https://pha.studentorg.berkeley.edu/2021/04/11/refinery-pollutants-and-their-effect-on-public-health/) reports: “According to the [California government](https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/fact-sheets/petroleum-products-environmental-exposure-refineries), some adverse health effects of living near a refinery include: increased risk of asthma, cancers, birth defects, neurological damage, cardiovascular damage, difficulty breathing, and blood disorders.”
Children living near the Chevron Richmond Refinery are admitted for emergency asthma treatment [three times more often](https://www.phi.org/press/the-community-health-and-news-impacts-of-a-chevron-refinery-in-richmond-ca/) than the average rate for California’s children.
Then there’s the environmental damage. Richmond taxpayers are concerned about the cost of cleaning up the land and water after Chevron’s eventual departure from their town. They want the oil company to pay their fair share.
### Chevron Fights Back---Don't Let Them Off the Hook
A new nonprofit named Coalition for Richmond’s Future has [brought a lawsuit](https://www.siliconvalley.com/2024/07/10/chevron-employee-newly-formed-coalition-challenge-richmond-refinery-tax-ballot-measure/?ref=biztoc.com) against the ballot initiative, claiming that the language is “false, misleading and biased.”
They object to the initiative’s mention of what the tax revenues could be used for: city services “such as clean air and water treatment, roads, parks, fire and emergency response, toxic land cleanup, and improving community health and youth services, and for general government use.” They’re asking the court to prohibit this language from appearing on any ballot.
With this lawsuit, Chevron and its defenders are doing their best to avoid paying for the health and environmental damage it’s done over the years. But the people of Richmond are not going to let Chevron off the hook any longer. They’re going to make this polluter pay!
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Image Credit: Ava Jackson
**Categories:** Local Policy
**Tags:** Environmental Justice, Refinery pollution, Richmond CA Polluters Pay Initiative
---
### [What Is All the Fuss About Gas Stoves?](https://350contracostaaction.org/what-is-all-the-fuss-about-gas-stoves/)
**Published:** February 20, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Cooking with gas has been proven to cause increased risk of asthma, cardiovascular problems, and learning deficits, especially in children. Recent research has shown that gas stoves ...
**Content:**
Gas stove with cooking pans over flamesLately, gas stoves have been much discussed in the **[news](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=9j2xrPCwd3yFLU_EZoBgHq0eIaX3jToMDt5vhzMzN3efb5_wlZxJG9YTG0NiUNEjaktsw0PwFtL79g-kl7IZ6pCeVXEHqgD4g6SpBHJ8yW8&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=1)** and social media. The uproar started when a US Consumer Product Safety commissioner publicly questioned whether gas stoves could be made free of health risks. Senator Joe Manchin tweeted, ‘I can tell you the last thing that would ever leave my house is the gas stove that we cook on’—and the White House reassured Americans that ‘the President does not support banning gas stoves.’
## **What is ‘natural’ gas?**
**[‘Natural’ gas](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhApsvnBzG_kJ6n5UEjoHGSrxBJ8p6086L7qDs2Zy8bNk&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=2),** like coal and oil, is a fossil fuel, formed from the remains of plants and animals over millions of years. It’s mostly methane, plus several **[hydrocarbons](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=b6XKpypJkIeqlDHW79VhKnS8dyYOv-eGdolzutgXUa9RCZn_lsf-vPZr_el6yzTqxznRz6ymsnBHW2W_7qvISA&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=3),** water vapor, and carbon dioxide. In the United States, it’s used in power plants to generate electricity; in many industrial processes including plastics production; and in buildings—to heat space and water, to dry clothes, and of course, to cook food.
The term ‘natural gas’ has been promoted by the gas industry to make it seem harmless and safe. But the opposite is true: this fossil fuel—extracting, transporting, and burning it—is a major cause of climate change and a serious threat to human health. Let’s call it ‘fossil gas.’
## **Fossil gas and climate change**
The two most important climate pollutants are carbon dioxide and methane. **[Methane](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=5O6WTpTJN83t3BGyNRUovhGyE6FVJsdHL94NU6OL_C4MaWfz3tFqxOftCNP_Fg2k76XWTAmL3yUFjoq0-BvpED7CK27U7Txu6rmGpSlyJgQSWOiMOQEEWFASwYQLy9RtVAIGuUylr-WSuL4Yh6iS-w&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=4),** which makes up 70-90 percent of fossil gas, is about 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Fossil gas **[leaks](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhBTuJekIHzCpEyPRS_88JWyf2x2EVL3F3eLk-4wfjmp0IVDgUCc03mXyWeqiWFnpbNifO7Rv0NlNTs36KTPX2NI&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=5)** from wells and pipelines emit massive quantities of methane.
In addition to extracting and transporting, *burning* fossil gas is a major factor in climate change. In 2021, gas combustion for energy (that is, in power plants) was responsible for **[about 34%](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=b6XKpypJkIeqlDHW79VhKopdBX7pRxJzVZiuvDLzR1i1meWK4hkt0HWpSh7yRGArU47LMqURCxP9sye5f0m-QF2Zwqo6uRwAR4x3tJehFO4-61J_k6yGY84LupMa6GlH&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=6)** of the total US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
Just like coal and oil, if we’re going to curb global warming, fossil gas needs to *stay in the ground*.
## **Fossil gas and human health**
The conventional way of extracting gas, like extracting oil, **[pollutes the air](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=uhIuPcFB4RAan_JVPkvOnE_C-k5PwJZxPVzVCx2jl33K4g3SVb5S6-_39dOM8Zk5ltQcB_DP_dnB2t1XDt6micQkPwB44_GK-QvpRgt_jVw8U4mBq8FpgRTr-lRe5uYLN-Fcw18dwuSwhF4yOcAeGA&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=7)** and increases the risk of asthma and other lung diseases, cancer, heart problems, and birth defects. That’s why we pushed so hard for SB 1137, the law requiring oil and gas wells to be set back 3200 feet from houses, hospitals and schools.
These days, much gas extraction is done by hydraulic fracturing, better known as **[*fracking*](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhNdg7f7DMl2_LbWGP3zr1a8Z-1WmKLUd6tgXrMsS6ngd&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=8)*,*** which not only emits methane and other toxic air pollutants, but also creates vast amounts of wastewater and ecosystem-damaging noise. Fracking causes **[serious health problems](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=WR-BhOePQoEKviJ_KR6uMo4dETr1gXEJj6iGNWbsgc3vyzKEP-db5MsvKR4rSkoOgiv8XEHWsi4_7XSBTM1v0g&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=9)** by polluting water and soil as well as the air.
## **Gas stoves**
Cooking with gas has been **[proven](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=KnpAeyGdyhhFVSFyhOJrhVAzMTtUVpGuRB0nogBAkfhlnvExlAZB_FDYQxEo7sLiHNrYbHRmIZTam93jHhthe8ren7srWuyptwE0vNdCGL-uei-kFQNY7V6oTx1ZVJPo&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=10)** to cause increased risk of asthma, cardiovascular problems, and learning deficits, especially in children. **[Recent research](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=XWYeijTSeLWQ02c-6V9YM_ti8GPikX-WURdnI49j8q-5FlGeP5gtFHXld2aJZqTUCQeANJh_CJju375rSdmPcsynwtBb8AhTqYis4iuS0qaCjymXzoU-IAsI6xy1MWZOqs5AFzSgza5AGXlPFRXq3Q&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=11)** has shown that gas stoves emit benzene, which is linked to cancer, even when not in use.
Nevertheless, the gas industry has been effectively promoting gas stoves for decades. In the past few years, their PR firms have been **[paying Instagram influencers](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YGqweCD44AXJTS-24vC2Nncu26eHnn7zVf1eS7_nNMStBlOcla7Xk3MmAKHKNfuQTEjHkYRTO1YAW9vPul9fI4XmnXNokV1lRpo5MrNU11Wqg9w3biD1_PnaMejqcTOm&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=12)** and **[putting fake posts on Nextdoor](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YGqweCD44AXJTS-24vC2Nncu26eHnn7zVf1eS7_nNMQAHohPwEtYOtpb_BJ6ZCp4jB7PplVjfsRPDpHo4MY5QvshFBSvAWsX6QiK5EGVgvkkn6RIhwNJxQ-F3LpFR_UvNYgF35z9FGMn4Ryx6dE5rf6B0Mt7vKclIUlRNP66y8I&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=13)** to gush about cooking with gas. But in fact, many **[chefs love cooking with electric induction cooktops](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=FECXgvVBAH18GBWRCy8D9Q7UZR6gTuAKvO6qzRDGJlfb8M81nFfIJuEbhH2dncpcJZhKGr08vNtiFSZG55cowc8reAOktSa2GgzoXQPaL6kFzrxgNXYAJGUkvqOKBo2a&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=14)**—an affordable, fast-heating, non-polluting alternative.
The simple truth is, gas has got to go. If you want to make a difference in the fight to keep our climate livable, help get your city or town to ban ‘natural gas’ fittings in new home construction. By moving away from gas to renewable energy sources for buildings, we’ll all breathe easier.
---
This article first appeared in our February 2023 newsletter.
Photo by [Andrea Piacquadio](https://www.pexels.com/@olly/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/stainless-steel-cooking-pot-on-stove-3768169/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** climate change, Electric induction cooktop benefits, Fossil fuels and our health, Gas Stoves
---
### [California Climate Policy Summit 2023](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-policy-summit-2023/)
**Published:** March 31, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join us at the day-long California Climate Policy Summit Sacramento on Tuesday, April 11.
**Content:**
Our friends at the **[Climate Center](https://theclimatecenter.org/about/)** are putting on a day-long conference in Sacramento on **Tuesday, April 11.** The second annual [**California Climate Policy Summit**](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2023/) will bring together elected and business leaders, policy experts, activists, and environmental justice advocates to build support for climate policy commensurate with what science demands.
The Summit offers a wonderful opportunity to build your knowledge of current issues and bills. Check out the stellar speakers and sessions **[here](https://eventee.co/en/e/california-climate-policy-summit-2023-15859);** then register **[here](https://theclimatecenter.org/our-work/register-for-the-california-climate-policy-summit-2023/).**
Then, consider joining the 350 Contra Costa legislative team! We are about to start tracking and advocating for this legislative session’s climate-related bills, and we’d love to have your help. You don’t need to be an expert—just learn as you go. For more information, please email **lisa@350contracosta.org**.
---
Image courtesy [The Climate Center](https://theclimatecenter.org/about/)
This article first appeared in our March 2023 newsletter
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Climate Crisis, Climate Leaders
---
### [Contra Costa County Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-county-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-sector/)
**Published:** June 14, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Transportation is the highest contributor of GHG emissions---as much as 60 percent in Walnut Creek, and 46 percent in unincorporated Contra Costa County.
**Content:**
*By Gary Farber, member, 350CCA Climate Policy Team*
Transportation accounts for the largest chunk of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) in Contra Costa County. Residential and nonresidential usages produce plenty as well. I looked at three different sources to get a fairly clear picture of the various sectors contributing GHG emissions. But first, you may be wondering what we mean by the term.
## What are Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Greenhouse gas emissions are the chemicals that society and nature put into the air, and which science has identified as responsible for the dangerous heating of the planet (affecting oceans, land, weather and living things).
## Two Climate-Altering GHG Emissions
The two types of emissions identified as causing the preponderance of climate change are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. While both CO2 and methane are generated by naturally occurring ecological systems, the main cause of global heating is the extraordinarily large additional amount of CO2 and methane that is released into the air, and rises into the atmosphere, due to humans’ use of fossil fuels for energy.
In California, the main energy types contributing to GHG emissions are gasoline for vehicles, and natural gas for heating air and water in buildings and for generating electricity. Burning gasoline results in high CO2 emissions; natural gas produces less CO2 than gasoline per unit of energy, but consists mainly of methane.
## Main GHG Emissions Sources in Contra Costa County
So what are the main sources of GHG emissions in Contra Costa County? I was unable to find a source providing data for the entire county. The three tables below show data reported by 1) the State of California, 2) the County for unincorporated areas, and 3) the city of Walnut Creek. In all three reports, transportation is the highest contributor of GHG emissions—as much as 60 percent in Walnut Creek, and 46 percent in unincorporated county.
### GHG Emissions Data, by Sector, from Three Sources
California
Sector %Transportation38Industrial23Electricity Generation16Agriculture & Forestry9Residential8Nonresidential6Source: [California Air Resources Board](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-inventory-data)
Unincorporated Contra Costa County
Sector % Transportation46Solid Waste22Residential19Nonresidential11Offroad Equipment9Agriculture4Water & Wastewater0.5Source: [Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan Update](https://envisioncontracosta2040.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Attachment-2.-Greenhouse-Gas-Forecast-Existing-Reductions-and-Target-Setting.pdf)
City of Walnut Creek
Sector % Transportation60Residential16Nonresidential16Waste4Offroad Equipment3Water & Wastewater0.4Source: [City of Walnut Creek Sustainability Action Plan](https://www.walnut-creek.org/home/showpublisheddocument/29939/638175951689470000)
A big difference between the State data and the local data is that the State data includes industry and electricity generation. With the State including more sectors, the building emissions (residential and nonresidential) become a smaller percentage, as compared to what the County and Walnut Creek, with fewer sectors, report.
---
-
Editorial Team
**Note:** *For the County and Walnut Creek, percentages were calculated based on reported emissions; percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding*
---
Photo by [Soly Moses](https://www.pexels.com/@solyartphotos/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/plane-over-a-freeway-16307313/)
**Categories:** Climate Policy
**Tags:** Climate Savvy, GHG Emissions
---
### [Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Big Picture](https://350contracostaaction.org/greenhouse-gas-emissions-the-big-picture/)
**Published:** June 28, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Transportation accounts for about 40 percent of all GHG emission in California. Industrial activity and buildings---our homes and everything else--together make up another 45 percent. We have the solutions. We CAN stop burning fossil fuels now.
**Content:**
“Stop burning fossil fuels.” What does that involve exactly? Most of us probably think first of tailpipe emissions—and indeed, transportation is a major source of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) insulating and warming our planet. In California, it accounts for about 40 percent of all GHG emissions.
Industrial activity is another major culprit. The process of drilling and transporting oil and fossil gas (aka “natural” gas) puts a lot of GHGs into the air even before these fuels arrive at power plants to be burned. The same is true of coal mining.
Because much of the energy powering factories comes from fossil fuels, manufacturing all the stuff that fills our homes and offices is responsible for a big chunk of emissions. What’s more, many industrial processes—like making cement and plastics—inherently involve emitting GHGs, even aside from what’s emitted by burning fossil fuels for energy. Industrial sources make up a little over 20 percent of our state’s emissions.
After transportation and industry, a third major source of GHGs is *buildings*. Together, residential and nonresidential buildings account for around 25% of California’s total emissions! Heating and cooling the air, heating water, and cooking with fossil gas are all part of the problem.
While the sources of greenhouse gases are many, there’s only one way to stop emitting them: leaving fossil fuels in the ground. Clean energy sources like solar and wind power are already here; the time for transition is *now.*
What are sources of GHG emissions in Contra Costa County? **[Check out this blog post](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-county-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-sector/)** by Gary Farber of our Climate Policy Team.
---
Photo by [David Brown](https://www.pexels.com/@ninobur/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/cars-and-trucks-on-highway-16392127/).
This article first appeared in our [June 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** climate change, Fossil Fuels, Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs)
---
### [Alex Walker Griffin: Hercules Climate Action Champion](https://350contracostaaction.org/alex-walker-griffin-hercules-climate-action-champion/)
**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Alex Walker Griffin, Hercules City Council member, champions climate action in Hercules with initiatives like the Electrification Ordinance and expanded EV charging stations. Support his vision for a sustainable future!
**Content:**
At just 10 years old, Alex Walker Griffin ignited his passion for civil service. Today, he stands as a dedicated member of the Hercules City Council, where he fights for climate action, equality and justice.
During his two years on the Council, Alex has successfully launched and passed a variety of impactful climate initiatives. Notable achievements include:
- **Hercules Electrification Ordinance:** He mandated all new developments to be 100% electric, promoting a cleaner energy future.
- **Community Choice Energy:** In this effort, Alex successfully advocated for Hercules to join Marin Clean Energy (MCE), enhancing the city’s renewable energy sources.
- **Expanded EV Charging Stations:** He championed the increase of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, supporting the transition to sustainable transportation.
- **Funding for Hercules Hub:** Additionally, Alex secured essential funding for a state-of-the-art housing and transportation development, improving community access and sustainability.
As the California chair of Elected Officials to Protect America, Alex remains committed to climate action. Looking ahead, his initiatives will focus on:
- Electrifying low-income households
- Opposing new fossil fuel infrastructure
- Expanding EV charging options
Support Alex Walker Griffin for re-election to the Hercules City Council. His relentless dedication to sustainable solutions positions Hercules as a leader in climate action.
**Learn more about his campaign:** [Alex for Hercules](https://www.alexforhercules.com/)
**Get involved:** [Volunteer with Alex](https://alexforhercules.com/contact)
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Hercules City Council_AWG
---
### [Gina Dawson for Environmental Sustainability in Lafayette](https://350contracostaaction.org/gina-dawson-for-environmental-sustainability-in-lafayette/)
**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join Gina Dawson in her campaign for re-election to the Lafayette City Council, where she champions environmental sustainability in Lafayette. With a focus on initiatives that enhance community well-being, Gina's vision includes implementing the Environmental Action Plan, expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, and promoting renewable energy. Support her efforts for a greener future!
**Content:**
 Lafayette City Council At-Large Candidate Gina Dawson
Gina Dawson is your advocate for **environmental sustainability in Lafayette** as she seeks re-election to the City Council. With a strong background in business and nonprofit sectors, Gina brings a wealth of experience to the table. During her first term, she championed several critical initiatives, including:
- **Gas Leaf Blower Ban:** Successfully passed legislation to reduce noise and pollution in Lafayette.
- **Gas Pipeline Safety:** Worked diligently to enhance safety measures for gas pipelines in the community.
- **Heritage Tree Preservation:** Founded a nonprofit dedicated to saving heritage trees while improving gas line safety.
- **Marin Clean Energy Board:** Contributed to renewable energy initiatives as a board member.
- **RecycleSmart Chair:** Currently leading efforts in recycling and waste reduction.
Environmental sustainability remains a priority as Dawson envisions a thriving Lafayette. In her next term, she plans to focus on:
- **Environmental Action Plan:** Implementing the city’s Environmental Action Plan and supporting the Environmental Task Force to ensure its success.
- **Electrification and EV Infrastructure:** Expanding electric vehicle infrastructure to promote cleaner transportation options.
- **Renewable Energy Transition:** Developing effective strategies to transition the community to renewable energy sources.
A lifelong Californian and Lafayette resident for 16 years, Gina has raised two children in this vibrant community. Her commitment to **environmental sustainability in Lafayette** makes her the ideal candidate for re-election.
**Support Gina in building a greener, more resilient Lafayette!**
**Learn more about her campaign:** [Gina Dawson 2024](https://www.ginadawson2024.com/)
**Get involved:** [Volunteer with Gina](https://www.ginadawson2024.com/contact)
Image credit: Gina Dawson campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Lafayette City Council_GD
---
### [Devin Murphy: Building a Sustainable Energy Future for Pinole](https://350contracostaaction.org/devin-murphy-building-a-sustainable-energy-future-for-pinole/)
**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Devin Murphy has a proven track record of promoting sustainable energy solutions for Pinole. As a City Council member and former Mayor, he advocates for 100% renewable energy by 2040, that enhances energy efficiency, and supports green job training.
**Content:**
 Pinole City Council At-Large Candidate Devin T Murphy
Devin Murphy has an impressive track record in building a sustainable energy future for Pinole! As the former Mayor of Pinole and a dedicated City Council member for the past four years, he garnered the highest number of votes in Pinole’s history. Devin bridges the gap between the city council and Marin Clean Energy (MCE), an all-green electric provider in the North Bay, while also collaborating with RecycleMore and the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority. Under his leadership, Pinole expanded energy-efficient housing options and veteran housing and successfully reopened Pinole Fire Station 74. Devin’s long-standing commitment to making Pinole a greener place for all shows.
#### Envisioning a 100% Renewable Energy Future
Devin envisions a 100% renewable energy future for Pinole by 2040, with municipal operations achieving this goal by 2030. His plan includes:
- **Enhancing Energy Efficiency:** Prioritizing energy improvements in city buildings before tackling the infrastructure of Pinole
- **Phasing Out Natural Gas:** Moving towards cleaner alternatives for all city operations
- **Expanding EV Charging Stations:** Increasing the availability of electric vehicle charging options throughout the city
- **Promoting Gas-Free Public Transit:** Advocating for more environmentally friendly public transportation options
#### Educating for Green Jobs and Environmental Health
Education plays a pivotal role in Devin’s mission. Among the educational programs he advocates: creating job training programs for green energy careers and working with homeowners to adopt sustainable practices. His support for the Constitutional Right to Environmental Health reflects his dedication to protecting the community’s environment and promoting **sustainable energy solutions for Pinole**.
As a young leader, Devin has actively participated in local politics since high school. During his time at UCLA, he served as Student Body President, promoting voter registration even before he could vote himself. With a strong background in technology, Devin advocates for enhanced IT training as a means to promote economic equality.
Support Devin in building a sustainable future for Pinole!
**Learn more about his campaign:** [Murphy for Pinole](https://murphyforpinole.com/)
**Get involved:** [Volunteer with Devin](https://actionnetwork.org/campaigns/mobilizeformurphy/)
Image Credit: Devin T Murphy Campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Pinole City Council_DM
---
### [Claudia Jimenez: Leading Environmental Justice in Richmond](https://350contracostaaction.org/claudia-jimenez-leading-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)
**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
 Richmond City Council District 6 Candidate Claudia Jimenez
A key advocate for environmental justice in Richmond, Claudia Jimenez represents Richmond’s District 6 on the City Council.
Since 2020, she has combined her architecture skills and environmental planning knowledge to transform public spaces in the city.
In her four years on the Council, Claudia has achieved remarkable victories. Her efforts led to Chevron offering a settlement of $500 million for the harm caused to low-income communities by its refinery.
Claudia champions environmental justice, economic equity, and community resilience. Here are some key initiatives she has supported:
- **Banning New Drilling:** Claudia pushed for Contra Costa County to halt new oil and gas permits and phase out existing operations.
- **Workforce Development:** She co-sponsored a resolution for a community-driven workforce plan using the Green-Blue New Deal framework.
- **Electrification Efforts:** Claudia backed a 2021 initiative to ban natural gas infrastructure in new construction.
- **Traffic Safety Investment:** She secured $1.2 million for traffic safety infrastructure improvements.
Support Claudia Jimenez for re-election in Richmond’s District 6, continuing her work toward environmental justice in Richmond.
**Learn more about her campaign:**
**Volunteer some time:**
Image credit: Claudia Jimenez campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Richmond City Council D6
---
### [Cindy Darling for Environmental Justice in Walnut Creek](https://350contracostaaction.org/cindy-darling-for-environmental-justice-in-walnut-creek/)
**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Serving Walnut Creek for more than a decade, Cindy continues to drive environmental initiatives and promote sustainable housing and infrastructure to create a greener future for the city.
**Content:**
 Walnut Creek City Council At-Large Candidate Cindy Darling
Cindy Darling has been a dedicated advocate for environmental justice in Walnut Creek throughout her years of public service. As a longtime resident and city council member, she champions policies that prioritize sustainability, clean energy, and community well-being. Her efforts reflect a deep commitment to making Walnut Creek a greener, more equitable place for all.
With a decade on the planning commission and four years on the city council, Cindy played a key role in passing Walnut Creek’s Climate Action Plan in 2012, establishing a solid foundation for a greener future.
As a board member of MCE (formerly Marin Clean Energy), Cindy led a successful partnership with Richmond residents. Together, they transformed abandoned housing units through energy-efficient retrofits, creating affordable homes. She now advocates for MCE to own more assets instead of relying solely on contracts.
In her role as Mayor Pro Tem, Cindy voted for the 2023 Climate Sustainability Action Plan, which includes 21 actionable strategies, including:
- **Infrastructure Retrofits**: Upgrading existing buildings for energy efficiency
- **All-Electric Construction**: Mandating new developments to be fully electric
- **Phasing Out Gas Equipment**: Reducing gas-powered outdoor tools
- **Reducing Vehicle Miles**: Implementing smart planning to lessen travel
- **EV Accessibility**: Making electric vehicles more available to the community
Cindy’s record of strong leadership and commitment to environmental justice in Walnut Creek makes her the clear choice for re-election. Join us in supporting Cindy Darling for Walnut Creek City Council and Mayor Pro-Tem!
**Website**: [Cindy Darling for Walnut Creek City Council and Mayor](https://www.cindydarling.org/)
**Volunteer**: [Get Involved](https://www.cindydarling.org/get-involved)
Image credit: Cindy Darling campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Walnut Creek_CD
---
### [Support Maureen Toms for Re-election to the Pinole City Council](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/)
**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Support Maureen Toms for re-election to the Pinole City Council. With over 30 years of experience in land-use planning, she is committed to climate action and community service.
**Content:**
Re-elect Maureen Toms to the Pinole City Council. Toms brings over 30 years of experience as a land-use planner and a strong commitment to community service. She has volunteered with various organizations, including the Association of Bay Area Governments, the West Contra Costa Unified School District Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, and Special Olympics.
### Key Initiatives and Accomplishments
As a council member, Maureen has actively worked on key initiatives in Pinole:
- **Drafted the Climate Action Plan**: Developed strategies for reducing the city’s carbon footprint.
- **Championed a Climate Emergency Resolution**: Recognized the urgency of climate action within the community.
- **Supported Marin Clean Energy (MCE)**: Enabled residents to move away from sole dependence on PG&E.
Maureen recognizes that passing the Climate Action Plan is just the beginning; ongoing dedication is essential for successful implementation.
### Commitment to Sustainable Living
Maureen is also dedicated to sustainable living. She has:
- **Planted drought-resistant native plants**: Promoting biodiversity and water conservation.
- **Installed solar panels with battery storage**: Reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
Support Maureen Toms for a sustainable future in Pinole!
Website: [maureentoms.com](https://maureentoms.com/)
Volunteer or get a yard sign:
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Pinole City Council_MT
---
### [Re-elect Kevin Wilk: Leading Climate Action in Walnut Creek](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/)
**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Kevin Wilk is running for re-election to the Walnut Creek City Council. His leadership has brought 100% green energy, electric buses, and more to the city.
**Content:**
 Walnut Creek City Council At-Large Candidate Kevin Wilk
Kevin Wilk is running for re-election to an at-large seat on the Walnut Creek City Council. Over his eight years in office, Kevin has been a leading force in advancing the city’s climate initiatives. He played a key role in securing 100% green energy for city buildings, launching a new electric bus route, and advocating for climate-friendly policies like adding EV charging stations to new developments and expanding infrastructure for biking and walking.
Early in his tenure, Kevin often stood alone in his push for stronger climate action. By 2020, however, the council began to embrace these efforts, paving the way for the implementation of his initiatives. His passion for sustainability has been a defining feature of his public service. Kevin’s leadership extends to numerous boards and committees, including:
- The Transportation Commission
- The Central Contra Costa Transit Authority Board of Directors
- The Marin Clean Energy Board of Directors
- The Environmental Quality Policy Committee for the League of California Cities
In his next term, Kevin plans to prioritize expanding EV charging infrastructure and transitioning the city’s vehicle fleet to electric.
**Get involved**:
[Visit his website](https://www.kevinwilkforwalnutcreek.com/) | [Volunteer](https://www.kevinwilkforwalnutcreek.com/helpme)
Image credit: Kevin Wilk campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Walnut Creek_KW
---
### [Support Carl Anduri for a Greener, Stronger Lafayette!](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/)
**Published:** October 1, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Support Carl Anduri for Lafayette City Council! Carl has decades of experience shaping Lafayette’s growth and advancing environmental sustainability.
**Content:**
 Lafayette City Council At-Large Candidate Carl Anduri
For a greener, stronger Lafayette, we support Carl Anduri’s bid for re-election to the Lafayette City Council. Carl is the experienced, dedicated representative Lafayette needs! A retired lawyer, Carl has been shaping Lafayette’s growth and sustainability since 1997. Starting on the Lafayette Planning Commission that year, and later elected to the City Council in 2002, Carl served for 10 successful years. After retiring in 2020, he returned to the Council, ready to continue his legacy of service.
**A Proven Environmental Advocate**
Carl has been pivotal in advancing Lafayette’s environmental agenda. He helped establish the city’s Environmental Strategy Task Force and has served as its liaison, pushing for essential green initiatives, including:
- Expanding EV charging stations in multi-family housing
- Promoting full building electrification
- Banning gas-powered leaf blowers and creating an electric blower loaner program
**A Vision for Sustainable Development**
As Lafayette works to meet state housing mandates, Carl is committed to ensuring that development benefits the entire community. His vision is clear:
- A thriving business district
- Pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly downtown
- Preservation of green spaces and natural landscapes
- Protecting parks and hillsides for future generations
Carl’s experience and commitment to a sustainable, people-centered future make him the ideal choice for Lafayette City Council.
**Support Carl Anduri for a Greener, Stronger Lafayette!**
**Visit his website:** [anduri.net](https://www.anduri.net/)
**Volunteer today:** [Get involved](https://www.anduri.net/volunteer)
Image credit: Carl Anduri campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Lafayette City Council_CA
---
### [Rebecca Saltzman: Sustainable Transportation Leadership in El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/)
**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Four-year El Cerrito City Councilmember and Mayor, Lisa Motoyama drives El Cerrito's Climate Action Plan with renewable transit, sustainable housing, and EV infrastructure, while restoring financial stability and championing resilience.
**Content:**
 El Cerrito City Council At-Large Candidate Rebecca Saltzman
A visionary leader for over a decade, Rebecca Saltzman has championed sustainable transportation leadership in El Cerrito and the broader Bay Area, aligning her work with California’s green goals. She’s pushing bold plans to make cleaner transit options more accessible by:
- Expanding walking and biking trails
- Increasing bus schedules
- Creating car-free retail corridors
#### Leading BART with Purpose
As a BART board director for more than 10 years, Saltzman has driven transformative changes. Her key achievements include:
- Supporting low-income fare vouchers
- Advocating for affordable housing near BART stations
- Securing federal funding for system improvements
- Growing financial reserves for future sustainability
She also spearheaded the creation of the Progressive Policing Bureau, which provides assistance to homeless individuals and those in crisis at BART stations. Her leadership roles include:
- Serving as BART board president twice
- Chairing the BART Audit Committee and
- Chairing previously the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Board, and the BART-AC Transit Interagency Liaison Committee
#### Advocating for Cleaner, Safer Transit
Beyond BART, Saltzman’s commitment to sustainable transportation shines through her work with Bike East Bay. As Development Director, she advocates for:
- Safer bike infrastructure
- Replacing car trips with biking or walking
Her efforts aim to create a cleaner, more accessible future for all Bay Area residents.
#### Environmental and Social Justice Champion
With seven years of leadership at the California League of Conservation Voters, Saltzman has rallied more than 100 organizations to drive critical reforms in:
- Environmental protection
- Public health
- Social justice
In 2011, her dedication to increasing civic engagement earned her the *Making Democracy Work Award* from the League of Women Voters of Oakland.
Rebecca Saltzman is a leader who doesn’t just talk about change—she makes it happen. Her work in sustainable transportation, social equity, and environmental advocacy has left a lasting impact, and she’s ready to keep pushing forward.
Join Rebecca in building a greener, more accessible El Cerrito!
**Learn more about her campaign:** [Rebecca for El Cerrito](https://www.rebeccaforelcerrito.com/)
**Get involved:** [Volunteer with Rebecca](https://www.rebeccaforelcerrito.com/join)
Image credit: Rebecca Saltzman campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee El Cerrito City Council_RS
---
### [Elect Pablo Benavente for a Sustainable Concord](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-pablo-benavente-for-a-sustainable-concord/)
**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Pablo Benavente is committed to advancing environmental and economic justice in Concord. With a focus on renewable energy and community support, he aims to foster a sustainable future for all.
**Content:**
 Concord City Council District 4 Candidate Pablo Benavente
Pablo Benavente, running for Concord City Council D4, is ready to lead the city in tackling critical issues like the climate crisis and building a vibrant local economy. His fresh perspective on environmental and economic justice is exactly what the city needs.
With a strong background in social justice, Pablo has dedicated himself to uplifting marginalized communities. He has volunteered with Monument Impact, including serving as board chair, and worked with SEIU and IFPTE Local 21, demonstrating his commitment to workers’ rights.
Pablo envisions a Concord powered by renewable energy. His plans include:
- Expanding public transportation options
- Installing more EV charging stations
- Increasing solar energy incentives
To ensure low-income communities thrive during this transition, Pablo supports programs that lessen the financial burden of moving away from fossil fuels. He also prioritizes green job training to empower local workers.
Electing Pablo Benavente for Concord City Council will bring meaningful action on climate issues. Join us in supporting his campaign!
Website:[ https://www.pablobenavente.com/](https://www.pablobenavente.com/)
Volunteer some time:[ https://www.pablobenavente.com/volunteer](https://www.pablobenavente.com/volunteer)
Image credit: Pablo Benavente campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Concord City Council D4
---
### [Return Jovita Mendoza to Brentwood City Council D3](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
**Published:** October 1, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Support Jovita Mendoza for Brentwood City Council D3! A dedicated community leader, she fights against pollution and champions renewable energy.
**Content:**
 Brentwood City Council District 3 Candidate Jovita Mendoza
Re-elect Jovita Mendoza, a true champion of the community, to the Brentwood City Council District 3. A powerful example of what citizen activism can achieve, Jovita mobilized hundreds of Brentwood residents to successfully halt new oil and gas drilling just 1,000 feet from their homes on county land. This dangerous drilling would have threatened air quality, water safety, and property values.
**A Working Mom with a Mission**
As a working mom, Jovita understands the urgency of protecting her family’s health. She refused to allow her children to breathe polluted air right outside their door. Jovita has also fought against the renewal of a natural gas pipeline through the city, addressing critical concerns that have gone unheeded.
**Expertise and Engagement on the Council**
With her background as a data analytics manager, Jovita brings expertise and a hands-on approach to the Brentwood City Council. She is dedicated to ensuring that new developments prioritize community benefits and affordable housing options. Before her council tenure, she played a key role in defeating Measure L, which sought to push Brentwood’s urban limit boundary backward.
**Advocating for Renewable Energy**
Jovita staunchly opposes the recent reduction in reimbursement rates for solar power, known as NEM 3 (net energy metering). As a council member, she promotes renewable energy and transition to all-electric systems. Jovita declares, “We need to reverse NEM 3 back to NEM 2 to make solar more affordable for everyone and fund solar initiatives for low-income families.”
**Vote for Jovita Mendoza!**
Secure a sustainable and prosperous future for Brentwood. Return Jovita Mendoza to the Brentwood City Council in District 3!
**Visit her website:** [betterforbrentwood.com](https://www.betterforbrentwood.com/)
**Volunteer and make a difference:** [Get involved](https://www.betterforbrentwood.com/volunteer.html)
Image credit: Jovita Mendoza campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Brentwood City Council D3
---
### [Support William Ktsanes for El Cerrito City Council!](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/)
**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** William Ktsanes is running for an at-large seat on the El Cerrito City Council, bringing financial expertise and a commitment to environmental protection.
**Content:**
 El Cerrito City Council At-Large Candidate William Ktsanes
We enthusiastically back William Ktsanes for an at-large seat on the El Cerrito City Council. As a graduate finance instructor at the University of San Francisco, William integrates environmental ethics into his financial courses. With Master’s degrees in financial analysis and public administration, he combines strong financial expertise with a commitment to social and environmental protection. William views climate change as our greatest societal threat.
On the El Cerrito Finance Board, he championed the No Fossil Fuel Investment policy, pushing for sustainable financial practices. He actively promotes LEED construction standards and collaborates with the U.S. Green Building Council, where he was part of the inaugural Emerging Professionals program.
A single dad, William regularly travels to Thailand, where he adopted his son. Recently, they participated in a reforestation project in northern Thailand, demonstrating their commitment to the environment.
**Support William for El Cerrito City Council!**
Website:
Volunteer: TBD
Image credit: William Ktsanes campaign, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee El Cerrito City Council_WK
---
### [Elect Shanelle Scales-Preston for Contra Costa Supervisor D5](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-shanelle-scales-preston-for-contra-costa-supervisor-d5/)
**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Support Shanelle Scales-Preston for Contra Costa Supervisor. With a strong track record in clean energy and community advocacy, she is dedicated to climate justice.
**Content:**
 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 5 Candidate Shanelle Scales-Preston
### Experience and Leadership
Elect Shanelle Scales-Preston for Supervisor in Contra Costa! With six years on the Pittsburg City Council she is committed to climate justice and community resilience, with leadership roles in:
- **Marin Clean Energy (MCE):** Served as chair, driving clean energy initiatives
- **TransPlan:** Worked on improving East County transportation
### Climate Priorities
Shanelle is committed to advancing key climate goals, including:
- **Expanding Clean Energy:** Advocating for sustainable energy solutions for all
- **Improving Transportation Access:** Enhancing options for auto-free mobility
- **Promoting Workforce Development:** Fostering job opportunities in the green sector
### Community Focus
With her working-class background, Shanelle emphasizes:
- **Building a Resilient Local Economy:** Supporting initiatives that benefit local workers and businesses
- **Ensuring Local Hiring:** Advocating for community members to fill energy project roles
- **Guaranteeing a Just Transition:** Committing to fair practices for workers affected by the clean energy shift
### Advocacy for All
On the board of MCE, Shanelle:
- **Championed Access to Clean Energy Technologies:** Ensured equitable access for low-income communities
- **Promoted Community Inclusion:** Advocated for policies that support the economy and ecology for everyone
### Your Vote Matters
We strongly urge you to vote for Shanelle Scales-Preston for the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors!
**Website:** [Shanelle for Supervisor](https://www.shanelle4supervisor.org/)
**Volunteer:** [Get Involved](https://www.shanelle4supervisor.org/join-us)
Image credit: Shanelle Scales-Preston campaign, used with permission
## Are You in District 5?
Contra Costa County makes it easy to check your voter registration status and see the districts you reside in. Go to [My Voting Information](https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/voter-registration/my-voting-information/#VoterLookupandSampleBallotSearch). Need a visual? Check out the [county’s supervisor districts map](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6505/Supervisorial-Districts-2021-PDF?bidId=).
 [Contra Costa County Supervisorial Districts](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6505/Supervisorial-Districts-2021-PDF?bidId=)
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Winner 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Contra Costa County Supervisor D5
---
### [July 2022 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2022-newsletter/)
**Published:** July 14, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: SCOTUS delivers a major setback for climate action; El Cerrito residents face urgent action by Monday. Plus, learn the basics of building electrification and support the new petition to save rooftop solar, and much more.
**Content:**
### July 2022 Newsletter
## **Supreme Court decision: a major setback**
On June 30, the US Supreme Court dealt the climate a serious blow. Their ruling in **[*West Virginia vs EPA*](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/06/30/us/supreme-court-epa)** severely limits the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate carbon emissions from power plants.
There’s no sugar-coating this news; it’s bad. The ruling makes it much tougher to reach our country’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. But it’s still doable.
Now, it’s more important than ever to work at the state and local levels to halt the burning of fossil fuels. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) *must* issue a strong **[2022 Scoping Plan](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2022/06/24/the-scoop-on-the-scoping-plan-carb-is-not-on-track-to-achieve-a-zero-emission-transportation-sector-part-4/)**—one that phases out refineries and gas-fired generation of electric power; dramatically reduces emissions from vehicles; and eliminates the use of “natural gas” in buildings.
The Scoping Plan that CARB released in May is still just a draft. There will be another round of hearings and more opportunity for public comment. We’ll let you know when it’s time to speak out again.
Onward!
## **El Cerrito residents: urgent action needed by Monday**
Residents of El Cerrito are taking local action to cut fossil-fuel emissions! They are asking their city council members to get busy and follow through on the **[Climate Emergency Resolution](https://www.cedamia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/El-Cerrito-CA-Resolution-2019-52-Climate-Emergency-August-20-2019.pdf)** they passed back in August 2019. The grassroots group is focusing first on getting their city to pass an ordinance requiring new building construction in El Cerrito to be all-electric.
If you live in El Cerrito, please **[sign this petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/el-cerrito-city-council-its-time-to-act-on-the-climate-emergency?source=direct_link)** to the City Council voicing your support for building electrification. If you know folks who live in El Cerrito, please forward the petition to them.
The petition will be presented at the next City Council meeting, **July 19, 6pm, at 10890 San Pablo Ave.** For more information, email Bill at **.**
## **Building electrification: the basics**
When we think of greenhouse gas emissions, we may picture smokestacks or tailpipes belching foul-smelling smoke. But there’s another big factor: energy use in commercial and residential buildings causes **[about a quarter of California’s climate pollution](https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Fact-Sheet-Building-Energy-Efficiency.pdf).**
The oil and gas industry has tried to represent “natural gas”—more appropriately called “fossil gas”— as a clean, practical alternative to coal and oil. But fossil gas not only is a major factor in climate change, but also causes **[serious health problems](https://rmi.org/insight/gas-stoves-pollution-health/)** and water pollution. Learn more **[here](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101#whatis).**
Eliminating fossil gas as an energy source in our homes and businesses is a feasible way to reduce emissions and help put the brakes on climate change. What’s more, going all-electric means no more exposure to the indoor air pollutants emitted by gas appliances. And all-electric buildings have lower construction costs compared to buildings with both gas and electricity.
Chefs and home cooks are favoring electric **[induction cooktops](https://uspirg.org/news/usf/new-consumer-guide-highlights-clean-air-and-cooking-benefits-induction-cooktops)** over gas ranges.
Earlier this year, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance mandating all new construction to be all-electric. A great start! But this ordinance affects only unincorporated areas in the county. Now, each of our nineteen cities and towns needs to pass its own new building electrification ordinance—except for Richmond and Hercules, which have already done so. Two down, seventeen to go!
## **New petition to save rooftop solar**
Our friends at Solar Rights Alliance have launched a new **[petition](https://solarrights.org/utilitypetition/?contactdata=%2bupcZ4mogtOu7SXMlEwsyuWobn19HV2n4POighEUQJaMiWiAuo%2f5kDUfVymSwHsJQZANgHs69hSYB%2fImOpOtrLI2rX%2bh2m6ohIYH%2fgtEqtb6mCB59ikBDpgywUhRlQUDrJOpWC3XFMpmu3q2EwLxq25S2lg7pF93Rfl%2fNkM86Wid48COVmhgeYR4cFsDl0fmF3OorD3k807Po5BtYnOES8Ns7JDGIHs0Cxpc1BLXzn61El%2b0afmjz4fLGZnEmJjK&emci=0cf92f6b-8301-ed11-b47a-281878b83d8a&emdi=d18ab01f-ef01-ed11-b47a-281878b83d8a&ceid=8186476)** telling the CEOs of three big investor-owned utilities, including PG&E, to cease and desist their campaign against rooftop solar. Please sign and share!
## **Biofuels Update: lawsuits filed against Contra Costa projects**
Our friends at Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) have sued to stop biofuel refining at the Phillips 66 Rodeo and Marathon Martinez Refineries. This is good—because biofuels are a bad idea.
We were disappointed in May when the Board of Supervisors approved these projects, which recent research shows have negligible benefits in mitigating climate change.
During the California Clean Air Board (CARB) Climate Change Scoping Plan hearing in June, speakers pointed to the global food shortage and the indirect effects on food security of refining and burning food crop oils for biofuel. Dan Sperling, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis, called for more investigation into the impacts of using food crops for biofuels, and the board asked to be provided with more studies on this topic.
We hope the projects at both refineries will be stopped by the court by mid-2023.
## **Coming up in Sacramento**
When the new legislative session begins on August 1, senators and assemblymembers will be considering a number of important climate-related bills.
These bills are “in their second house”—that is, bills that originated and passed in the Senate are now in the Assembly, and vice versa. Each bill must go to one or more policy committees, and if it involves expenditures, it must get through a fiscal committee as well. All the bills we’re watching have passed their policy committees and been referred to an Appropriations Committee.
For example, **[AB 2649](https://theclimatecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/AB-2649-Fact-Sheet.pdf),** the Natural Carbon Sequestration and Resilience Act, has already passed two committees in the Senate: Natural Resources and Environmental Quality.
**[AB 2146](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IlVYAc1hPeFpnLXGKz4tAFkMYzR9Xt6A/view),** Banning Non-Agricultural Neonicotinoids, has passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. This important bill helps protect bees and other pollinators, clean water, people, and the future of our food supply by banning five key neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides from use in most non-agricultural settings.
And if **[SB 1314](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iNEqk5UxZ4QZrxjfLZfrAJR1Yy19HfY0/view),** Enhanced Oil Recovery, becomes law, it will prevent carbon capture projects from resulting in increased fossil fuel production.
These and other bills are key for stabilizing the climate and making California a healthy, sustainable place to live. We can all play a role in making them the law of the land. To learn more about how bills become law in our state, see this **[overview of the legislative process](http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bil2lawx.html).**
Democracy only works when the people participate.
## **June 7 primary election results in Contra Costa**
Our candidate for County Clerk-Recorder, Pinole City Councilmember **Devin Murphy,** came in third, so he won’t be on the November ballot.
In the race for the County Assessor’s office, our candidate **Floy Andrews** lost to incumbent Gus Kramer.
## **Dirty dollars in Sacramento**
Two of Contra Costa’s representatives in Sacramento, Steve Glazer **([Senate District 7](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/senate-district-7))** and Tim Grayson **([Assembly District 14](https://a14.asmdc.org/district-map)),** are high on Sierra Club California’s list of legislators taking “dirty dollars” from the oil and gas industry.
Between January 2021 and May 2022, Steve Glazer took more oil money than any other legislator in the state: a stunning **$66,000,** including contributions from Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, and Valero. Most of these contributions went into Glazer’s campaign for State Controller.
In that same period, Tim Grayson accepted **$32,900** in dirty donations.
**We’re just getting started**
350CC*A* is determined to stand in the way when fossil-fuel companies try to buy the votes of our elected officials. We intend to amplify the voices of voters demanding immediate, effective action on climate change.
We’re counting on *you* to help END Big Oil’s influence on our legislators—and to get bold, climate-forward candidates elected to state and county offices.
There’s so much you can do. Please join us!
## **A note about our name**
You may have noticed a change in our banner this month—from 350 Contra Costa to 350 Contra Costa *Action.*Why? Well, 350 Contra Costa *Action* and 350 Contra Costa are sister organizations. 350CCA focuses on electing climate-forward candidates and influencing policy decisions, while 350CC educates community members to become effective advocates for climate solutions.
Starting this month, we’re combining the newsletters for the two organizations under the *Action* banner.
Stay safe,
Lisa and Emily.
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2022 Election, Biofuels Refining, Building Electrification, California Climate Legislation, Climate Emergency Resolution, Dirty Dollars in Sacramento, Rooftop solar, SCOTUS EPA Ruling
---
### [August 2022 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2022-newsletter-2/)
**Published:** August 18, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Climate Action & Local Updates: Get Involved---The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers opportunities for climate progress—let's build on it! Join the conversation on why the climate crisis isn’t getting enough attention. Call your Assemblymember and State Senator today. Plus, grassroots efforts in El Cerrito, urgent action needed in Martinez, and a key event this Sunday on defending our legal right to protect from oil and gas
**Content:**
### August 2022 Newsletter
## **The IRA: something we can build on**
Of course, the big climate news is the **[Inflation Reduction Act](https://www.npr.org/2022/08/07/1116190180/democrats-are-set-to-pass-a-major-climate-health-and-tax-bill-heres-whats-in-it)**, which President Biden signed into law this week. Although the bill is overall a step forward for the climate, it is also a heartbreaking betrayal of vulnerable communities, particularly in the Gulf and Alaska. It **[mandates the sale of oil and gas leases](https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/inflation-reduction-act-advances-9759498/)** in these areas, which are already heavily impacted by the oil and gas industry.
The IRA centers **[unproven climate-capture technologies](https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2021/07/20/top-5-reasons-carbon-capture-and-storage-ccs-is-bogus/)** to reduce emissions and supports the 300-mile **[Mountain Valley Pipeline](https://www.propublica.org/article/manchin-gas-pipeline-climate-change-bill)** through Virginia and West Virginia. These too are big negatives.
But on the positive side, the IRA provides **$369 billion** for clean energy over the next ten years. It’s predicted that this will be enough to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40%, compared to 2005 levels, by 2030. That’s huge! This [**Truthout interview**](https://truthout.org/articles/lets-acknowledge-inflation-reduction-acts-significance-and-its-inadequacy/) with economist Robert Pollin provides an incisive analysis of the IRA’s major provisions.
Overall, the IRA is a giant first step. Now, we must fight the bad parts of the bill and build on the good parts to bring in the clean, healthy, sustainable future we all want.
## **Why aren’t more of us talking about the climate crisis?**
Despite the megadrought, the forest fires, the floods, and the horrific heat waves, President Biden has not seen fit to declare the Climate Emergency we are obviously experiencing. And as the IRA makes blindingly clear, oil and gas companies still hold enormous influence over public energy policy. To push the president and defeat Big Oil, broad consensus favoring the transition to renewables is critically important.
Locally and nationally, there’s a big disconnect between the severity of the crisis and its share of the public discourse. Why aren’t more of us talking about climate change—and what to do about it?
According to a **[recent study](https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_clim_20220719&instance_id=67030&nl=climate-forward®i_id=132430592&segment_id=98929&te=1&user_id=d0d1353835d99ec9942fe426b9c397d1)** by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, a large majority of adults in Contra Costa County perceive climate change as a serious threat and support climate-forward policies. Most of us are worried and want something done. But most of us are not even talking about climate change with our family and friends. Nationally, only about 35 percent of adults say they talk about it occasionally.
The July 19 **[*New York Times’ Climate Forward*](https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_clim_20220719&instance_id=67030&nl=climate-forward&productCode=CLIM®i_id=132430592&segment_id=98929&te=1&uri=nyt%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter%2F85743e73-91be-59b1-bb94-1a12f4113fd3&user_id=d0d1353835d99ec9942fe426b9c397d1)** newsletter offers an explanation for this disconnect. First, many of us see climate change as a controversial topic and want to avoid conflict. And we don’t realize we’re in the majority. As a result, there’s a silo effect—neighbors each believing the other isn’t open to discussing climate issues, while in reality they both are.
**What we all can do**
When enough ordinary folks in every community speak up for bold, fair climate solutions, they will happen. Each of us can reach out to family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, listen to their concerns, and help them overcome their reluctance to engage with the issues. Break out of that silo!
## **Action item: call your Assemblymember**
Two key bills have made it through the Senate and are now headed to the Assembly floor for a vote. Please call your Assemblymember and ask them to vote **YES** on both:
- **[SB 260](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L2JKSM4lR1xMxEA71U7e4bIEGApQAVat/view),** the Climate Corporate Accountability Act, would require all US-based corporations with annual gross revenues of $1 billion or greater that do business in California to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions inventory each year.
- [**SB 1314**](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iNEqk5UxZ4QZrxjfLZfrAJR1Yy19HfY0/view) would ensure that carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) projects do not result in enhanced oil recovery, which is a process used to *boost* oil production. CCUS is supposed to reduce carbon emissions; when the captured carbon is used for enhanced oil recovery, net emissions quadruple.
**Please call today and say, vote YES on SB 260 and SB 1314!**
**[District 11](https://a11.asmdc.org/district-map) [Lori Wilson](https://a11.asmdc.org/)** (916) 319-2011
**[District 14](https://a14.asmdc.org/district-map) [Tim Grayson](https://a14.asmdc.org/)** (916) 319-2014
**[District 15](https://a15.asmdc.org/district-map) [Buffy Wicks](https://a15.asmdc.org/)** (916) 319-2015
**[District 16](https://a16.asmdc.org/district-map) [Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://a16.asmdc.org/)** (916) 319-2016
## **Action item: call your State Senator**
[**AB 2146**](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IlVYAc1hPeFpnLXGKz4tAFkMYzR9Xt6A/view), authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-16), would protect key pollinator species by banning non-agricultural use of the top five neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics). These pesticides are routinely used despite their devastating effects on pollinator health, biodiversity, and risks to human wellbeing.
**Please call today and say, vote YES on AB 2146!**
**[District 3](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/district) [Bill Dodd](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/)** (916) 651-4003
**[District 7](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/senate-district-7) [Steve Glazer](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/)** (916) 651-4007
**[District 9](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/district) [Nancy Skinner](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/)** (916) 651-4009
## **Grassroots action in El Cerrito**
The El Cerrito City Council passed a Climate Emergency Resolution back in 2019, but they haven’t acted on climate issues since then. So, this summer, a small group of city residents started a petition to the council. They’re demanding that the city draft an ordinance requiring all new residential and commercial construction to be **[all-electric](https://rmi.org/eight-benefits-of-building-electrification-for-households-communities-and-climate/).**
In just two weeks, they gathered 278 signatures, many by going door-to-door in their neighborhoods. They presented the petition at the July 19 City Council meeting, where five people spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. The petition calls on the city to have a draft ordinance by September 30.
If you live in El Cerrito, please email Fred Bialy at **** to find out what you can do to fight climate change in your community.
**And… vote for Vanessa Warheit for El Cerrito City Council**
We’re excited about climate-forward candidate Vanessa Warheit! Learn more about her **[here](https://www.vanessaforelcerrito.com/#topissues).**
## **Martinez residents: your action needed**
Back in April 2021, the City of Martinez passed a **[Climate Emergency Resolution](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/home/showpublisheddocument/1226/637730929612770000)** that specifically mentioned requiring new construction to be **[fully electric](https://rmi.org/eight-benefits-of-building-electrification-for-households-communities-and-climate/).**
Now, we understand that the city may present a draft building electrification ordinance at a September council meeting—either the 14th or the 21st. This proposed ordinance would be an important first step in reducing greenhouse gases from buildings and improving the health and well-being of residents. If you are a resident of Martinez, please **[sign this petition](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/aac1c281761c0d8f85182e79667dd777e829632e?hash=0aaae9fdca426b92d70035fb38e86fe2)** to let the council know you support building electrification.
## **This Sunday, 4pm: Defending our legal right to protect from oil and gas**
Our friends at **[Sunflower Alliance](http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/)** are offering an [**important webinar**](http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/webinar-our-legal-right-to-protect-from-oil-and-gas-august-21/) this Sunday, August 21, at 4pm. The California Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on Monterey County’s ban of oil and gas drilling could have big consequences for us in Contra Costa: our Board of Supervisors has held off on banning oil and gas pending the Monterey decision.
**RSVP to for the zoom link.**
## **Save the date: Walnut Creek EcoFest, Saturday, October 22**
As part of Sustainability Week **(October 22-28)**, the Walnut Creek EcoFest is coming to Civic Park on Saturday, October 22, from 11am to 3pm. The whole family will enjoy the fun while learning to live more sustainably! Watch this space for details.
Stay safe,
Lisa and Emily.
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=aug_2022_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, Climate Crisis, Climate Emergency Resolution, Climate Webinar, EcoFest, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
---
### [September 2022 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2022-newsletter/)
**Published:** September 22, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Sacramento, Local Climate Action & Election Updates
Big news from Sacramento on climate policy! Learn about efforts to boost pollinators and trees, plus the latest CARB Scoping Plan update—make your voice heard. In Martinez, building electrification is moving forward, and Walnut Creek’s Sustainability Week (Oct 22-28) and EcoFest (Oct 22, 11am-3pm) are just around the corner. Also, let’s elect climate champions this election—are you registered to vote?
**Content:**
### September 2022 Newsletter
## **Big news from Sacramento**
Last month’s state legislative session came to a close with a bang. With the backing of Governor Newsom, **[five climate-related bills](https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/09/california-climate-change-legislature/)** passed both the Senate and the Assembly—committing a total of **$54 billion** to fight climate change over the next five years. Last week, the governor signed all five bills into law. Now, in addition to much more funding for climate projects, the state has set more ambitious targets for the transition to renewables—and has embraced [**natural carbon sequestration**](https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/natural-carbon-storage) by requiring carbon-storage targets for our natural and agricultural lands.
So much to celebrate! The big surprise was the governor’s support of [**SB 1137**](https://www.nrdc.org/experts/ann-alexander/gov-newsoms-welcome-announcement-oil-drilling-setbacks)**,** which requires a 3,200-foot health and safety setback not only for new oil wells, but also for any proposed reworking of existing wells within a kilometer of homes, schools, or hospitals. This is wonderful news for millions of Californians.
But opponents of the setback law have already come up with a plan to reverse it: this week, they filed a referendum with the CA Attorney General's office, hoping to get the law on the ballot. If they can find about 623,000 voters willing to sign their petition, setback requirements will be on hold until the 2024 election.
The other new, climate-related laws aren’t entirely good news: our state is embracing unproven, expensive technology as a key way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) is a **[terrible idea for many reasons](https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/fs_2003_carboncapture-web-1.pdf)**, but oil companies promote it so they can continue extracting and burning fossil fuels.
A bit of good news within the bad: **[SB 1314](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1314)**, one of the five bills that passed, prohibits the use of CCUS for Enhanced Oil Recovery, or EOR. EOR is the practice of injecting captured carbon into an oil well in order to extract every last drop of oil, thus boosting production instead of reducing it.
Our goal remains clear: we have to stop extracting and burning fossil fuels, and we have to transition to 100 percent renewable energy. Urgently.
## **More pollinators, more trees**
Two of the beneficial bills that passed the CA legislature, **[AB 2146](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IlVYAc1hPeFpnLXGKz4tAFkMYzR9Xt6A/view)** and **[AB 1757](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1757)**, are notable because they show a cooperative attitude toward Nature. AB 2146, authored by East Bay assemblymember **[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://a16.asmdc.org/),** bans non-agricultural use of powerful neurotoxic insecticides called *neonics*. AB 1757 mandates setting targets for natural carbon sequestration—that is, helping Nature draw more carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in the ground.
As we may sometimes forget, we humans are part of the unimaginably complex *web of life* that has evolved over millions of years as a vast system of delicately balanced cycles and processes. We must remember that our lives depend on our cooperation within this system.
Neurotoxic insecticides are a **[bad idea](https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lucas-rhoads/5-things-know-about-ca-bill-curb-bee-killing-neonics)** because they destroy bees and other pollinators that plants depend on to reproduce. Instead of cooperating with Nature, they disrupt a basic life process and imperil not only our food supply, but also our health.
Trees and other plants **[naturally remove carbon dioxide](https://clear.ucdavis.edu/explainers/what-carbon-sequestration)** from the air and store it in the soil. To cool the planet, we need to cooperate with and encourage this process—to plant more trees and nurture existing ones. We don’t need to invent machines to do the same thing much less efficiently.
Too often, our technologies have damaged or destroyed natural systems. For our species to survive, we must learn to consider the effects of our actions on the entire web of life.
## **CARB Scoping Plan update: add your voice!**
As we’ve mentioned, the [**California Air Resources Board (CARB)**](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/about) is updating its **[Scoping Plan](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/ab-32-climate-change-scoping-plan/about),** which outlines steps to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. In its current form, the draft update is far from satisfactory. Instead of relying mainly on renewable energy sources like solar, it puts forward dubious carbon-capture schemes favored by the oil and gas companies so they can keep on pumping.
Our friends at the [**California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA)**](https://caleja.org/) have set up a **[call-in campaign](https://actionnetwork.org/call_campaigns/newsom/)** aimed at Governor Newsom. He needs to tell CARB to stand up to Big Oil, reject carbon capture, and phase out oil and gas by 2045.
Get all the info to make your call **[here](https://actionnetwork.org/call_campaigns/newsom/).** Let the governor know we’re watching him!
## **Martinez: progress on building electrification**
At the Martinez City Council meeting on September 14, city staff introduced an ordinance calling for all new construction of residential, hotel, office and retail buildings to be all-electric. The draft ordinance is modeled closely on the one passed by the Board of Supervisors last January, which applies only to the county’s unincorporated areas. It’s on the agenda of the October 5 council meeting and is expected to pass without revisions.
Then, *three* of Contra Costa’s nineteen cities and towns will have natural-gas bans in place as Martinez joins Richmond and Hercules. Across the state, **[sixty cities and counties](https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2021/07/californias-cities-lead-way-pollution-free-homes-and-buildings)** have passed building electrification ordinances so far.
It’s a good start, and there’s plenty left to do—not just getting all municipalities on board, but also strengthening the local bans on natural gas by extending them to *all* new construction and to existing buildings undergoing major additions or alterations. Eventually, we’ll need to find an equitable way to move from gas to electric appliances in all buildings.
## **Sustainability Week in Walnut Creek,**
## **October 22 – 28**
Mark your calendar! We’re joining **[Sustainable Walnut Creek](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/)** to bring you a whole week of engaging, informative events that will help you be part of the climate solution. Learn about climate advocacy; a planet-friendly diet; restoring Walnut Creek’s namesake watershed; reducing use of plastics; home electrification—and more! Get details **[here](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/sustainability-week/).**
## **EcoFest in Walnut Creek’s Civic Park, Saturday, October 22, 11am – 3pm**
Sustainability Week will be off to a great start with [**EcoFest in the Park!**](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Copy-of-sustainability-week-2.png) Local climate groups will offer information and demonstrations on how to live more sustainably—from water-wise gardening to upcycling to e-bikes and electric cars. It’ll be fun for the whole family with live music, circus performers, and a kids’ art zone. Wear your Halloween costumes for the Eco trick-or-treat!
See you in Civic Park on **Saturday, October 22, from 11am to 3pm.** You won’t want to miss this!
## **Let’s elect some climate champions!**
Election season is upon us, and we’re excited to see so many strong climate candidates for local office in cities all over the county. We’re enthusiastically endorsing the twelve candidates listed below. For each one, follow the link to learn about them and find out how you can support their campaign.
**[Laura Nakamura](https://350bayareaaction.org/laura-nakamura-for-concord-city-council-district-5)****[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/laura-nakamura-for-concord-city-council-district-5)** Concord City Council, District 5
**[Vanessa Warheit](https://350bayareaaction.org/vanessa-warheit-for-el-cerrito-city-council)**[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/vanessa-warheit-for-el-cerrito-city-council) El Cerrito City Council
**[Latika Malkani](https://350bayareaaction.org/latika-malkani-for-orinda-city-council-at-large-seat)****[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/latika-malkani-for-orinda-city-council-at-large-seat)** Orinda City Council
**[Cameron Sasai](https://350bayareaaction.org/cameron-sasai-pinole-city-council)** Pinole City Council
**[Anthony Tave](https://350bayareaaction.org/anthony-tave-for-pinole-city-council-at-large-seat)** Pinole City Council
**[Zhanna Thompson](https://350bayareaaction.org/zhanna-thompson-for-pleasant-hill-city-council-at-large-seat)** Pleasant Hill City Council
**[Eduardo Martinez](https://350bayareaaction.org/eduardo-martinez-for-richmond-mayor)****[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/eduardo-martinez-for-richmond-mayor)** Richmond Mayor
**[Jamin Pusell](https://350bayareaaction.org/jamin-pursell-for-richmond-city-council-district-4)**[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/jamin-pursell-for-richmond-city-council-district-4) Richmond City Council District 4
**[Doria Robinson](https://350bayareaaction.org/doria-robinson-for-richmond-city-council-district-3)****[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/doria-robinson-for-richmond-city-council-district-3)** Richmond City Council, District 3
**[Sara Lashanlo](https://350bayareaaction.org/sara-lashanlo-for-san-ramon-city-council-district-2)**[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/sara-lashanlo-for-san-ramon-city-council-district-2) San Ramon City Council, District 2
**[Laura Patch](https://350bayareaaction.org/laura-patch-for-walnut-creek-city-council-at-large-seat)****[ ](https://350bayareaaction.org/laura-patch-for-walnut-creek-city-council-at-large-seat)** Walnut Creek City Council, at-large seat
For the state legislature, we support **[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://350bayareaaction.org/rebecca-bauer-kahan-for-ca-assembly-district-16)** for re-election to the **[16th Assembly District](https://a16.asmdc.org/district-map)** seat.
## **Are you registered to vote?**
In these challenging times, it’s crucial to elect officials who are capable and serious about addressing climate issues. Please—make sure you’re registered to vote at your current address! You can **[register online](https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration)**, but the last day to do so is **October 24.** Not sure you’re registered? Check your status **[here](https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/).**
Stay safe,
Lisa and Emily.
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2022 Election, Building Electrification, California Climate Legislation, Carb Scoping Plan, climate champions, Drilling Setbacks, EcoFest, Fossil fuels and our health, neurotoxic insecticides, Sustainability Week
---
### [December 2022 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2022-newsletter/)
**Published:** December 13, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Urgent Climate Actions & Local Wins---Take urgent action to protect rooftop solar and stop price gouging at the gas pump. This week’s CARB Scoping Plan vote could shape California’s climate future, while LA leads the way by shutting down all oil and gas drilling. Plus, El Cerrito shows how grassroots action can drive real results.
**Content:**
### December 2022 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Urgent action alert: save rooftop solar!**
Here we go again! This **Thursday, December 15,** the California Public Utilities Commission will meet to consider new rules about how rooftop solar owners are compensated for the energy they sell back to the grid. The latest proposed rules slash the compensation owners would receive for energy from new solar installations—which would very likely cripple the transition to solar.
Learn more about problems with the new rules in **[this op-ed](https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/12/08/opinion-california-grid-needs-more-solar-not-less/).**
Please tell Governor Newsom: the CPUC’s most recent proposal is not acceptable, and he *must* save rooftop solar.
- Leave a message for the governor on his **[website](https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/).**
- Sign **[this petition](https://www.savecaliforniasolar.org/sign-petition)** from the Save Rooftop Solar Coalition.
• Call his office! Lines are open from 9am to 5pm. Here’s a sample script:
*My name is \_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_. I have a message for the governor about the CPUC's latest rooftop solar proposal: it’s still too extreme, and you need to step in. California should be doing more, not less, to promote rooftop solar. Please show us you are serious about rate hikes, blackouts, and air pollution. Say no to the utilities’ profit grab, and yes to helping millions of working and middle-class people get solar.*
**Do it today!**
## **Action item: stop price gouging at the pump**
It’s no secret that gas prices—and oil companies’ quarterly profits—have risen dramatically in recent months. On November 29, the California Energy Commission convened a [**hearing**](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/11/29/oil-industry-refuses-to-answer-questions-on-gas-price-hikes-amidst-record-profits-as-experts-stress-need-for-new-accountability-measures/) to investigate reasons for the price spikes—but none of the five major oil companies showed up to answer questions.
The next day, Governor Newsom issued this fact-filled **[proclamation](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11.30.22-Special-Session-Proclamation.pdf?emrc=9d2e07)** convening a special session of the legislature to impose penalties for price gouging and consider a tax on windfall profits. Substantive work on the legislation will begin in January.
Please take a few moments to let your representatives in Sacramento know that you support the governor’s plans. First, find your assemblymember and senator using **[this tool](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/)**; then, email or call them. Here’s a sample message:
*Please work to pass laws in accordance with Governor Newsom's proclamation about excessive oil company profits. I agree with the governor that we need to deter price gouging, provide greater regulatory oversight of all segments of the industry, and create a windfall profits tax. These companies are making extreme, record-breaking profits while they cause severe damage to our health and the livability of this planet. It's time to hold polluters accountable and to require increased corporate transparency from this industry.*
## **CARB Scoping Plan: final vote this week**
Last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released its final **[2022 Scoping Plan](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/news/california-releases-final-2022-climate-scoping-plan-proposal),** meant to lay out the policies and actions that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and get us to carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier.
In September, CARB’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) had informed the Board that the draft scoping plan was not aggressive enough to meet legislative goals for reduction of greenhouse gases: the modeling is inaccurate and, as a result, relies too heavily on unproven Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. Another major flaw is that the Plan doesn’t consider the important role of natural and agricultural lands in drawing down carbon.
Responding to intense public pressure, especially from the EJAC and its allies, the Board directed CARB staff to reconsider elements of the draft plan. To this end, the EJAC submitted highly detailed **[recommendations](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/barcu/board/books/2022/090122/ejacrecs.pdf)** for changes to CARB staff.
While the final plan released in November incorporated some of EJAC’s recommendations, the underlying modeling problem has not been corrected, and the plan still relies far too heavily on unproven technologies.
The board **[will meet](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/board-meetings)** on December 15 and 16 to vote on accepting the 2022 Scoping Plan.
## **LA shutting down all oil and gas drilling**
On December 2, the Los Angeles City Council approved a ban on new oil and gas wells in the city. (Yes, there are active and idle wells in the City of Los Angeles.) The ordinance also includes plans to shut down existing wells over the next 20 years and transition oil industry workers to other jobs. Learn more about the new ordinance **[here](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-12-02/in-historic-move-l-a-bans-new-oil-wells-phases-out-existing-ones)** and **[here](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/los-angeles-bans-new-oil-wells-plans-to-close-existing-ones/)****.** This is real progress!
Now, let’s get Contra Costa to follow LA’s lead and shut down the wells to keep fossil fuels in the ground. For a livable climate and for the health of our communities, oil and gas drilling has got to go.
## **El Cerrito: grassroots action gets results**
At a special meeting on December 6, the El Cerrito City Council voted to have a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) developed. That’s good news—but the *really* good news is this: the Council also directed the plan developer to include a “policy or ordinance prohibiting natural gas in new construction citywide,” to be adopted even before the CAAP.
The CAAP resolution says the request for an electrification ordinance was made “in response to input received from the community.” Yes!
Also this month, the Council unanimously passed the building electrification and EV charging amendments proposed for the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Update.
When the citywide electrification ordinance is adopted, El Cerrito will join Richmond, Hercules, and Martinez, as well as unincorporated areas in the county, in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. If you live in one of Contra Costa’s fifteen other cities and towns, YOU can make a huge difference by pressing your local government for building electrification.
To get started, shoot us an email at **.**
Happy Holidays,
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dec_2022_newsletter_email), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Carb Scoping Plan, Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), Gas and Oil Drilling Bans, Price Gouging at the Pumps, Rooftop solar
---
### [October 2022 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2022-newsletter/)
**Published:** October 13, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Martinez, Walnut Creek & California Climate Updates: Martinez is moving forward with building electrification, while Walnut Creek residents are encouraged to meet their climate candidate. California's Governor Newsom signs key climate bills into law and vetoes others. Plus, don’t miss Sustainability Week in Walnut Creek (Oct 22-28) and EcoFest at Civic Park on October 22, 11am-3pm.
**Content:**
### October 2022 Newsletter
## **Building electrification comes to Martinez**
Good news! On October 5, Martinez City Council unanimously passed a new building electrification ordinance. Starting in November, all newly built residential buildings, hotels, offices, and retail buildings are to be constructed as all-electric buildings without natural gas infrastructure.
Martinez is the third city in the county to pass a building electrification (BE) measure, joining Richmond and Hercules. Contra Costa’s BE ordinance, passed in January 2022, applies only to unincorporated areas in the county, so there’s lots more to do.
Do you live in one of the 16 Contra Costa cities that don’t yet have a BE ordinance? Here’s one excellent way to take effective local action on climate change: make your city the next one to pass BE. You don’t have to be an expert on greenhouse gas emissions or building codes. To find out how you can get involved, please shoot us an email: **.**
## **Climate Action: does your city have a plan?**
Across California, many cities and counties have developed a Climate Action Plan (sometimes called a Sustainability Plan) to help them focus their efforts to address the climate crisis.
A Climate Action Plan should address issues of climate justice first and foremost. It must aim to make sure *all* residents live in clean, healthy homes and neighborhoods, free of industrial pollution; have access to parks, open space, and fresh food; and can easily move through the city or county.
Of course, any strong CAP must detail the ways that the jurisdiction will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases it’s putting into the atmosphere. It should include specific measures in plans for land use, transportation, and building codes. Here are examples:
- In buildings, replace electricity generated by burning fossil fuels with electricity from renewable sources like solar energy
- Reduce the amount of energy that buildings use by mandating energy-efficient appliances and ‘green’ building materials
- Make it easy for people to walk, bus, or bike to shopping districts rather than drive.
In addition to decreasing emissions, jurisdictions can address climate change by increasing the amount of carbon that’s being drawn down out of the atmosphere and stored underground—a process that’s called Natural Carbon Sequestration. The more trees, shrubs, and plants a city has, the more carbon it’s drawing down.
**CAPs in Contra Costa**
Contra Costa County is in the process of updating its **[CAP](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/8678/Climate-Action-Plan)**. This **[CAP Interim Work Plan](http://64.166.146.245/docs/2021/SUSTAIN/20210322_1749/44940_2021-22%20CAP%20Interim%20Work%20Plan%20-%20final%203-22-21.pdf)** provides a good look at the goals and specific steps the county is working on.
**[Only ten](https://www.cccclimateleaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/4CL-ReportCard-Combined_FINAL-Jan2021.pdf)** of our county’s 19 cities have CAPs—and just having a plan doesn’t mean a city is doing an adequate job of addressing climate change. This **[detailed infographic](https://www.cccclimateleaders.org/scores-bar-graph/)** provides information about each city’s actions on climate.
Whether or not your city has a CAP, you can make positive change happen in your community. Get started by checking out your city’s website. Email your city councilmember and ask what the city is doing about the crisis. And of course, reach out to us by emailing **.**
## **Attention Walnut Creek residents—meet your climate candidate**
Here’s your chance to meet and talk with **[Laura Patch](https://www.laurapatch4wc.org/),** the progressive, climate-forward candidate for Walnut Creek City Council. Come to the house party on **Friday, October 14** starting at **6:30pm** near Larkey Park. Get all the details **[here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NSGrKPe1S56uTe4VrWTVN1Rl4WTFlGVbyfUWkIq2xXs/edit#gid=0).**
## **Newsom signs some climate bills into law, vetoes others**
In September, Governor Newsom signed about **[40 climate bills](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/09/16/governor-newsom-signs-sweeping-climate-measures-ushering-in-new-era-of-world-leading-climate-action/)** into law, including these important measures:
- [**AB 2097**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2097) concerns parking spaces around new residential, commercial, or other development. In the past, cities have generally required a minimum number of parking spaces for new development. AB 2097 *prohibits*these minimums, with some exceptions, in areas served by public transit.
- [**SB 379,**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB379) the Solar Access Act, requires municipalities to streamline their solar permitting process, cutting wait times and permitting costs.
- [**AB 2083**](https://patch.com/california/lamorinda/bauer-kahan-bill-utility-caused-fires-signed-law) prohibits investor-owned utilities like PG&E from charging ratepayers to cover the cost of their wildfire settlement payments. Until now, when these utilities were found negligent in causing a wildfire, they could use funds from ratepayers to pay the settlement amount. AB 2083 was authored by Contra Costa’s own Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda).
**Disappointing vetoes**
Although the governor has styled himself a climate champion, his record isn’t perfect. For example, he vetoed these two bills:
- [**AB 2146,**](https://www.independentnews.com/news/regional_and_ca/gov-newsom-vetoes-bauer-kahan-bill-to-protect-bees/article_04eda594-4595-11ed-8de6-3f4ea2cef747.html) also authored by Bauer-Kahan, would have prohibited the use of five neonicotinoid pesticides in non-agricultural settings like backyards, playing fields, and golf courses. These pesticides are a threat to our health and a major factor in the massive die-off of bees, butterflies, and other insects we depend on to pollinate our food crops.
- [**SB 1482**](https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20212022/SB1482/) would have increased access to EV charging stations in multifamily complexes that have designated parking spaces.
Now, it’s time to look ahead to the next legislative session and start working for better, stronger climate bills in 2023.
## **Sustainability Week in Walnut Creek, October 22 – 28**
We’re joining [**Sustainable Walnut Creek**](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/) to bring you a whole week of engaging, informative events that will help you be part of the climate solution. Learn about climate advocacy; a planet-friendly diet; restoring Walnut Creek’s namesake watershed; reducing use of plastics; home electrification—and more! Get details **[here](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/sustainability-week/).**
## **EcoFest in Walnut Creek’s Civic Park, Saturday, October 22, 11am – 3pm**
Sustainability Week will be off to a great start with [**EcoFest in the Park!**](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Copy-of-sustainability-week-2.png) Local climate groups will offer information and demonstrations on how to live more sustainably—from water-wise gardening to upcycling to e-bikes and electric cars. It’ll be fun for the whole family with live music, circus performers, and a kids’ art zone. Wear your Halloween costumes for the Eco trick-or-treat!
See you in Civic Park on **Saturday, October 22, from 11am to 3pm.** You won’t want to miss this!
Stay safe,
Lisa and Emily.
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2022 Election, Building Electrification, California Climate Legislation, climate action plan, Climate Candidate, EcoFest, Sustainability Week
---
### [November 2022 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2022-newsletter/)
**Published:** November 17, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** In this issue: Invitation to our December 7 virtual open house, plus learn about local climate action, including methane reduction efforts, recent election wins, and the fight to protect California’s setback law from the oil industry. We’ll also cover the latest CPUC proposal threatening solar energy and other key local initiatives.
**Content:**
### November 2022 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Welcome to our virtual Open House!**### **Wednesday, December 7, from 7pm to 8:15pm**
### [**REGISTER HERE**](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsdO2hpzMvHNdmf7X-rolK4vKFK-3GwjKU%20)
Here’s your chance to learn a bit more about 350 Contra Costa *Action.* Talk with volunteers about what they’re doing to end the era of fossil fuels. Get an idea what it’s like to take positive steps toward an equitable, livable world starting right here in Contra Costa.
Please [**register in advance** ](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsdO2hpzMvHNdmf7X-rolK4vKFK-3GwjKU%20)for this free event. We’re looking forward to meeting you!
## **Moving ahead on methane reduction**
“Cutting methane is the *strongest lever we have* to slow climate change over the next 25 years and complements necessary efforts to reduce carbon dioxide.” So stated Inger Andersen, director of the UN’s Environment Program, in a **[press release](https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/global-assessment-urgent-steps-must-be-taken-reduce-methane)** last year.
Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Along with carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases and many others, its presence in the atmosphere is causing our planet to retain heat. And methane is about 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming up the planet. If we think of greenhouse gases as blankets on a bed, methane would be the polar-bear fur. Fortunately, methane in the atmosphere dissipates after 10 to 20 years (unlike carbon dioxide, which sticks around for thousands of years). So cutting our methane emissions can have a huge effect in the short term.
Methane emissions caused by human activity come from three main sources: fossil fuels, agriculture, and waste.
**[Recent research](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/super-potent-methane-in-atmosphere-oil-gas-drilling-ice-cores)** has shown that the fossil fuel industry is responsible for much more atmospheric methane than previously understood. Fracking, gas wells and pipelines, and coal mines all release methane as well as carbon dioxide, so the case for transitioning to renewable energy sources is even stronger.
The main agricultural source of methane emissions is **[cow burps.](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/cow-burps-are-a-major-contributor-to-climate-change-can-scientists-change-that)** That’s why many environmentalists urge us to consume less beef.
The third source is organic matter—food waste, yard trimmings, and paper—decomposing without oxygen in landfills. In California, about 20 percent of all methane emissions stem from this source. Thanks to SB 1383, which took effect this year, recycling organic waste is now **[mandatory](https://www.recyclesmart.org/1383)** for both residents and businesses. Some municipalities don’t yet have facilities in place to process food waste; they have until 2024 before penalties will be assessed.
According to CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner, recycling organic waste “is the single easiest and fastest thing that every single person can do to affect climate change." Learn more about how California is reducing methane emissions from landfills **[here](https://www.kqed.org/news/11898577/heres-how-california-plans-to-convert-food-waste-into-energy-and-reduce-harmful-emissions).**
Food scraps and yard waste naturally decay into *compost,* organic matter that enriches soil so it can be used to grow nutritious food crops. Organic waste that’s diverted from landfills can also be processed to produce *biogas,* a renewable energy source.
On November 8, the Brentwood City Council **[approved a feasibility study](https://www.thepress.net/news/brentwood/brentwood-city-council-votes-to-find-out-if-garbage-juicer-can-reduce-climate-change/article_a555671e-612a-11ed-a996-e748ddc11077.html?utm_source=thepress.net&utm_campaign=/newsletters/headlines/?-dc=1668348022&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline)** looking at building a “garbage juicer”—a facility to make biogas from organic waste matter.
In the effort to cut methane emissions, real progress is being made.
## **Local election results**
We’re happy to announce several victories by our endorsed candidates around the county:
- In **Concord,** Laura Nakamura defeated an incumbent to represent District 5 on the City Council
- In **Orinda,** Latika Malian won the City Council’s at-large seat
- In **Pinole,** Anthony Tave and Cameron Sasai both won their City Council races
- In **Richmond,** Eduardo Martinez won the mayoral race, and Doria D. Robinson won a City Council seat.
**Congratulations to all these climate champions!**
## **Save the setback law—stop the petition!**
In September, California climate activists savored a sweet victory when SB 1137 passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Newsom. This new law prohibits any new permits for oil or gas drilling within 3200 feet of “sensitive areas” like homes, schools, and hospitals. It’s a huge deal for frontline communities who have suffered the serious health threats posed by neighborhood oil wells.
But now, the oil industry is fighting back. They’ve started collecting signatures on a petition to put repealing SB 1137 on the 2024 ballot—and they’re getting folks to sign by falsely claiming that repealing the law will lower gas prices. Foul play! But that’s nothing new for Big Oil.
If they get enough signatures, the law will be put on hold for two years, until the next election. Then, they’d have a chance to channel their millions of dollars into passing the ballot measure and getting SB 1137 repealed.
We have to save the setback law! If you see a signature-gatherer at work, explain to them that this petition threatens community health by allowing oil companies to drill in our neighborhoods. And please—tell everyone you know that the petition is a trick.
## **Latest CPUC plan: another bad idea**
On November 10, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced their new proposal to regulate the arrangements between utilities and their solar customers. This latest plan would slash the credit solar consumers receive for the extra energy they share with the grid, making rooftop solar a much more expensive prospect for homes and businesses.
Unlike earlier proposals, this one doesn’t include a solar tax—but it would surely have a negative effect on the transition to renewable energy.
The CPUC has announced it will make a final decision on this proposal at their December 15 meeting.
To keep up to date on how you can fight for affordable, local solar in California, visit the **[Solar Rights Alliance website](https://solarrights.org/update-state-officials-release-new-rooftop-solar-proposal/).**
Stay safe,
Lisa and Emily.
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nov_2022_newsletter_email), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2022 Election, 350 Contra Costa Action Open House, Drilling Setbacks, Methane Reduction, solar credits
---
### [Elect Chirag Kathrani: Bold Climate Leader for San Ramon Mayor](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-chirag-kathrani-bold-climate-leader-for-san-ramon-mayor/)
**Published:** October 1, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Chirag Kathrani, founder of Lead 4 Earth, is running for San Ramon mayor. He’s a bold climate leader ready to secure federal grants and drive sustainability in the city.
**Content:**
With 350 Bay Area Action, we strongly urge you to vote for Chirag Kathrani for San Ramon mayor. A bold climate leader, Chirag is the climate champion San Ramon needs! As founder of [Lead 4 Earth](https://lead4earth.com), Chirag has been at the forefront of climate action, working to elect leaders committed to a sustainable future and empowering youth to lead the charge. Now, he’s ready to bring his vision and energy to San Ramon as your next mayor.
With historic federal funding available from Biden’s climate and infrastructure legislation, Chirag sees a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for San Ramon to secure vital grants that will supercharge the city’s sustainability goals. He’s committed to bold, decisive action to ensure a healthy climate future for generations to come.
Chirag’s unwavering dedication to the community, transparency, and grassroots engagement set him apart. He refuses to take money from real estate developers, choosing instead to run a campaign that truly listens to the people of San Ramon. His leadership will spark real, tangible progress.
Elect Chirag Kathrani for mayor and be part of the movement that drives San Ramon into a greener, stronger future!
**Join the movement:** [chiragformayor.com](https://chiragformayor.com/)
**Volunteer to help:** [Sign up here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIhjPbZqsRFA5An2X_IA1KOEhL313KEQUtNNPihPbG4ObTvQ/viewform)
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Endorsee 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee San Ramon Mayor
---
### [Marisol Rubio for CA Senate District 9!](https://350contracostaaction.org/marisol-rubio-for-ca-senate-district-9/)
**Published:** September 2, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Elect climate champion Marisol Rubio to California Senate District 9!
**Content:**
 California State Senate District 9 Candidate Marisol Rubio
We’re pleased to announce our enthusiastic endorsement of climate champion [Marisol Rubio](https://www.marisolforca.com) for Senate District 9! This race between Marisol and Tim Grayson—for the seat Steve Glazer is vacating due to term limits—offers voters a clear choice on climate issues.
Marisol wants to crack down on polluters. She is committed to a rapid transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. And she supports investing in public transit, bike infrastructure, and EV charging stations. Yes!
In contrast, Assemblymember Tim Grayson received a [dismal 54 percent](https://action.ecovote.org/scorecard/representative/tim-grayson/) score from CA Environmental Voters last year. He has accepted money from Big Oil. And he has a habit of not showing up to vote when bills that Big Oil opposes come to the floor.
This is a key race. Replacing Glazer with Rubio could make a huge difference in outcomes for crucial climate legislation—and Marisol needs our support to win. Let’s get this done! To find out how you can help, [sign up to volunteer](https://www.marisolforca.com/volunteer).
## District 9 Map
Rubio is running for District 9 [which was redistricted](https://sdmg.senate.ca.gov/committeehome/current-senate-districts#SD9) to take effect in the 2024 elections. The district is currently called District 7, Steve Glazer’s district.
 State Senate District 9 map. Source: [Rubio campaign](https://www.marisolforca.com)
Image credit: Marisol Rubio campaign, used with permission
**[→ Return to 2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)**
**Categories:** Endorsee 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee CA Senate D9
---
### [Jovanka Beckles Leads on Environmental Justice in CA Senate Race](https://350contracostaaction.org/jovanka-beckles-leads-on-environmental-justice-in-ca-senate-race/)
**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Send environmental justice veteran Jovanka Beckles to the California State Senate District 7. With her proven track record fighting Big Oil for Richmond, we all win.
**Content:**
 California State Senate District 7 Candidate Jovanka Beckles
We join 350 Bay Area Action in proudly endorsing environmental justice leader Jovanka Beckles for California State Senate District 7. While serving on the Richmond City Council, Jovanka took on Chevron, holding the refinery accountable for its environmental impact. Despite Chevron’s $3 million effort to defeat her and her slate, Jovanka prevailed. Now on the AC Transit Board, she’s working to expand transportation access, while continuing her 23-year career as a mental health specialist and union member for Contra Costa County.
Jovanka runs a people-powered campaign, free of corporate influence. We urge you to support her efforts and volunteer.
Her words:
“As a Black, Latinx, Queer, immigrant woman, my voice is crucial to the environmental movement. I am committed to ensuring that every piece of legislation I support considers its environmental impact. Just as I stood up to Big Oil and Chevron in Richmond, I’ll continue to challenge polluters and their lobbyists in Sacramento.”
Jovanka Beckles will be a powerful advocate for environmental justice in the California State Senate.
Website:
Volunteer some time:
Image credit: Jovanka Beckles for State Senate, used with permission
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Endorsee 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee CA Senate D7
---
### [Melvin Willis Fights for Housing and Environmental Justice in Richmond](https://350contracostaaction.org/melvin-willis-fights-for-housing-and-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)
**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Melvin Willis, a Richmond native and City Councilmember since 2016, fights for housing and environmental justice. From holding Chevron accountable to advancing green job opportunities, Melvin leads with integrity for a more equitable Richmond.
**Content:**
Richmond native Melvin Willis has seen firsthand the struggles with housing, education, and environmental damage caused by the Chevron refinery. As a committed District 1 City Councilmember since 2016, he’s been a leading voice for housing and environmental justice in Richmond, pushing for real change that benefits the community.
#### Leading with Integrity for the People
Melvin has rejected corporate and developer donations, ensuring his loyalty stays with the people of Richmond. Focused on delivering results, Melvin says: “I’m dedicated to expanding affordable housing, raising wages, protecting our environment, securing healthcare, and creating opportunities for youth.”
#### Achievements for Richmond’s Future
In his time on the Council, Melvin has made significant strides toward housing and environmental justice in Richmond, including:
- Holding Chevron accountable for environmental damage and tax contributions
- Promoting clean energy policies that decarbonize buildings
- Advocating for a ban on new oil and gas drilling and pushing to phase out existing infrastructure
- Opening green job pathways for workers affected by refinery closures
- Blocking harmful luxury developments, safeguarding Ohlone sacred lands and local ecosystems
Melvin’s focus on housing and environmental justice in Richmond continues to drive his leadership as he fights for a greener, fairer future for everyone in the community.
**Support Melvin Willis as he works for a brighter Richmond:** [MelvinWillis.com](https://www.melvinwillis.com/)
**Volunteer:** [Join Here](https://www.melvinwillis.com/volunteer)
Return to the [2024 Endorsements page ↵](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Categories:** Endorsee 2024
**Tags:** 2024 Endorsee Richmond City Council D1
---
### [FREE Energy Efficiency Kits from Rising Sun](https://350contracostaaction.org/free-energy-efficiency-kits-from-rising-sun/)
**Published:** September 7, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Empower local youth and get a free energy efficiency kit from Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
**Content:**
## Win-Win for Youth and for Your Home
Want to empower local youth while also receiving no-cost items for your home to save money, energy, and water? 350 Bay Area and 350 Contra Costa Action are partnering with a local nonprofit, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, to offer Energy Efficiency Kits through the [Virtual Green House Call](https://risingsunopp.org/programs/ghc/) program.
## Empowering Youth with Climate Jobs
Through its [Climate Careers](https://risingsunopp.org/programs/climate-careers/) program, Rising Sun employs youth to conduct Green House Calls and deliver free energy-saving kits to eligible households. Empowering youth through training and climate career planning, the project has served over 60,000 Northern California homes.
## What's in the Kit?
This free kit includes LED light bulbs, efficient showerheads, and more to help you lower your utility bills. The entire service comes to you at no cost! [Sign up here](https://risingsun.tfaforms.net/3) today!
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Images courtesy [Rising Sun Center for Opportunity](https://risingsunopp.org/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Climate Careers, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, Virtual Green House Call program
---
### [Rise Up: Oppose the Montezuma CarbonHub](https://350contracostaaction.org/rise-up-oppose-the-montezuma-carbonhub/)
**Published:** September 4, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Northern California rise up! Petition your city council to oppose the Montezuma CarbonHub. Sign today!
**Content:**
In five cities threatened by the Montezuma CarbonHub, virtual petitions to city councils aim to halt the project before it starts. If you live in one of these five cities, you can petition your city council to oppose this dangerous, foolhardy project. Please follow the link to your city below and sign without delay! And, if you know people who live in any of these cities, please forward the link and urge them to sign and share.
## Virtual petitions:
- [ For Antioch residents ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-antioch-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)
- [ For Benicia residents ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-benicia-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)
- [ For Richmond residents ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-richmond-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)
- [ For Suisun City residents ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-suisun-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)
- [ For Vallejo residents ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-vallejo-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)
## We Must Stop the Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub
The [Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/) is a dangerous, foolhardy project that must be stopped. And affected communities are opposing it! They’re petitioning their city councils to pass a resolution calling on the US Environmental Protection Agency to deny permits for the project.
This carbon waste dumping project proposes to capture some of the carbon pollution from refineries, power plants, and other industrial facilities around the Bay Area, compress it, and pump it through pipelines to an injection site near ecologically sensitive wetlands in southern Solano County. This project would increase environmental injustice in the Bay Area—and it would not significantly reduce carbon emissions from polluting facilities in the region.
Because of the incentives in place, carbon capture projects like Montezuma could also let refineries and power plants across the Bay Area continue polluting indefinitely, while increasing the risk of CO2 pipeline leaks. [CO2 leaks can lead to asphyxiation](https://www.npr.org/2023/05/21/1172679786/carbon-capture-carbon-dioxide-pipeline), seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death for people and animals.
## We Need Your Help
No matter which city you live in—your help is needed to spread the word and gather signatures! If you can help with tabling or handing out flyers, [please fill out this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepuHv5Bpsp1kYmGi7txMdNnWqQvY3Q1vtegq9iPax7xOkdnQ/viewform). Together, we can STOP MONTEZUMA!
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Image credit: [Eunjin Baek](https://www.pexels.com/@eunjin-baek-787544003/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/great-white-egret-wading-in-a-lake-near-a-rocky-shore-26726435/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Montezuma CarbonHub
---
### [August 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** August 29, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Contra Costa Communities rise up to oppose Montezuma CarbonHub; learn how you can help shape transportation options in your community; Richmond makes Chevron pay; and register for the Contra Costa County Home Electrification Fair!
**Content:**
### August 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Communities rising up to oppose Montezuma CarbonHub**
The **[Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/)** is a dangerous, foolhardy project that *must* be stopped. And affected communities are opposing it! They’re petitioning their city councils to pass a resolution calling on the US Environmental Protection Agency to deny permits for the project.
This carbon waste dumping project proposes to capture some of the carbon pollution from refineries, power plants, and other industrial facilities around the Bay Area, compress it, and pump it through pipelines to an injection site near ecologically sensitive wetlands in southern Solano County. This project would increase environmental injustice in the Bay Area—and it would *not* significantly reduce carbon emissions from polluting facilities in the region.
Because of the incentives in place, carbon capture projects like Montezuma could also let refineries and power plants across the Bay Area continue polluting indefinitely, while increasing the risk of CO2 pipeline leaks. **[CO2 leaks can lead to asphyxiation](https://www.npr.org/2023/05/21/1172679786/carbon-capture-carbon-dioxide-pipeline),** seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death for people and animals.
In five of the cities threatened by Montezuma, virtual petitions to city councils aim to halt the project before it starts. If you live in one of these five cities, **please follow the link below and sign without delay!** And, if you know people who live in any of these cities, please forward the link and urge them to sign and share.
Virtual petitions:
**[For Antioch residents](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-antioch-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)**
**[For Benicia residents](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-benicia-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)**
**[For Richmond residents](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-richmond-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)**
**[For Suisun City residents](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-suisun-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)**
**[For Vallejo residents](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-vallejo-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme?source=direct_link&referrer=group-food-water-watch)**
No matter which city you live in—your help is needed to spread the word and gather signatures! If you can help with tabling or handing out flyers, **[please fill out this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepuHv5Bpsp1kYmGi7txMdNnWqQvY3Q1vtegq9iPax7xOkdnQ/viewform).** Together, we can STOP MONTEZUMA!
## **Richmond makes Chevron pay—but not with a tax**
On August 14, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to approve a $550 million settlement with Chevron, to be paid out over the next ten years.
Back on June 18, Richmond City Council had voted to put an excise tax targeting Chevron’s Richmond Refinery on the November ballot. If the Polluters Pay Initiative had passed—which seemed likely—it would have added $60 to $90 million per year to the city’s General Fund. Two grassroots groups, **[Asian-Pacific Environmental Network Action](https://www.apenaction.org/)** and **[Communities for a Better Environment Action](https://www.cbecal.org/organizing/northern-california/richmond/),** spearheaded the **[Make Polluters Pay campaign](https://richmondpolluterspay.com/).**
The settlement calls for $50 million to be paid to Richmond per year for the first five years, rising to $60 million per year for the next five years. In exchange, the council has voted to remove the tax initiative from the ballot. Read the details in **[this article from the Richmond Progressive Alliance](https://www.richmondprogressivealliance.net/20240814_historic_win_for_make_polluters_pay_campaign).**
Now, the campaign to make polluters pay will focus on making sure these funds are used to address the harms Chevron has caused and meet immediate needs of frontline communities—and to invest in a just transition that builds a future beyond oil for Richmond.
## **Help shape transportation options in your community**
MCE’s Charged by Public Power program is working to expand access to clean transportation solutions in local communities. And they’re looking for your input.
If you live in Concord, Pittsburg, Richmond, San Pablo, or unincorporated Contra Costa County, you could **receive a gift card** just for sharing your opinions about transportation—a $25 card for completing the survey and a $75 card for participating in a focus group. [**Find out more and s**](https://mcecleanenergy.org/charged-by-public-power/)[**ign up here.**](https://mcecleanenergy.org/charged-by-public-power/)
## **FREE energy efficiency kits from Rising Sun**
Want to empower local youth while also receiving no-cost items for your home to save money, energy, and water? 350 Bay Area is partnering with a local nonprofit, **[Rising Sun Center for Opportunity](https://risingsunopp.org/programs/ghc/),** to offer Energy Efficiency Kits through the Virtual Green House Call program. This program includes LED light bulbs, efficient showerheads, and more to help you lower your utility bills. **The entire service comes to you at no cost! [Sign up here](https://risingsun.tfaforms.net/3)** today!
## **CoCo Home Electrification Fair**
## **Saturday, September 14 in Walnut Creek**
## [**Register here**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/contra-costa-county-electrification-fair-2024-tickets-928300229977)
Getting our homes off gas is really important, but the task of sorting through the tons of information on new electric appliances—and incentives—can feel overwhelming. The Electrification Fair is the perfect place to get a handle on home electrification.
- Eyeing a heat pump, electric water heater, or induction cooktop?
- Eager to cash in on tax credits and rebates?
- Concerned about your 100-amp electrical panel handling the load?
- On the hunt for top-notch contractors and insider tips?
- Wondering how to electrify if you're renting your home?
Vendors, contractors, and nonprofits will be on hand to answer all your questions. Enjoy a Calicraft brew while you chat with the experts!
There’ll be food trucks and children’s activities, as well. Admission is *free,* but registration is appreciated. Please sign up **[here.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/contra-costa-county-electrification-fair-2024-tickets-928300229977)**
**Contra Costa County Building Electrification Fair**
Calicraft Brewing Company
2700 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Saturday, September 14, from noon to 4pm
Thank you —
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** CoCo Home Electrification Fair, Free Energy Efficient Kits, Make Polluters Pay, MCE Charged By Public Power Program, Montezuma CarbonHub
---
### [It's Too Damn Hot](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-too-damn-hot/)
**Published:** July 30, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** This is an emergency, and we know what to do about it. A cooler future is possible. Let's make it happen.
**Content:**
## A Cooler Future Is Possible Let's Make It Happen
You don’t need us to tell you it’s miserable out. This summer’s extreme heat is affecting all of us—from mail carriers to farm workers to kids whose soccer games are canceled. And temps are still rising: globally, every month in the last year [has broken records for high temperatures](https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/june-2024-was-the-hottest-on-record-worldwide-and-the-3rd-hottest-in-california).
Extreme heat events cost lives. For example, during two weeks in 2022, excessive heat “directly contributed to almost 200 deaths, 140 adverse birth outcomes, 2,000 hospitalizations and 4,200 emergency department visits” in California, according to [this recent Mercury News article](https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/07/09/report-extreme-heat-events-created-7-7-billion-in-hidden-costs-in-california/?campaign=sjmnbreakingnews&utm_email=73D653C7348A5431D483040B80&active=no&lctg=73D653C7348A5431D483040B80&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mercurynews.com%2f2024%2f07%2f09%2freport-extreme-heat-events-created-7-7-billion-in-hidden-costs-in-california%2f&utm_campaign=bang-sjmn-nl-breaking-news-alerts-nl&utm_content=alert). Disadvantaged communities suffered disproportionately from these health harms.
A [new report from the state’s Department of Insurance](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/180-climate-change/upload/Impacts-of-extreme-heat-to-California-s-people-infrastructure-and-economy-by-California-Department-of-Insurance-June-2024.pdf) shows that extreme heat events have cost Californians more than $7.7 billion over the last ten years.
## Rising Temps Fuel More Wildfires
The warming climate has also brought a huge increase in the number and severity of wildfires in our state. A [2023 study published on drought.gov](https://www.drought.gov/news/study-finds-climate-change-blame-record-breaking-california-wildfires-2023-08-08) points to human-caused climate change as the cause of almost all the increase in burned acreage over the last fifty years.
We may not think about wildfires until winds blow the smoke and ash our way, but they are making our climate less and less livable—and the problem is accelerating. It’s a vicious cycle. Excessive heat dries out the forests and grasslands, so more fires start; as a result, there is less vegetation to cool the land and capture moisture. The air gets hotter and drier, and more fires start, burning more acreage, making the air even hotter and drier…
In fact, [as CalFIRE recently reported](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/11/california-wildfires-burn-damage), 2024 fires have already burned through about 220,000 acres—almost five times the average amount of land for this time of year, compared to the last five years. And it’s only July.
The cost in dollars is staggering. [A 2023 report](https://www.moore.org/article-detail?newsUrlName=the-economic-fiscal-and-environmental-costs-of-wildfires-in-california) looked at the economic impact of California wildfires from 2017 to 2021; it estimates losses of more than $117.4 billion annually.
## Stop Warming, Start Cooling
This is an emergency, and we know what to do about it. We have to stop burning the fossil fuels that are [causing the climate to heat up](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-causes-climate-change#natural). And California has taken steps in that direction: [SB 32](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB32) mandates cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030.
But we’re nowhere near on track. The [2023 California Green Innovation Index](https://greeninnovationindex.org/2023-edition/) shows that the state must almost triple its rate of cutting greenhouse gases in order to meet that 2030 target. That means many fewer gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, gas heating and cooling systems, and other gas appliances like stoves and water heaters. And it means many more solar panels on homes and other buildings.
## This Is Doable
Every community can—and must—take important steps to put less pollution into the air. City governments can set an example by shrinking their own carbon footprints—and making it easy for residents to do the same. For instance, they can simplify the permitting process for heat pumps and electrical upgrades.
Is your city doing all it can?
## Focus On Action
The climate emergency can seem too big for us to even think about, much less act on. But each of us has the power to act. The worst mistake is to do nothing because we can only do so much.
The time is now to take steps toward a livable climate for our children and grandchildren. It’s more effective—and more fun—to work together with friends and neighbors in your community.
Please email us at . We’ll help you connect with other folks in your town and figure out where to get started.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Image Credit: Image by [Pixabay](https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/orange-fire-68768/)
**Categories:** Climate Action
**Tags:** Climate Emergency, Climate Solutions
---
### [May 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** May 31, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Urgent CA Climate Action: Call Senate & Assemblymember today! Ask for Yes on Green Amendment/Bills. See Key Bills that Count.
**Content:**
### May 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Action Alert: It’s time to call Sacramento!**
This is the week our state legislators will be voting on several key climate bills, so it’s time for you to make two quick phone calls to your senator and assemblymember. Elected officials pay more attention to constituents’ phone calls than to emails. When you call their Sacramento office, the staffer who answers the phone will be happy to take your message.
We don’t know exactly when each bill will be voted on, so please **call today!**
Not sure who represents you? You can use **[this tool](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/)** to find the names of your senator and assemblymember.
### **Call your senator**
Tell your senator to vote **YES** on these two important bills:
- [**SB 1497**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB1497/id/2932777)**—**will establish a **Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Program.** Businesses that have been responsible for the most greenhouse gas emissions through the extraction, processing, and sale of fossil fuels from 2000-2020 will pay into the fund. Fees will be assessed proportional to historic emissions. The fund will pay for climate projects across California, prioritizing communities hit first and worst by the climate crisis. It’s time to make the polluters—not taxpayers—pay. SB 1497 will require a 2/3 vote to pass because it has been designated as an “urgency measure. A bill designated as an **[urgency measure](https://californiaglobe.com/fr/urgency-clause-statutes-in-california-legislation/)** takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature. No waiting until January!!
- [**SB 1006**](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240sb1006)—will require transmission utilities to develop a plan for grid-enhancing technologies that increase transmission capacity—and to identify which of its transmission and distribution lines can be upgraded with **[advanced reconductors](https://www.eenews.net/articles/grid-rewiring-an-answer-for-bidens-climate-goals/)**, a cost-effective way of making them much more efficient.
And tell them to vote **NO** on this bill:
- [**SB 1420**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB1420/2023)—would amend the section of the Public Resources Code that relates to energy. It inaccurately includes both landfill methane and [**livestock (“digester”) methane**](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19092022/dairy-digesters-methane-california-manure/) in its list of renewable energy sources. This false “renewable” designation incentivizes the production of livestock methane for the synthesis of “renewable hydrogen.”
**You can really make a difference by calling your senator and leaving a message like this:**
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the senator to vote YES on two very important climate bills:
- SB 1497 to make polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused, and
- SB 1006 to increase the capacity of the electrical grid.
And I’m asking the senator to vote NO on
- SB 1420 because it would incentivize production of livestock methane.
**Phone numbers[](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/)**
**[Bill Dodd](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=mi3jV6jeB6UfNvvW-Ix3N8MrKve52EExZQvcFPiytqc&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_may_newsletter&n=8&test_email=1)** District 3916-651-4003**[Steve Glazer](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=Ake6NCbw23ZzAWWeWVp4m7ypvcTjPVaS87R9HsJuN9E&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_may_newsletter&n=9&test_email=1)** District 7916-651-4007**[Nancy Skinner](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=hydOt364Xj3NhwBypoaw8do6ayLDsLd8Xh9Ls1YHfdc&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_may_newsletter&n=10&test_email=1)** District 9916-651-4009### **Call your assemblymember**
On the Assembly side, please call about these five key bills. Tell them to vote **YES** on:
- [**AB 3233**](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GXPFuBPRfP0-eF6g-wR1uU841kj_Op0A/view)—updates California law to make it clear that local governments have the right to limit or ban oil and gas operations to protect community health, safety, and the environment.
- [**AB 3155**](https://trackbill.com/s3/bills/CA/2023/AB/3155/analyses/assembly-natural-resources.pdf)—holds oil and gas companies accountable for the health harms they cause. Living near an oil or gas well increases risk of asthma, respiratory problems, pre-term births, high-risk pregnancies, and cancer. Under AB 3155, oil and gas companies **will be presumed responsible** if they are operating within 3200 feet of a home, hospital, or school and residents within those neighborhoods develop certain health problems. The company **must** **prove** it did not cause harm. The bill also provides incentives to companies to use the best available technology to reduce pollution and protect communities.
- [**AB 1866**](https://a37.asmdc.org/press-releases/20240312-hart-authors-legislation-address-californias-idle-oil-well-crisis)—addresses the problem of California’s 40,000 idle oil wells, which emit methane and contaminate groundwater. It will require oil operators to develop a comprehensive plan to plug all the state’s idle oil wells within the next ten years. And it will require them to prioritize plugging wells within 3,200 feet of where communities live, play and work.
- [**AB 2716**](https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Cr8qMch6cYO3eFKQzIAbUfge3D9iNGb/view?usp=sharing)—addresses the problem of pollution from wells that produce less than 15 barrels of oil per day. These low-producing wells still present a health hazard to homes, hospitals, and schools located within the 3200-foot setback zone—but it’s much cheaper for oil companies to continue operating them than to plug them. AB 2716 will change that. It creates a $10,000-per-day penalty for operating a low-producing well within the setback zone.
Last but definitely not least—ask your assemblymember to vote **YES** on this key **[green amendment](http://www.ncelenviro.org/issue/green-amendment/)** to the state constitution:
- [**ACA 16**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240ACA16) will add *“The people shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment”* to our state’s governing document. If ACA 16 passes both houses in the legislature, it will be on the November ballot. Adding this sentence to the constitution will make a big difference in the outcome of environmental lawsuits. ACA 16 will require a 2/3 vote to pass because it is an amendment.
**Here’s a suggested message for your assemblymember:
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the assemblymember to vote YES on five very important climate bills:
- AB 3233 to affirm the right of cities and counties to ban oil and gas production
- AB 3155 to hold oil companies accountable for the health harms they’ve caused,
- AB 1866 to make oil companies plug their idle wells
- AB 2716 to end pollution from low-producing wells, and
- ACA 16 to add the right to a healthy environment to our constitution.
**Phone numbers**
**[Lori Wilson](https://a11.asmdc.org/)** District 11916-319-2011**[Buffy Wicks](https://a14.asmdc.org/)**District 14916-319-2014**[Tim Grayson](https://a15.asmdc.org/)** District 15916-319-2015**[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://a16.asmdc.org/)**District 16916-319-2016**That’s it! Our elected officials work for us—let’s tell them to vote in *our* interest, not the oil industry’s!**
## **Help send a climate champion to Sacramento**
**[350 Bay Area Action](https://350bayareaaction.org/)** has endorsed **[Jovanka Beckles](https://jovanka4casenate.com/about/)** for the Senate! She’s running for the District 7 seat currently held by Nancy Skinner, whose term ends this year. This district, formerly **[District 9](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/district)**, includes the western part of Contra Costa County.
Your help is needed to get Jovanka elected. It could make a big difference! Visit her **[campaign website](https://jovanka4casenate.com/)** to learn more.
## **Vetting the candidates—your help needed!**
Here’s a great way to help put climate champions in office! Learn how to identify the most climate-forward candidates in local government races (mainly city council seats).
As a 350 Contra Costa Action volunteer, you’ll be helping to pick the candidates we endorse and work to elect in 2024.
Training on how to vet candidates is planned for late June or early July. July and August will be the key time to get information from potential endorsees—this will only take a few hours, but it’s *very* important work.
Let’s get climate champions elected in cities and towns across the county! To find out more, email **.**
**Thank you,**
**Emily and Lisa**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Follow us on Facebook [**@350contracosta**](https://www.facebook.com/350ContraCosta/), X (formerly Twitter) [**@350ccaction**](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action?e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mar_2024_newsletter&n=24)**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, endorsed climate champions
---
### [July 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** July 25, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** It's too damn HOT. This summer's extreme heat is affecting all of us. Every month in the last year has broken records for high temperatures. A cooler future is possible. Let's make it happen.
**Content:**
### July 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **A cooler future is possible
Let’s make it happen**
### It’s too damn HOT
You don’t need us to tell you it’s miserable out. This summer’s extreme heat is affecting all of us—from mail carriers to farm workers to kids whose soccer games are canceled. And temps are still rising: globally, every month in the last year **[has broken records for high temperatures](https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/june-2024-was-the-hottest-on-record-worldwide-and-the-3rd-hottest-in-california).**
Extreme heat events cost lives. For example, during two weeks in 2022, excessive heat “directly contributed to almost 200 deaths, 140 adverse birth outcomes, 2,000 hospitalizations and 4,200 emergency department visits” in California, according to **[this recent Mercury News article](https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/07/09/report-extreme-heat-events-created-7-7-billion-in-hidden-costs-in-california/?campaign=sjmnbreakingnews&utm_email=73D653C7348A5431D483040B80&active=no&lctg=73D653C7348A5431D483040B80&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mercurynews.com%2f2024%2f07%2f09%2freport-extreme-heat-events-created-7-7-billion-in-hidden-costs-in-california%2f&utm_campaign=bang-sjmn-nl-breaking-news-alerts-nl&utm_content=alert).** Disadvantaged communities suffered disproportionately from these health harms.
A **[new report from the state’s Department of Insurance](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/180-climate-change/upload/Impacts-of-extreme-heat-to-California-s-people-infrastructure-and-economy-by-California-Department-of-Insurance-June-2024.pdf)** shows that extreme heat events have cost Californians more than **$7.7 billion** over the last ten years.
### Rising temps fuel more wildfires
The warming climate has also brought a huge increase in the number and severity of wildfires in our state. A **[2023 study published on drought.gov](https://www.drought.gov/news/study-finds-climate-change-blame-record-breaking-california-wildfires-2023-08-08)** points to human-caused climate change as the cause of almost all the increase in burned acreage over the last fifty years.
We may not think about wildfires until winds blow the smoke and ash our way, but they are making our climate less and less livable—and the problem is accelerating. It’s a vicious cycle. Excessive heat dries out the forests and grasslands, so more fires start; as a result, there is less vegetation to cool the land and capture moisture. The air gets hotter and drier, and *more* fires start, burning more acreage, making the air even hotter and drier…
In fact, **[as CalFIRE recently reported](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/11/california-wildfires-burn-damage),** 2024 fires have already burned through about 220,000 acres—almost **five times the average amount of land** for this time of year, compared to the last five years. And it’s only July.
The cost in dollars is staggering. **[A 2023 report](https://www.moore.org/article-detail?newsUrlName=the-economic-fiscal-and-environmental-costs-of-wildfires-in-california)** looked at the economic impact of California wildfires from 2017 to 2021; it estimates losses of more than **$117.4 billion annually.**
### Stop warming, start cooling
This is an emergency, and we know what to do about it. We have to stop burning the fossil fuels that are **[causing the climate to heat up](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-causes-climate-change#natural).** And California has taken steps in that direction: **[SB 32](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB32)** mandates cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030.
But we’re nowhere near on track. The **[2023 California Green Innovation Index](https://greeninnovationindex.org/2023-edition/)** shows that the state must almost *triple* its rate of cutting greenhouse gases in order to meet that 2030 target. That means many fewer gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, gas heating and cooling systems, and other gas appliances like stoves and water heaters. And it means many more solar panels on homes and other buildings.
### This is doable
Every community can—and *must*—take important steps to put less pollution into the air. City governments can set an example by shrinking their own carbon footprints—and making it easy for residents to do the same. For instance, they can simplify the permitting process for heat pumps and electrical upgrades.
Is your city doing all it can?
### Focus on action
The climate emergency can seem too big for us to even think about, much less act on. But each of us has the power to act. The worst mistake is to do nothing because we can only do so much.
The time is *now* to take steps toward a livable climate for our children and grandchildren. It’s more effective—and more fun—to work together with friends and neighbors in your community.
Please email us at **.** We’ll help you connect with other folks in your town and figure out where to get started.
## **STOP Montezuma Carbon Hub**
### **Risk a pipeline explosion? No, thanks.**
The Montezuma carbon dumping scheme—proposed for southern Solano County and now under consideration by the US EPA—is a terrible idea **[for several reasons](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/).** For one thing, it’s seriously unsafe.
The project proposes to drill an injection well near the Montezuma wetlands, across Suisun Bay from Pittsburg and Antioch. Compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel facilities around the Bay would be collected and transported by barge and pipeline to the injection site.
Carbon dioxide pipelines are dangerous. Any rupture fills the air with CO2 gas, which hugs the ground as it spreads, asphyxiating people and disabling gas-powered vehicles. In 2020, a **[CO2 pipeline leaked](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gassing-satartia-mississippi-co2-pipeline_n_60ddea9fe4b0ddef8b0ddc8f)** into the small Mississippi town of Sartartia, mushrooming within seconds into a dense, deadly cloud.
For first-hand accounts of the Satartia disaster, as well as footage of a CO2 pipeline explosion, see **[this new, 7-minute video](https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=supercritical+fluid+CO2+pipeline+compressed+burst+video+image+phase+change++england+test&&mid=05EA023A432F852528DE05EA023A432F852528DE&&FORM=VRDGAR).** For more information on the CO2 pipeline controversy, check out **[this NPR piece](https://www.npr.org/2023/05/21/1172679786/carbon-capture-carbon-dioxide-pipeline).**
We don’t need a risk like this here in the earthquake-prone Bay Area—certainly not for an **[unnecessary, expensive scheme](https://ieefa.org/resources/why-carbon-capture-and-storage-not-solution)** like carbon dumping. The Montezuma Carbon Hub project has *got* to be stopped.
## **Info session on Montezuma Carbon Hub**
### **Wednesday, July 31, 6 to 7pm over Zoom**
You’re invited to an [**Info Session & Petition Training**](https://www.mobilize.us/fww/event/650334/) to stop the Bay’s first proposed carbon dumping scheme: the **[Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/).**
Join**[ Communities Against Carbon Transport & Injection (CACTI)](https://linktr.ee/bayareacacti)** for this one-hour training session to learn more about the project. We’ll be petitioning in **Richmond, Antioch, Benicia, Suisun, and Vallejo—**and we could use your help!
**Wednesday, July 31, 6 to 7pm over Zoom**
**Please register** [**here**](https://www.mobilize.us/fww/event/650334/)**.**
## **CoCo Home Electrification Fair!**
### **Saturday, September 14 in Walnut Creek**
### [**Register here**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/contra-costa-county-electrification-fair-2024-tickets-928300229977)
Getting our homes off gas is really important, but the task of sorting through the tons of information on new electric appliances—and incentives—can feel overwhelming. The Electrification Fair is the perfect place to get a handle on home electrification.
- Eyeing a heat pump, electric water heater, or induction cooktop?
- Eager to cash in on tax credits and rebates?
- Concerned about your 100-amp electrical panel handling the load?
- On the hunt for top-notch contractors and insider tips?
- Wondering how to electrify if you're renting your home?
Vendors, contractors, and nonprofits will be on hand to answer all your questions. Enjoy a Calicraft brew while you chat with the experts!
There’ll be food trucks and children’s activities, as well. Admission is *free,* but registration is appreciated. Please sign up [**here.**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/contra-costa-county-electrification-fair-2024-tickets-928300229977)
**Contra Costa County Home Electrification Fair**
Calicraft Brewing Company
2700 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Saturday, September 14, from noon to 4pm
## **Walnut Creek Eco-Forum with the
candidates for City Council**
**Wednesday, August 28th , from 6 to 7:30pm**
**In the Fireside Room at the Gateway Complex, Rossmoor**
Attention Walnut Creek residents! Here’s your chance to get a look at the five candidates for City Council: Cindy Darling, Craig DeVinney, Brendan Moran, Laura Patch, and Kevin Wilk. Find out where they stand on sustainability issues so you can vote for local climate action this November!
**RSVP** to **** to get your gate pass to enter Rossmoor.
Thank you —
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/@350contracosta) and on [X](https://X.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=8f413jmjp78t2AAWEaj6lS68L8c4xtG7nGZOswxj69A&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_june_2024_newsletter&n=23&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [April 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** April 11, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: New federal rules mean big cuts in pollution from vehicles; Cutting pollution at home; Brentwood bans drilling; No new gas stations in Pinole; Earth Day events all over! And much more.
**Content:**
### April 2024 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **April is Earth Month!**
## **Spring is the perfect time to renew our commitment to the clean energy transition!**
### **New federal rules mean big cuts in pollution from vehicles**
The month of March brought good news twice over from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). First, the EPA announced new pollution **[standards for cars and light trucks](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/20/biden-car-transportation-emission-regulation-pollution)** that will greatly speed the transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles. Then, they announced new **[standards for heavy-duty vehicles](https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-strongest-ever-greenhouse-gas-standards-heavy)** like freight trucks and buses. Yay!
### **Cutting pollution at home**
Reducing tailpipe pollution is essential, but so is reducing emissions from our homes, schools and workplaces. That means replacing gas appliances—stoves, water heaters, clothes dryers, and HVAC systems—with all-electric models.
Last year, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted **[new rules](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/dotgov/files/rules/reg-9-rule-4-nitrogen-oxides-from-fan-type-residential-central-furnaces/2021-amendments/documents/20230127_factsheet_rg09040906-pdf.pdf?la=en)** to improve air quality and public health. Sales or installation of water heaters that emit nitrogen oxide (that is, ones that run on so-called “natural” gas) will be banned starting in 2027, with a similar ban on furnaces starting in 2029.
But homeowners and renters don’t need to wait until 2027 to make their homes more healthful and less polluting.
### **Resources for the clean energy transition at home**
These days, since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, there are a huge number of residential electrification incentive programs designed to make everyone’s personal clean energy transition more affordable. But navigating the options and figuring out the best ways to go all-electric can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, you don’t need to do all the research yourself.
Whether you rent or own your home, [**Rewiring America**](https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/) offers clear, detailed information to help you switch to electric appliances, purchase electric vehicles, install rooftop solar… and more.
For homeowners, the folks at **[QuitCarbon](https://www.quitcarbon.com/)** will assess your needs, create a personalized home upgrade plan, and connect you with a local contractor who’s trustworthy and up to speed on electrification—all at no cost to you.
If you still need a little inspiration to start your switch to all-electric, check out this R&B tune by two Berkeley musicians: **[(I’m Your) Heat Pump](https://www.berkeleyside.org/2024/02/21/heat-pump-song)!**
### **Where does your electricity come from?**
Whether your home is all-electric or still has some gas appliances, it’s important to make sure your electricity comes from renewable sources like solar and wind power if possible.
If you live in one of the many areas in Contra Costa served by **[MCE Community Energy](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/),** you can choose their Deep Green option. Deep Green customers’ electricity comes from 100 percent renewable sources and costs about the same as PG&E. **[Sign up on their website](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/compare-options/)**—you’ll continue to be billed by PG&E, but you’ll be cutting your carbon footprint significantly!
## ***Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour***
## **presents green home features**
## **Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, 10am – 5pm**
The climate crisis is also a biodiversity crisis, and planting native gardens is a big step toward restoring healthy ecosystems. So it’s only natural to combine clean-energy indoor spaces with wildlife-friendly outdoor spaces.
During the first weekend in May, **[sixty lovely native gardens](https://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/view-gardens)** will be open at various locations throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Thirty of the sixty homes on the Tour have been electrified—if you visit, you can talk to the homeowners about how they did it. Five of these homes will be open so you can see their electrified features up close: on the **[listings page](https://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/view-gardens)**, look for the labels *Green home features* or *Come on in this fully electrified home*.
## **Brentwood bans drilling—now it’s the county’s turn!**
Fantastic news! On February 20, Brentwood became the second Contra Costa city to ban oil and gas drilling (after Antioch’s January 2022 ordinance). Now, it’s time for Contra Costa County to follow suit and impose a ban that would apply to all the county’s unincorporated areas.
**Action item: sign the petition for a drilling ban**
If you haven’t yet done so, *please* don’t delay in signing Sunflower Alliance’s online petition to the Board of Supervisors **[here](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-contra-costa/).** Then, pass the word to your friends and neighbors and ask them to sign, too.
As the petition proposes:
**“Let's end all new permitting of oil and gas infrastructure, phase out existing drilling in Contra Costa, and transition our fossil fuel workers to good careers in climate-friendly industries.”**
## **No new gas stations in Pinole**
More good news! On April 2, the Pinole City Council enacted a **[temporary moratorium](https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/56/files/attachment/232)** on new gas service stations—and expansion of existing gas stations—within its city limits. The Council can renew the moratorium for up to two years while city staff research a permanent ban.
Several cities in Napa and Sonoma counties have banned new gas stations already, but Pinole is the first city in Contra Costa to do so.
## **Earth Day events all over!**
Lots of Contra Costa cities and towns are planning Earth Day activities for **Saturday, April 20.** Check out the ones near you below.
We’ll be at the Walnut Creek and Pinole events—if you go, be sure to stop by our table and say hi!
- Antioch: **[Keep Antioch Beautiful](https://www.antiochca.gov/keep-antioch-beautiful/)** planting at the Water Park and trash pickup at Waldie Plaza
- Antioch: Earth Team’s **[Cleanup at Upper Sand Creek Basin](https://eastcountytoday.net/antioch-earth-day-cleanup-scheduled-at-upper-sand-creek/)**
- Concord: **[Earth Day](https://cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11351/Concord-Earth-Day-flyer-2024)** cleanups and gardening at nine locations
- Crockett: **[Earth Day Cleanup](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCDmf2coALjq3Wa0ybKj8IMFI8D6Wn_wsNo6SLArq__Torqg/viewform)** at Crockett Waterfront
- El Cerrito: **[Citywide volunteer work parties](https://www.el-cerrito.org/645/Earth-Day-Celebration)**
- El Sobrante: **[Earth Day](https://www.spawners.org/event/earth-day-2024/)** gardening and cleanup at El Sobrante Library
- Oakley - **[Earth Day Dune Restoration](https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/activity/search/detail/51333?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true)** at Big Break Visitor Center
- Pinole: **[Earth Day Walk](https://www.ci.pinole.ca.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=10947056&pageId=20163796)** at Fernandez Park
- Pittsburg: **[Civic Pride Day](https://www.pittsburgca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/9444/19)** cleanup at Highlands School and Buchanan Park
- Richmond - **[Earth Day Celebration](https://urbantilth.org/event/save-the-date-earth-day-celebration/)** at Unity Park Community Plaza
- North Richmond: **[Wildcat Creek Cleanup](https://urbantilth.org/event/2024-earth-day-in-north-richmond/)**
- North Richmond: **[Hope Gardens Community Planting Day](https://thewatershedproject.org/event/north-richmond-earth-day-2024-hope-gardens-community-planting-day/)**
- Rodeo: **[Earth Day Rodeo Creek Cleanup](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCDmf2coALjq3Wa0ybKj8IMFI8D6Wn_wsNo6SLArq__Torqg/viewform)**
- Walnut Creek: **[Earth Day Celebration](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-month-2024/)** at Civic Park
**Thank you,**
**Emily and Lisa**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Follow us on Facebook [**@350contracosta**](https://www.facebook.com/350ContraCosta/), Twitter [**@350ccaction**](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action?e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mar_2024_newsletter&n=24)**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Brentwood Bans Drilling, Bringing Back The Natives Garden Tour, Clean Energy Transition, Contra Costa Earth Month Events, Cutting pollution at home, Pinole Gas Station Moratorium
---
### [2022 Year in Review](https://350contracostaaction.org/2022-year-in-review/)
**Published:** December 31, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Successes encourage us. Challenges stimulate ever more determination to fight harder in 2023. Take a look back at a year's local action for a better world and what we see ahead.
**Content:**
## **Local Action for a Better World**
With the New Year almost upon us, now is a good time to look back at the successes and challenges of 2022. But first, here’s this month’s “new news” about CARB and rooftop solar.
### **CARB scoping plan: it’s final**
On December 16, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to adopt the **[2022 Scoping Plan](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=db4epOe7GK1dnqJ4UqOfJ9xmYuV_0LjTzrY6ABC3ZNtQBAIXpo7XphC3Di-SS9k5ekfhb9jR8nu8iAExjJbXPs42f2Ezp8vxbIYC8gtG5fHekx8fzTPNW7iWqE65cENZ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=1),** meant to lay out the policies and actions that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and get us to carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier.
As this **[analysis by the Climate Center](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=jt1kIXzGy5c1IrhqWC20QS9xCCXltANNaUCfTU3yRfs_264P-qaueSyu4NnvL7ovOZ-kQ8dgKjZHHlaT0O_U2DN8J-7VcE-K79414KNtaRlk4FmyA79WosAmEiq5pwj7YryEXldWsM2mgnMaTSzJGQcRkMJg4z_mmLhGOGyuy7ubD6FoN1yAM_oGg93ZCx20agE4iG1vuVc2brvR_ijSDWeFimDd61-aVdGD6KNB-NOyvWcRAdnBtBzO_v_o1RgU-fWU3OnOFAhIvqEDm72vbQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=2)** explains, despite some improvements made to the draft plan, this final version is flawed: it relies too heavily on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.
### **A setback for rooftop solar**
On December 14, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved new rules for the way investor-owned utilities like PG&E deal with rooftop solar customers. Those who go solar after April 1 will be compensated 75 percent *less* for the solar energy they share with the grid.
According to the **[Solar Rights Alliance](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=HxRzKzqTxurFHNqIFm62M9ZLlP-5KPCxc-BUlnjUw6_0BveFUL4XHc-5GMhQr7Gp&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=3),** “States and localities that have made similar changes saw solar adoptions drop by half or more.” California should be increasing incentives for going solar, not reducing them.
## **Looking back at 2022**
In late February, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned, as reported in **[this *Guardian* piece](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=FECXgvVBAH18GBWRCy8D9Q7UZR6gTuAKvO6qzRDGJleXczgoMM6ldP8Na-_gIgklUvCEvQThhickXHnNxaw2tWYM25yoZGsZpWAk7J20AQZRapQQiLAAoUbMHxmuJawCp6gEug5SIxik2FAygimBDQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=4),** “Climate breakdown is accelerating rapidly, many of the impacts will be more severe than predicted, and there is only a narrow chance left of avoiding its worst ravages.” In October, **[more reports](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=FECXgvVBAH18GBWRCy8D9Q7UZR6gTuAKvO6qzRDGJlfCsYy3HxvmYHt9NuAzBYYkBZQoYcmfDjSvG4lvVrOJdALcNvOQJPCrVgGJHqj685_DqbnkrfIbGb37G0daWJbw6KDDsiMfn8nfLksq7bPz9mWnwsQkkNjkScf7ZOG7IpY&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=5)** by scientists at key UN agencies issued even stronger warnings of global catastrophes to come.
Nevertheless, November’s COP 27 conference at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, **[failed to even mention](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=FECXgvVBAH18GBWRCy8D9Q7UZR6gTuAKvO6qzRDGJlcKt0qCDbkqcvgGhbn5tiVY7DYEDImLEygSZxigZEs_hag8C7yXd4UzfS5dHVupJKCDS7KouoYI-NBSCtciDs5jvdI7jApac46S5mcMGFA48sfpoTRTI_5C2caDLMYunT0&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=6)** eliminating fossil fuels as an energy source in its final decision text.
Although the crisis of climate change is planetary in scope, efforts at the international level are not adequate to address it. National, regional, and local efforts around the world are absolutely essential.
### **A look back at the federal level**
In June, in an effort to speed the transition to renewable energy sources, President Biden issued several **[presidential determinations](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=F22nb3zVUfDX6FBMmj7fmEGQNkLRe3X5uKvcoV9oX3Th0yaclcxa1fQwKSBZk_kw8SMSivfQ3Y_8QRTomUcwuFaIg2R_X8vFZnAQhCkeIsQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=7).** These executive actions are **[accelerating production](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=so8vUTtiGdkTwUPLMHpcfH294j8h7v7n6036VoYJEq6SlivL56J4omaQ7ba3PtLh1YUNidl_0A-LwxW2oQn85wUJel4iJPYChozisgH9DOZbkOrky7YajSEdqDnztHiPemlITgkoagiRJvs0mOv1rQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=8)** of five key energy technologies, including solar power and heat pumps.
On June 30, the US Supreme Court dealt the climate a serious blow. Their ruling in [***West Virginia vs EPA*** ](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=KnpAeyGdyhhFVSFyhOJrhVAzMTtUVpGuRB0nogBAkfikEubXwer8hafqDoOFrKA-7PxGLRSt3eqPXqbfO2qdlSYz9ZbAXk3O1qMwDex-h5MRXTQnSPY8b-Mw3p_pyIBD2RHGp1mosimDqHR8dv-iUw&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=9)severely limits the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate carbon emissions from power plants.
In August, Congress passed the **[Inflation Reduction Act](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=xpwe6zF8jtfAe2Cm1kOwYLL2VKyMF3oJfeiXFNUIHBE9uVraJfHN_B8nEoZfvDZg1EHfBmeT-b8y8Cd3zBc-6lSXxkzk5vWBJCEydKRFehlNXqrBnmdRQ5szUaDBP6rZMIUo-p_tGIBs25N2XVcupg&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=10)** (IRA), pledging $369 billion for clean energy and energy security over the next ten years. However, the IRA came with some big downsides: it mandates more leases for oil and gas exploration, and it centers the carbon-capture technologies favored by Big Oil. Fortunately, funding for one of its worst provisions, the 300-mile **[Mountain Valley Pipeline](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=0u7tLEtICca3wTs35Whh4c6BdW4r-xk6gxrK1CRBQ15f4OF0zmsGYlyhQMt6sq_2OzKspXJDQyGIsnNQt8RopcYFBmkTKOMt-PndQEtkkFo-qrQxUWX5glHf7miyO14NC4kiCvXVFBplOh-qISctNQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=11),** was later dropped, and subsequent attempts to attach funding for the pipeline to other bills failed.
### **An eventful year in California**
This year brought a host of climate bills to Sacramento. As reported in **[this CalMatters article](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=uk2taAgzALEoIEiQcuuwVktIc2u4-dRGDOUYYKdXaBBi87Bftq24gTxx8JM6Vb6oHN6V4sE1FlQ40fSQT-cYiyXXARaAwtdQlnUvXRnx6-9advte0w1MDuATwwF4gDAk&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=12),** “…Governor Gavin Newsom’s last-minute legislative plan for tackling the climate crisis was largely victorious as lawmakers approved laws to set interim targets for 100% clean energy, regulate projects to remove carbon from the atmosphere and smokestacks, and end new oil drilling near communities.”
Newsom failed to convince the Assembly to pass **[AB 2133](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2mLSj4FPM2Ac4B3BVRXG3vw9qh-8nvEviiylo2zrV2YUM7L_E_p3OrJwH337t-BsNnzaNPezgGku0uZZ3xJmXtR7ldTXCRXS5F8uQIdqglCGpk3YM-pcaIxib3ah1J8I&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=13),** which would have accelerated the target rate of greenhouse gas reduction.
On September 16, Governor Newsom signed more than 40 climate bills into law and announced his **[California Climate Commitment](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=lRLIxn9gfit9oDuD9B0xctfuSYasWYrgexlBbXXGNbN1eSVbr3ZzbUi43LBLpTcbNmspPwIRts-Z0x2vFw8RtM70Svvr55tqD80bsQmNEnK35qPhxPs2uhQ0M04g73_0R0GoaICZzVNr3n2YzSkwXY9dRtEuVLjbTpp40mwAdFcmBjHbvUBYl7cVrGhnSZ-9&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=14),** allocating $54 billion over the next 20 years to dramatically reduce use of fossil fuels and cut air pollution. Although the governor’s plans **[unwisely rely on carbon-capture technology](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=hhAEYL6sFkcYpWdK5_pxhpDs7mpY0LzkxR9hKqn8LKmWjDUrzd7g3K0ZpHF35cp2oEwpVABdQw-0ZO-FpbdaoLCE-9_PeNyqvRj_Yr2cVBjX5Jb7H7tdAVqjZls5Ub8g&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=15),** the Climate Commitment is a big step forward.
One disappointment was the governor’s veto of **[AB 2146](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=9g-hQKRcSqWoOTpvxkNQHxn3i1LqqUTzTetgJNEvAi1GvIE762SmO5D_-aYH3h-I3uy3IgZzXxvMe4SmO-Yx2eVL4aOSov63OzMZHAp069I&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=16),** authored by East Bay assemblymember **[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=BRGlFe6VuIfLggu8iJ-mToQtJ7uLTdOFaARCCx83dd8&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=17).** This bill would have banned non-agricultural use of powerful neurotoxic insecticides called **[*neonics*](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhLBmkVl_HWqOyqZj8eQ--AzJCXnlM1EkhzFv7u8V0qqZpuWO0BsUNnPGwLCm0IkveYyfYScKm4u1P0WGLgTgm1XHtzEp6eAbx4R0ePCBR-y3&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=18).**
### **Setback law in limbo**
On the plus side was the governor’s support of **[SB 1137](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhP3r3Qmy0czsJV16NlJEmXW_QsFhzGdSGS35bmzyA7fbrc7AWvtnVTj-2pN80Ws2_qVcgjwsEIiSTZNSfKVC7vs3oJMRtNKsVKeZOmGhn2_K55Ztp2EpTEOygtXodBwF-Q&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=19),** which requires a 3,200-foot health and safety setback not only for new oil wells, but also for any proposed reworking of existing wells within a kilometer of homes, schools, or hospitals.
But an oil industry group calling itself **[Stop the Energy Shutdown](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=JmGTjwxoCdqsIZO-Lo_GB_YRVrRla0g9WhPyVOhhzElzShRHv2DZ-cuE5thfg8mhFvuF96_H8uDelrlvYGitWvJVtxEpvAw_sH-aJJ6tSanRbJ_4aE7wRmeTJTZPm3-k&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=20)** filed a referendum with the CA Attorney General’s office and started collecting signatures to get the law on the ballot. Now, they claim to have well over the 630,000 signatures needed. if the Secretary of State’s office certifies enough of these signatures, the referendum will qualify for the 2024 ballot, and SB 1137 will not become law in January.
However, as **[this AP article](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=zveC7zroragI2qrXZZ9NavT-D8xUzLBHdQ6Q5DcszqKyEnYsHTReStoM-Lezc5NT7hEDHIh66GjbMwi6gxpEPob6L-z9E0wIMe2pSer210zLenIzWRq-baBGLB6dP7Gi0Q6B14iUdVrP66EXDvTBMw&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=21)** details, widespread reports of signature gatherers using false information have called the petition’s validity into question. The Secretary of State’s office has received several complaints but has not yet announced an official investigation.
### **Scrutinizing oil profits**
It’s news to no one that Californians suffered record increases in the price of gas last year. On November 30, Governor Newsom issued a **[proclamation](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=lRLIxn9gfit9oDuD9B0xcmv4w1ubP58hzceEgaw5XDaDZuqffyjR2s807JQ5-6KNpohgbpGsk9uYj_APy7BgjtOLhoHS23oynxxkoF725EpvLf-rBahpUCeKIJp6nnr__1m_UbwyWGTPWVYjNt9wqA&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=22)** convening a **[special session](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=uk2taAgzALEoIEiQcuuwVm4x83ngyomDcspFxx-9gVCZDElMwXB0K4Tr1DgQq0ZnNyumcOvi-SOyuOai7VuivjOgn3jUKkCExpjSrrKKZnd_u_56-Ngbb5QunijB3ZccZNC1Vp6CbN3BmdoHv8upYQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=23)** of the legislature to address this issue. When lawmakers get back to work in January, they will look at ways to deter price gouging, increase oversight of the industry, and impose penalties for exceeding a cap on profit margins.
### **2022 in Contra Costa County**
Here in our county, the year brought real progress in efforts to keep fossil fuels in the ground. In January, the Antioch City Council passed a **[ban on oil and gas drilling](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=nQyiB5XkadvHdICZSqKkZ5c4Qt486S0GjS7Uyv0SshnGgf5NXHuwhyGEpkaQFPqmfRjtJBO1Owo02qH1rSLB3g&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=24)**; in April, the Brentwood City Council **[called a moratorium](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=TT7KjOcMNQ_0USUgjbUFSKQEF30YsZOyH8bPuLGUIE8z-kFEu7qpsu4vi4md5vRm79k5g1w-mUsUmLrEC-rxkh6AQzrCtirOKEWoFPKsb15bsnqeue68uWoSeFYy2_Wd&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=25)** on new oil and gas development while it looks at effects of a permanent ban.
And it was a big year for **[building electrification](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhOwZEYDrzd2D7LZixvOWwDp_2QB-bVSnAOJ_R4yWjdZhRaa01V9aVbm146aCZqh95dnSCTp3RImmQYmcWmO85jsYk54zoLUv6L7juC5PHrNp&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=26)**. In January, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance banning natural gas fittings in many types of new construction in unincorporated areas. This fall, **[Martinez](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=vivAcovBaeedVBDZ2dzcvw_35pIGis4XyVg7TY9Wnls1_kG8hxIIzVrjb08W9ysAdIoDNMctX2qG2FdmCi-dJg&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=27)** and El Cerrito followed suit, raising to four the number of Contra Costa cities with bans on new natural gas fittings.
#### **Electoral wins**
November city council elections brought victory for climate leaders in Concord, Orinda, Pinole, and Richmond.
#### **Biofuels**
The news about our county’s oil refineries is less good. In May, the Board of Supervisors approved plans for two local refineries—Marathon in Martinez and Phillips 66 in Rodeo—to convert their operations from refining petroleum to producing biofuels made from animal fats and vegetable oils.
The refineries claim their plans are an environmentally sound way to transition away from fossil fuels while preserving refinery jobs. But recent scientific studies show that biofuel production generates about the *same*greenhouse gas emissions as refining petroleum.
Fortunately, the folks at **[Center for Biological Diversity](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=5SWUvD-o5Shv8A1oqv4NQKFYkif7zlOsegahElSy525npVXEPS_OBBctOZ8LLJzp&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=28)** (CBD) teamed up with **[Communities for a Better Environment](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=zSFQ1K27BCygz33v-QHti0lHH5bumzH2cAVYI_WbVsQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=29)** to file a lawsuit challenging the biofuels projects on the basis of “incomplete and misleading environmental reviews.” This informative **[CBD press release](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=5SWUvD-o5Shv8A1oqv4NQKFYkif7zlOsegahElSy527j1p2lyBaNDm-T31vBIfm1oO134VIW7toYHwCHeBdDvnkpyhnab11kC1XHJX1e69hJhBS15ChcerBrmuVfnB2knnndAs3bmg6CZD0gQRWYlkV1aCh6yAhysL-FUjkNUX1qeKavIUUiGW4_kpy1gxZQ&e=6fc78d987f251a55dcc5fd950281b72b&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022_year_in_review_blast&n=30)** lays out the major problems with biofuel production.
## **The year ahead**
Now, at the start of 2023, the need for real climate action is more obvious—and more critical— than ever. There’s so much to do in the coming year, both in Sacramento and here in Contra Costa. Here’s the most important New Year’s resolution of all: for each of us to do what we can to bring in the healthy, just, ecologically wise future we all hope for.
---
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** 2022 Election, 2022 Year in Review, Building Electrification, California SB1137, CARB 2022 Scoping Plan, Climate Crisis, Climate Leaders, Oil Profits, Rooftop solar
---
### [After the Berkeley Ruling: Moving Ahead with Building Electrification](https://350contracostaaction.org/after-the-berkeley-ruling-moving-ahead-with-building-electrification/)
**Published:** February 21, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** The federal ruling on Berkeley’s ban of gas hookups won’t stop paths to an electric future. Read about 4 Ways to Build an Electric Future, Post Berkeley Ruling.
**Content:**
Practically everyone agrees that to cool the climate, we need to stop burning fossil fuels—coal, oil, and gas—to generate power. Instead, we need to use energy from the sun and wind to power the electrical grid. Then, we need to use this clean, renewable energy—not so-called “natural” gas—to power our buildings.
In California, residential and commercial buildings account for about [25 percent](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/building-decarbonization) of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s clear that decarbonizing buildings is essential. That’s why, back in July 2019, [Berkeley became the first city](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/23/berkeley-natural-gas-ban-environment) in the nation to ban gas hookups in most new construction.
On January 2, a federal court decision doomed this groundbreaking ordinance. That ruling against Berkeley was certainly a setback for the building electrification movement—not just for the city but also for other municipalities that have enacted similar ordinances since 2019. Fortunately, other approaches to building electrification are very doable, and lots of people are busily working on them.
## CA Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley
In November 2019, the California Restaurant Association (CRA) [challenged the Berkeley ordinance](https://www.berkeleyside.org/2019/11/22/california-restaurant-association-sues-berkeley-over-natural-gas-ban) in court, claiming that it violated the Energy Policy Conservation Act, or EPCA. This federal law preempts state and local regulations regarding “energy efficiency, energy use, or water use of a covered product.”
The CRA [apparently accepted](https://calmatters.org/commentary/2023/05/california-socalgas-berkeley-natural-gas/) more than $1 million from SoCalGas to fund its lawsuit.
In 2021, a federal judge [dismissed CRA’s case](https://www.berkeleyside.org/2021/07/07/berkeley-gas-ban-lawsuit-cra), ruling that the Berkeley ordinance did not violate federal statutes. The CRA appealed that decision. In April 2023, a three-judge panel of the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the CRA and [struck down the ordinance](https://www.kqed.org/news/11946999/court-strikes-down-berkeleys-landmark-ban-on-natural-gas-in-new-construction).
The case was then heard by all 29 judges of this appellate court. On January 2, 2024, in a split decision, the Ninth Circuit [declined to re-hear](https://www.berkeleyside.org/2024/01/03/berkeley-gas-stove-ban-ruling) the case, ending all hope of putting the law into effect.
Berkeley city staff, in crafting the ordinance, had chosen to ban hookups—not the appliances themselves—to avoid violating EPCA. But the court decided that EPCA’s scope is not limited to regulation of “natural gas” devices; it also extends to gas usage of these devices on premises where gas is available.
There’s a small silver lining: in the January ruling, the original three-judge panel amended their April opinion to limit the extent of EPCA’s preemption of local building codes. And a group of judges filed a dissenting opinion that could limit the use of the ruling in other jurisdictions. For more information, [see this commentary](https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/commentary/240103/1/3/24-gloom-not-doom-latest-berkeley-decarbonization-case) from the [Public Health Law Center](https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/).
## 4 Ways to Build an Electric Future, Post Berkeley Ruling
Below are four strategies that cities can use to mandate all-electric buildings.
- **EPCA-compliant building codes**
Under EPCA, local governments can require builders to meet energy efficiency standards. Berkeley and other cities could raise these standards in their building codes, making electric appliances much more practical than gas-powered ones in new construction. Some California cities already have this type of code; they have not been affected by the Berkeley ruling.
- **Regulating the utilities**
Another approach to building electrification would not involve regulating appliances or hookups. According to [this article](https://earthjustice.org/experts/jan-hasselman/one-court-ruling-will-not-stop-the-growing-building-electrification-movement) on the [Earth Justice](https://earthjustice.org/) website, “States and even local communities have authority over regulating utilities and can limit the use of gas in new buildings under that authority—a pathway the Ninth Circuit decision expressly leaves open.”
- **Limiting gas infrastructure**
Cities that have control of public rights-of-way under streets and sidewalks—and most do—can prohibit new fossil-fuel infrastructure in these rights-of-way. With such an ordinance in place, many larger developments would have to be all-electric.
- **Air pollution regulations**
Local governments have the power to regulate emissions from buildings and appliances. New York City’s ordinance regulating indoor air pollution in new construction provides an [excellent model](https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/852-21/mayor-de-blasio-signs-landmark-bill-ban-combustion-fossil-fuels-new-buildings). It prohibits combustion of any substance that results in emissions of more than 25 milligrams of carbon dioxide per million BTUs. This standard effectively precludes the use of gas appliances.
Last year, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) mandated [zero-emission standards](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/dotgov/files/rules/reg-9-rule-4-nitrogen-oxides-from-fan-type-residential-central-furnaces/2021-amendments/documents/20230127_factsheet_rg09040906-pdf.pdf?la=en) for new furnaces and water heaters to start taking effect in 2027. Only all-electric appliances can meet these standards. While the BAAQMD rules don’t apply to appliances used for cooking, a new rule for stoves could be adopted in the future.
## Looking Ahead
Here in the Bay Area and across the country, building electrification is gaining ground. The Berkeley ruling is a glitch, not a disaster. We can bring in an all-electric future for buildings and make our communities healthful, equitable places for all to thrive. We just need to keep pushing our local governments to do what’s right for our children and grandchildren.
Onward!
[ Learn more about How we work with cities ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
Author: Editorial Team Image Credit: [Andrea Piacquadio](https://www.pexels.com/@olly/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-draw-a-light-bulb-in-white-board-3758105/)
**Categories:** Local Policy
**Tags:** Building Electrification, CA Restaurant Association v City of Berkeley
---
### [January 2024 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2024-newsletter/)
**Published:** January 24, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Top Priorities for 2024; Seven worthwhile ways you can work for real climate solutions;
**Content:**
### January 2024 Newsletter
# **Local Action for a Better World**
## *Top Priorities for 2024*
Like many of us in Contra Costa, you may have “do something about climate change” at the top of your to-do list for 2024. And you know that shrinking your own carbon footprint is necessary but not sufficient—it’s all-hands-on-deck time to shift society away from fossil fuels and create our clean-energy future.
But how? Below are seven very worthwhile ways you can work for real climate solutions.
### Elect climate champions to our state legislature
This election year, we have a fantastic opportunity to send bold new leaders from Contra Costa to represent us in Sacramento.
- In Senate District 9, **[Marisol Rubio](https://www.marisolforca.com/)** is seeking to succeed Steve Glazer.
- In Assembly District 15,[ **Monica Wilson**](https://monicaforassembly.com) is running for the seat currently held by Tim Grayson.
Both Wilson and Rubio have been endorsed by 350 Bay Area Action. Your help is needed to get them elected! Click **[here](https://350bayareaaction.org/electoral)** for more info.
### End oil and gas drilling in Contra Costa
Contra Costa County is seeking your input for the **[draft 2045 General Plan](https://envisioncontracosta.konveio.com/draft-contra-costa-county-2045-general-plan),** a compendium of policies guiding land use and infrastructure decisions in unincorporated areas for the next two decades. Voice your support for:
• banning all new oil and gas drilling and phasing out existing sites
• increasing the required setback between wells and sensitive areas like schools and hospitals
• better monitoring of toxic emissions such as methane.
For excellent guidance in making your comments, see **[this article](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/comment-on-new-contra-costa-drilling-policy-by-april-5th/)** by our friends at **[Sunflower Alliance](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/498-2/).** The County’s deadline for comments is **April 5th.**
### Stop carbon waste dumping
The Montezuma CarbonHub is a **[Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)](https://ieefa.org/resources/carbon-capture-crux-lessons-learned)** project proposed for southern Solano County and northern Contra Costa County. If the project is permitted, it will collect carbon dioxide from power plants and refineries in Contra Costa and Solano; transport it via barge and pipeline under Suisun Bay; and inject it into a massive well drilled into wetlands in southern Solano County, across the bay from Pittsburg.
But CCS is an unsafe, expensive, and **[*false*](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dont-fall-for-big-oils-carbon-capture-deceptions/)** climate “solution.”
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Region 9 is now considering a permit application for the injection well. It’s time to stop Montezuma before it starts by building strong opposition! Find more information **[here](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/).**
### Pass strong climate laws
Getting sensible policy turned into state law is an extremely effective way to fight for climate solutions. This year, several important bills from 2023 are returning to the legislature as **[two-year bills](https://californiaglobe.com/fr/what-are-two-year-bills/),** including:
**• [SB 674](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_674_refinery_fence-line_monitoring_factsheet_final_2.16.pdf), the Refinery Air Pollution Transparency and Reduction Act,** ensuring that refineries monitor their noxious emissions and notify their neighbors of hazardous pollution levels.
**• [SB 233](https://theclimatecenter.org/our-work/bill-tracker/sb-233-skinner-the-electric-vehicle-energy-reliability-green-evergreen-act-of-2023/), Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Charging, [requiring](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/06/14/opinion-california-should-require-that-evs-can-power-homes-businesses/)** that EVs be equipped to power homes and businesses during outages.
• [**AB 591**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB591)**, the Electric Vehicle Charging for All Act,** requiring all EV charging stations to be accessible to all electric vehicles.
• [**SB 529**](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_529_evs_for_all_factsheet_final_2.14_mh.pdf)**, the Electric Vehicles for All Act,** setting up EV car-sharing programs at 100 public and low-income housing facilities.
Of course, the new climate bills to be introduced this session will also need our support. Find out how you can get involved **[here](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/).**
### Decarbonize buildings
Residential and commercial buildings account for about **[25 percent](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/building-decarbonization/about)** of California's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, so a big part of climate strategy is shifting away from gas-powered appliances to all-electric heating/cooling systems, stoves, and water heaters. Find out more **[here](https://switchison.org/).**
In 2019, Berkeley became the first US city to ban “natural” gas hookups in new construction; unfortunately, the courts have **[ruled that law invalid](https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/berkeley-gas-ban-18585687.php).** But there are other ways to move ahead with decarbonization in our cities and towns. Your help is needed! Get started **[here](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/).**
### Advocate for action in your city or town
Is your city or town doing all it can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? At the local level, a small group of residents can have a big impact on climate strategies like decarbonizing city buildings; planting trees to mitigate extreme heat; and making the town more walkable and bikeable.
Local lawmakers are open to engaging with their constituents, and many of them are not familiar with climate solutions. As a **city liaison** working with 350CCA, you can educate them to do what’s right for your community’s future.
City liaisons are part of our policy team. They monitor what’s happening at the council and planning commission in their city and report back to the team when climate issues come up. They might interact with city staff as well as councilmembers, building relationships and keeping the need for climate action on the minds of policy makers.
If you live in any of Contra Costa’s **[19 cities](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1243/View-Cities-Communities-of-Contra-Costa)** and would like more information about becoming a city liaison, please shoot an email to **.**
### Connect with a climate community
Climate activism is crucially important work. It’s more effective—and more fun—to join with others who share your desire to bring in a livable future for our children. Please **[get in touch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/)** to find out more about working with 350 Contra Costa Action!
Thank you—
Emily and Lisa
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Follow us on [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/350ContraCosta/)**@350contracosta,** [Twitter, ](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)**@350ccaction**
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**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [December 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** December 14, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside our December 2023 newsletter: The all-electric future, CPUC blocks rooftop solar, the Concord Reuse Project, Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan (CAP)
**Content:**
### December 2023 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **The all-electric future**
Whenever the talk turns to ending the era of fossil fuels, it seems somebody is sure to say, “We can’t phase out natural gas too quickly. That would break the grid.”
It is true that the transition to all-electric buildings and vehicles requires expanding our electrical infrastructure—the vast network of power plants, substations, and transmission lines that make up **[the grid](https://decarbonization.visualcapitalist.com/how-does-the-power-grid-work/).** And safe, reliable delivery of electrical power is absolutely critical. The task is becoming more challenging as the **[changing climate](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16112023/fifth-national-climate-assessment-regional-impacts/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2659db90-e3b8-4e48-89bb-b4b6eb6d0893)** brings disasters like severe storms, flooding, and extreme temperatures.
For example, during the **“[Texas freeze](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629621001997)”** of February 2021, a power outage lasting several days affected more than 10 million people, caused 111 deaths, and cost economic losses totaling around $155 billion. And across the US, hotter weather is causing millions to use their air conditioners more. But thanks to innovations in power distribution, battery storage capacity, and energy efficiency, this increasing demand can be met without relying on so-called “natural” gas.
### Smart Grid
The power grid is rapidly evolving into a **“[Smart Grid](https://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid/smart_grid.html)”** capable of two-way communication between a power company and its customers, allowing the system to sense and respond to what’s happening along its transmission lines. The Smart Grid will use **[distribution intelligence](https://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid/distribution_intelligence.html)** to re-rout power automatically in case of trouble; detect and contain outages; and, after an outage, restore power to higher-priority users (say, hospitals) first. This new technology is making the grid much more reliable and resilient than before.
### Virtual power plants
The grid can connect power *sources* as well as power users. Buildings that produce their own power, with rooftop solar for instance, are of course much less vulnerable to outages. What’s more, these local power sources can transmit the power they produce back to the grid when need be. And they can be networked to create a **[Virtual Power Plant](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-news/what-is-a-virtual-power-plant/)** (VPP), replacing or supplementing energy from the power company during emergencies like severe storms or peak demand times like heat waves.
VPPs can reduce or eliminate the need for **[peaker plants](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/mce-news/how-peaker-plants-impact-california-communities/)**—gas-powered plants that supply electricity when renewable energy sources are less available. Peaker plants usually switch on between 4pm and 9pm, polluting the air with greenhouse gases. Contra Costa County is home to **[two peaker plants](https://www.psehealthyenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/California.pdf),** both located in Antioch.
VPPs are already happening in the Bay Area and elsewhere.
### [*Read More*](https://350contracostaaction.org/goodbye-gas-the-all-electric-future/)
## **CPUC blocks rooftop solar for most multi-meter properties**
In October, the CA Public Utilities Commission approved a rule change that prevents farms, schools, and many apartments and businesses from directly accessing the energy produced by their own rooftop solar panels. Now, solar-powered properties that have more than one meter must buy the energy back from the utility at full price—despite the fact that the utility did not pay for those solar panels and does not own them. This is just *wrong.*
In a last-minute change, the CPUC revised the ruling to allow apartment tenants to directly access the energy from rooftop panels. However, apartment building *owners* are not allowed to directly use the energy to power common areas like elevators, hallways, laundry rooms, outdoor lighting, and EV charging stations. With no incentive for owners to install solar panels, tenants will likely not get access to solar energy for their homes.
Another predictable result is many fewer EV chargers for apartment dwellers.
The excellent folks at **[Solar Rights Alliance](https://solarrights.org/)** are urging all of us to take this battle to the state legislature. It’s time to tell our senators and assemblymembers to introduce legislation reversing the CPUC’s decision. Find out more about the issue and see a sample calling script **[here](https://solarrights.org/hundreds-of-renters-advocates-farmers-schools-apartment-developers-and-community-groups-defend-their-solar-rights/).**
## **Attention Concord residents!**
A new master developer, Brookfield Residential, is set to sign a Term Sheet with the City of Concord to develop the **[Concord Reuse Project](http://www.concordreuseproject.org/182/Planning)** (that is, the old Naval Weapons Station). Once the Term Sheet is signed on January 16, it’ll be time to let Brookfield hear from our community about our vision for the project.
This is a huge undertaking, with homes for 45,000 residents, a college campus, a sports complex, and commercial areas. We need to make sure the buildings and streets are designed with the environment in mind—with no gas pipelines; with rooftop solar and heat pumps; with safe, pleasant walkways and bikeways; and with native trees and shrubs to provide natural cooling.
If you live in Concord, please shoot an email to **,** and we’ll let you know how you can get involved.
## **Reminder: Add your comments to the CAP**
Contra Costa County’s draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2024 Update lays out pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with effects of climate change like wildfires, drought, and floods.
**All of us are encouraged to comment on this important document between now and January 31, 2024. You can find it [here](https://envisioncontracosta.konveio.com/draft-contra-costa-county-climate-action-plan-2024-update). While reading, you can click at any point and add your comment about that specific section.**
Thank you—
Emily and Lisa
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/350ContraCosta/), and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
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©350 Contra Costa Action
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**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [January 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** January 26, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: What do you think? (5-minute survey); Why are all the cities suddenly talking about housing? Plus: Action item: End NOx pollution; Action item: Hold Martinez refinery accountable for their crime;
**Content:**
### January 2023 Newsletter
# Local Action for a Better World
## **What do you think?**
We’d love to have your opinions about 350 Contra Costa Action—and your ideas for improvement. Please take this [**five-minute survey**](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7GSFDGF). Thanks!
## **Why are all the cities suddenly talking about housing?**
A deadline is looming for California cities and counties: by January 31, local governments have to submit the **[Housing Element](https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-community-development/housing-elements)** of their General Plans to the **[Department of Housing and Community Development](https://www.hcd.ca.gov/)** (HCD).
A Housing Element describes how a local jurisdiction plans to meet the needs of all its residents for a livable, affordable home. All these plans have to be recertified by HCD every eight years.
It’s not hard to see that Housing Elements are a *very* important way to ensure environmental justice and climate sanity. Every person has a right to a home in a community with clean air and water, green space, and a way to get around. To meet the needs of Californians who are unhoused, or living in inadequate housing, many more affordable homes must be built. Unfortunately, municipalities have been reluctant to make this happen.
Every jurisdiction’s Housing Element has to comply with our state’s RHNA laws—that is, the **[Regional Housing Needs Assessment](https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-community-development/regional-housing-needs-allocation)** (pronounced *“reena”*). Through the RHNA process, cities and counties are assigned target numbers of new homes to be built. Until recently, municipalities have not fully complied with their RHNA requirements, particularly the targets for affordable housing; fortunately, [**recent state laws**](https://shou.senate.ca.gov/sites/shou.senate.ca.gov/files/RHNA%20reform%20fact%20sheet%20-%2010.2021.pdf) have provided for stronger enforcement.
Of course, it’s crucial to design our cities for efficient use of land, water, and energy—and that means planning for multifamily housing, located close to shopping and public transit, and powered by renewable energy sources.
Here are some specific provisions we’re looking for in the new crop of Housing Elements for Contra Costa cities:
- Changing zoning requirements to allow for higher-density housing
- Ensuring all housing developments have access to public transportation, bike and walking paths, municipal services, and parks
- In multifamily complexes, reducing parking-space minimums and providing EV charging capability to residents
- Phasing out the use of natural gas in all buildings.
So far, our cities have largely failed to include such provisions in their housing plans. That’s why we need to keep pushing them! With the right Housing Element in place, our cities can create the vibrant, healthful, sustainable communities we all hope to see.
## **Action item: End NOx pollution**
The Sierra Club’s SF Bay Area Chapter is campaigning to end nitrogen oxide pollution from appliances. They’re petitioning the Air District (that’s the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, or **[BAAQMD](https://www.baaqmd.gov/)**) to adopt two regulations that will require all water heaters and home furnaces to be zero-NOx emitting by 2027 and 2029, respectively.
Please take a moment to sign the petition **[here](https://addup.sierraclub.org/campaigns/bayareacleanair).** For information about appliance pollution, see this **[2022 report](https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/2022-09/Gas-appliances-Smog-air-pollution-report_1.pdf).**
## **Action item: Hold Martinez refinery accountable for their crime**
Did you know that, last Thanksgiving night, downtown Martinez was covered in toxic white powder released by the Martinez Refining Company? And that the company failed to report the release to county health officials?
The folks at **[Sunflower Alliance](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/)** are urging the Contra Costa District Attorney, Diana Becton, to prosecute the refinery for endangering the health and safety of Martinez residents. Please add your voice! Get the details in **[this article](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/tell-contra-costa-da-to-prosecute-martinez-refinery-for-health-and-safety-crimes/)** on the Sunflower website—then follow the links to email the DA’s office.
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2023 Survey, End NOx Pollution, Martinez Refinery, Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHINA)
---
### [February 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** February 23, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside Why all the fuss about gas stoves? Plus: A fresh start for Concord Reuse Project; Oil and gas setbacks on hold until 2024 election; Last chance to fill out our 2023 survey: Let us know what you think!
**Content:**
### February 2023 Newsletter
# Local Action for a Better World
## **Why all the fuss about gas stoves?**
Lately, gas stoves have been much discussed in the **[news](https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/business/gas-stoves-trumka/index.html)** and social media. The uproar started when a US Consumer Product Safety commissioner publicly questioned whether gas stoves could be made free of health risks. Senator Joe Manchin tweeted, ‘I can tell you the last thing that would ever leave my house is the gas stove that we cook on’—and the White House reassured Americans that ‘the President does not support banning gas stoves.’
**What is ‘natural’ gas?**
**[‘Natural’ gas](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101),** like coal and oil, is a fossil fuel, formed from the remains of plants and animals over millions of years. It’s mostly methane, plus several **[hydrocarbons](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydrocarbon-gas-liquids/),** water vapor, and carbon dioxide. In the United States, it’s used in power plants to generate electricity; in many industrial processes including plastics production; and in buildings—to heat space and water, to dry clothes, and of course, to cook food.
The term ‘natural gas’ has been promoted by the gas industry to make it seem harmless and safe. But the opposite is true: this fossil fuel—extracting, transporting, and burning it—is a major cause of climate change and a serious threat to human health. Let’s call it ‘fossil gas.’
**Fossil gas and climate change**
The two most important climate pollutants are carbon dioxide and methane. **[Methane](https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/methane-emissions-are-driving-climate-change-heres-how-reduce-them),** which makes up 70-90 percent of fossil gas, is about 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Fossil gas **[leaks](https://www.nrdc.org/experts/sheryl-carter/gas-leaks-and-its-worse-we-thought)** from wells and pipelines emit massive quantities of methane.
In addition to extracting and transporting, *burning* fossil gas is a major factor in climate change. In 2021, gas combustion for energy (that is, in power plants) was responsible for **[about 34%](https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/flow/CO2-spaghettichart-2021.pdf)** of the total US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
Just like coal and oil, if we’re going to curb global warming, fossil gas needs to *stay in the ground*.
**Fossil gas and human health**
The conventional way of extracting gas, like extracting oil, **[pollutes the air](https://news.stanford.edu/2021/10/12/living-near-oil-gas-wells-increases-air-pollution-exposure/)** and increases the risk of asthma and other lung diseases, cancer, heart problems, and birth defects. That’s why we pushed so hard for SB 1137, the law requiring oil and gas wells to be set back 3200 feet from houses, hospitals and schools.
These days, much gas extraction is done by hydraulic fracturing, better known as **[*fracking*](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fracking-101)*,*** which not only emits methane and other toxic air pollutants, but also creates vast amounts of wastewater and ecosystem-damaging noise. Fracking causes **[serious health problems](https://www.ehn.org/health-impacts-of-fracking-2634432607.html)** by polluting water and soil as well as the air.
**Gas stoves**
Cooking with gas has been **[proven](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-health-risks-of-gas-stoves-explained/)** to cause increased risk of asthma, cardiovascular problems, and learning deficits, especially in children. **[Recent research](https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20221021/gas-stoves-can-emit-high-levels-of-cancer-causing-benzene)** has shown that gas stoves emit benzene, which is linked to cancer, even when not in use.
Nevertheless, the gas industry has been effectively promoting gas stoves for decades. In the past few years, their PR firms have been **[paying Instagram influencers](https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2020/06/gas-industry-influencers-stoves/)** and **[putting fake posts on Nextdoor](https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/06/how-the-fossil-fuel-industry-convinced-americans-to-love-gas-stoves/)** to gush about cooking with gas. But in fact, many **[chefs love cooking with electric induction cooktops](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/29/why-electric-stoves-are-better-chefs)**—an affordable, fast-heating, non-polluting alternative.
The simple truth is, gas has got to go. If you want to make a difference in the fight to keep our climate livable, help get your city or town to ban ‘natural gas’ fittings in new home construction. By moving away from gas to renewable energy sources for buildings, we’ll all breathe easier.
## **A fresh start for Concord Reuse Project**
On January 28, the Concord City Council voted 3-2 to [**reject the Term Sheet**](https://localnewsmatters.org/2023/01/31/concord-back-to-scratch-on-weapons-station-reuse-project-after-nixing-developers-terms/) put forward by Concord First Partners, LLC, for development of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. This site, known as the Concord Reuse Project, comprises more than 5,000 acres; about half this area is home to the new **[Thurgood Marshall Regional Park](https://www.ebparks.org/parks/thurgood-marshall).**
The other half is slated for massive development with 13,000 housing units and several commercial districts, including a ‘transit village’ around the North Concord BART station. The City Council’s recent vote means development will be delayed for years.
Hopefully, by the time a new master developer is selected and a new plan is accepted, Concord will have a strong ordinance banning natural gas infrastructure.
## **Oil and gas setbacks on hold until 2024 election**
The oil companies have succeeded in stalling efforts to reduce the harm they’re doing to California communities.
Last September, Governor Newsom signed **[SB 1137](https://www.nrdc.org/experts/ann-alexander/gov-newsoms-welcome-announcement-oil-drilling-setbacks),** which requires a 3,200-foot health and safety setback around both new *and* reworked existing oil wells. This legislation bans all drilling within a kilometer of homes, schools, or hospitals—improving the health of more than 2.7 million Californians.
But oil and gas companies have forced the state to **[put the law on hold](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06022023/california-drilling-setback-lena-gonzalez/)** until the 2024 election. To get the law on the ballot, they filed a referendum with the CA Attorney General's office and mounted a 20-million-dollar campaign, paying petition circulators to collect signatures supporting the referendum. Widespread reports say petition signers were misinformed that signing would help protect communities from oil drilling—although the opposite is true.
On February 3, the California Secretary of State announced that enough signatures had been certified to get the referendum on the ballot as a proposition. So, in the next election, voters will decide the fate of SB 1137. One more reason to get out the vote in 2024!
## **Last chance to fill out our 2023 survey: Let us know what you think!**
We’d love to have your opinions about 350 Contra Costa Action – and your ideas for improvement. Please take this **[five-minute survey.](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7GSFDGF)** Thanks!
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** 2023 Survey, Concord Reuse Project, Fossil fuels and our health, Fossil gas and climate change, Oil and Gas Setbacks
---
### [March 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** March 21, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Great news for our air quality! Plus: Hercules moving to cleaner energy; Grid resilience without gas; Poisoned soil in Martinez; Climate solutions at home:Induction cooktops and electric leaf blowers; California Climate Policy Summit 2023;
**Content:**
### March 2023 Newsletter
# Local Action for a Better World
## **Great news for our air quality!**
On March 15, the nine-county Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) [**voted to phase out** ](https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2023-news/031523-ba-rules)‘natural’ gas furnaces and water heaters starting in 2027. The goal is to eliminate emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a significant cause of **[serious health problems.](https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/what-makes-air-unhealthy/nitrogen-dioxide)**
As the rules take effect, only heaters that don’t emit NOx (in other words, only all-electric water heaters, furnaces, and heat pumps) will be permitted in new construction. What’s more, if a gas-powered heater in an existing building needs to be replaced, the new appliance must not emit NOx.
BAAQMD’s new rules provide a model for the rest of the country in cutting NOx emissions. This is a huge step forward!
## **Hercules moving to cleaner energy**
In other great news, on March 14, the Hercules City Council voted to have staff enter into negotiations with **[MCE](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/)** to supply the city’s electricity. By choosing renewable electricity from MCE, residents and businesses can fight climate change with one simple step. Offering 60% and 100% renewable options at competitive rates, MCE ensures your electricity comes from more renewable sources like solar, wind, and geothermal energy.
In Contra Costa, four cities—Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, and Orinda—have yet to move to MCE. If you live in one of these places, you can make a big difference by pushing your city council to go with one of MCE’s renewable options. For more information, just email us at **lisa@350contracosta.org**.
## **Grid resilience without gas**
Nobody likes a power outage. As the need for electric power grows, many of us are understandably concerned that California’s grid may be overstressed and failures may be even more frequent. Grid resilience is a real issue, and it’s getting lots of expert attention these days.
In case of a power outage, solar panels paired with ample battery storage make an excellent backup. Fossil gas (so-called ‘natural’ gas), on the other hand, has no role to play in a safe, clean, resilient energy system. Extraction, transport, and combustion of fossil gas are a **[major factor](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101)** in global climate change and a **[threat to human health](https://hub.jhu.edu/2022/02/22/gas-stoves-environment-warning/)**—the sooner we stop using it, the better.
Nevertheless, some say that we can’t do without fossil gas—that a ban on new gas infrastructure would grow demand for electricity too quickly, with dire results for the grid.
But fossil gas is simply *not* reliable or safe. Our state’s vast system of gas pipelines is in dangerously bad shape, as shown by the fatal 2010 explosion in San Bruno and the huge methane leak at Aliso Canyon in 2015.
Gas pipelines are a liability in natural disasters and extreme weather events. According to the California Energy Commission, many [**pipelines are vulnerable**](https://v2.cal-adapt.org/media/files/CEC-500-2017-008.pdf) to the flooding and erosion caused by ‘atmospheric river’ storms. Earthquakes are an obvious problem. And for buildings threatened by wildfire, gas appliances are definitely not an asset.
Once the gas system is turned off during a disaster, restoring service takes about 30 times longer than restoring electricity. Residents are left without heat or hot water while the entire pipeline system is purged and checked and a service technician visits each home. In fact, PG&E **[supports the transition](https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/bay-area-regulators-vote-end-sales-key-gas-home-17836615.php)** to all-electric energy infrastructure and plans to eventually dismantle the entire gas system.
Anyway, in any power failure these days, a gas-powered furnace, range, or water heater would likely be no help. Modern gas appliances generally don’t operate without electricity.
The bottom line: we need an energy system that’s safe, clean, and resilient—and fossil gas is none of these things. The time for electrification is *now*.
## **Poisoned soil in Martinez**
Remember that white powder that blanketed Martinez back In November? A chemical accident at Martinez Refinery covered the surrounding area with 20 tons of dust containing heavy metals such as aluminum, chromium, and barium—but didn’t report the incident to the county health department.
Now, out of concern about toxic contamination, Contra Costa Health Services has **[warned residents](https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/contra-costa-county-refinery-dust-warning-17825161.php?fbclid=IwAR3EbRFRHlQBJ4Iayj86ImeDw4RgWxQzo3hnwlQWeY2zOPz6vgFbWQiJOB0)** of Martinez and nearby Pacheco not to eat the veggies growing in their home gardens.
This is not the kind of world anyone wants to live in. All of us deserve clean air and healthful, locally grown produce. Let’s be clear: fossil fuel production has simply got to go.
## **Climate solutions at home:**
## **Induction cooktops and electric leaf blowers**
Thanks to an innovative e-lending program set up by Lafayette’s Environmental Task Force, city residents can borrow an induction cooktop or electric leaf blower for up to two weeks.
Compared to gas stoves, **[induction cooktops](https://switchison.org/cooking/)** offer greater precision, safety, and speed in cooking—with no toxic emissions. And they are available in all price points, from portable units under $100 to high-end models. For information on rebates and incentives for induction cooktops and other home appliances, visit **[The Switch Is On](https://incentives.switchison.org/).**
Electric leaf blowers are cleaner, quieter, and less destructive than gas-powered leaf blowers, which emit high levels of toxic pollution and noise pollution. Ironically, gas-powered leaf blowers can be harmful for the long-term health of a garden because they damage the topsoil, a crucial component for healthy plants. For these reasons and more, gas leaf blowers will no longer be sold in California starting next year.
**Attention Lafayette residents**
If you live in Lafayette and would like to borrow an induction cooktop, sign up **[here](https://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/environmental-task-force/induction-cooktop-lending-program).** To borrow an electric leaf blower, sign up **[here](https://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/environmental-task-force/electric-leaf-blower-lending-program).**
## **California Climate Policy Summit 2023**
Our friends at the **[Climate Center](https://theclimatecenter.org/about/)** are putting on a day-long conference in Sacramento on **Tuesday, April 11.**The second annual [**California Climate Policy Summit**](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/california-climate-policy-summit-2023/) will bring together elected and business leaders, policy experts, activists, and environmental justice advocates to build support for climate policy commensurate with what science demands.
The Summit offers a wonderful opportunity to build your knowledge of current issues and bills. Check out the stellar speakers and sessions **[here](https://eventee.co/en/e/california-climate-policy-summit-2023-15859);** then register **[here](https://theclimatecenter.org/our-work/register-for-the-california-climate-policy-summit-2023/).**
Then, consider joining the 350 Contra Costa legislative team! We are about to start tracking and advocating for this legislative session’s climate-related bills, and we’d love to have your help. You don’t need to be an expert—just learn as you go. For more information, please email **lisa@350contracosta.org**.
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccc**
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**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Climate Policy Summit, Climate Solutions at Home, End NOx Pollution, Grid Resilience, Martinez Refinery, Renewable Electricity
---
### [April 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** April 14, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Visit us online! Plus: Brentwood: the ban continues; Sacramento Update; Celebrate Earth Day! More: Bike and Walk for the Planet, May 6; Attention Walnut Creek student artists;
**Content:**
### April 2023 Newsletter
# Local Action for a Better World
## **Visit us online!**
We are SO excited, pleased, and proud to present our **[brand-new website!](https://350contracostaaction.org)** It’s loaded with info about what we’re doing to keep the climate livable and bring in a healthy, clean-energy future for Contra Costa. Stop by often for the latest updates!
## **Brentwood: the ban continues**
On March 28, the Brentwood City Council voted unanimously to extend the city’s moratorium on oil and gas drilling for another year. The temporary ban applies to drilling within 3200 feet of “sensitive areas” such as schools and hospitals. While it’s in effect, city staff are crafting ordinances that would permanently ban oil and gas drilling. Yay! Learn more **[here](https://www.thepress.net/news/brentwood/ban-on-oil-drilling-extended/article_930d4798-cf1b-11ed-80e0-83a6504b1612.html?utm_source=thepress.net&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1680699603&utm_medium=email&utm_content=read%20more).**
## **Sacramento Update**
This legislative session has brought a good number of climate-related bills. Here are some key bills to watch.
Arguably, the most important is **SB 252,** the **[Fossil Fuel Divestment Act](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_252_the_fossil_fuel_divestment_act_fact_sheet.pdf)**, back after last year’s defeat. This bill prohibits the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) from investing in fossil fuel companies, and it requires them to divest any current holdings in these companies by 2030. So far, so good—this bill passed out of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee on April 12 and is now headed to the Judiciary Committee.
**[AB 579](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB579)** mandates a move to zero-emission school buses, requiring all new purchases and contracts to be ZEVs by 2035.
[**SB 49**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB49#98AMD) encourages construction of solar canopies over parking lots and directs the Department of Transportation to plan for solar installations along its highway rights-of-way.
[**SB 233**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB233) addresses the use of electric vehicles as a source of power for grid reliability and emergency backups. It requires the Energy Commission to establish goals to accelerate the use of vehicle-to-home, vehicle-to-building, and vehicle-to-grid technology. It also makes funds available to provide higher incentive levels for such bidirectional-capable EVs.
[**SB 674**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB674#99INT) creates a statewide standard for the refinery fence-line monitoring program, ensuring that noxious pollutants are measured and best practices deployed to protect the wellbeing of surrounding communities. Its passage will be very good news for the folks in our county who live near a refinery.
We’ll keep you updated as these and other climate bills make their way through the legislature.
## **Celebrate Earth Day!**
This year, 350CCA will be part of three local Earth Day celebrations—in Pinole and Walnut Creek on Saturday April 22, and in Lafayette on Sunday April 23.
**Pinole Earth Walk**
**Saturday, April 22, 9am – noon**
**Fernandez Park**
Join friends and neighbors in a walking pledge to protect the planet as a community. The three-mile walk will begin and end in Fernandez Park, following a paved loop that goes along the Pinole Creek and Bay Trail. At the finish line, you’ll find refreshments and kids' activities. 350CCA and other local environmental organizations will be on hand. All are welcome; **[registration](https://www.ci.pinole.ca.us/residents/earth_day)** is required.
**Earth Day in Walnut Creek**
**Saturday, April 22, 11am – 2pm**
**Civic Park**
Sustainable Walnut Creek presents an **[Earth Day festival](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-day/)** for the whole family with music, dancers, poetry, and speakers—plus a kids’ eco-art zone.
**Lafayette Earth Day Festival**
**Sunday, April 23, 11am – 2pm**
**Lafayette Plaza Park**
Presented by Sustainable Lafayette, this **[Earth Day celebration](https://www.sustainablelafayette.org/2023-earth-day-festival)** will feature live music, kids’ activities, a petting zoo, and bike tune-ups.
We’d love to see you at any or all of the above!
## **Bike and Walk for the Planet, May 6**
The third annual Bike and Walk for the Planet is coming up on Saturday, May 6! Sponsored by 350 Bay Area, this East Bay fundraising event offers options for both bicyclists and walkers.
Both the Bay Trail Ride and the Waterside Walk will begin and end near the Berkeley Marina—starting at the Seabreeze Restaurant and ending with lunch at 1pm in Brickyard Cove Park.
The 20-mile Bay Trail Ride features Bay Bridge and Golden Gate views along the protected biking route of the Bay Trail. Start time is **8:30am.**
The 3-mile Waterside Walk is a scenic loop along the Berkeley coast. Start time is **9:30am.**
Whether you’re riding or walking, you’ll be treated to inspiring speakers, climate points of interest along the way, a delicious lunch, prizes and more!
**[Sign up today](https://bikewalkbayarea.rsvpify.com/?securityToken=lTCe3Mk3tooB2HOP9Os3gu7TBGk9QKC6FpjZispeQZ0oR4vtBQzgf1Ur3VPVSCN0kGCC2V0jGf2LdI7QL224NxPcxLyt3o9kjVPOvFzembx1TUQreB6xM0vVnzMBTbjH)** to find your path on the road to a livable climate.
## **Attention Walnut Creek student artists**
K-12 students can get involved in Walnut Creek's **[Sustainability Action Plan](https://www.walnut-creek.org/departments/e-c-o/climate-action/sustainability-action-plan)** by creating a painting, drawing, or other piece of visual artwork that shows what they want to see in the city’s sustainable future. This Plan outlines the actions that the city and community will take to address climate change, enhance climate resiliency, and improve sustainability.
If you would like your artwork to be considered for inclusion in the final Sustainability Action Plan, submit a scan or photo of your art to Kathryn Walsh, Walnut Creek’s Sustainability Action Plan AmeriCorps Fellow, at **** by May 12.
Happy Earth Month,
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, **@350ccaction**
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**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Bike and Walk for the Planet, California Climate Legislation, Earth Day, Gas and Oil Drilling Bans
---
### [May 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** May 25, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Action Alert: It’s time to call Sacramento! Plus: Court rules against Berkeley’s building electrification ordinance; Making solar more affordable; Solar Lobby Day is June 6; MCE rebates for EV charging; Attention Pinole Residents!
**Content:**
### May 2023 Newsletter
# Local Action for a Better World
## **Action Alert: It’s time to call Sacramento!**
This is the week our state legislators will be voting on several key climate bills, so it’s time for you to make two quick phone calls to your senator and assemblymember. Elected officials pay more attention to constituents’ phone calls than to emails. When you call their Sacramento office, the staffer who answers the phone will be happy to take your message.
We don’t know exactly when each bill will be voted on, so please **call today!**
Not sure who represents you? You can use **[this tool](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/)** to find the names of your senator and assemblymember.
### **Call your senator**
These three Senate bills really need your senator’s YES vote:
- [SB 252](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB252) – Divestment** prohibits California’s biggest pension funds, for Public Employees (CalPERS) and Teachers (CalSTRS), from investing in fossil fuel companies, and requires that they divest any current investments by 2030.
- [**SB 233**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB233&search_keywords=community+choice+energy) **– EV Bidirectional Capability a**ddresses the use of electric vehicles as a source of power for grid reliability and emergency backups. It requires the Energy Commission to establish goals to accelerate the use of vehicle-to-home, vehicle-to-building, and vehicle-to-grid technology. It also makes funds available to provide higher incentive levels for such bidirectional-capable EVs.
- [**SB**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB674#99INT) **674** **– Refinery Air Pollution Transparency and Reduction** creates a statewide standard for the refinery fence-line monitoring program, ensuring that noxious pollutants are measured and best practices deployed to protect the wellbeing of surrounding communities.
You can really make a difference by calling your senator and leaving a message like this:
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the senator to vote YES on three very important climate bills:
- SB 252 to stop public investment in the fossil fuel industry
- SB 233 to improve the grid’s reliability, and
- SB 674 to protect the health of people living near refineries.”
**[Bill Dodd](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/)**
District 3
916-651-4003
**[Steve Glazer](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/)**
District 7
916-651-4007
**[Nancy Skinner](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/)**
District 9
916-651-4009
### **Call your assemblymember**
On the Assembly side, please call about these three key bills. Make sure your assemblymember knows you’re looking for their YES vote on:
- [**AB 421**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB421/id/2778127) **– Referendum Accountability** brings real reforms to the state ballot initiative process, which the oil and gas, tobacco, and other industries have used to block good laws.
- [**AB 579**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB579/2023) **– Zero-Emission Schoolbuses** requires all new schoolbus purchases and contracts to be ZEVs by 2035.
- [**AB 1167**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1167) **– Orphan Well Prevention** requires companies that buy oil wells to post a bond covering cleanup costs after the well stops producing. Read why this is important **[here](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/ann-alexander/ab-1167-putting-brakes-orphan-well-catastrophe).
Here’s a suggested message for your assemblymember:
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the assemblymember to vote YES on three very important climate bills:
- AB 421 to stop powerful industries from overturning good laws
- AB 579 to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and
- AB 1167 to make sure the public doesn’t get stuck with the cost of cleaning up oil wells.”
**[Lori Wilson](https://a11.asmdc.org/)**
District 11
916-319-2011
**[Buffy Wicks](https://a14.asmdc.org/)**
District 14
916-319-2014
**[Tim Grayson](https://a15.asmdc.org/)**
District 15
916-319-2015
**[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan ](https://a16.asmdc.org/)**
District 16
916-319-2016
That’s it! We’ve got the power—let’s use it!
## **Court rules against Berkeley’s building electrification ordinance**
On April 17, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Berkeley’s 2019 ordinance banning natural gas hookups in most new construction. Bad news, yes—but not a fatal blow to the rapidly growing movement to make buildings all-electric. The ruling does not affect many of the **[77 building-electrification ordinances](https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2021/07/californias-cities-lead-way-pollution-free-homes-and-buildings)** passed by California cities and counties in the last four years.
This **[Earth Justice article](https://earthjustice.org/experts/jan-hasselman/one-court-ruling-will-not-stop-the-growing-building-electrification-movement)** tells how municipalities can enact BE ordinances using legal frameworks other than the one Berkeley used.
The judges based their decision on the federal Energy Policy Conservation Act, which sets efficiency standards for appliances. State and local governments are prevented from passing any law that goes against these requirements—but does that rule even apply to the Berkeley ordinance? **[This article](https://legal-planet.org/2023/04/21/three-questions-about-the-ninth-circuit-panels-cra-v-berkeley-decision/)** on UC’s Legal Planet website explains the ruling and raises key questions about it.
This court decision is not a game-changer—the movement to transition to all-electric buildings is unstoppable.
## **Making solar more affordable**
Using free energy from the sun to power our homes is clearly a fine idea—but installing a rooftop solar system can be expensive. SunWork, a nonprofit working in the Bay Area and along the Central Coast, aims to make solar energy more affordable and widespread with the help of trained volunteers.
SunWork helps homeowners whose utility bills aren’t high enough to make the cost of solar installation make sense otherwise. They also help small nonprofits like churches make the switch to solar.
SunWork volunteers receive free, expert-level training in all aspects of solar installation. Do you know someone who might benefit from learning these skills? To find out more, visit **[SunWork.org](https://sunwork.org/).**
## **Solar Lobby Day is June 6**
Investor-owned utility lobbyists are at the State Capitol every day, spreading misinformation about rooftop solar to your elected officials. Lawmakers need to hear directly from you, their voters, about why they should stick up for the public and keep rooftop solar growing.
So, our friends at **[Solar Rights Alliance](https://solarrights.org/)** are planning Solar Lobby Day in Sacramento on Tuesday, June 6. If you can be in the capital that day, they’ll provide all the support you need—rideshares, training, a meeting schedule, and lunch. Sign up for Solar Lobby Day **[here](https://solarrights.org/solarlobbyday/?emci=dd3766d8-e6f0-ed11-907c-00224832eb73&emdi=695a0b2a-31f3-ed11-907c-00224832eb73&ceid=10563817).** Questions? Shoot an email to **.**
## **MCE rebates for EV charging**
By now, most of us know about **[MCE’s options](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/compare-options/)** to help residential energy customers switch to renewable energy sources. Did you know they also offer an electric vehicle (EV) charging rebate to businesses and multifamily properties? The **[MCE rebate program](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/ev-charging/)** includes significant savings on hardware and installation costs—as well as technical assistance to get those Level 2 chargers up and running.
## **Attention Pinole Residents!**
The City of Pinole would like to have your thoughts about plastic waste. They’re looking for ways to transition away from single-use plastic bags and foodware for a healthier, cleaner Pinole.
To be part of the solution to the plastics problem, please fill out this **[brief survey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P8PVLBG).**
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta,** Twitter, [**@350ccc**](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [June 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** June 15, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Stop burning fossil fuels. Period. Plus: Greenhouse gas emissions: the big picture; Action Item: Tell Newsom to support public transit; Update from Sacramento; The Inflation Reduction Act: Opportunities for Contra Costa; Martinez refinery investigation; Juneteenth and July 4th Festivals;
**Content:**
### June 2023 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Stop burning fossil fuels. Period.**
“Carbon dioxide levels measured at NOAA’s Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory peaked at **424 parts per million** in May, continuing a steady climb further into territory not seen for millions of years…”
So starts the **[latest report](https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/broken-record-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide-levels-jump-again)** on atmospheric CO2 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For millennia, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere was 350 parts per million or below, and this level created the ideal conditions on earth for us to thrive. Scientists warn that levels above 430 parts per million of carbon would mean catastrophe for the web of life that all humanity depends on.
The report quotes NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, PhD: “Every year, we see carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere increase as a direct result of human activity. Every year, we see the impacts of climate change in the heat waves, droughts, flooding, wildfires and storms happening all around us. While we will have to adapt to the climate impacts we cannot avoid, we must expend every effort to slash carbon pollution and safeguard this planet and the life that calls it home.”
Why are carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) still going up, and why so fast? Simply put, emissions are going up because we’re continuing to burn more and more fossil fuels. “Net Zero” policies don’t reduce emissions; they only require emissions to be “balanced” by “carbon offsets.” Think about it: if a corporation buys offsets for the privilege of polluting, they’re still polluting. Offsets may be used to build wind turbines or plant trees, but they can’t solve our emissions problem.
To safeguard Earth, our home, there’s only one solution: keeping fossil fuels in the ground. Investing in clean energy won’t help unless we also phase out oil and gas production—and *fast.*
For more on the necessity of cutting production, see this article by our friends at Sunflower Alliance: **[The Economic Case for a Restrictive Supply-Side Policy](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-economic-case-for-restrictive-supply-side-policy/).**
## **Greenhouse gas emissions: the big picture**
“Stop burning fossil fuels.” What does that involve exactly? Most of us probably think first of tailpipe emissions—and indeed, transportation is a major source of the GHGs insulating and warming our planet. In California, it accounts for about 40 percent of all GHG emissions.
Industrial activity is another major culprit. The process of drilling and transporting oil and fossil gas (aka “natural” gas) puts a lot of GHGs into the air even before these fuels arrive at power plants to be burned. The same is true of coal mining.
Because much of the energy powering factories comes from fossil fuels, manufacturing all the stuff that fills our homes and offices is responsible for a big chunk of emissions. What’s more, many industrial processes—like making cement and plastics—inherently involve emitting GHGs, even aside from what’s emitted by burning fossil fuels for energy. Industrial sources make up a little over 20 percent of our state’s emissions.
After transportation and industry, a third major source of GHGs is *buildings*. Together, residential and nonresidential buildings account for around 25% of California’s total emissions! Heating and cooling the air, heating water, and cooking with fossil gas are all part of the problem.
While the sources of greenhouse gases are many, there’s only one way to stop emitting them: leaving fossil fuels in the ground. Clean energy sources like solar and wind power are already here; the time for transition is *now.*
What are sources of GHG emissions in Contra Costa County? **[Check out this blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-county-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-sector/)** by Gary Farber of our Climate Policy Team.
## **Action Item: Tell Newsom to support public transit**
We’re passing along this word from our friends at Seamless Bay Area.
Thanks to thousands of riders speaking up about the importance of funding transit, the draft state budget released by legislators on Monday **[included transit operations](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/california-1-1-billion-bailout-bart-bay-area-18147147.php?link_id=0&can_id=322b99bc734e1630ba893e07d910b080&source=email-coming-down-to-the-wire-to-save-transit-in-california-news-and-actions-you-can-take-2&email_referrer=email_1946246&email_subject=money-for-transit-in-draft-state-budget-call-governor-newsom-to-urge-his-support)** funding for the first time. If approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, the new funding will stave off the immediate threat of service cuts.
The Senate-Assembly agreement would provide $1.1 billion over three years to transit agencies for operations—and restore $2 billion in previously announced cuts to transit capital funding.
We need your help to make sure this budget proposal gets approved by Governor Newsom.
**Please take action now!** Call Governor Newsom’s office at **916-445-2841** and urge him to:
- Approve the budget proposed by the legislature reversing the $2 billion in transit capital cuts and providing $1.1 billion for operations
- Support using one-time federal highway funds to further meet transit operations’ funding needs.
We don’t know exactly when the governor will sign the budget, so please call **today!**
## **Update from Sacramento**
Good news! During the Legislature’s floor session, May 30th – June 2nd, many important [**climate bills passed** ](https://350bayareaaction.org/legislative-committee#endorsed-bills)their “first house”—the Senate or Assembly—and are now making their way through committees in their second house.
Among these are two Senate bills aiming to shed light on corporations’ carbon emissions and climate-related financial risks:
[**SB 253**](https://envirovoters.org/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-Climate-Corporate-Leadership-and-Accountability-Act-SB-253.pdf)**,** the **Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act,** requires large corporations doing business in California—those earning more than $1 billion per year—to publicly disclose their carbon emissions in a manner that’s clear and easy to understand.
[**SB 261**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261)**,** the **Climate-Related Financial Risk Act**, requires large companies that do business in California to submit annual climate-related financial risk reports to the public.
For far too long, corporations have kept their polluting ways—and the risks they pose to our financial security—unavailable for public scrutiny. We’ll keep you posted about how you can support both these critical climate bills.
## **The Inflation Reduction Act: Opportunities for Contra Costa**
On May 18th, 350 Contra Costa partnered with Diablo Valley College and Greenbelt Alliance to present a conference for elected officials, government staff, community-based organizations, and labor, education and workforce development groups. The topic was IRA—the federal Inflation and Reduction Act. This landmark legislation includes $369 billion for energy security and climate programs over a ten-year period.
More than 125 attendees learned about the many resource opportunities that IRA offers and brainstormed ways to collaborate with local governments and community organizations for maximum benefit. The conference focused on three main areas of IRA:
- All-electric energy transformations that bring health and safety to our communities as we address the climate crisis
- Programs that ensure equity and opportunities for low-income and environmentally impacted communities
- Green economic development and workforce advancement.
Now, videos and slide decks from the conference are available on our website. It was a very full day! Check it out **[here](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/inflation-reduction-act/).**
## **Martinez refinery investigation**
You’ll recall the “flaring event” at Martinez Refinery that spewed 24 tons of toxic ash over the city last Thanksgiving. According to the county health department, the substance that blanketed homes, businesses, and streets contained "elevated levels of aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium and zinc."
Now, the FBI and EPA are investigating this event. Find out more **[here](https://abc7news.com/13305647/).**
## **Juneteenth and July 4th Festivals**
We’re excited! 350 Contra Costa Action will be at two upcoming festivals: Juneteenth in Antioch and July 4th in El Cerrito.
**Let Freedom Ring Juneteenth Celebration in Antioch**
Monday, June 19th, noon – 6pm
Contra Costa Event Park, 1201 W 10th St, Antioch
Carnival rides, food, arts & crafts, and live entertainment
**World One Fourth of July Festival in El Cerrito**
Tuesday, July 4th, 11am – 5pm
Cerrito Vista Park, El Cerrito
Musical performances, children’s entertainment, international cuisine
**Please stop by our booth and say hello!**
Thank you
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta**, and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, Climate Crisis, Fossil Fuels, Martinez Refinery
---
### [July 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** July 25, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Keep Cool with 350 Contra Costa’s Movie Night! Plus: The heat is on. We must act now; Making corporations disclose climate impacts and risks; Web Volunteers Needed!
**Content:**
### July 2023 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Keep Cool with 350 Contra Costa’s Movie Night!**
**A *free* screening of the inspiring documentary *The Scale of Hope* and Q&A with Molly Kawahata, the film’s subject**
**Thursday, August 10, 7pm, at the Orinda Theatre**
The scale of climate change can make an individual feel hopelessly small, and Molly Kawahata knows this feeling well. As a former climate advisor to the Obama White House and an alpine climber with dreams of big summits, Molly has dedicated her life to taking on seemingly insurmountable challenges. But it’s her personal struggle with mental health that gives her a profound understanding of how to harness the power of the mind to create change.
*The Scale of Hope* follows Molly as she prepares for an expedition in the Alaska Range while working to create a new climate narrative that centers her favorite question—*What can I do to help?*—with a surprising answer. It’s a story about struggle, hope, and what it will take to solve the greatest issue of our time.
**350 Contra Costa is delighted to host this free screening of *The Scale of Hope* on Thursday, August 10, at 7pm. Meet us at the Orinda Theatre, 4 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda 94563.**
The Orinda Theatre is a 5-minute walk from the Orinda BART station. It’s close to several restaurants.
Please join us! This is a free event—**please register** [**here**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/patagonia-documentary-the-scale-of-hope-qa-with-molly-kawahata-tickets-679918443367) to let us know you’re coming.
## **The heat is on. We must act now.**
July 3, 2023, was the [hottest day](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/05/tuesday-was-worlds-hottest-day-on-record-breaking-mondays-record) for Planet Earth in about 125,000 years—until July 4, when the average global air temperature climbed even higher.
Global climate change is unfolding just as scientists have predicted. [All around the world](https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/is-it-hot-enough-yet-for-politicians-to-take-real-action), extreme heat, drought, fires, and floods are devastating communities. We know that these calamities will become more and more severe and widespread—and happen more and more often—if we continue on our current path. If we don’t change our ways, humanity’s future looks [grim indeed](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/01/climate-endgame-risk-human-extinction-scientists-global-heating-catastrophe).
**We know what we need to do**, but we’re not doing it. Short-sighted people who are benefitting from the status quo—oil company executives, for example—have distracted us with false solutions like [carbon-capture technology](https://thebulletin.org/2022/09/plagued-by-failures-carbon-capture-is-no-climate-solution/) while greenhouse-gas emissions [continue to rise](https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/greenhouse-gases-continued-to-increase-rapidly-in-2022). They’ve controlled the public discourse and obscured the plain truth about the climate crisis: we must rapidly and radically reduce the amount of oil and gas we’re burning.
**This is totally doable**. We can accelerate the transition from coal, oil, and fossil gas to renewable energy sources like solar and wind. We can make our homes and offices all-electric. We can make public transport fast, cheap, and easy to use. And by doing these things, we can [create good jobs](https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/california-building-decarbonization/) and bring in a [more equitable](https://greenlining.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Greenlining_EquitableElectrification_Report_2019_WEB.pdf) future.
But we as individuals can’t make any of this happen on our own. There’s only one way forward—our governments must enact new laws and policies that put us on the right track. And that’s not going to happen unless we, the people, insist on it.
For the sake of all our futures, many more of us must advocate *now* for sane climate policies; Reducing our personal carbon footprints is important, but it’s not enough. We need to join with friends, family, and neighbors to make sure our city councilmembers and state lawmakers do the right thing despite pressure from oil interests.
Climate advocacy takes time and energy. But when our house is on fire, we do whatever it takes to quell the flames. Let’s work together today so our children can have a livable home tomorrow.
## **Making corporations disclose climate impacts and risks**
The state legislature is taking a break until August 14. In the meantime, here’s a look ahead at two key bills that, if passed, will give Californians vastly more information about corporations’ role in the climate crisis. [SB 253](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB253) (Wiener) and [SB 261](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261) (Stern) are closely related; it’s critical to get them both passed into law this fall.
SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, requires very large corporations to report *all* greenhouse gas emissions they’re responsible for. In the past, companies could get away with reporting only the emissions caused by their manufacturing and operations; if this bill becomes law, they will have to report their [Scope 3](https://www.sustain.life/blog/scope-emissions) emissions—that is, the emissions from the use of their products once they’re sold. For example, oil companies will have to report emissions from the gasoline they’ve sold to gas stations. Data from the [Carbon Disclosure Project](https://www.cdp.net/en) has shown that Scope 3 emissions are more than 11 times higher than company operational (Scopes 1 and 2) emissions.
SB 261, Greenhouse Gases: Climate-Related Financial Risk, requires very large companies to disclose the [financial risks they’re taking](https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/recommendations/) that are due to climate change issues. With this information, investors will be able to evaluate the wisdom of investing in banks and other companies that are worsening the climate crisis.
Both these bills have already passed the Senate; in the Assembly, they’ve both passed the Natural Resources Committee and have been referred to the Appropriations Committee. We need both bills to pass through Appropriations; then they’ll be up for a vote by the full Assembly in late August or early September. We’ll definitely let you know when it’s time to telephone your Assemblymember!
## **Web Volunteers Needed!**
350 Contra Costa Action is looking for a skilled, volunteer backend web person who’d be willing to step in and solve the problems that are beyond the ability of our volunteer webmaster. This person would be skilled in PHP, JavaScript, WordPress, Elementor, and Elementor Pro.
We’re also seeking a volunteer to assist our webmaster with updating pages and posting content to our blog. Enthusiasm, attention to detail, and willingness to learn as you go are welcome in lieu of experience—though experience is welcome as well!
To find out more about either opportunity, please email .
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Thank you.
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta**, and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
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**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, Climate Solutions, Movie Night, The Scale of Hope, Volunteers Needed
---
### [September 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** September 6, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Action Alert: It’s time to call Sacramento! Plus: California takes a stand against fossil fuels; New county plans going public; Yes, counties can ban drilling; The Scale of Hope online Sept 26, 6-8pm; Action to end the era of fossil fuels
**Content:**
### September 2023 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Action Alert: It’s time to call Sacramento!**
Several important climate bills have made it to their “second house”—bills that originated in the Senate are now headed to the Assembly floor, and vice versa. Legislators will be voting this week, so it’s time for you to make two quick phone calls to your senator and assemblymember. Elected officials pay more attention to constituents’ phone calls than to emails. When you call their Sacramento office, the staffer who answers the phone will be happy to take your message.
We don’t know exactly when each bill will be voted on… **but AB 421 could be heard as early as this morning, Tuesday the 5th!** Please call your senator as soon as possible to get this important bill passed.
Not sure who represents you? You can use **[this tool](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/)** to find the names of your senator and assemblymember.
### Call Your Senator
Make sure your senator knows you’re looking for their YES vote on these:
- [**AB 421**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB421/id/2778127) **– Referendum Accountability** brings real reforms to the state ballot referendum process, which the oil and gas, tobacco, and other industries have used to block good laws. \[9/5 Ed. Update: [Passed today!](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB421) On the governor's desk!\]
- [**AB 579**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB579/2023) **– Zero-Emission Schoolbuses** requires all new schoolbus purchases and contracts to be ZEVs by 2035.
- [**AB 1167**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1167) **– Orphan Well Prevention** requires companies that buy oil and gas wells to post a bond covering cleanup costs after the well stops producing. Read why this is important **[here](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/ann-alexander/ab-1167-putting-brakes-orphan-well-catastrophe).**
Here’s a suggested message for your senator:
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the senator to vote YES on three very important climate bills:
- AB 421 to stop powerful industries from overturning good laws
- AB 579 to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and
- AB 1167 to make sure the public doesn’t get stuck with the cost of cleaning up oil wells.”
[Bill Dodd](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/) District 3916-651-4003[Steve Glazer](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/) District 7 916-651-4007[Nancy Skinner](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/) District 9 916-651-4009### Call Your Assemblymember
These three bills really need your assemblymember’s YES vote:
- [**SB 253**](https://envirovoters.org/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-Climate-Corporate-Leadership-and-Accountability-Act-SB-253.pdf)**,** **the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act,** requires large corporations doing business in California—those earning more than $1 billion per year—to publicly disclose their carbon emissions in a manner that’s clear and easy to understand.
- [**SB 261**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261)**,** **the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act**, requires large companies that do business in California to submit annual climate-related financial risk reports to the CA Secretary of State.
- [**SB 674**](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_674_refinery_fence-line_monitoring_factsheet_final_2.16.pdf) **– Refinery Air Pollution Transparency and Reduction** sets minimum statewide standards for the refinery fence-line monitoring program, ensuring that noxious pollutants are measured and surrounding communities are notified when pollutant levels threaten health and safety.
You can really make a difference by calling your assemblymember and leaving a message like this:
“My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I live in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. As a constituent, I’m urging the assemblymember to vote YES on three very important climate bills:
- SB 253 to make large corporations tell the truth about their carbon emissions
- SB 261 to let the public know about climate-related financial risks, and
- SB 674 to protect the health of people living near refineries.”
[Lori Wilson](https://a11.asmdc.org/) District 11916-319-2011[Buffy Wicks](https://a14.asmdc.org/) District 14 916-319-2014[Tim Grayson](https://a15.asmdc.org/) District 15 916-319-2015[Rebecca Bauer-Kahan ](https://a16.asmdc.org/) District 16916-319-2016That’s it! These elected officials work for us—let’s tell them what to do!
## **California takes a stand against fossil fuels**
Amazing good news! On Friday, September 1, our state legislature passed a resolution urging the federal government to support a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Such a treaty would provide “an international mechanism to manage a global transition away from coal, oil, and gas."
**[Senate Joint Resolution 2](https://pluralpolicy.com/app/legislative-tracking/bill/details/state-ca-20232024-sjr2/1219524)** also calls for a “just transition” in California, phasing out fossil fuel production while protecting the livelihoods of affected workers. To find out more about this historic resolution, click **[here](https://www.commondreams.org/news/california-fossil-fuel-nonproliferation-treaty).**
## **New county plans going public**
This week, Contra Costa County is set to unveil draft revisions of the **[General Plan](https://envisioncontracosta2040.org/overview/#gpu)** and the **[Climate Action Plan](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/8678/Climate-Action-Plan)** (CAP), two documents that guide policy in the county’s unincorporated areas.
A key issue in the General Plan is *land use policy,* especially in regard to oil and gas drilling. The CAP sets targets and outlines strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Important stuff!
Both will be presented to the Board of Supervisors’ Sustainability Committee on Monday, September 18, from 1pm to 3pm. To attend via Zoom, visit the Committee’s **[web page](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7029/Sustainability-Committee)** and select the meeting’s agenda (available a few days prior), which will include the link.
The Plans’ public comment period will remain open through 2023, so we’ll have some time to consider our response. To find out what’s in the plans—and what needs to be improved—watch this space!
## **Yes, counties *can* ban drilling**
On August 3, the State Supreme Court sided with Chevron *et al* and upheld a lower court ruling against Monterey County’s Measure Z, which banned fracking and limited other oil operations.
Although the ruling dismayed climate activists all over the state, there’s reason to take heart: because it’s based on language found in an old Monterey County statute, it doesn’t pertain generally to local authorities’ right to ban oil and gas production. Land use policy is set at the local level. For more information, see this analysis on the **[Sunflower Alliance website](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/ca-supreme-court-ruling-on-chevron-v-monterey-county/).**
**Action item: sign petition to ban drilling**
In light of the ruling against Measure Z, it’s more important than ever to speak out against oil and gas drilling here in Contra Costa. To advocate for the strongest possible General Plan and CAP, now is the time to sign Sunflower Alliance’s petition supporting a countywide ban. Please, if you haven’t already, sign **[here](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-contra-costa/)** today—and share with your friends!
## ***The Scale of Hope* online Sept 26, 6-8pm**
We’re teaming up with Contra Costa County Library to present this inspiring documentary followed by a Q&A session. *The Scale of Hope* follows Molly Kawahata as she prepares for an expedition in the Alaska Range while working to create a new climate narrative that centers her favorite question—what can I do to help?—and provides a surprising answer. It's a story about struggle, hope, and what it will take to solve the greatest issue of our time.
Please join us! This event is free, but **[registration](https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/events/64e38321c0db8d2800cc70a0)** is required.
***The Scale of Hope*** **screening and discussion**
**Tuesday, September 26, from 6 to 8pm**
**Register** [**here**](https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/events/64e38321c0db8d2800cc70a0)
## **Action to end the era of fossil fuels**
**Sunday, Sept 17, 11am in Sacramento**
The Oil and Gas Action Network is calling on all Californians to gather at the state Capitol to demand that our leaders, **Biden and Newsom, stop permitting fossil fuels, make a plan to phase out oil and gas, and declare a climate emergency.** The event is part of a **[global day of action](https://fightfossilfuels.net/)** ahead of the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit in New York City.
This family-friendly action will feature a giant puppet show, carnival games, kayaks in the river, performers and speakers who will share how you can get involved in ending the era of fossil fuels and building a better future together.
Join in the call for climate sanity! To get more information, register, and arrange a ride, click **[here](https://actionnetwork.org/events/newsom-show-us-your-climate-ambition?source=direct_link).**
Thank you
Emily and Lisa
Follow us on Facebook, **@350contracosta**, and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
**The time for climate action is now!**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation, Climate Solutions, Movie Night, The Scale of Hope, Volunteers Needed
---
### [October 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** October 18, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Walnut Creek Sustainability Week Free Lunch & Learn Webinars, Carbon Capture and Storage: A False Climate Solution, California Sues Big Oil for Damages, Nine Climate ‘Solutions’ That Don’t Help, Legislative Wrap-Up--5 Big Wins!
**Content:**
### October 2023 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## ***Free* ‘lunch and learn’ webinars**
**Walnut Creek Sustainability Week**
**October 23, 25, and 26 – Noon to 1:15pm**
[**Register here for the events!**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=FYutdK2FMHOHCHpVZE7YvoUqUVab-hPm-VXYMeEOYaSuouDCqF0FuG6kycZQYVJLSJAaJu0XkZnhUVQW9WS02waz7t9p1JBKNXPnI-JohEU&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sustainability_week_events_202&n=1&test_email=1)
In partnership with the Contra Costa County Library, we will be holding three ‘lunch and learn’ webinars for Walnut Creek Sustainability Week. These are free events. Please join us!
**Monday, October 23 – Noon** **to 1:15pm**
**Building Electrification at Home:**
**Practical information for switching to electric appliances**
Learn about rebates and tax credits that help upgrade your home and improve indoor air quality while helping the environment.
**Wednesday, October 25 – Noon** **to 1:15pm**
**Climate Change Solutions and Advocacy:**
**The role of advocacy for clean, renewable energy to power our world**
To bring in a livable future for our children, we need ordinary citizens to advocate at all levels of government for electrification and a transition to renewable energy sources.
**Thursday, October 26 – Noon** **to 1:15pm**
**What is a carbon sink?**
**Natural and not-so-natural ways to cool our planet by removing and storing carbon**
It's in the news every day: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Learn about both kinds of CCS: the natural carbon capture happening in forests, wetlands, and grasslands, as well as the technology for capturing and storing carbon pollution from fossil fuels. We’ll discuss the proposed Montezuma Wetlands CCS project in our own backyard and what you can do to prevent it.
**Register for one, two, or all three webinars** [**here**](https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?q=sustainability%20week)**.**
## **Carbon Capture and Storage: a false climate solution**
These days, any discussion of climate change is bound to include talk of *carbon capture and storage,* or CCS. CCS is the process of capturing massive amounts of carbon dioxide where it’s being emitted (like at a power plant or oil refinery), transporting it to a storage site, and injecting it deep into the ground.
The oil and gas industry is touting CCS technology as a panacea that will save the world from the catastrophic global warming they’ve caused. And no wonder—they see CCS as a way to keep on drilling far into the future, maintaining their very profitable business model. They’re selling it as a young, promising technology that will enable us to mitigate climate change effects without giving up our addiction to fossil fuels.
Never mind CCS’s **[track record of expensive failures](https://ieefa.org/resources/carbon-capture-crux-lessons-learned),** they say—we’ll fix the bugs as we go along.
So here’s the big picture: the fossil fuel industry is a machine defiling the Earth by mining and drilling deep into its crust. Extraction of coal, oil and gas takes away what took millions of years to produce; it’s not sustainable because petroleum is a finite resource. The environmental degradation involved in extraction, transport and refining of fossil fuels is horrific. Burning the stuff is not the only problem.
CCS is essentially a way of expanding and extending this fundamentally bad technology by adding *more—*more pipelines, more energy-intensive industrial projects, more destruction and degradation.
We already have safe, proven technology for a much better solution: a rapid switch to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. In contrast, CSS is unproven and far from safe.
The CCS process requires compressing carbon dioxide into liquid form, making it an extremely cold and dense asphyxiant. When there’s a **[pipeline rupture](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gassing-satartia-mississippi-co2-pipeline_n_60ddea9fe4b0ddef8b0ddc8f),** this liquid CO2 emerges as an opaque white cloud that spreads rapidly in all directions, suffocating humans and animals. Gas-powered vehicles don’t work; they need oxygen, too. Do we really want these pipelines in earthquake country?
Yet plans for building CCS facilities in California, including the Bay Area, are moving ahead at full speed. **[Calpine](https://www.calpine.com/),** a giant power generation company, has launched a CCS [**pilot project** ](https://carbonherald.com/calpine-launches-25m-carbon-capture-pilot-at-pittsburg-energy-facility/)at its Los Medanos Energy Center in Pittsburg.
What’s worse, the proposed Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub would collect carbon dioxide from oil refineries and power plants in Solano and Contra Costa; transport it via barge and a pipeline under Suisun Bay; and store it *under wetlands* near Collinsville, across the bay from Pittsburg. Find out more about the Montezuma Project in this **[excellent article](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-montezuma-carbon-capture-and-sequestration-project-coming-our-way-soon/)** by our friends at Sunflower Alliance.
Fortunately, EPA’s Region 9 has to review the plans before this project can proceed—and the review will probably take a year. There’s time to organize and shut the Montezuma Project down.
In coming months, we’ll let you know what *you* can do. It’s going to take all of us.
## **California suing Big Oil for damages**
On September 15, Governor Newsom announced a lawsuit aimed at five oil companies—ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and BP—plus the American Petroleum Institute. The suit asserts that these companies knew about the dangers of burning fossil fuels more than 50 years ago and mounted a disinformation campaign to discredit the emerging scientific consensus about climate change.
The state is seeking creation of a special industry-financed fund to help pay for recovery efforts in the wake of climate-related disasters. Newsom said, ‘California taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for billions of dollars in damages—wildfires wiping out entire communities, toxic smoke clogging our air, deadly heatwaves, record-breaking droughts parching our wells.’ Read more **[here](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/17/california-sues-oil-companies-claiming-they-downplayed-the-risk-of-fossil-fuels).**
Of course, the big oil companies should be held to account for the environmental havoc they’ve wrought with their lies. Even more important, they must be made to *stop causing further damage to our health and environment.* It’s time to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Period.
## **Nine climate ‘solutions’ that don’t help**
The good folks at **[Climate & Capital](https://www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/about/)** recently published **[this enlightening piece](https://www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/ten-climate-solutions-that-dont-help/)** on false climate solutions. Not surprisingly, CCS is at the top of their list—but it’s only one in an ‘entire suite of bad ideas … being pushed by a fossil fuel industry determined to slow global efforts to decarbonize.’
## **Legislative wrap-up**
Thanks to everyone who called Sacramento last month about the six bills we targeted! Of the six, *five* passed both houses and were signed by the governor, including these two, which are the most extensive emissions- and climate-disclosure laws ever enacted in the United States:
- [**SB 253**](https://envirovoters.org/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-Climate-Corporate-Leadership-and-Accountability-Act-SB-253.pdf)**,** the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, requires large corporations doing business in California—those earning more than $1 billion per year—to publicly disclose their carbon emissions in a manner that’s clear and easy to understand.
- [**SB 261**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261)**,** the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act, requires large companies that do business in California to submit annual climate-related financial risk reports to the CA Secretary of State.
These three also have become law:
- [**AB 421**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB421/id/2840415) **– Referendum Accountability** brings real reforms to the state ballot referendum process, which the oil and gas, tobacco, and other industries have used to block good laws.
- [**AB 579**](https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB579/2023) **– Zero-Emission Schoolbuses** requires all new schoolbus purchases and contracts to be ZEVs by 2035.
- [**AB 1167**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1167) **– Orphan Well Prevention** requires companies that buy oil and gas wells to post a bond covering cleanup costs after the well stops producing. Read why this is important **[here](https://www.nrdc.org/bio/ann-alexander/ab-1167-putting-brakes-orphan-well-catastrophe).**
The last of our six was [**SB 674**](https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd33.senate.ca.gov/files/sb_674_refinery_fence-line_monitoring_factsheet_final_2.16.pdf)**, the Refinery Air Pollution Transparency and Reduction Act.** This bill sets minimum statewide standards for the refinery fence-line monitoring program, ensuring that noxious pollutants are measured and surrounding communities are notified when pollutant levels threaten health and safety.
Unfortunately, the Western States Petroleum Association mounted a last-minute push for amendments that would have seriously weakened the bill. As a result, it did not reach the floor for a vote. But there’s still hope—as a [**two-year bill**,](https://californiaglobe.com/fr/what-are-two-year-bills/) SB 674 can be re-introduced in 2024.
Overall, lots of good news came out of this legislation session!
Thank you—
Emily and Lisa
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/350ContraCosta/), and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
**Tags:** Building Electrification, California Climate Legislation, California Sues Big Oil, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Climate Change Solutions, Lunch and Learn
---
### [November 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2023-newsletter/)
**Published:** November 15, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Inside: Montezuma CarbonHub, Contra Costa County Draft General Plan and CAP, Urban Forest Grants to 3 Conta Costa Cities, Carbon waste dumping in our National Forests, CA 6 million heat pumps goal, and much more
**Content:**
### November 2023 Newsletter
## **Local Action for a Better World**
## **Montezuma CarbonHub: a dangerous distraction from real climate solutions**
These days, even the oil and gas industry admits that greenhouse gas emissions are a bad thing. It’s agreed—before our planet becomes uninhabitable, we need to stop insulating it with carbon dioxide (CO2) from our power plants, refineries, tailpipes and so on. Fortunately, safe, affordable, *proven* ways to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions already exist: solar and wind power. The fossil fuel industry is a dinosaur, and it’s time for that dinosaur to go extinct.
The oil and gas companies, fighting to survive, are staking everything on Carbon Capture and Storage, or CCS. It’s okay to keep burning fossil fuels, they say—we’ll just grab the emissions and stick them far underground. CCS enables them to continue their business as usual while claiming it’s safe for the planet—the ultimate greenwashing scam.
The whole process of extracting, transporting, and refining fossil fuels requires vast amounts of energy and does horrific damage to the environment—*burning* the coal, oil, and gas is just part of the problem. And these fossil fuels aren’t a sustainable energy source; Nature needed millions of years to produce the petroleum, and there’s only so much.
CCS is basically *more* of this unsustainable, destructive technology: more drilling, more pipelines, more ecosystem degradation. And it doesn’t even work! Despite decades of development and billions of dollars of investment, CCS has **[consistently proven](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=fRt_Esy095vwvYjFz23Efl9xouoCf2i8TNQUu0DwNGxAF-_9h-Sf_7UFlP0vbAgAKmjtQx2aH-TqtP9fZIkWZA&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=1&test_email=1)** to be ineffective, unsafe, economically unsound, and unnecessary. We prefer to call it Carbon Waste Dumping.
**Carbon Waste Dumping in the Bay Area: Montezuma CarbonHub**
The proposed Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub would drill a huge injection well *under wetlands* in southern Solano County, across Suisun Bay from Pittsburg. Carbon dioxide from oil refineries and power plants in Contra Costa and Solano would be collected and transported to the wetlands by barge and pipeline.
This project, one of more than twenty Carbon Waste Dumping projects currently proposed in California, poses serious risks to public health and wildlife. And it would perpetuate environmental injustice in our frontline communities.
[**Read more here.**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YRgvcpLYn64BrjYG0yDQSt7w03tegRydJsLKoI65TEjn1H6U8jK8Fq5-8ICaJxA0lilQajy8BcQzZb6A3r4kemwvWSzGUalsm5eFNvhPN05vMC5Nxah1M5gGqWeDpdFHM4RzMxcTNC29o2mMl4qlow&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=2&test_email=1)
## **The County’s draft General Plan and CAP are out!**
Contra Costa County has released drafts of two very important documents: the 2045 General Plan and the Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2024 Update. The General Plan is a compendium of policies guiding land use and infrastructure decisions in unincorporated areas for the next two decades. As a companion to the General Plan, the CAP lays out pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with effects of climate change like wildfires, drought, and floods.
The CAP presents five broad climate goals:
- Homes and other buildings powered by clean energy
- Solid waste greatly reduced
- More options for walking, biking, and public transit, and a big increase in the percentage of zero-emission vehicles
- Increased resilience to climate hazards
- Climate equity regarding access to outdoor spaces and healthful food and housing
Each of these goal areas is supported by several specific strategies.
All of us are encouraged to comment on both draft documents between now and January 31, 2024. You can find them **[here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=40Vz2sieEUhbMFqMLIicS0rpqvydBGH3WK3XjKPR0EGUthOvumT_Cv6grMTBfhco&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=2&test_email=1).** While reading, you can click at any point and add your comment about that specific section. This is a great chance to speak up for bold climate action!
Our Local Policy team is working on a review of both the CAP and the General Plan. When that’s done, we’ll host a workshop with County staff to give them our feedback. If you’re interested in getting involved with the review process, please email **.**
## **Three Contra Costa cities get urban forest grants**
In September, the US Forest Service announced awards of more than $42 million from their **[Urban and Community Forestry](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=MaV-6H5yu4nZsJ5ZxoRsfGg0YCBOhG6cQT2bn7gVXm9pKW3ASl2R66NzpUAtLhVZuHBXeqJ9utep2Q8PUuLWRRTUOlJgLsPOSDP97-0wCQk&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=3&test_email=1)** grant program to **[Bay Area cities](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=Qnj2QYDbGmkKXNME6oXj_vMWQt3pO1NzCs9um5BQHa4-VU6A5yl4qw8um4k2BkYClGnt6m-XD4IX2LBYK9s1NNPKsvq7ZtpAu8YePq-kIwqPUF-eMIkN16pyIewCO4_dNcbAQa1_vFplK90kyCZjZAsVJqPB_AYnGVgj4oLiwHs&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=4&test_email=1).** This program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to help urban areas combat climate change by planting trees and creating green spaces.
Pittsburg received a $2 million grant, and Concord received $1 million. Walnut Creek was awarded $100,000.
## **Carbon waste dumping in our National Forests?!**
The US Forest Service (USFS) is also in the news for a not-so-good reason. They are proposing to make all National Forest System lands available for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects—that means opening the door for CO2 injection wells and pipelines across the country on lands that we, the people, own. California has more National Forest lands than all but one other state.
The proposed rule change would allow the Forest Service to “authorize exclusive and perpetual use and occupancy for carbon capture and storage in subsurface pore spaces.” Yikes!
Although this would be a huge, permanent change, the Forest Service has allowed only 60 days for public comment—the deadline is January 2, 2024.
Find out more in this **[Common Dreams op-ed](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=7zsaTrYaHbXYUUvtUozf0ugCvGcybDzfS6xyXZKl1FbP9pkNHHd54rkl1X44xh3xmvfsZE7ca-Yyvmy-TZ0SIwyGAqVqmty-OewDudKMIm0&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=5&test_email=1)** by a former USFS official; then submit a formal comment to the Forest Service **[here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=hqIUUz4sLAAW8OVcZ9VaNvhKSHT-9xe8Ebzo-ANwk4pf0ATjM91Pypt_z6bSTPb__9_kYvak7pZ_g5c5GCDfm14HTXspPjCGwLGn8EqDCUvCcwU12NrOStRNALGmi9shXiZkrNB9u3ZNCJLCU6GeVi6OE77W0DGshqeQKi5Cn-g&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=6&test_email=1).**
## **Six million heat pumps**
Last month, ten major manufacturers of building heating and cooling equipment committed to working toward California’s [**goal to have six million electric heat pumps installed by 2030**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=lRLIxn9gfit9oDuD9B0xcrz1OXG7GE7yxB6LEZo0mV8m0aTSoV-5MDNMVKuAPIeYp_fXDp-RQrTHn57vu-_WEs-5mBFuOKTzRTU23r0_3Z7zuFjwURfXrQJ3d-poWRlj4u1f2QWDBhrYjrP8gLBixQ&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=7&test_email=1)**.**
Compared to traditional HVACs and water heaters, heat pumps are a much cleaner, more efficient way to heat space and water inside buildings. Currently, more than 1.5 million heat pumps have been installed across the state.
Find out more about the industry commitment **[here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=0E5N1fp-GVkj-7vW7SDXVnMt77o0qesbPk9JHztVeWYqAgPBmhSi0rIV-hbKCH8R4XEDGw7rvty2pa7eN32FoLOoB0bbobR0JHH_7Jgg8tMdzWBLPc6MZBR9cw1PwOMqt8qo471QQ8RFdJ1gdz46rw&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=8&test_email=1).**
Thinking of upgrading to a heat pump? Learn about California’s residential energy rebate programs funded through the Inflation Reduction Act **[here](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=0E5N1fp-GVkj-7vW7SDXVsGG0o1ZmHiCXIKGyvsHFF4XGVw7Q5b4lKyaOOhqRLCoBTjkRMUpbMgHYCzePzFxXhapdH8VWzBY6eHkOuKSDpTbCjpLVAmgUzfiGLwjFBUSuoR9abY0_uD5WbcloUVF3UqeccRabSAlypj3DEtIi6c&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=9&test_email=1).**
## **And more good news…**
**[MCE](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=5tUGudKQZApX55HH6RkemnObYS90LkLdRaTkATbzNBTuD-pJPXZyNwi0-rlmYxx9&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=10&test_email=1)** is a not-for-profit public agency that provides electricity from renewable energy sources to more than 1.5 million residents and businesses in **[37 member communities](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=5tUGudKQZApX55HH6RkemqxZWGmdhuGotS4Zfc0-vL4Q8kGZKVV20LpwuYnx10hu26sNr3Mb4rf1HfS8kpmG5g&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=11&test_email=1)** in four counties—Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano.
Recently, MCE announced that their standard 60% renewable Light Green energy service is now **[more than 95% greenhouse gas-free](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=5tUGudKQZApX55HH6RkemgWdZufbKLsmw9zdcZbp_gDAw2bfVX7NxANOaeagNGyfM7UCiTsUGS1H2D8ITafc26WgRX1XptadS5tYUgESOYqOiSig1hN-SwxRoqRNQUm2twIeMzql0YlgPBorfhm8IrSeQMt57yRBFLNzo3OZAu4915Bw4vH88MQj4lEP6tYv&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=12&test_email=1).** That’s 18 years ahead of California’s clean electricity target!
## **Three New Webinars**
Last month, we partnered with Contra Costa County Library to bring you webinars on three key climate topics. If you missed them, no worries—the recordings are available on our website!
[**Making the Switch to Electric Appliances**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YRgvcpLYn64BrjYG0yDQSt7w03tegRydJsLKoI65TEirGtN_QvvQU7oF87nsmWO8Feo7Yj4nxL5rG7BKmvvONg&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=13&test_email=1)
Learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint while making your home a healthier place for your family.
[**Advocating for Climate Change Solutions**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YRgvcpLYn64BrjYG0yDQSt7w03tegRydJsLKoI65TEirGtN_QvvQU7oF87nsmWO8_MvqE0MRx0zzfeOrtG9rxA&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=14&test_email=1)
Educate yourself on the issues of climate change—and find out how to get started working for climate solutions, locally and in Sacramento.
[**Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=YRgvcpLYn64BrjYG0yDQSt7w03tegRydJsLKoI65TEirGtN_QvvQU7oF87nsmWO8RiqlQtVjhymzYLM8Z-CW3Q&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=15&test_email=1)
Learn why CCS is a terrible idea, get the details on what’s proposed for the Montezuma Wetlands, and find out what you can do to stop this project.
## **No more orphaned oil wells**
One of our great victories in the last legislative session was **[AB 1167](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2mLSj4FPM2Ac4B3BVRXG3vw9qh-8nvEviiylo2zrV2YUM7L_E_p3OrJwH337t-BsNnzaNPezgGku0uZZ3xJmXn5j4P5kWfFE6Qxdft9saWZ-LXDuVQAVOEvW3KCiF73o&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=16&test_email=1),** the Orphan Well Prevention Act, signed into law by the governor on October 7.
An orphaned oil well is one that’s no longer producing and needs to be cleaned up so it’s not a health hazard; right now, there are about **[5,000 orphaned wells](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhPuC9fi2MXw7t7bMgZD98LGtIFVrUeyFNctNx8Vbud8S0h8iQkJirGoCqWwC2PfW0Q8k69yaA_hOTE-J-w5mPMBkviSfJHNLVN-zqz6Hcalg&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=17&test_email=1)** in California. How did they become orphans? The big oil companies tend to sell off wells with dwindling profitability, and the buyers of these wells tend to be smaller, not-very-solvent operators. When these smaller companies go bankrupt, the burden of paying cleanup costs is shifted to us taxpayers.
Before AB 1167 became law, anyone buying a well was required to post a bond covering cleanup costs—but the bonding amounts were nowhere near sufficient for the task. The average cleanup costs **[$68,000](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhPuC9fi2MXw7t7bMgZD98LGtIFVrUeyFNctNx8Vbud8S0h8iQkJirGoCqWwC2PfW0Q8k69yaA_hOTE-J-w5mPMBkviSfJHNLVN-zqz6Hcalg&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=18&test_email=1),** but the average bond amount is just **[a little over $1000](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhPuC9fi2MXw7t7bMgZD98LGtIFVrUeyFNctNx8Vbud8S0h8iQkJirGoCqWwC2PfW0Q8k69yaA_hOTE-J-w5mPMBkviSfJHNLVN-zqz6Hcalg&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=19&test_email=1).**
The new law doesn’t provide funding to clean up existing orphan wells, but it’s a great remedy for the **[approximately 70,000](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=rmTj1y3KLcagzDOu5kGZhPuC9fi2MXw7t7bMgZD98LGtIFVrUeyFNctNx8Vbud8S0h8iQkJirGoCqWwC2PfW0Q8k69yaA_hOTE-J-w5mPMBkviSfJHNLVN-zqz6Hcalg&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_nov_newsletter_2023&n=20&test_email=1)** idle or marginally producing wells that could be abandoned in the future. Now that AB 1167’s in place, all buyers must provide bonding for the full, actual cost of cleaning up the wells they’re buying. Crisis averted!
Thank you—
Emily and Lisa
**The time for climate action is NOW!**
Follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/350ContraCosta/), and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/350CCAction)
**[Help with a Donation](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta?e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_newsletter_2022&n=16&test_email=1)**
©350 Contra Costa Action
*This message has not been expressly authorized, requested, or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate, candidate’s committee or their agents, or by any ballot issue committee.*
Created with [NationBuilder](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=SWqLExi-4iBlEOa5qgO58jA2d62deOsOLwOgchKDecY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2023_newsletter&n=22&test_email=1), software for leaders.
**Categories:** Newsletters
---
### [Must-Pass Legislation: Make corporations disclose climate impacts and risks](https://350contracostaaction.org/must-pass-legislation-sb-253-and-sb261-make-corporations-disclose-climate-impacts-and-risks/)
**Published:** July 28, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Two key bills before the California legislature if passed will give Californians vastly more information about corporations’ role in the climate crisis. SB 253 and SB 261 are closely related; it’s critical we get them both passed into law.
**Content:**
The state legislature is taking a break until August 14. In the meantime, here’s a look ahead at two key bills that, if passed, will give Californians vastly more information about corporations’ role in the climate crisis. [SB 253](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB253) (Wiener) and [SB 261](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261) (Stern) are closely related; it’s critical to get them both passed into law this fall.
## SB 253, The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act
SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, requires very large corporations to report *all* greenhouse gas emissions they’re responsible for. In the past, companies could get away with reporting only the emissions caused by their manufacturing and operations; if this bill becomes law, they will have to report their [Scope 3](https://www.sustain.life/blog/scope-emissions) emissions—that is, the emissions from the use of their products once they’re sold. For example, oil companies will have to report emissions from the gasoline they’ve sold to gas stations. Data from the [Carbon Disclosure Project](https://www.cdp.net/en) has shown that Scope 3 emissions are more than 11 times higher than company operational (Scopes 1 and 2) emissions.
## SB261, Greenhouse Gases: Climate-Related Financial Risk
SB 261, Greenhouse Gases: Climate-Related Financial Risk, requires very large companies to disclose the [financial risks they’re taking](https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/recommendations/) that are due to climate change issues. With this information, investors will be able to evaluate the wisdom of investing in banks and other companies that are worsening the climate crisis.
## Both Passed Senate, Now in Assembly
Both these bills have already passed the Senate; in the Assembly, they’ve both passed the Natural Resources Committee and have been referred to the Appropriations Committee. We need both bills to pass through Appropriations; then they’ll be up for a vote by the full Assembly in late August or early September. We’ll definitely let you know when it’s time to telephone your assemblymember!
Photo by staff volunteer
This article first appeared in our [July 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog, Legislative Blog
**Tags:** corporate climate accountability, Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs)
---
### [Grid Resilience Without Gas](https://350contracostaaction.org/grid-resilience-without-gas/)
**Published:** March 21, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** As the need for electric power grows, many of us are understandably concerned that California’s grid may be over-stressed and failures may be even more frequent. Grid resilience is a real issue, and it’s getting lots of expert attention these days.
**Content:**
Nobody likes a power outage. As the need for electric power grows, many of us are understandably concerned that California’s grid may be over-stressed and failures may be even more frequent. Grid resilience is a real issue, and it’s getting lots of expert attention these days.
In case of a power outage, solar panels paired with ample battery storage make an excellent backup. Fossil gas (so-called ‘natural’ gas), on the other hand, has no role to play in a safe, clean, resilient energy system. Extraction, transport, and combustion of fossil gas are a **[major factor](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101)** in global climate change and a **[threat to human health](https://hub.jhu.edu/2022/02/22/gas-stoves-environment-warning/)**—the sooner we stop using it, the better.
## Yes we can do without fossil gas
Nevertheless, some say that we can’t do without fossil gas—that a ban on new gas infrastructure would grow demand for electricity too quickly, with dire results for the grid.
But fossil gas is simply *not* reliable or safe. Our state’s vast system of gas pipelines is in dangerously bad shape, as shown by the fatal 2010 explosion in San Bruno and the huge methane leak at Aliso Canyon in 2015.
Gas pipelines are a liability in natural disasters and extreme weather events. According to the California Energy Commission, many [**pipelines are vulnerable**](https://v2.cal-adapt.org/media/files/CEC-500-2017-008.pdf) to the flooding and erosion caused by ‘atmospheric river’ storms. Earthquakes are an obvious problem. And for buildings threatened by wildfire, gas appliances are definitely not an asset.
## Restoring electricity 30 times faster than turning on gas
Once the gas system is turned off during a disaster, restoring service takes about 30 times longer than restoring electricity. Residents are left without heat or hot water while the entire pipeline system is purged and checked and a service technician visits each home. In fact, PG&E **[supports the transition](https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/bay-area-regulators-vote-end-sales-key-gas-home-17836615.php)** to all-electric energy infrastructure and plans to eventually dismantle the entire gas system.
Anyway, in any power failure these days, a gas-powered furnace, range, or water heater would likely be no help. Modern gas appliances generally don’t operate without electricity.
## Bottom Line: Electricity Safer, cleaner, more resilient
The bottom line: we need an energy system that’s safe, clean, and resilient—and fossil gas is none of these things. The time for electrification is *now*.
---
This article first appeared in our March 2023 newsletter.
Photo by [Pok Rie](https://www.pexels.com/@pok-rie-33563/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-women-talking-to-each-other-4051134/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Fossil fuels and our health, Grid Resilience
---
### [Great News for Air Quality!](https://350contracostaaction.org/great-news-for-air-quality/)
**Published:** March 23, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** On March 15, Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) voted to phase out ‘natural’ gas furnaces and water heaters starting in 2027. The goal is to eliminate emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a significant cause of serious health problems.
**Content:**
On March 15, the nine-county Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) [**voted to phase out** ](https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2023-news/031523-ba-rules)‘natural’ gas furnaces and water heaters starting in 2027. The goal is to eliminate emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a significant cause of **[serious health problems.](https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/what-makes-air-unhealthy/nitrogen-dioxide)**
As the rules take effect, only heaters that don’t emit NOx (in other words, only all-electric water heaters, furnaces, and heat pumps) will be permitted in new construction. What’s more, if a gas-powered heater in an existing building needs to be replaced, the new appliance must not emit NOx.
BAAQMD’s new rules provide a model for the rest of the country in cutting NOx emissions. This is a huge step forward!
---
Photo by [zhugewala](https://www.pexels.com/@zhugewala-605070/) at [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-male-holding-glass-bulb-in-hand-2522611/)
This article first appeared in our March 2023 Newsletter
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Fossil fuels and our health
---
### [Hercules Moving to Cleaner Energy](https://350contracostaaction.org/hercules-moving-to-cleaner-energy/)
**Published:** March 25, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** By choosing renewable electricity from MCE, Hercules residents and businesses can fight climate change with one simple step. Just four Contra Costa cities—Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, and Orinda—have yet to move to MCE.
**Content:**
Good news for Hercules residents and businesses! On March 14, the Hercules City Council voted to have staff enter into negotiations with **[MCE](https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/)** to supply the city’s electricity. By choosing renewable electricity from MCE, residents and businesses can fight climate change with one simple step. Offering 60% and 100% renewable options at competitive rates, MCE ensures your electricity comes from more renewable sources like solar, wind, and geothermal energy.
In Contra Costa, four cities—Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, and Orinda—have yet to move to MCE. If you live in one of these places, you can make a big difference by pushing your city council to go with one of MCE’s renewable options. For more information, just email us at **lisa@350contracosta.org**.
---
Photo by [Pixabay](https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/alternative-alternative-energy-clouds-eco-energy-433308/)
This article appeared first in our March 2023 newsletter
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Renewable Energy
---
### [Climate Solutions at Home: Induction Cooktops and Electric Leaf Blowers](https://350contracostaaction.org/climate-solutions-at-home-induction-cooktops-and-electric-leaf-blowers/)
**Published:** March 29, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Thanks to an innovative e-lending program set up by Lafayette’s Environmental Task Force, city residents can borrow an induction cooktop or electric leaf blower for up to two weeks.
**Content:**
Thanks to an innovative e-lending program set up by Lafayette’s Environmental Task Force, city residents can borrow an induction cooktop or electric leaf blower for up to two weeks.
Compared to gas stoves, **[induction cooktops](https://switchison.org/cooking/)** offer greater precision, safety, and speed in cooking—with no toxic emissions. And they are available in all price points, from portable units under $100 to high-end models. For information on rebates and incentives for induction cooktops and other home appliances, visit **[The Switch Is On](https://incentives.switchison.org/).**
Electric leaf blowers are cleaner, quieter, and less destructive than gas-powered leaf blowers, which emit high levels of toxic pollution and noise pollution. Ironically, gas-powered leaf blowers can be harmful for the long-term health of a garden because they damage the topsoil, a crucial component for healthy plants. For these reasons and more, gas leaf blowers will no longer be sold in California starting next year.
**Attention Lafayette residents**
If you live in Lafayette and would like to borrow an induction cooktop, sign up **[here](https://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/environmental-task-force/induction-cooktop-lending-program).** To borrow an electric leaf blower, sign up **[here](https://www.lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/environmental-task-force/electric-leaf-blower-lending-program).**
---
Photo by [Cottonbro Studio](https://www.pexels.com/@cottonbro/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-person-cooking-an-egg-6651145/)
This article first appeared in our March 2023 Newsletter
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Fossil fuels and our health
---
### [Attention Walnut Creek Student Artists](https://350contracostaaction.org/attention-walnut-creek-student-artists/)
**Published:** May 4, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** K-12 students: Get involved in Walnut Creek's Sustainability Action Plan. Create a painting, drawing, or other piece of visual artwork that shows what you want to see in the city’s sustainable future.
**Content:**
K-12 students can [get involved](https://www.walnut-creek.org/Home/Components/News/News/3216/1851) in Walnut Creek’s **[Sustainability Action Plan](https://www.walnut-creek.org/departments/e-c-o/climate-action/sustainability-action-plan)** by creating a painting, drawing, or other piece of visual artwork that shows what they want to see in the city’s sustainable future. This Plan outlines the actions that the city and community will take to address climate change, enhance climate resiliency, and improve sustainability.
If you would like your artwork to be considered for inclusion in the final Sustainability Action Plan, submit a scan or photo of your art to Kathryn Walsh, Walnut Creek’s Sustainability Action Plan AmeriCorps Fellow, at **** by May 12.
---
Photo by [Pavel Danilyuk](https://www.pexels.com/@pavel-danilyuk/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-girl-in-orange-jacket-painting-on-the-canvas-8382309/)
This article appeared first in our [April 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Sustainability Action Plan Walnut Creek;
---
### [Court Rules Against Berkeley's Building Electrification Ordinance](https://350contracostaaction.org/court-rules-against-berkeleys-building-electrification-ordinance/)
**Published:** May 30, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** On April 17, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Berkeley’s 2019 ordinance banning natural gas hookups in most new construction. Bad news, yes—but not a fatal blow to the rapidly growing movement to make buildings all-electric.
**Content:**
On April 17, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Berkeley’s 2019 ordinance banning natural gas hookups in most new construction. Bad news, yes—but not a fatal blow to the rapidly growing movement to make buildings all-electric. The ruling does not affect many of the **[77 building-electrification ordinances](https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2021/07/californias-cities-lead-way-pollution-free-homes-and-buildings)** passed by California cities and counties in the last four years.
This **[Earth Justice article](https://earthjustice.org/experts/jan-hasselman/one-court-ruling-will-not-stop-the-growing-building-electrification-movement)** tells how municipalities can enact BE ordinances using legal frameworks other than the one Berkeley used.
The judges based their decision on the federal Energy Policy Conservation Act, which sets efficiency standards for appliances. State and local governments are prevented from passing any law that goes against these requirements—but does that rule even apply to the Berkeley ordinance? **[This article](https://legal-planet.org/2023/04/21/three-questions-about-the-ninth-circuit-panels-cra-v-berkeley-decision/)** on UC’s Legal Planet website explains the ruling and raises key questions about it.
This court decision is not a game-changer—the movement to transition to all-electric buildings is unstoppable.
---
Photo by [Wesley Tingey](https://unsplash.com/@wesleyphotography) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/RnfF8SXkzRw)
This article first appeared in our [May 2023 Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Building Electrification
---
### [Making solar more affordable](https://350contracostaaction.org/making-solar-more-affordable/)
**Published:** May 31, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
## Free, Expert-Level Solar Installation Training Available
Using free energy from the sun to power our homes is clearly a fine idea—but installing a rooftop solar system can be expensive. SunWork, a nonprofit working in the Bay Area and along the Central Coast, aims to make solar energy more affordable and widespread with the help of trained volunteers.
SunWork helps homeowners whose utility bills aren’t high enough to make the cost of solar installation make sense otherwise. They also help small nonprofits like churches make the switch to solar.
SunWork volunteers receive free, expert-level training in all aspects of solar installation. Do you know someone who might benefit from learning these skills? To find out more, visit **[SunWork.org](https://sunwork.org/).**
---
Photo by [Markus Spiske](https://unsplash.com/@markusspiske) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/rNn_TU8dvoY)
This article appeared first in our [May 2023 newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
**Categories:** Blog
**Tags:** Rooftop solar, Solar Job Training
---
## Pages
### [Home](https://350contracostaaction.org/)
**Published:** December 6, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
# Take Climate Action
## Join our grassroots climate movement in Contra Costa County to motivate action for
- A healthy climate
- Sustainable clean energy
- Environmental justice for all
[ Join Us! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer)
## Our Mission
350 Contra Costa Action advocates for socially equitable solutions to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore natural systems for a healthier, sustainable future for our communities.
## Current Climate Crisis
Excessive heat, persevering drought, wildfires, air polluted with smoke and toxic fumes—the impacts of climate change in Contra Costa County worsen with each season. By 2030, a sea–level rise of six to eight inches will flood our bayside communities during storms and high tides. Meteorologists now predict inland flooding in California from “atmospheric river” storms.
## There's Still Time to Act
In this climate crisis, we must act decisively to stop the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into our atmosphere. There is still time to avoid the worst. By working together locally, we can create change in Contra Costa County.
 Wildfire Photo by [Ross Stone](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://unsplash.com/es/@rs2photography) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/KWYTn9_QKRE)
## The 350 Goal Explained:
 Photo by [Bill Mead]() at [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/wmaP3Tl80ww?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
## We're Working To
- Mobilize our communities to take action on the climate crisis
- Clean up the air in front-line communities affected by industrial pollution
- Ban oil and gas drilling in our county
- Transition to 100% renewable energy sources like rooftop solar
[ Stop the Montezuma CarbonHub ](https://350contracostaaction.org/rise-up-oppose-the-montezuma-carbonhub/)
## Driving Climate Solutions City by City
### Join Us
You can make a real difference in Contra Costa County. Our local [Climate Action hub](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/) highlights new projects, urgent issues, and community campaigns happening near you. If you care about clean air, protecting nature, hardening our communities against climate disasters, or driving the shift to renewable, fossil-free energy, you’ll find ways to get involved and make a real impact.
Discover how you can work with your neighbors to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future, starting today.
**Find your city here ⇓**
[ Find Climate Action in Contra Costa County and Cities ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
## Vote 2026!
We are pleased to join 350 Bay Area Action in presenting our jointly endorsed candidates for the June Primary—a group of inspiring leaders who are committed to bold climate action and advancing climate justice. Contra Costa County candidates endorsed for the June primary, and one measure endorsed for the November election, include the following.
 Image credit: [Mikhail Nilov](https://www.pexels.com/@mikhail-nilov) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-vote-stickers-on-people-s-fist-8846632)
- [US Congress District 10: Mark DeSaulnier](https://350bayareaaction.org/us-congress-district-10-mark-desaulnier)
- [CA Assembly D16 – Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://350bayareaaction.org/ca-state-assembly-d16-rebecca-bauer-kahan)
- [Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 1: John Gioia](https://350bayareaaction.org/contra-costa-county-board-of-supervisors-district-1-john-gioia)
- [Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 4: Ken Carlson](https://350bayareaaction.org/ccc-bos-d4-ken-carlson)
- [Richmond City Council District 3: Doria Robinson](https://350bayareaaction.org/richmond-city-council-district-3-doria-robinson)
- [Contra Costa County Measure A](https://350bayareaaction.org/ccc-measure-a)
Every candidate on this list has refused fossil fuel money and is ready to stand up for democracy and our vital California climate laws. To see the full list of 2026 endorsed measures and primary candidates, visit [350 Bay Area Action](https://350bayareaaction.org/electoral/2026-endorsed-primary-climate-candidates).
## Our Impact in 2023
### 500-1000
Reached 500-1,000 residents per month through our newsletters, social media posts, blogs, webinars, film showings, letters to the editor, and talks to local groups.
### 1000+
Engaged over 1,000 event attendees last year on Contra Costa climate-change issues and actions.
### 500+
Submitted over 500 petition signatures as well as numerous letters to city, county and state policymakers advocating for improved climate-related planning documents, climate emergency declarations, oil drilling bans, and requirements for electrification of new buildings.
## Fifteen Endorsees Take Office!
We’re thrilled to announce that 15 of our 20 endorsed candidates won their races and took office in January! These victories mark an exciting step forward for climate action and environmental justice across our communities.
As these leaders begin their terms, we invite you to [partner with us](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) to support bold climate initiatives in Contra Costa County and across California. Together, we can create meaningful change for a more sustainable and equitable future.
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/)Winner 2024
### [ Support Carl Anduri for a Greener, Stronger Lafayette! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)Winner 2024
### [ Return Jovita Mendoza to Brentwood City Council D3 ](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/)Winner 2024
### [ Re-elect Kevin Wilk: Leading Climate Action in Walnut Creek ](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/)Winner 2024
### [ Support Maureen Toms for Re-election to the Pinole City Council ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/)
[ Meet All Our 2024 Climate Winners ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
[ Sign Up to Volunteer ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/#Volunteer)
## [Learn More](https://350contracostaaction.org/blog/)
### Recent Posts
### [ Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa—It’s Time to Stop ](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
### [ 350 CCA Volunteer Lou Flores: Energizing Change for the Climate ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-cca-volunteer-lou-flores-energizing-change-for-the-climate/)
### [ Virtual Power Plants and Microplastics: Tell Governor Newsom to Sign Now ](https://350contracostaaction.org/virtual-power-plants-microplastics-tell-governor-newsom-to-sign-now/)
### [ Everything We Burn We Breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 Has an App for That ](https://350contracostaaction.org/everything-we-burn-we-breathe-clean-air-week-2025/)
### [ 350 Contra Costa Action Joins CACTI to Combat the Montezuma Pipeline ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/)
---
### [Antioch (94509 & 94531) Climate Action & Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
**Published:** July 17, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Antioch (94509 & 94531) Climate Action & Advocacy
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
The City of Antioch, CA
Antioch Climate Action & Advocacy brings together the city’s story of challenge and resilience—past, present, and future. On this page, you’ll find a close look at Antioch’s unique divides, social and economic pressures, and the urgent need for coordinated climate action. Read on to learn what’s at stake, how local initiatives are responding, and what you can do to support a healthier, more sustainable Antioch.
## Antioch Divided: Boom Town and Almost Bust
 Rivertown Old Antioch, CA 94509 District
Image credit: Anne Grenier
The city of Antioch, sometimes referred to as “the Gateway to the Delta”, is one of California’s oldest towns. It was founded in 1849 as Smith’s Landing, then renamed Antioch. It is now a diverse, growing city of nearly 120,000 residents.
As a more affordable enclave of the expensive SF-Bay Area, the city experienced booming growth during the 1990s. It is now starkly divided between “Old Antioch” (94509) and “New Antioch” (94531).
Old Antioch is the Rivertown industrial area north of Route 4, on the banks of the San Joaquin River. New Antioch is the area south of Route 4, filled with sprawling new homes, nearby shopping centers, big-box stores, and restaurants.
During the late 2000s, at the height of predatory lending, Antioch became the “unofficial foreclosure capital” of the Bay Area. This hit older neighborhoods hard, forcing long-term residents from their homes and resulting in a loss of community stability. It also widened the gap in property values and school performance between the two Antioch regions.
Newer developments in the south attracted large retail chains and higher-income residents. Unfortunately, North Antioch still struggled with the decline of its original industries.
 Antioch's memorial to dogs who served in war
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 Antioch's memorial to dogs who served in war
Image credit: Christine Stevens
Old Antioch is the Rivertown industrial area north of Route 4, on the banks of the San Joaquin River. New Antioch is the area south of Route 4, filled with sprawling new homes, nearby shopping centers, big-box stores, and restaurants.
During the late 2000s, at the height of predatory lending, Antioch became the “unofficial foreclosure capital” of the Bay Area. This hit older neighborhoods hard, forcing long-term residents from their homes and resulting in a loss of community stability. It also widened the gap in property values and school performance between the two Antioch regions.
Newer developments in the south attracted large retail chains and higher-income residents. Unfortunately, North Antioch still struggled with the decline of its original industries.
## Antioch’s Transportation Challenge & Infrastructure Gap
Antioch sits along the increasingly congested Highway 4, which has not kept pace with the exploding weekday traffic from its growing population. Route 4 feeds into freeways connecting Concord, Walnut Creek, and beyond to the West. Most Antioch residents face long workday commutes. This is constant, whether they take BART toward San Francisco, drive west, or head south to Livermore, Silicon Valley, or the South Bay.
### Last Stop for BART
Even though residents paid taxes for mass transit development for years, the Antioch BART extension lagged behind other Bay Area communities. The Antioch station finally opened in 2018. Today, due to a snafu with the track layout, eastbound passengers must switch trains at Pittsburg to reach Antioch, adding 20-30 minutes to their ride*.*
This BART extension was meant to bridge gaps connecting the city to the wider Bay region. However, it is located near Hillcrest Avenue—deep in the newer part of town—which puts modern amenities and transit access far from the historic northern section.
This isolation exacerbates the sense of neglect for those in the older 94509 Antioch district.
These transit investment choices help explain why Antioch is so divided. The city needs more equitable public transit services, especially BART.
 Antioch BART station
Image credit 350 Contra Costa
 Antioch BART station
Image credit 350 Contra Costa
### Last Stop for BART
Even though residents paid taxes for mass transit development for years, the Antioch BART extension lagged behind other Bay Area communities. The Antioch station finally opened in 2018. Today, due to a snafu with the track layout, eastbound passengers must switch trains at Pittsburg to reach Antioch, adding 20-30 minutes to their ride*.*
This BART extension was meant to bridge gaps connecting the city to the wider Bay region. However, it is located near Hillcrest Avenue—deep in the newer part of town—which puts modern amenities and transit access far from the historic northern section.
This isolation exacerbates the sense of neglect for those in the older 94509 Antioch district.
These transit investment choices help explain why Antioch is so divided. The city needs more equitable public transit services, especially BART.
## City Budget and Social Challenges
In 2026, Antioch faces a myriad of structural and social challenges due to a severe budget crisis, a depleted police force, and state-mandated housing pressures.
 An elaborate playground sits unused on a warm, sunny day in Antioch, CA
Image credit: Christine Stevens
## Budget Shortfall
The city’s approved 2025-2026 budget includes a $12.5 million deficit. Only $5 million of that was covered by the budget stabilization reserve. Due to economic uncertainty, growth in Antioch’s key revenue streams—sales tax and cannabis tax—has declined.
### Public Safety & Police Staffing
**Public Safety and Police Staffing:** The Antioch Police Department is facing its worst staffing shortage in decades. This follows years of scandal and federal indictments over racism in the force. Labor disputes are ongoing, and officers and dispatchers have been working without a contract since 2025.
 Antioch, CA, Police Facility
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
 Antioch, CA, Police Facility
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
### Public Safety & Police Staffing
**Public Safety and Police Staffing:** The Antioch Police Department is facing its worst staffing shortage in decades. This follows years of scandal and federal indictments over racism in the force. Labor disputes are ongoing, and officers and dispatchers have been working without a contract since 2025.
 Single family homes overlooking attached housing in Antioch, CA Image credit: Christine Stevens
### Housing and State Mandates
Antioch is a focal point for California’s housing crisis. The City Council has expressed frustration over state laws (such as SB 330) that require approval of massive housing projects—even those linked to controversial developers under threat of litigation.
Approvals for hundreds of townhomes also received community backlash for failing to include enough low-income units. Critics argue that the developments prioritize moderate-income residents over the city’s most vulnerable.
See the city’s [February 2026 budget update](https://www.antiochca.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/461?fileID=2320).
## Antioch Faces Growing Climate Challenges
Antioch faces critical climate challenges, with hotter, drier summers and more dangerous heat waves.
The area also faces significant wildfire threats and water instability due to drought and rising salinity in the Delta. Because salt is leaching into the water supply, the city has converted its existing water treatment plant to a desalination plant. (Source: [Kneedeep Times](https://www.kneedeeptimes.org/antioch-desalination-plant-water-conservation/))
Many Antioch buildings are at risk of wildfire. Rising temperatures, more air pollution, and flooding from intense winter storms are also affecting residents. The city is projected to experience more extreme heat days, worsening its already poor air quality.
That’s why Antioch needs climate action now!
 Single family housing development in Antioch
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
Antioch faces critical climate challenges, with hotter, drier summers and more dangerous heat waves.
The area also faces significant wildfire threats and water instability due to drought and rising salinity in the Delta. Because salt is leaching into the water supply, the city has converted its existing water treatment plant to a desalination plant. (Source: [Kneedeep Times](https://www.kneedeeptimes.org/antioch-desalination-plant-water-conservation/))
Many Antioch buildings are at risk of wildfire. Rising temperatures, more air pollution, and flooding from intense winter storms are also affecting residents. The city is projected to experience more extreme heat days, worsening its already poor air quality.
That’s why Antioch needs climate action now!
 Single family housing development in Antioch
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
## East County Healthy Homes Initiative to Help Antioch
The East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project is a new community effort to improve housing, public health, and local job opportunities in Antioch and Pittsburg.
350 Contra Costa, in collaboration with other nonprofits, is leading the way to an equitable transition from natural gas to clean electric energy. The non-profit collaborative is funded by California Jobs First through the Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative Program.
It plans a large-scale home electrification and retrofit initiative to transition income-qualified homeowners in Antioch and Pittsburg to clean electric heat pumps.
We’re working with local organizations to design a program that:
- Makes homes safer and healthier with modern electric appliances, improved ventilation, and better insulation.
- Creates good local jobs in clean energy and construction.
- Helps residents stay cool during heat waves and cuts pollution from old gas appliances.
- Ensures that the communities most affected by poor air and housing conditions benefit first.
 Townhomes in Antioch, CA
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
 Townhomes in Antioch, CA
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
We’re working with local organizations to design a program that:
- Makes homes safer and healthier with modern electric appliances, improved ventilation, and better insulation.
- Creates good local jobs in clean energy and construction.
- Helps residents stay cool during heat waves and cuts pollution from old gas appliances.
- Ensures that the communities most affected by poor air and housing conditions benefit first.
## Oil Drilling Active Despite Antioch Drilling Ban
 Oil Drilling Pumpjacks with Bird Overhead, Antioch, CA
Image credit: Anne Grenier.
In January 2022, the Antioch City Council became the first in East Contra Costa County to pass a ban on all future oil and gas drilling, production, and exploratory operations. In 2024, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe signed a pledge to further commit the city to a fossil-free future.
These actions reinforced the ban on new fossil fuel infrastructure. Drilling within the Antioch city limits is largely prohibited.
A specific legacy operation run by Sunset Exploration Inc., however, still exists near the city border. The drilling takes place on open land along Deer Valley Road, between Balfour Road and Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center, near the Dozier Libby Medical High School in Antioch.
While we applaud Antioch’s drilling ban, its protections are diluted because Contra Costa County allows drilling on nearby unincorporated land.
The proximity of the Sunset Exploration site to a school and hospital puts Antioch residents at risk. Toxic air and water pollution from drilling can easily reach hospital patients, visitors, and nearby high school students.
That’s why we need a full countywide ban on oil and gas drilling. Read more and sign the Sunflower Alliance petition for a **[Contra Costa County ban on oil and gas drilling](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)**.
 Antioch homes overlooking the Carquinez Strait, windmills in Solano County
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 Antioch homes overlooking the Carquinez Strait, windmills in Solano County
Image credit: Christine Stevens
While we applaud Antioch’s drilling ban, its protections are diluted because Contra Costa County allows drilling on nearby unincorporated land.
The proximity of the Sunset Exploration site to a school and hospital puts Antioch residents at risk. Toxic air and water pollution from drilling can easily reach hospital patients, visitors, and nearby high school students.
That’s why we need a full countywide ban on oil and gas drilling. Read more and sign the Sunflower Alliance petition for a **[Contra Costa County ban on oil and gas drilling](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)**.
## Antioch’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan
 Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Antioch, CA
Image credit: Anne Grenier
Antioch first adopted its [Climate Action and Resilience Plan](https://350contracostaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Final-CARP-2025-with-reso-at-end.pdf) (CARP) in 2011. In 2020 and again in 2024, the City Council updated the plan. The plan aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 2005 levels, boost energy efficiency, and prepare for climate hazards such as wildfires, drought, and extreme heat.
Curiously, the city’s website no longer includes a link to the CARP. The status of the CARP’s implementation is uncertain at this time, as the city undergoes a reorganization.
The plan, as adopted on November 26, 2024, can be found in the [agenda packet](https://www.antiochca.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/74?fileID=444) for that meeting. To access it search the document for ‘CARP,” which should take you to the first page of the staff report for Item J in the Consent Calendar. From there, scroll down to “Exhibit A” to view the CARP.
## Take Immediate Action Now!
 Image credit: Tania Malréchauffé on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-change-the-politics-not-the-climate-printed-board-Tq7lbAeF9BQ)
#### *Tell Senator Grayson to
approve these bills now!*
We need your help to get climate-impacting bills passed by our State Legislature.
If you live in Alamo, Alhambra, Antioch, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Piittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, San Ramon, or Walnut Creek, you can influence California climate legislation.
Your senator, Tim Grayson, is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee is the last stop for bills before they are voted on by the full Senate. This Committee has closed door meetings and can kill bills without explanation. Email Senator Grayson using this [website form](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/contact) or call his office at (916) 651-4009 now to urge him to approve our endorsed bills:
- AB 1577
- AB 1604
- AB 1790
- AB 2157
- AB 2461
- AB 2560
When you call, also tell the senator to **oppose** AB 2748.
These bills are described in the Endorsed and Opposed Bills section below. Your email or phone call only needs to list the bill numbers; descriptions are unnecessary.
After the Senate floor vote, these bills will go to Governor Newsom for his approval or veto, so **you can help make California climate law**!
## Ready to Take Action in Antioch?
 Sailboats at the Antioch marina
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
### Become an Antioch Climate Liaison
Antioch faces complex social, economic, and environmental challenges, but collaborative action is already making an impact. Whether you’re a resident, advocate, or policymaker, your involvement can help ensure a resilient and equitable future for Antioch. Join local efforts, stay informed, and consider taking the next step as a city climate liaison.
As a city liaison with 350 Contra Costa Action, you can help encourage and support our climate-forward council members to develop plans and allocate funds to reduce Antioch’s greenhouse gas emissions. Together we can move the city toward alternative energy sources to reduce Antioch’s air pollution.
[ Become an Antioch Climate Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Meet Antioch’s City Council Members
The [Antioch City Council](https://www.antiochca.gov/738/City-Council) is comprised of the mayor and four council members, each elected to four-year terms. The mayor is elected every four years. The remaining council members serve overlapping terms.
**[Ron Bernal](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=78)**, Mayor
**[Donald P. Freitas](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=81)**, Mayor Pro Tem, District 3
[**Tamisha Torres-Walker**](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=80), District 1
**[Louie Rocha](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=79)**, District 2
**[Monica Wilson](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=82), District 4 🍃
*(🍃 =* 350CCA endorsed 2024)
Don’t know which district you’re in? Go to the [Antioch Interactive Map](https://www.antiochprospector.com/), click on the *Layers Tab* and choose *Antioch* *Council Districts*.
 A man waks past the entrance to Antioch, CA, City Hall
Image credit: 350 Contra Costa Action Volunteer Staff Photo
 A man waks past the entrance to Antioch, CA, City Hall
Image credit: 350 Contra Costa Action Volunteer Staff Photo
The [Antioch City Council](https://www.antiochca.gov/738/City-Council) is comprised of the mayor and four council members, each elected to four-year terms. The mayor is elected every four years. The remaining council members serve overlapping terms.
**[Ron Bernal](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=78)**, Mayor
**[Donald P. Freitas](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=81)**, Mayor Pro Tem, District 3
[**Tamisha Torres-Walker**](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=80), District 1
**[Louie Rocha](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=79)**, District 2
**[Monica Wilson](https://www.antiochca.gov/directory.aspx?eid=82), District 4 🍃
*(🍃 =* 350CCA endorsed 2024)
Don’t know which district you’re in? Go to the [Antioch Interactive Map](https://www.antiochprospector.com/), click on the *Layers Tab* and choose *Antioch* *Council Districts*.
Antioch’s City Council incudes members who are taking steps toward a cleaner, greener future. As a group, the council has shown a climate-forward approach in recent years. Let’s rally behind their leadership and encourage them to continue to support priorities such as:
- Affordable, equitable housing
- Cleaner, safer public transit
- Active transportation options like walking and biking
- Local programs to reduce greenhouse gas pollution
- Expanded access to clean energy
Your voice and active support can help drive meaningful, lasting change in our community.
### Attend a City Council Meeting
City Hall
200 H Street
Antioch, CA 94509-1285
Phone: 925.779.700
Antioch’s City Council generally meets at 7 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. But do check, as their website counsels [checking the calendar](https://www.antiochca.gov/Calendar.aspx) for next meeting time and date.
Meetings are open to all residents—a chance to stay informed, share your perspective, and witness local decision-making firsthand.
If you cannot attend in person, you can watch meetings **[live online](https://www.antiochca.gov/1039)** or catch up on recordings, typically posted within 48 hours. The **[City Calendar](https://www.antiochca.gov/Calendar.aspx)** lists upcoming meeting dates and times. When a meeting is in session, a streaming link will appear; for past meetings, simply select the date you’re interested in.
### Attend a Planning Commission Meeting
6:30 pm
1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month
City Hall Council Chambers
200 H Street
The Planning Commission helps guide Antioch’s growth and development. Its responsibilities include:
- Reviewing and making recommendations to the City Council on the city’s General Plan, land use, and zoning changes
- Ensuring proposals meet requirements set by the Zoning Code, State Government Code, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
- Examining site plans, building and architectural designs, signage, and other exterior features for new and remodeled buildings
These efforts help ensure Antioch’s physical development aligns with both city regulations and community values.
### Agendas and Minutes
Each meeting’s agenda is posted in advance, outlining topics and actions to be discussed. Official minutes are published after approval, providing a record of decisions and community input. Stay up to date by viewing the latest [agendas and minutes](https://www.antiochca.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-9) online.
## Latest Climate Actions in Antioch
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)### [ East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project Moving Forward ](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)### [ Ban Contra Costa Drilling: Protect Our Children’s Health—Sign the Petition Today ](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)
[ Support our work with a Donation ](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)
### Support Our Work
**We’re working to build strong climate advocacy throughout Contra Costa in 2026. Support our work with a donation.**
[ Donate ](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)
## Join Us!
We invite you to help us lead San Ramon toward a brighter, more sustainable future. Together, we can embrace climate responsibility and accountability for our community. Your voice matters!
[ Become a 350 CCA San Ramon City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Moraga CA Climate Action & Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
**Published:** July 5, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
# Moraga CA Climate Action & Advocacy
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
## Moraga: A Peaceful Town Born in Activism
Welcome to Moraga CA Climate Action & Advocacy, your resource for understanding how our community is addressing climate change. Here you’ll find information about Moraga’s climate change initiatives, opportunities for local advocacy, and ways residents can help shape a more sustainable future for our town.
The Town of Moraga was born in activism. In 1974, residents of the then-unincorporated community united to successfully halt plans to build enough housing for a city of 52,000 people and run a freeway through the area. Their collective action protected Moraga’s open hillsides and set the stage for decades of community-led decision-making.
The land was first inhabited by the **[Saklan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saklan_tribe)**, a native people, of the Bay Miwok language group. The town was named for [**Joaquín Moraga**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Joaqu%C3%ADn_Moraga), a member of the famed Californio family who received the land grant in 1835 as part of the Mexican government’s effort to encourage ranching in the area.
Today, Moraga’s 16,637 residents continue this legacy of activism and engagement, showing strong community spirit through events such as summer concerts, Fourth of July celebrations, and active participation in local boards and commissions.
 Painted rock--an annual ritual for Moraga high school students
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 Painted rock--an annual ritual for Moraga high school students
Image credit: Christine Stevens
The land was first inhabited by the **[Saklan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saklan_tribe)**, a native people, of the Bay Miwok language group. The town was named for **[Joaquín Moraga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Joaqu%C3%ADn_Moraga)**, a member of the famed Californio family who received the land grant in 1835 as part of the Mexican government’s effort to encourage ranching in the area.
Today, Moraga’s 16,637 residents continue this legacy of activism and engagement, showing strong community spirit through events such as summer concerts, Fourth of July celebrations, and active participation in local boards and commissions.
 Student walks toward St. Mary's College's entrance and iconic tower
Image credit: Christine Stevens
### Students Are a Vital Part of Moraga Life
The community, bordered on three sides by open space, is home to **[St. Mary’s College of California](https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/)**, whose students and faculty contribute to the town’s vibrant civic life.
And the town’s high school students show their creativity by regularly painting a flat outcropping on a prominent hillside—currently a brilliant blue.
## Moraga’s Award-Winning Housing Element
Moraga is currently led by a strong, visionary, forward-looking staff and council. They have won recognition for a robust **[2023-2031 housing element](https://moraga.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/8125/2023-2031-Moraga-Housing-Element-Clean-version-PDF)** that clears the way for major infill housing to meet state requirements.
The Town of Moraga has been named a “Prohousing Jurisdiction” by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Infill housing involves building new residences within the already developed areas of a city or community. Infill is generally considered the most eco-friendly option in most communities, especially those like Moraga, where the surrounding hills can make development expensive and create hazards, including wildfires, landslides, and flooding, as well as threaten natural areas.
 Homes and apartment buildings reside adjacent to one another and the forested hills surrounding Moraga
Image credit: Volunteer staff. photo
 Homes and apartment buildings reside adjacent to one another and the forested hills surrounding Moraga
Image credit: Volunteer staff. photo
Moraga is currently led by a strong, visionary, forward-looking staff and council. They have won recognition for a robust **[2023-2031 housing element](https://moraga.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/8125/2023-2031-Moraga-Housing-Element-Clean-version-PDF)** that clears the way for major infill housing to meet state requirements.
The Town of Moraga has been named a “Prohousing Jurisdiction” by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Infill housing involves building new residences within the already developed areas of a city or community. Infill is generally considered the most eco-friendly option in most communities, especially those like Moraga, where the surrounding hills can make development expensive and create hazards, including wildfires, landslides, and flooding, as well as threaten natural areas.
## Economic Challenges
 Hillside homes in Moraga, CA
Image credit: Christine Stevens
Surrounded on three sides by sun-drenched hills, Moraga residents love the town’s semi-rural character but struggle to invigorate its local economy.
Although the majority of residents are financially comfortable, the town is not. The local economy is primarily based at the Rheem and Moraga shopping centers, and residents must go elsewhere for many types of purchases.
Despite these challenges, Moraga’s small-business sector includes cherished institutions like the iconic Rheem Theater, which continues to screen current movies and bring residents together.
 The iconic Rheem Theater in Moraga, built in 1957 by Donald Rheem of the Rheem Manufacturing Co.
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 The iconic Rheem Theater in Moraga, built in 1957 by Donald Rheem of the Rheem Manufacturing Co.
Image credit: Christine Stevens
Although the majority of residents are financially comfortable, the town is not. The local economy is primarily based at the Rheem and Moraga shopping centers, and residents must go elsewhere for many types of purchases.
Despite these challenges, Moraga’s small-business sector includes cherished institutions like the iconic Rheem Theater, which continues to screen current movies and bring residents together.
## Visionary General Plan
 Children run into the local ice cream shop in Moraga, CA
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
The town’s **[General Plan 2040](https://www.moraga.ca.us/619/General-Plan-2040)** is a detailed roadmap for positive economic, housing, and climate adaptation changes that residents would like to see in the foreseeable future; and it discusses how the town might improve its financial situation and tax base.
The updated plan, completed in 2024, notes that residents would like to see more local restaurants and stores and says that St. Mary’s College, which had 2,736 students as of 2024, offers an opportunity to create retail expansion with a “college town” ambiance.
The General Plan notes that the Association of Bay Area Governments has specified that Moraga needs to add 1,118 housing units to its current housing stock, many of which would be multi-family and townhomes.
## Transportation Climate Challenges
### Transportation Largest Source of Moraga Air Pollution
Climate change is top of mind in the transportation section of the General Plan, which notes that 48 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, far outstripping the next-largest source, residential, at 34 percent.
 Moraga bike route
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
 Moraga bike route
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
### Transportation Largest Source of Moraga Air Pollution
Climate change is top of mind in the transportation section of the General Plan, which notes that 48 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, far outstripping the next-largest source, residential, at 34 percent.
 One of two Moraga bus stops
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
### Transit Access Challenges for Moraga Commuters
The General Plan notes that “Moraga’s distance from freeways and BART lines has made the community heavily reliant on cars.” The plan states that 70 percent of households have two cars, and 77 percent of those who work outside their homes drive to work, with most driving alone. The plan notes that public transit is “limited” and buses run to a BART station only every 30 minutes.
Using BART could become more difficult if county voters do not pass the **[Connect Bay Area ballot measure](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-connect-bay-area-ballot-measure-how-voting-yes-can-save-bay-area-transit/)** in November, which would help stabilize the vital transit system. The Orinda station is one of those BART has said it will have to close in the first phase of budget cuts if the county doesn’t approve the new, time-limited half-cent sales tax. The Lafayette and Orinda stations are closest to Moraga, and closing the Orinda station would crowd the Lafayette station with riders and people seeking parking, making it much more difficult for Moraga residents to use the system.
In addition to the options above, the **[511 CTA interactive web page](https://511.ccta.ca.gov/)** offers vanpools and casual carpools. However, many commuters find it difficult to match their schedules and destinations with the available routes, making these alternatives less practical for most Moraga residents.
### Local Solutions and Improvements
Improving transit access and reducing reliance on cars are essential components of Moraga sustainability efforts, helping to build a more environmentally responsible community.
To address transportation access and emisions issues, Moraga is working on the following.
- **Enhancing streets** for walking and biking, including improving crosswalks and adding street trees for general walkability;
- **Partnering with local agencies** to increase public transit options;
- **Improving traffic flow** with technology and signal synchronization;
- **Attracting more local businesses** to reduce the need for residents to drive to other cities for goods and services.
 Eateries and a childcare center in one of two Moraga shopping centers
Image credit: Volunteer staff photos
 Eateries and a childcare center in one of two Moraga shopping centers
Image credit: Volunteer staff photos
### Local Solutions and Improvements
Improving transit access and reducing reliance on cars are essential components of Moraga sustainability efforts, helping to build a more environmentally responsible community.
To address transportation access and emisions issues, Moraga is working on the following.
- **Enhancing streets** for walking and biking, including improving crosswalks and adding street trees for general walkability;
- **Partnering with local agencies** to increase public transit options;
- **Improving traffic flow** with technology and signal synchronization;
- **Attracting more local businesses** to reduce the need for residents to drive to other cities for goods and services.
## Moraga Needs a New Climate Action Plan
 Cars lined up at a Moraga shopping center
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
The town’s [2014 Climate Action Plan](https://www.moraga.ca.us/199/Climate-Action-Plan-CAP) extended projections only through 2020, leaving a significant gap in Moraga’s climate policy. The city did not plan for a review upon its conclusion, nor did it authorize an update to advance strong Moraga environmental action.
The former planning director and some former council members pushed hard for a new climate action plan to be funded immediately following completion of the General Plan. To date, no action has been taken.
We at 350 Contra Costa Action will continue to seek alliances with Moragans to urge the town Council to authorize funding for the development of a climate action plan.
## Take Immediate Action Now!
#### *Tell Senator Grayson to
approve these bills now!*
We need your help to get climate-impacting bills passed by our State Legislature.
If you live in Alamo, Alhambra, Antioch, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Piittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, San Ramon, or Walnut Creek, you can influence California climate legislation.
Your senator, Tim Grayson, is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee is the last stop for bills before they are voted on by the full Senate. This Committee has closed door meetings and can kill bills without explanation. Email Senator Grayson using this [website form](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/contact) or call his office at (916) 651-4009 now to urge him to approve our endorsed bills:
- AB 1577
- AB 1604
- AB 1790
- AB 2157
- AB 2461
- AB 2560
When you call, also tell the senator to **oppose** AB 2748.
These bills are described in the Endorsed and Opposed Bills section below. Your email or phone call only needs to list the bill numbers; descriptions are unnecessary.
After the Senate floor vote, these bills will go to Governor Newsom for his approval or veto, so **you can help make California climate law**!
## Take Climate Action in Moraga Now
 Play area at Moraga Commons park
Image credit: Christine Stevens
### Become a Moraga City Liaison and work with us to ….
Just one person helped influence Moraga’s town council to add measures to the General Plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving our clean, breathable air for future generations.
We invite all interested to join our Moraga City Liaison team and work with us to support Moraga in climate-friendly program and policy development.
[ Become a Moraga City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get to Know Moraga's Decision Makers
Moraga’s five council members are elected at large, and each serves a four-year term. Elections are held every two years for the two or three open seats in that election cycle. Each year, the council elects the mayor from among its members.
### Contact Elected Officials
- [**Kerry Hillis**](mailto:khillis@moraga.ca.us), Mayor
- [Brian Dolan](mailto:bdolan@moraga.ca.us), Vice Mayor
- [**Steve Woehleke**](mailto:swoehleke@moraga.ca.us), Councilmember
- [Lisa Maglio](mailto:lmaglio@moraga.ca.us), Councilmember
- [Graham Thiel](mailto:gthiel@moraga.ca.us), Councilmember
Learn more about the [Moraga Town Council](https://www.moraga.ca.us/230/Town-Council) and its current members.
 Moraga town hall
Image credit: Christine Stevens
### Attend a Meeting
The Town Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays every month at 5:30 pm in the Council Chambers and Community Meeting Room at 335 Rheem Boulevard, Moraga, CA 94556.
Attend in person or watch Moraga Town Council meetings, as well as commission and committee meetings, on [YouTube Live](https://www.youtube.com/@TownofMoraga335/streams). To receive notifications of official town meetings, [sign up here](https://ca-moraga.civicplus.com/list.aspx).
## Latest Climate Actions Affecting Moraga
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)### [ Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)### [ It’s Time for California to Make Polluters Pay ](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)### [ Big Wins for Contra Costa: Polluter Penalties & AB-1465 ](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)
[ Support our work with a Donation ](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)
## Join Us!
We invite you to help us lead Moraga toward a brighter, more sustainable future. Together, we can embrace climate responsibility and accountability for our community. Your voice matters!
[ Become a 350 CCA Moraga City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Martinez CA Climate Action & Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
**Published:** March 29, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Martinez CA Climate Action & Advocacy
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
## Martinez: Vibrant City Along the Carquinez Strait
With its vibrant history in both environmental activism and fossil fuel production in two refineries, Martinez climate action and advocacy is in the city’s DNA.
This city of 36,600, stretching along the Carquinez Strait, is rich in history and recreational and economic opportunity. A boomtown in the California gold rush, Martinez became the home of naturalist and explorer John Muir. His [historic house](https://www.nps.gov/places/john-muir-house.htm) remains a beautiful, peaceful place to visit. The city has a proud Italian heritage and is the hometown of baseball legend Joe DiMaggio.
The Martinez Waterfront Park and marina are an endless source of recreation for fishing, bird watching, hiking and picnicking. The city has contracted with a developer to update the aging marine facilities and mitigate silting and sea level rise.
## Mixed Environmental Score: Endless Waterfront Recreation + Hazardous Refinery Emissions
 Boats in harbor on Marinez waterfront Image credit: Christine Stevens
From a mixed environmental standpoint, Martinez is home to the eco-friendly waterfront park and also the Martinez Refining Company refinery, which has periodic explosions and hazardous emissions.
The area is also home to the Marathon refinery, which has transitioned from traditional refining to producing biofuels, which also can emit harmful gasses.
People living in Martinez and the adjacent areas of Pacheco and Vine Hill bear the brunt of the fires and emissions from the Martinez Refining Company refinery. The multiple shelter-in-place orders disrupt their lives, and [ongoing health threats are real](https://350contracostaaction.org/martinez-ca-refinery-health-threats/). However, neither the Martinez Refining facility nor Marathon are within the city limits.
 Martinez, CA, Refinery Fire, February 1, 2025, seen from Benicia, CA Image credit: Christine Stevens
 Martinez, CA, Refinery Fire, February 1, 2025, seen from Benicia, CA Image credit: Christine Stevens
People living in Martinez and the adjacent areas of Pacheco and Vine Hill bear the brunt of the fires and emissions from the Martinez Refining Company refinery. The multiple shelter-in-place orders disrupt their lives, and [ongoing health threats are real](https://350contracostaaction.org/martinez-ca-refinery-health-threats/). However, neither the Martinez Refining facility nor Marathon are within the city limits.
 Martinez refinery Image credit: Mark Stafforini
The Martinez Refining Company is a carved-out area nearly surrounded by city land, and Marathon is just outside the city limits. Thus neither facility is regulated by the city. They are regulated by Contra Costa County, which has an [Industrial Safety Ordinance](https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safety-information/hazmat-programs/industrial-safety-ordinance).
Industrial Safety Ordinances expand on state requirements for investigation of pollution releases by requiring the company to provide detailed reports of what substances were released and the root cause of the release.
Martinez city council members, residents and the members of the [Healthy Martinez](https://www.healthymartinez.org/) organization have called for Contra Costa County officials to require the Martinez Refining Company to adhere more strictly to safety and environmental best practices.
The group formed after the [November, 2022, spent-catalyst release](https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safety-information/hazmat-programs/martinez-refining-company-oversight/martinez-refining-company-2022-hazmat-release-incident) and since then has demanded that the County Board of Supervisors do more to stop the refinery’s periodic fires and gas and particulate emissions that endanger the health of the community.
 Martinez Shoreline Park Image credit: Christine Stevens
 Martinez Shoreline Park Image credit: Christine Stevens
Martinez city council members, residents and the members of the [Healthy Martinez](https://www.healthymartinez.org/) organization have called for Contra Costa County officials to require the Martinez Refining Company to adhere more strictly to safety and environmental best practices.
The group formed after the [November, 2022, spent-catalyst release](https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safety-information/hazmat-programs/martinez-refining-company-oversight/martinez-refining-company-2022-hazmat-release-incident) and since then has demanded that the County Board of Supervisors do more to stop the refinery’s periodic fires and gas and particulate emissions that endanger the health of the community.
### Getting Around
The city has an [Amtrak station](https://www.capitolcorridor.org/stations/martinez/), and [County Connection buses](https://countyconnection.com/routes/) run along the major arteries. Service is not comprehensive, however. The system does not serve areas such as Hidden Lakes Park (truly a hidden gem) and some schools.
## Martinez Climate Action and Advocacy
 Martinez Shoreline and Hills Image credit: Christine Stevens
The city’s [Climate Action Plan](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/home/showpublisheddocument/3726/638375390806301587) (CAP), adopted in 2009 and updated in 2016, addresses transportation, energy, water use and climate adaptation.
The following are some of the 2024 Martinez environmental successes:
- 350 Bay Area, Healthy Martinez and the Common Humanity Collective **[donated air purifiers](https://350bayarea.org/donating-300-air-purifiers-to-the-martinez-community)** to residents as a result of the Martinez refinery emissions.
- **Collaborated** with the Martinez Unified School District to provide eco-literacy training in 75 classrooms
- **Received a $240,000 US Department of Transportation grant** to improve their pedestrian and bicycle-safety plan
- **Launched** a bicycle share program that loans refurbished bicycles to city employees for short trips around the Martinez downtown area
- In 2024, 146 new Martinez homes **joined the** **[Sustainable Contra Costa](https://sustainablecoco.org/)** **challenge**, making a total of 478 Martinez households participating. which provides information and encouragement for residents to reduce their environmental impact. This makes a total of 478 Martinez households participating in the challenge.
- The city currently owns seven **EV charging stations**, and in 2024 recorded 9,829 charging sessions, with a combined greenhouse gas savings according to city calculations of 120,059 kg.
Watch this space for 2025 updates about successful Martinez climate action!
## Take Immediate Action Now!
#### *Tell Senator Grayson to
approve these bills now!*
We need your help to get climate-impacting bills passed by our State Legislature.
If you live in Alamo, Alhambra, Antioch, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Piittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, San Ramon, or Walnut Creek, you can influence California climate legislation.
Your senator, Tim Grayson, is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee is the last stop for bills before they are voted on by the full Senate. This Committee has closed door meetings and can kill bills without explanation. Email Senator Grayson using this [website form](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/contact) or call his office at (916) 651-4009 now to urge him to approve our endorsed bills:
- AB 1577
- AB 1604
- AB 1790
- AB 2157
- AB 2461
- AB 2560
When you call, also tell the senator to **oppose** AB 2748.
These bills are described in the Endorsed and Opposed Bills section below. Your email or phone call only needs to list the bill numbers; descriptions are unnecessary.
After the Senate floor vote, these bills will go to Governor Newsom for his approval or veto, so **you can help make California climate law**!
## Ready to Take Action?
### Stop Coal Train Pollution in Martinez
 Train traveling past a pile of coal
Image credit: [Paul Arky](https://unsplash.com/@paularky) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-train-traveling-past-a-pile-of-coal-tUkqup_I7Ps)
Coal dust threatens our homes and our health—your signature today can help keep it out of Martinez!
Plans to bring a coal shipping terminal to the Port of Oakland will mean up to 10 trains a week carrying coal through downtown Martinez. This is a larger volume than the current trains taking coal to the Port of Richmond, where coal shipping is winding down.
Dust blowing from open coal cars carries very fine particulate matter that has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, worsen heart disease, and lead to more hospitalizations and premature deaths in people exposed to it.
A coalition of environmental organizations, businesses and faith groups, including 350 Bay Area, is asking the Bay Area Air District to adopt stringent new rules that would:
- Require closed coal cars that unload from the bottom
- Monitor air quality along the train route
- Limit the number of trains if the port starts shipping dustier coal.
More than 2,000 Bay Area residents have signed a letter urging the Air District to act. Now it’s your turn—add your name to protect our air, our health, and our community. Every signature counts.
[ Sign the Letter ](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSega_IXlcjSM-ZdZgBG8fXILrar3ywdW_epN5byPaG57sJwuA/viewform)
## Ready to Take Action in Martinez?
### Act to Cut Refinery Health Threats
Martinez residents face shelter-in-place orders with unnerving frequency. Four ways you can act:
- **Stay up to date** about current refinery monitoring measures, at the city’s [Martinez Refining Company Oversight Webpage](https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safety-information/hazmat-programs/martinez-refining-company-oversight).
- **Learn** about the local, grassroots refinery accountability group, [Healthy Martinez](https://www.healthymartinez.org/).
- **If you smell something, say something.** Report it to the [Bay Area Air District](https://www.baaqmd.gov/online-services/air-pollution-complaints) (BAAD). To find out more about what is going on air-wise, consider attending a BAAD board of directors meeting or one of the subcommittee meetings. The agendas can be found [here.](https://www.baaqmd.gov/en/about-the-air-district/board-of-directors/resolutionsagendasminutes)
- **Join 350 Contra Costa Action** (350 CCA) in pursuing clean air and soil in Martinez. Volunteer with us as a Martinez City Liaison.
[ Become A 350 CCA Martinez City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Ready to Take Action in Martinez?
### Become a 350 Contra Costa Action Climate City Liaison
We’re looking for Martinez residents to join our [**City Liaison**](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) team to help us make Martinez more eco-friendly by working toward a just transition away from fossil fuels. We are looking at finding resources and incentives to help homeowners and renters move from gas to electric appliances.
Keeping up with local environmental issues and city leaders’ response to them, and helping to inform others, are ways to help keep the city healthy and thriving and interact with like-minded people.
[ Learn About our City Liaison Program ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get to Know Martinez Decision Makers
Get to know your city council members and planning commissioners as they plan the [Martinez Marina area revitalization](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/departments/waterfront-and-marina/waterfront-and-marina-revitalization) and new development for the city. Attend a meeting and make your voice heard for climate action now.
 Martinez City Hall Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
### Contact Elected Officials
Bios and roles of the mayor and city council members can be found [here](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/government/mayor-and-city-council). Click on their names to email them directly.
- Mayor [Brianne Zorn](mailto:bzorn@cityofmartinez.org)
- Vice Mayor[ Jay Howard](mailto:jhoward@cityofmartinez.org)
- Councilmember [Greg Young](mailto:gyoung@cityofmartinez.org)
- Councilmember [Satinder Malhi](mailto:ssmalhi@cityofmartinez.org)
- Councilmember [Debbie McKillop](mailto:dmckillop@cityofmartinez.org)
## Attend a Meeting
### Martinez City Council
7 pm, 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month
Council Chambers
525 Henrietta St.
Martinez, CA 94553
The [Martinez City Council](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/government/mayor-and-city-council) is composed of five elected officials—the mayor and four council members. The city council is the final decision-making body for city issues and programs, and acts as the governing board for other city agencies.
### Planning Commission
7 pm, 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month
Council Chambers
525 Henrietta St.
Martinez, CA 94553
The [Planning Commission](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/government/commissions-committees-other-advisory-bodies) is composed of city residents appointed by the City Council, and makes recommendations to the council about housing, the general plan, city growth and other issues.
### Agendas & Video Participation
For agendas, meeting notices, and video participation, see [City of Martinez Meetings and Agendas](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/government/meetings-and-agendas).
## Latest Climate Actions in Martinez
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/martinez-ca-refinery-health-threats/)### [ Martinez CA Refinery Health Threats ](https://350contracostaaction.org/martinez-ca-refinery-health-threats/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/martinez-ca-refinery-health-threats/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/refineries-damage-contra-costa-4-ways-to-fight-back/)### [ Refineries Damage Contra Costa: 4 Ways to Fight Back ](https://350contracostaaction.org/refineries-damage-contra-costa-4-ways-to-fight-back/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/refineries-damage-contra-costa-4-ways-to-fight-back/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)### [ Big Wins for Contra Costa: Polluter Penalties & AB-1465 ](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)
Want to help steward Martinez toward ever more responsible climate accountability?
[ Become a 350 CCA Martinez City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
### Support Our Work
**We’re working to elect climate champions throughout Contra Costa in 2026. Support our work with a donation.**
[ Donate ](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [San Ramon CA Climate Action & Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
**Published:** November 3, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### San Ramon CA Climate Action & Advocacy
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
## The City of San Ramon
### Green Oasis in the San Ramon Valley
San Ramon climate action and advocacy centers on quality of life, with numerous parks, open spaces, and tree-lined streets.
Cradled within the scenic San Ramon Valley, the city takes pride in its 61 diverse parks and planned open spaces on the hills surrounding its densely populated neighborhoods. With miles of biking, hiking, and walking paths, including the stunning Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, Annabel Lake, and San Ramon Regional Park, there’s plenty of space to explore.
Bisected twice by the 680 freeway on the west and the Iron Horse Trail on the east, the city boasts many tree-lined boulevards, which it relies on to help mitigate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the thousands of vehicles traversing its streets every day.
## San Ramon’s Pledge to Climate Action
 Man carrying child in San Ramon’s Central Park on a a brilliantly sunny day
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
San Ramon’s pledge to climate action includes maintaining its urban forest, open spaces, and 60+ parks.
In June 2025, San Ramon’s elected officials took a significant step toward strengthening their environmental stewardship by adopting an updated [**Climate Action Plan**](https://sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/departments_and_divisions/community_development/planning_services/climate_action_plan) (CAP) to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. This ambitious plan not only focuses on environmental sustainability but also on clean economic growth. Initiatives include:
- Protecting the city’s carbon-sinking open spaces
- Planning for mixed-use housing developments
- Expanding electric vehicle infrastructure
- Maintaining its urban forest, and
- Enhancing walkability and bikeability
### Sustainability Committee Approved
In November 2025, the San Ramon City Council approved the formation of an all-volunteer [Sustainability Committee](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/boards_committees_commissions/sustainabilityadvisorycommittee), marking the first step in implementing the CAP.
The committee will collaborate with city staff to monitor and advise on the CAP’s action steps while also informing the public about its goals and progress.
However, the CAP is not perfect. It is unclear how the city will achieve its 2045 zero emissions target. Watch for our take on the CAP, coming soon.
 Great Blue Heron across from Roundhouse on Annabel Lake, San Ramon, CA
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
 Great Blue Heron across from Roundhouse on Annabel Lake, San Ramon, CA
Image credit: Volunteer Staff Photo
### Sustainability Committee Approved
In November 2025, the San Ramon City Council approved the formation of an all-volunteer [Sustainability Committee](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/boards_committees_commissions/sustainabilityadvisorycommittee), marking the first step in implementing the CAP.
The committee will collaborate with city staff to monitor and advise on the CAP’s action steps while also informing the public about its goals and progress.
However, the CAP is not perfect. It is unclear how the city will achieve its 2045 zero emissions target. Watch for our take on the CAP, coming soon.
## Take Immediate Action Now!
#### *Tell Senator Grayson to approve these bills now!*
We need your help to get climate-impacting bills passed by our State Legislature.
If you live in Alamo, Alhambra, Antioch, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Piittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, San Ramon, or Walnut Creek, you can influence California climate legislation.
Your senator, Tim Grayson, is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee is the last stop for bills before they are voted on by the full Senate. This Committee has closed door meetings and can kill bills without explanation. Email Senator Grayson using this [website form](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/contact) or call his office at (916) 651-4009 now to urge him to approve our endorsed bills:
- AB 1577
- AB 1604
- AB 1790
- AB 2157
- AB 2461
- AB 2560
When you call, also tell the senator to **oppose** AB 2748.
These bills are described in the Endorsed and Opposed Bills section below. Your email or phone call only needs to list the bill numbers; descriptions are unnecessary.
After the Senate floor vote, these bills will go to Governor Newsom for his approval or veto, so **you can help make California climate law**!
## Take Climate Action in San Ramon Now
 A firefighter trains a firehouse on the remains of a home during the 2025 LA wildfires
Image courtesy the Make Polluters Pay Superfund Coalition
### Support the Polluters Pay Superfund!
California is facing escalating climate disasters—wildfires, droughts, and flooding fueled by corporate fossil fuel pollution. With San Ramon in a high fire hazard zone and having experienced severe flooding in 2023, we urgently need a Polluters Pay Superfund to help safeguard our homes, businesses, and community resources.
We **urge the San Ramon City Council to pass a resolution in support** of the Polluters Pay Superfund Act, which would create a state fund financed by the top six fossil fuel companies responsible for the climate crisis.
### Ask Your Council Member to Support the Superfund
**Make your voice heard and help San Ramon become the 27th city on the growing list of cities and counties supporting the Polluters Pay Superfund Act in California!** Your participation is vital. Reach out to your City Council members and urge them to support this important initiative. Click on the link to email them, or call them.
- [Mayor Mark Armstrong](mailto:marmstrong@sanramon.ca.gov) at 925.973.2545
- [Vice Mayor Rubio](mailto:mrubio@sanramon.ca.gov) at 925.964.5946
- [Council Member Verose](mailto:SVerose@sanramon.ca.gov) at 925.973.2548
- [Council Member Jweinat](mailto:RJweinat@sanramon.ca.gov) at 925.973.2543
- [Council Member Adler](mailto:RAdler@sanramon.ca.gov) at 925.973.2687
Personalize our [sample email or letter](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-FIsjh97nnWWodx4nhtdzugFfZ3ch68/view?usp=share_link), and please let us know you took action at .
Together, let’s hold polluters accountable for their actions and protect our future. **What kind of San Ramon do we want to leave for generations to come?**
## San Ramon Climate Action Now
Ready to take action for strong climate solutions here in San Ramon There’s always more we could be doing. Join our [City Liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) team and help us encourage our elected officials to take a stronger stand against the effects of global heating here at home.
## Get to Know San Ramon's Decision Makers
San Ramon’s five city council members include three who have shown leadership in supporting 🍃climate-friendly🍃 resolutions and actions. Join us in supporting their efforts and encouraging all five to build more mixed-use housing, bike lanes, EV charging stations, and other measures to reduce fossil-fuel consumption throughout the city.
### Contact Elected Officials
- [**Mayor Mark Armstrong**](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/mayor_mark_armstrong)
- **[Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/councilmember_marisol_rubio/), Dist. 4** 🍃
- **[Councilmember Robert Jweinat](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/councilmember_robert_jweinat/), Dist. 1**
- **[Councilmember Richard Adler](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/councilmember_richard_adler/), Dist. 2** 🍃
- **[Councilmember Sridhar Verose](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/vice_mayor_sridhar_verose/), Dist.3** 🍃
Don’t know which district you’re in? San Ramon provides a [handy map](https://sanramon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fcf7eaa660584015b8d478b05bf451a7).
 San Ramon City Hall
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
 San Ramon City Hall
Image credit: Volunteer staff photo
### Contact Elected Officials
- [**Mayor Mark Armstrong**](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/mayor_mark_armstrong)
- **[Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/councilmember_marisol_rubio/), Dist. 4** 🍃
- **[Councilmember Robert Jweinat](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/councilmember_robert_jweinat/), Dist. 1**
- **[Councilmember Richard Adler](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/councilmember_richard_adler/), Dist. 2** 🍃
- **[Councilmember Sridhar Verose](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/vice_mayor_sridhar_verose/), Dist.3** 🍃
### Attend a Meeting
Two primary bodies make decisions affecting long-range climate actions throughout the city: the City Council and the Planning Commission.
#### San Ramon City Council
7 pm, 2nd and 4th Tue of the month
City Hall Council Chamber
7000 Bollinger Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583
The San Ramon [City Council](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council) is composed of five elected officials: the mayor, vice mayor, and three additional council members. The Council serves not only as the legislative body for the city but also acts as the governing board for several key agencies.
#### San Ramon Planning Commission
6 pm, 1st & 3rd Tue of the month
City Hall Council Chamber
7000 Bollinger Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583
The San Ramon [Planning Commission](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/boards_committees_commissions/planning_commission) is appointed by and serves the City Council. It is charged with the following:
- Develop specific plans as needed, based on the General Plan, and recommend them to the City Council for adoption.
- Investigate and recommend practical means to implement the General Plan for orderly city growth and efficient expenditure of funds.
- Promote public interest and understanding of the General Plan and its related regulations.
- Consult and advise public officials, agencies, utility companies, and organizations on executing the General Plan.
#### All Meetings/Agendas
See a [list of all city meetings](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/how_do_i_/get_involved/official), their regularly scheduled dates and times, and links to agendas and past meeting video recordings.
## Latest Climate Actions in San Ramon
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)### [ Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)### [ It’s Time for California to Make Polluters Pay ](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)### [ Big Wins for Contra Costa: Polluter Penalties & AB-1465 ](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/big-wins-for-contra-costa-polluter-penalties-ab-1465/)
[ Support our work with a Donation ](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)
## Join Us!
We invite you to help us lead San Ramon toward a brighter, more sustainable future. Together, we can embrace climate responsibility and accountability for our community. Your voice matters!
[ Become a 350 CCA San Ramon City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
**Published:** December 5, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Legislative Team
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
## Keeping California a leader in climate legislation
The Legislative Team focuses on the Sacramento lawmakers who represent Contra Costa residents. We cultivate strong relationships with these state senators and assembly members so we can influence their votes on important legislation. And we get the word out to our fellow constituents when letters and phone calls are needed to convince lawmakers to vote the right way.
[ Join our legislative team ](#GetInvolved)
## Take Action Now!
 Image credit: Tania Malréchauffé on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-change-the-politics-not-the-climate-printed-board-Tq7lbAeF9BQ)
### Immediate Action Needed
#### *Tell Senator Grayson to approve these bills now!*
We need your help to get climate-impacting bills passed by our State Legislature.
If you live in Alamo, Alhambra, Antioch, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Piittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, San Ramon, or Walnut Creek, you can influence California climate legislation.
Your senator, Tim Grayson, is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee is the last stop for bills before they are voted on by the full Senate. This Committee has closed door meetings and can kill bills without explanation. Email Senator Grayson using this [website form](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/contact) or call his office at (916) 651-4009 now to urge him to approve our endorsed bills:
- AB 1577
- AB 1604
- AB 1790
- AB 2157
- AB 2461
- AB 2560
When you call, also tell the senator to **oppose** AB 2748.
These bills are described in the Endorsed and Opposed Bills section below. Your email or phone call only needs to list the bill numbers; descriptions are unnecessary.
After the Senate floor vote, these bills will go to Governor Newsom for his approval or veto, so **you can help make California climate law**!
### Demonstrate, Summit, and Lobby With Us!
#### April 21
**[Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (AB 1243) hearing](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdb7ScxzDwl-k8rQ7yl5LQ69xAeXBPHNREGWDz7kILRU3QPEA/viewform).** Join us in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee hearing as we show up in force to demonstrate our support and unstoppable momentum.
#### April 22 & 23
[**California Climate Policy Summit and Lobby Day 2025**](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-policy-summit-and-lobby-day-2025/). Meet up with us on Tuesday at the Climate Summit, then lobby with us on Wednesday. Registration required.
## Endorsed and Opposed Bills
### 2026 Legislative Session
*Bill endorsements are updated weekly during the legislative season.* **There are lots of bills! Keep scrolling within the table to see them all.**
Members of our Legislative Team work with 350 Bay Area Action’s Legislative Teams to monitor, endorse, support, or oppose bills related to our joint missions to curb fossil fuel consumption and encourage clean energy solutions and a just transition for all.
Table courtesy [350 Bay Area Action](https://350bayareaaction.org/legislative-committee), whose legislative committees track all the bills we endorse, as well as those we oppose.
## Our Lawmakers
**Assembly**
[Lori Wilson, District 11](https://a11.asmdc.org/district-map)
[Buffy Wicks, District 14](https://a14.asmdc.org/district-map)
[Anamarie Ávila Farías, District 15](https://a15.asmdc.org/district-information)
[Rebecca Bauer–Kahan, District 16](https://a16.asmdc.org/district-map)
**Senate**
[Christopher Cabaldon, District 3](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd03.senate.ca.gov/files/map/sd03.html)
[Jesse Arreguín, District 7](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/district)
[Tim Grayson District 9](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd09.senate.ca.gov/files/map/sd09.html)
Click on the links to see district maps.
Find Contra Costa County local, state, and federal legislative district maps [here](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/). This page lists our lawmakers and links to their web pages. If you’re unsure who represents you, we’ve added find-my-district links on that page as well.
 Map courtesy [Contra Costa County Elections Division](https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns-measures/district-precinct-maps/)
## 350 CCA 2025 Legislative Scorecard
### Bills Passed or Vetoed in Accord with 350 CCA Positions
#### Bills We Supported
In 2025, 350 Contra Costa Action (350 CCA) endorsed the following bills, which the California legislature passed and the governor signed.
- - [**AB 39**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB39), Author Zbur—Local Electrification Planning Act—requires localities to plan for building and transportation electrification by 1/1/30, **Signed** by Governor
- [**AB 368**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB368), Author: Ward—Requires the CA Energy Commission to study passive house efficiency standards, **Signed** by Governor
- [**AB 1167**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1167), Author: Berman—Prohibits investor-owned utilities from passing on lobbying expenses to customers, **Signed** by Governor
- **[AB 1280](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1280),** Author: Garcia—Qualifies thermal energy storage for financial incentive programs, **Signed** by Governor
- [**SB 42**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB42), Author: Umberg—Ballot measure for public funding of local/state campaigns, **Signed** by Governor
- **[SB 279](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB279)**, Author: McNerney—Permits onsite agricultural composting, **Signed** by Governor
- [**SB 30**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB30), Author: Cortese—Restricts resale of diesel rolling stock, **Signed** by Governor
- [**SB 63**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB63), Author: Weiner—Creates the Bay Area transit funding district and authorizes placing funding measure on the ballot, **Sign****ed** by Governor
- [**SB 71**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB71), Author: Weiner—Extended/Expanded CEQA exemptions for climate-friendly transportation projects, **Signed** by Governor
The objectives of the the following bills were consolidated with other initiatives into SB 237, which was approved by Governor Newsom.
- - [**AB 1448**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1448), Author: Hart—Strengthens protections against offshore drilling
- [**SB 542**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB542), Author: Limon—Requires testing prior to restarting idled oil pipelines and evaluation of worst-case oil spills
#### Bills We Opposed
Last year, 350 CCA opposed the following bill, which passed, but was vetoed by Governor Newsom.
[**SB 419**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB419), Author: Caballero—Sales tax exemption for hydrogen fuel, **Vetoed** by Governor
## How Bills Become California Laws
This primer outlines the structure of the California Legislature, the key dates for passing legislation, and the hearings and votes that a bill goes through on the way to becoming a law.
[  ](https://350contracostaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CCA-350-BAA-Leg-Present_2-23-25.pdf) [View this short slideshow](https://350contracostaaction.org/cca-350-baa-leg-present_2-23-25/)
## Join us and a broad coalition to make lasting change
California is often mentioned as a leader in climate legislation, but the fossil fuel industry is powerful in our state, and it can buy a lot of influence. To fight back, the Legislative Team is working with a broad coalition of climate and environmental justice groups for equitable, bold climate solutions. Each legislative session, we work closely with our parent organization, 350 Bay Area Action, to identify key bills, research them, and track their progress through the legislature.
And we could use your help! You don’t need any experience—just a willingness to learn about bill tracking and lobbying. Please [get in touch](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-us/contact-us/) to find out more.
Top image courtesy
Office of Senator Grayson
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
**Published:** March 10, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
## Local Climate Action Starts Here
Find climate action in CC County and its cities! Whether it’s hiking Mount Diablo, fishing or swimming in the Carquinez Strait, or just stepping outside in the morning air, we all benefit from the environmental efforts of those who came before us. It is now our turn to take local action to protect the air, water and area we love and depend upon for our health and well-being. Elected city and county officials continue to be influenced by even a small number of residents concerned about an issue. And getting involved introduces us to like minded, fun people.
## What’s Happening in Your Area?
Check out the local initiatives below.
- [County-wide](#CCCounty)
- [East County](#EastCounty)
- [Central County](#CentralCounty)
- [West County](#WestCounty)
Look for links to actions in your city in the local sections.
## What’s Happening in Your Area?
Check out the local initiatives below, where you’ll find links to actions we’re taking in your cities now.
🍃 [County-wide](#CCCounty) 🍃
🍃 [East County](#EastCounty) 🍃
🍃 [Central County](#CentralCounty) 🍃
🍃 [West County](#WestCounty) 🍃
## Contra Costa County Climate Action
Contra Costa County runs from San Francisco Bay to the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It is made up of 19 cities and a number of unincorporated communities spread across its [five supervisorial districts](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5715/Find-my-supervisor). The land it occupies is the traditional homeland of the Bay Miwok, Yokut, and Ohlone peoples.
Contra Costa County policies govern all **unincorporated territory** across the county, including numerous unincorporated communities such as Bay Point, Vine Hill, and Kensington.
### 350 CCA Climate Issues / Campaigns
From refinery pollution to wildfires, from clean energy conversion to reforestation, there are a number of pressing issues affecting our county and as many ways to address them. Here are a few of the county-wide climate issues 350 CCA is working on now.
- [Protect Clean Air in the Bay Area—Your Voice Matters](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/)
- [ A Just Refinery Transition—Sunflower Alliance’s roadmap to a just CCC refinery transition](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/roadmap-contra-costa-county-refinery-transition/)
- [Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa—It’s Time to Stop](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
- [Ban Contra Costa Drilling](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)—Protect our children’s health and future
- [Make Polluters Pay Superfund](https://350contracostaaction.org/its-time-for-california-to-make-polluters-pay/)
- [East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)
- [CACTI: Fighting the Montezuma Pipeline](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/)
- [Endorsing and supporting](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/) climate-friendly candidates throughout the county
## Contra Costa County’s Climate Initiatives
Track the county’s sustainability efforts, explore the Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan and legislative platforms, and take part in the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge.
- [Sustainability Commission](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6393/Sustainability-Commission)—Advises CCC staff and board on CAP implementation, equity and education around sustainability measures
- [Sustainability Committee](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7029/Sustainability-Committee)—Board of Supervisors committee focusing on implementing the CAP
- [Sustainability Resources](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9750/Sustainability-Resources)—A compendium of local, state, and federal resources available to CCC residents and businesses
- [Legislative Platform](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/2859/Legislative-Platform)—Information on state and federal legislation the County supports in the areas of climate, health care, housing and homelessness, the Delta water and levees, and numerous other issues
- [**General Plan**](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/4732/General-Plan)—The County’s goals, policies, and implementation measures for growth and conservation through 2045
- [**Climate Action Plan**](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/8678/Climate-Action-Plan) (CAP)—The County’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in unincorporated CCC through 2045
- [Climate Emergency Resolution](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/68175/County-Unanimously-Passes-Emergency-Climate-Resolution?bidId=)—2020 Resolution declaring a climate emergency
- [Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge](https://cleanercontracosta.org/)—Initiative to help individuals, families, and businesses to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and collectively create a cleaner, healthier county
## Meet Contra Costa County's Decision Makers
Five elected officials, one each for Contra Costa’s five electoral districts, comprise the Board of Supervisors. These five decision makers govern the county and oversee its administration. A 🍃denotes a 350 CCA and 350 Bay Area Action endorsee.
 Contra Costa County Administrative Building Image credit: Christine Stevens
### Our Board of Supervisors
- District 1: [John Gioia](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5216/District-1-Supervisor-John-M-Gioia)
- District 2: [Candace Andersen](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/4668/District-2-Supervisor-Candace-Andersen)
- District 3: [Diane Burgis](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6437/District-3-Supervisor-Diane-Burgis)
- District 4: [Ken Carlson](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6291/District-4-Supervisor-Ken-Carlson)
- District 5: [Shanelle Scales-Preston](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/781/District-5-Supervisor-Scales-Preston) 🍃
## Attend a Meeting
#### Board of Supervisors
The [Board of Supervisors](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9970/Board-of-Supervisors) meets at 9 am on Tuesdays, though not every Tuesday, at the County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA. You can view their regularly updated meeting schedule on the [Contra Costa County home page](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9970/Board-of-Supervisors).
#### Planning Commission
The [Contra Costa Planning Commission](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/4314/County-Planning-Commission) is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and meets at 6:30 pm, on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month in the ZA Room at 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA
#### Sustainability Commission
Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, the [Sustainability Commission](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6393/Sustainability-Commission) meets every other month, from 5-7 pm on the fourth Monday, in Room 110 at 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA.
#### All Contra Costa Meeting Agendas & Minutes
Access all county meeting agendas and minutes on the county’s [Meeting Calendar](https://contra-costa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx).
## Take Action in Your Community
Some issues affect all of us. But much like our variety of microclimates, each region in our county has its own unique character and concerns. Look below to find out what is happening in your area.
### East Contra Costa Climate Action
Bordered on the north by the Delta and on the east by Old River, East Contra Costa County sits on the [hilly terrain of the northern Diablo Range](https://savemountdiablo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/diablo-range-map-detailed-cr-clancy-08-04-2023-scaled.jpg). It is an area rich in farmland and a history of environmental disputes.
#### Climate Issues & Campaigns
We are currently working on the following issues. Click on any of the links below to learn about what we are doing and how you can take action!
- **Montezuma Carbon Hub**
- [Montezuma Carbon Hub: Dangerous Distraction from Real Climate Solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/)
- [350 CCA Joins CACTI to Combat Montezuma Pipeline](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/)
- [East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/) (ECCHH)
- [Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa—It’s Time to Stop](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
Do you know of another issue that we should be addressing? Let us know at .
 Contra Loma Regional Park, Entrance, Antioch, CA Image credit: Anne Grenier
 Contra Loma Regional Park, Entrance, Antioch, CA Image credit: Anne Grenier
#### Climate Issues & Campaigns
We are currently working on the following issues. Click on any of the links below to learn about what we are doing and how you can take action!
- **Montezuma Carbon Hub**
- [Montezuma Carbon Hub: Dangerous Distraction from Real Climate Solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbonhub-a-dangerous-distraction-from-real-climate-solutions/)
- [350 CCA Joins CACTI to Combat Montezuma Pipeline](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/)
- [East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/) (ECCHH)
- [Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa—It’s Time to Stop](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
Do you know of another issue that we should be addressing? Let us know at .
#### East Contra Costa Cities
Covering a large swath of land, East County includes the following cities and unincorporated areas. Check out the highlighted cities for what’s happening there right now.
- **[Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)**
- [**Brentwood**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- Oakley
- Pittsburg
- [Unincorporated communities](#CCCounty) of Bay Point, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Discovery Bay, and Byron
Is your city not linked to its own page? We are still building the city pages. Check back frequently if you don’t see yours here.
### Central Contra Costa Climate Action
Situated between the Oakland-Berkeley Hills and the hills of the northern Diablo Range, Central Contra Costa is composed primarily of suburban communities built along the valley floors. Tuyshtuk (Mount Diablo), ever present, rises on its eastern side.
 Mount Diablo rises above the Martinez refinery Image credit: Christine Stevens
#### Climate Issues / Campaigns
We are currently working on the following issues in central Contra Costa. Click on any of the links below to learn about what we are doing and how you can take action!
- [350 CCA Joins CACTI to Combat Montezuma Pipeline](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/)
- [Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/)
- [Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa—It’s Time to Stop](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
Do you know of another issue that we should be addressing? Let us know at .
#### Central Contra Costa Cities
With over half of the county’s population, Central Contra Costa includes the following cities and unincorporated areas. Take a look at the highlighted cities to see what’s currently happening there.
- [**Benicia**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/) (Adopted Solano County City)
- Clayton
- Concord
- Danville
- Lafayette
- [**Martinez**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [**Moraga**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- Orinda
- Pleasant Hill
- [**San Ramon**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- Walnut Creek
- [Unincorporated communities](#CCCounty) of Canyon, Pacheco, Vine Hill, the Pleasant Hill BART Station, Sarnap, Alamo, Blackhawk, and Tassajara
Does your city lack a dedicated page? This indicates that we don’t have a local representative there. Consider becoming a [city liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) and start building connections with the key decision-makers in your community.
 Children march in a bagpipe parade beside the 350 CAA booth at the Martinez Beaver Festival, June 13, 2026
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 Children march in a bagpipe parade beside the 350 CAA booth at the Martinez Beaver Festival, June 13, 2026
Image credit: Christine Stevens
#### Central Contra Costa Cities
With over half of the county’s population, Central Contra Costa includes the following cities and unincorporated areas. Take a look at the highlighted cities to see what’s currently happening there.
- [**Benicia**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/) (Adopted Solano County City)
- Clayton
- Concord
- Danville
- Lafayette
- [**Martinez**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- Moraga
- Orinda
- Pleasant Hill
- [**San Ramon**](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- Walnut Creek
- [Unincorporated communities](#CCCounty) of Canyon, Pacheco, Vine Hill, the Pleasant Hill BART Station, Sarnap, Alamo, Blackhawk, and Tassajara
Does your city lack a dedicated page? This indicates that we don’t have a local representative there. Consider becoming a [city liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) and start building connections with the key decision-makers in your community.
### West Contra Costa Climate Action
Surrounded on three sides by the waters of San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and the Carquinez Strait, West Contra Costa is the most urbanized area of Contra Costa County. It also, however, contains important watershed open space, making it a place of contrasts and a variety of environmental concerns.
#### Climate Issues / Campaigns
We are currently working on the following issues in west Contra Costa. Click on any of the links below to learn about what we are doing and how you can take action!
- [Roadmap to Contra Costa County Refinery Transition](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/roadmap-contra-costa-county-refinery-transition/)
- [Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa—It’s Time to Stop](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
Do you know of another issue that we should be addressing? Let us know at .
 View of Richmond through forested hill in Kensington, California. Image credit: N. de Jesus
 View of Richmond through forested hill in Kensington, California. Image credit: N. de Jesus
#### Climate Issues / Campaigns
We are currently working on the following issues in west Contra Costa. Click on any of the links below to learn about what we are doing and how you can take action!
- [Roadmap to Contra Costa County Refinery Transition](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/roadmap-contra-costa-county-refinery-transition/)
- [Gas Leaf Blowers Are Polluting Contra Costa—It’s Time to Stop](https://350contracostaaction.org/gas-leaf-blowers-are-polluting-contra-costa-its-time-to-stop/)
Do you know of another issue that we should be addressing? Let us know at .
#### West Contra Costa Cities
West County, the smallest section of Contra Costa in terms of land area, includes the following cities and unincorporated areas. Explore the highlighted cities to find out what’s going on at the moment.
- **[El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)**
- Hercules
- Pinole
- Richmond
- San Pablo
- [Unincorporated communities](#CCCounty) of Kensington, El Sobrante, North Richmond, Rodeo, Crockett, and Port Costa
Is your city not linked to its own page? We are still building the city pages. Check back frequently if you don’t see yours here.
## How to become a climate advocate in Contra Costa County
No matter your region or the issue that most concerns you, there are so many ways to take action! What feels right for you? We’ve got some tips to get you started!
🌎 [Volunteer](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/) with 350CCA.
🌎 [Donate](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action) to 350CCA.
🌎 [Talk to your friends and family](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub#HowToTalkAboutClimateChange) about what concerns you.
🌎 Talk to your local decision makers.
🌎 Speak at a local council meeting.
🌎 [Write a letter to the editor](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/) at your local newspaper.
🌎 Attend a protest to protect democracy and environmental and social justice.
🌎 Watch our calendar for [upcoming events](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/category/upcoming-events/) and [action team meetings](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/category/action-team-meetings/).
🌎 Host a letter-writing party.
🌎 [Subscribe to our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/) and watch our blog for more ideas!
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/why-arent-more-of-us-talking-about-the-climate-crisis/)### [ Why Aren’t More of Us Talking About the Climate Crisis? ](https://350contracostaaction.org/why-arent-more-of-us-talking-about-the-climate-crisis/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/why-arent-more-of-us-talking-about-the-climate-crisis/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/)### [ Write and Submit a Letter to the Editor—It’s Easy! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-and-why-to-join-350-contra-costa-action/)### [ How and Why to Join 350 Contra Costa Action ](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-and-why-to-join-350-contra-costa-action/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-and-why-to-join-350-contra-costa-action/)
[ Get Started Today—Join 350 Contra Costa Action ](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Brentwood (94513) Climate Action & Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
**Published:** March 29, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Brentwood (94513) Climate Action & Advocacy
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
## Brentwood’s Agriculture Needs Climate Advocacy
The city of Brentwood sits on a flat-to-gently-sloping plain of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, in the rain-shadow of Mt. Diablo. This unique geography leaves Brentwood vulnerable to worsening droughts, putting its thriving agritourism economy at risk and making Brentwood climate action and advocacy vital to a sustainable future.
Brentwood’s history is rooted in agriculture, dating to the 1870s. The city continues this legacy and is known across the Bay for its U-Pick farms that produce delicious cherries, corn, and peaches. In 2024, Brentwood was designated part of the Contra Costa American Viticultural Area (AVA), recognizing its viticultural history and growing wineries. The city of Brentwood recently announced plans to build Harvest Center, an agricultural innovation and education center. The new structure, which may include a restaurant and retail space, will be designed to recognize the ongoing contributions that agriculture makes to the city.
Brentwood farmers struggle with frequent droughts, driven by rising temperatures linked to climate change. This affects crop productivity and the economic health of area farms. To protect the city’s rich agriculture, beloved U-Pick attractions, and growing number of residents, climate action in Brentwood is essential to the city’s economic well-being.
 Brentwood, CA, Farmers Market
Image credit: Anne Grenier
 Brentwood, CA, Farmers Market
Image credit: Anne Grenier
Brentwood farmers struggle with frequent droughts, driven by rising temperatures linked to climate change. This affects crop productivity and the economic health of area farms. To protect the city’s rich agriculture, beloved U-Pick attractions, and growing number of residents, climate action in Brentwood is essential to the city’s economic well-being.
## Brentwood Bans Oil & Gas Drilling in City Limits
 Gray Steel Pumpjack pumping oil
Image credit: [Yuri Shkoda](https://www.pexels.com/@yurashkoda) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-gray-steel-pumpjack-under-blue-sky-7392237/)
In February 2024, the Brentwood City Council passed a permanent ordinance prohibiting oil and gas drilling within the city limits. The law specifically targets districts like Garin Ranch and Sciortino Ranch, neighborhood areas bordering undeveloped land often targeted by oil and gas developers. The ordinance is enforceable within 3,200 feet of sensitive areas near housing, parks, and schools.
While the community celebrates this citywide ban, parts of Brentwood remain at risk from county-approved drilling projects.
The city ordinance alone cannot stop pollution drifting over Brentwood from unincorporated areas.
To defend our families, agriculture, and air, we must demand that county plans close these loopholes and take real action.
For specific climate actions you can take to help protect Brentwood, see [Protect Brentwood from Drilling: Close County Plan Loopholes](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-brentwood-from-drilling-close-county-plan-loopholes/).
 Houses sprawl along the hillside in a Brentwood neighborhood
Image credit: Anne Grenier
 Houses sprawl along the hillside in a Brentwood neighborhood
Image credit: Anne Grenier
While the community celebrates this citywide ban, parts of Brentwood remain at risk from county-approved drilling projects.
The city ordinance alone cannot stop pollution drifting over Brentwood from unincorporated areas.
To defend our families, agriculture, and air, we must demand that county plans close these loopholes and take real action.
For specific climate actions you can take to help protect Brentwood, see [Protect Brentwood from Drilling: Close County Plan Loopholes](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12-XR7jRZ08TwEr6eSLYDlA-wxWopWDQrVKB-6Wlw2vY/edit?usp=sharing).
## Preserving Nature Amid Growing Urbanization
 Round Valley Regional Preserve, Brentwood, CA
Image credit: Anne Grenier
Since the 1990s, Brentwood has experienced enormous population growth and suburban sprawl. Multiple residential developments and the displacement of natural habitats continue to strain city and wildlife resources.
To help protect open space, the city responded with programs like the Transfer of Agricultural Credits (TAC) and, in 2022, approved Measure Q. This voter-protected overlay preserves certain open spaces, parks, and agricultural areas.
The city has been active in conservation, adopting a Conservation & Open Space element in its General Plan, and partnering with East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, CA Farmland Trust, and Sustainable Contra Costa.
Amid efforts in land use and conservation, visible city programs like Brentwood Purple Plumbing Water Reuse show tangible progress. These initiatives are critical as the city faces growing climate-related threats.
Continued climate heating, however, is likely to intensify Brentwood’s challenge of balancing growing urbanization with a declining natural environment and resources.
 Brentwood Purple Plumbing Water Reuse Notice at City Park
Image credit: Anne Grenier
 Brentwood Purple Plumbing Water Reuse Notice at City Park
Image credit: Anne Grenier
The city has been active in conservation, adopting a Conservation & Open Space element in its General Plan, and partnering with East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, CA Farmland Trust, and Sustainable Contra Costa.
Amid efforts in land use and conservation, visible city programs like Brentwood Purple Plumbing Water Reuse show tangible progress. These initiatives are critical as the city faces growing climate-related threats.
Continued climate heating, however, is likely to intensify Brentwood’s challenge of balancing growing urbanization with a declining natural environment and resources.
## Brentwood’s Climate-Change Challenges
 Brentwood City Park Garden
Image credit: Anne Grenier
Brentwood’s trend towards more extreme-heat days and hot, dry summers puts the area at high risk of increased wildfires and poor air quality.
We must act decisively to protect our city from these threats and demand solutions that ensure a safe, healthy future.
The city has yet to develop a Climate Action Plan, as other Contra Costa Cities have, although it lists it as an action item under the [Conservation of Land & Open Space section of its General Plan](https://www.brentwoodca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2900/638700285520700000).
Brentwood’s General Plan does not currently specify measurable steps to cut local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
While we applaud the city’s conservation efforts, we encourage the city to set a date to discuss developing and implementing specific “how to get there” plans and measurable initiatives to reduce Brentwood’s greenhouse gas emissions by a targeted amount and date.
 Better in Brentwood ciity park sign near gazebo
Image credit: Anne Grenier
 Better in Brentwood ciity park sign near gazebo
Image credit: Anne Grenier
While we applaud the city’s conservation efforts, we encourage the city to set a date to discuss developing and implementing specific “how to get there” plans and measurable initiatives to reduce Brentwood’s greenhouse gas emissions by a targeted amount and date.
 Brentwood Farmers Market Crowd
Image credit: Anne Grenier.
One possible starting action: Develop and implement a robust citywide education, outreach, and engagement campaign to transition residences away from gas-fueled heating and cooling systems, and replace those with heat pumps/HVACs and/or electric water heaters by a specified target date.
Integration of these newer systems into the sprawling number of residences in Brentwood would be a valuable step towards improving Brentwood’s air quality.
With these challenges outlined, consider how you can contribute to local climate action.
## Ready to Take Action in Brentwood?
### Become a Brentwood Climate City Liaison
Clearly show your support for Brentwood’s climate-forward council members by urging them to develop detailed plans and allocate specific funds to reduce Brentwood’s greenhouse gas emissions. Encourage the transition to alternative energy sources to improve air quality. Join our Brentwood City Liaison team to advocate for action and measurable progress on climate initiatives.
[ Join the Brentwood City Liaison Team ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
### Contact Brentwood's Decision Makers
Get involved by attending City Council or Planning Commission meetings to voice your concerns, writing to your elected officials, or joining local environmental groups. By participating in these ways, you ensure officials hear your stance and can directly impact Brentwood’s climate future.
 Brentwood City Hall Entrance
Image credit: Anne Grenier
#### City Council
The mayor and four council members compose the Brentwood City Council. All are elected in even-numbered years for four-year terms.
Follow the links to learn about each of our elected officials. (🍃 *=* 350CCA endorsed)
- [Mayor Susannah Meyer](mailto::smeyer@brentwoodca.gov) (Disability Rights Advocate)
- [Vice Mayor Pa’tanisha Pierson](mailto::ppierson@brentwoodca.gov), District 2, *(pro-DEI)*
- [Council Member Faye Maloney](mailto::fmaloney@brentwoodca.gov), District 1 (*pro-Agriculture protection)*
- [Council Member Jovita Mendoza](mailto::contactjmendoza@brentwoodca.gov), District 3 (*City Climate Lead) 🍃*
- [Council Member Tony Oerlemans](mailto::toerlemans@brentwoodca.gov), District 4
Not sure who what district you’re in? The official [Brentwood website](https://www.brentwoodca.gov/government/city-council) points to [this district map](https://wags.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=ac0f6f95ff8547c788ae28bde0ee862f), but cautions they are not responsible for its accuracy. If in doubt, call City Hall at 925.516.5400.
### Attend a Meeting
#### Brentwood City Council Meetings
Brentwood City Council typically meets on the **2nd** and **4th** **Tuesday** of each month, **except July**, when City Council’s regular meeting is held on the **4th Tuesday only**. Residents may attend via [Zoom](https://www.brentwoodca.gov/government/city-manager/city-clerk/council-meetings-online) or in person.
**Location:** Council Chambers
Brentwood City Hall
150 City Park Way
Brentwood, CA 94513
925.516.5400
#### Planning Commission Meetings
Appointed by the City Council, the 5-member Planning Commission meets on the **first** and **third** **Tuesdays** of each month at **6 pm** in the **council chambers**.
**Location:**
Council Chambers
Brentwood City Hall
150 City Park Way
Brentwood, CA 94513
925.516.5400
#### Agendas and Minutes
See all upcoming City of Brentwood meetings, including agendas and minutes, **[here](https://www.brentwoodca.gov/government/meeting-information/-utm_medium-email/-utm_source-govdelivery)**.
## Latest Climate Actions in the City
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-brentwood-from-drilling-close-county-plan-loopholes/)### [ Protect Brentwood from Drilling: Close County Plan Loopholes ](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-brentwood-from-drilling-close-county-plan-loopholes/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-brentwood-from-drilling-close-county-plan-loopholes/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)### [ Return Jovita Mendoza to Brentwood City Council D3 ](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/brentwood-the-ban-continues/)### [ Brentwood: The Ban Continues ](https://350contracostaaction.org/brentwood-the-ban-continues/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/brentwood-the-ban-continues/)
**Take the next step. Get involved and help steward Benicia toward ever more responsible climate accountability.**
**Your engagement can make a significant difference in shaping the city’s future.**
[ Become a Benicia City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
### Support Our Work
**We’re working to elect climate champions throughout Contra Costa in 2026. Support our work with a donation.**
[ Donate ](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
**Published:** December 5, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Local Policy Team
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
## Advocating for strong, equitable climate policies in Contra Costa
Our county and cities must take bold action to reduce GHG emissions and enable a safer, more equitable future—including climate, housing, transportation and land-use policies.
Estimates suggest that cities are responsible for [75 percent](https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/resource-efficiency/what-we-do/cities/cities-and-climate-change) of global emissions. With more than 60 percent of the US population living in cities, there is [urgency and opportunity](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/cities-driving-climate-change-part-solution-un-report-2022-04-05/) in focusing on local solutions.
Our Local Climate Policy Team educates city and county decision makers about best practices. We advocate for new policies and organize the local community to support the changes
needed.
## Take One Action Right Now
Placeholder copy. Replace with info about the legislative action called for and add a link on the "Act Now" button to the info page/blog post. TO UNHIDE the section, click Section/Advanced/Responsive and unhide on all three views: Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile. TO HIDE THE SECTION AGAIN, go to the Responsive area again and click the "Hide" button for all three views.
Act Now
## Take One Action Now
### Pinole Business Owners and Residents/Visitors
### For a Healthier and Cleaner Pinole
Take a survey (5-8 minutes) to help the City of Pinole learn how residents, visitors, and businesses can work together to transition from single-use plastic bags and food-ware. There are two surveys—one for business owners and one for residents/visitors.
## Pinole Residents/Visitors Survey
Take the Pinole Plastics Reduction Survey
[ Take the Survey ](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P8PVLBG)
## Pinole Business Owners Survey
Take the Pinole Plastics Reduction Survey
[ Take the Survey ](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S9CDHHQ)
Photo by [Magda Ehlers](https://www.pexels.com/@magda-ehlers-pexels/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-plastic-bottles-2547565/)
## Our Projects Include Advocacy On . . .
- The County Climate Action Plan and General Plan
- Cities’ climate emergency resolutions, climate plans, and general plans
- Decarbonization of buildings and transportation
- Clean energy solutions
## Our Projects Include Advocacy On . . .
- The County Climate Action Plan and General Plan
- Cities’ climate emergency resolutions, climate plans and general plans
- Decarbonization of buildings and transportation
- Clean energy solutions
## City by City We’re Advancing Climate Solutions
### Join Us!
You can make a positive impact right here in Contra Costa County. Our [Climate Action hub](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/) connects you to local projects, urgent issues, and community campaigns near you. Whether you’re concerned about clean air, protecting natural spaces, preparing for climate challenges, making polluters pay, or advancing renewable energy, you’ll find plenty of ways to get involved and make a real difference.
Explore how you and your neighbors can work together for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future—starting today.
We’re rolling out individual action guides for cities across Contra Costa County. **Has yours launched?** Find out below and discover ways to make a difference in your community. More communities will be added soon!
[ Find Climate Action in Contra Costa County & Cities ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
## What We're Doing Now
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/)### [ Protect Clean Air in the Bay Area: Your Voice Matters ](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/)
Protecting clean air in the Bay Area is essential for the health of our families and future generations. With new zero-NOx rules on the horizon, community involvement is crucial. Learn how you can voice your support and make a tangible difference in the fight against air pollution. Together, we can ensure a healthier environment for all.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)### [ East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project Moving Forward ](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)
350 Contra Costa is helping Pittsburg and Antioch families create healthier, all-electric homes through the East Contra Costa Healthy Homes Project. This effort improves air quality, saves energy, and opens doors to good local clean-energy jobs—building a stronger, more equitable East Bay.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-policy-summit-and-lobby-day-2025/)### [ California Climate Policy Summit and Lobby Day 2025: Register Now! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-policy-summit-and-lobby-day-2025/)
Join 350 Contra Costa Action at the California Climate Policy Summit on April 22nd in Sacramento, then at Sacramento Climate Lobby Day on the 23rd. Hear from experts, connect with activists, and inspire lawmakers to act.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-policy-summit-and-lobby-day-2025/)
What does it take to get a strong policy or ordinance in place in your jurisdiction?
There are several elements, but the key is **YOU** and your voice.
## We Need Your Help To . . .
- Build community engagement
- Research best practices from other jurisdictions
- Review plans to make sure they are equitable for all residents
- Educate other community members, elected officials, and city staff
- Build relationships with other groups for collaboration on campaigns and policy ideas
## You Don't Need to Be a Policy Expert
You don’t need to be a policy expert—you just need enthusiasm for making positive change happen. Advocating at the local level is not like lobbying in Washington, DC. Policy makers live and work in your community, and they’re open to engaging with constituents like you.
To find out more, please [get in touch](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-us/contact-us/)!
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/blog/)
**Published:** March 8, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Blog
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-the-switch-to-heat-pumps-heres-why/)## [ Make the switch to HEAT PUMPS! Here’s why ](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-the-switch-to-heat-pumps-heres-why/)
June 13, 2025
Make the switch to heat pumps! Enjoy cleaner air, lower energy costs, and a smaller carbon footprint while keeping your family safe and healthy.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-the-switch-to-heat-pumps-heres-why/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/walnut-creeks-sustainability-plan-roadmap-to-a-greener-future/)### [ Walnut Creek’s Sustainability Plan: Roadmap to a Greener Future ](https://350contracostaaction.org/walnut-creeks-sustainability-plan-roadmap-to-a-greener-future/)
June 24, 2026
What does a sustainable Walnut Creek look like? The city’s 2023 Sustainability Action Plan is driving cleaner air, greener transportation, smarter water use, and less waste.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/walnut-creeks-sustainability-plan-roadmap-to-a-greener-future/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/second-hand-smoke/)### [ Secondhand Smoke ](https://350contracostaaction.org/second-hand-smoke/)
350 Contra Costa Action is delighted to share Secondhand Smoke, the work of two young artists who blend words and images, confronting the reality of a warming world.
Their voices challenge us to see, and to act before the future slips away.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/second-hand-smoke/)
May 25, 2026
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-connect-bay-area-ballot-measure-how-voting-yes-can-save-bay-area-transit/)### [ The Connect Bay Area Ballot Measure: How Voting Yes Can Save Bay Area Transit ](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-connect-bay-area-ballot-measure-how-voting-yes-can-save-bay-area-transit/)
Nadia’s daily commute shows what’s at stake for Bay Area transit riders. With the Connect Bay Area ballot measure, we have a chance to secure funding, improve service, and keep our region moving forward. Find out how you can help.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-connect-bay-area-ballot-measure-how-voting-yes-can-save-bay-area-transit/)
May 3, 2026
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-bills-tracker-the-stakes-for-contra-costa-county/)### [ California Climate Bills Tracker: The Stakes for Contra Costa County ](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-bills-tracker-the-stakes-for-contra-costa-county/)
Discover which California climate bills could shape Contra Costa County’s future—from air quality to clean energy and refinery transitions. See how local voices can make a difference in the legislative process.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-bills-tracker-the-stakes-for-contra-costa-county/)
April 21, 2026
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/join-our-community-climate-forums-and-help-shape-our-clean-energy-future/)### [ Join Our Community Climate Forums and Help Shape Our Clean Energy Future ](https://350contracostaaction.org/join-our-community-climate-forums-and-help-shape-our-clean-energy-future/)
Join 350 Contra Costa Action’s new Community Climate Forums—a free bimonthly Zoom series to learn, connect, and take local action on the climate emergency. First session: April 16, 5–6 PM.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/join-our-community-climate-forums-and-help-shape-our-clean-energy-future/)
April 14, 2026
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-climate-action-what-we-did-whats-next/)### [ Contra Costa Climate Action: What We Did, What’s Next ](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-climate-action-what-we-did-whats-next/)
We showed up for climate action in Contra Costa in 2025—and we’re going even stronger in 2026. From supporting climate champions at the ballot box to launching our new Community Climate Forum and City Liaison Program, there’s never been a better time to get involved. The work is serious. The people are wonderful. And yes, we have a genuinely good time doing it. Come be a part of it.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-climate-action-what-we-did-whats-next/)
April 11, 2026
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-to-influence-california-climate-legislation/)### [ How to Influence California Climate Legislation ](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-to-influence-california-climate-legislation/)
Want to help shape California’s climate laws? Volunteers research bills, meet with state legislators, and advocate for clean energy and fossil fuel phase-outs. No experience needed — training and support are provided.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-to-influence-california-climate-legislation/)
March 18, 2026
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## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
**Published:** March 14, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Newsletter
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
## Learn, Engage, Act!
Each month we send out updates on our latest actions, legislation we’re following or shepherding, and upcoming events. Sign up for our newsletter and keep up with all our activities. Watch for articles on growing sustainable communities and building a sustainable lifestyle. Join us!
## Read Our Latest
**Get up to date with our latest newsletter, where you’ll find all we’re championing this month, as well as actions you can take right now. Then sign up for our monthly newsletter in the form below.**
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-actionjune-2026-newsletter/)### [ 350 Contra Costa Action
June 2026 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-actionjune-2026-newsletter/)
Inside: Spotlight on the power of local action in Contra Costa County and California. Learn about recent climate victories, opportunities to get involved, and how community advocacy is driving progress, even when federal action lags. Join us in building momentum for a healthier and more sustainable future.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-actionjune-2026-newsletter/)
## Join Our Newsletter
## 2026 Issues
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-february-2026-newsletter/)#### [ 350 Contra Costa Action
February 2026 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-february-2026-newsletter/)
Inside: Benicia Refinery Closure & Fines Updates, Protect Brentwood from Drilling; Help Protect Clean Air in the Bay Area; Walnut Creek Banning Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers, and California Cliamte Policy Summit 2026.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-february-2026-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-march-2026-newsletter/)#### [ 350 Contra Costa Action
March 2026 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-march-2026-newsletter/)
Inside: Community Climate Forum Launches April 16, Martinez Refinery Pollution and Enforcement Action Update, Help Save Bay Area Transit, Baypoint/Pittsburg Residents: Share Your Input on Community Resilience Hub, California Climate Policy Summit April 13, Get involved with 350 Contra Costa Action—Roles open!
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-march-2026-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-may-2026-newsletter/)#### [ 350 Contra Costa Action
May 2026 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-may-2026-newsletter/)
Inside: Join us at the upcoming Community Climate Forum to explore California’s pivotal 2026 climate bills; meet local candidates we endorse; learn why Measure A is crucial for Contra Costa County’s future; discover moving poetry by high school student Suhani Goyal; and find out how you can get involved.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-may-2026-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-actionjune-2026-newsletter/)#### [ 350 Contra Costa Action
June 2026 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-actionjune-2026-newsletter/)
Inside: Spotlight on the power of local action in Contra Costa County and California. Learn about recent climate victories, opportunities to get involved, and how community advocacy is driving progress, even when federal action lags. Join us in building momentum for a healthier and more sustainable future.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-actionjune-2026-newsletter/)
## 2025 Issues
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2025-newsletter/)### [ January 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2025-newsletter/)
Start 2025 strong with 350 Contra Costa Action. Support climate champions, get involved in local advocacy, and help tackle climate
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2025-newsletter/)### [ February 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2025-newsletter/)
In Case of Emergency—Take Local Action! Join the Contra Costa Climate Circle. Call your County Supervisor and demand they protect
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2025-newsletter/)### [ March 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2025-newsletter/)
Climate Activism in a Brave New World: California Strong, with the Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill, Martinez Refinery Fire
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2025-newsletter/)### [ April 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2025-newsletter/)
April 2025 Newsletter Local Action for a Better World EARTH DAY 2025, OUR POWER, OUR PLANET! NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2025-newsletter/)### [ May 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2025-newsletter/)
Inside: Who Pays for Climate Disasters?
When climate disasters strike, it’s the American taxpayer who bears the cost. We
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2025-newsletter/)### [ June 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2025-newsletter/)
Inside: Join us on June 14 for the peaceful No Kings March and Rally in Walnut Creek as we stand
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2025-newsletter/)### [ August 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2025-newsletter/)
Inside: Join us on June 14 for the peaceful No Kings March and Rally in Walnut Creek as we stand
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2025-newsletter/)### [ September 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2025-newsletter/)
Inside: Local activists oppose the Montezuma pipeline, BAAQMD settles with Tesoro Refining on Martinez air monitoring, and there’s still time
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2025-newsletter/)### [ October 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2025-newsletter/)
Inside: In memory of Jane Goodall, Contra Costa County air quality, protecting clean air standards for all our communities, East
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2025-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2025-newsletter/)### [ December 2025 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2025-newsletter/)
Inside: Gratitude for our community, volunteer spotlight—Lou Flores—Climate Superfund Update, and our 2025 core focus: Building Electrification
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2025-newsletter/)
## 2024 Issues
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2024-newsletter/)### [ January 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2024-newsletter/)
Inside: Top Priorities for 2024; Seven worthwhile ways you can work for real climate solutions;
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2024-newsletter/)### [ March 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2024-newsletter/)
Inside: After the Berkeley ruling: Moving ahead with building electrification; Climate Leadership in Action; Chevron and Martinez Refinery Co. to
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2024-newsletter/)### [ April 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2024-newsletter/)
Inside: New federal rules mean big cuts in pollution from vehicles; Cutting pollution at home; Brentwood bans drilling; No new
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2024-newsletter/)### [ May 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2024-newsletter/)
Urgent CA Climate Action: Call Senate & Assemblymember today! Ask for Yes on Green Amendment/Bills. See Key Bills that Count.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2024-newsletter/)### [ 350 Contra Costa Action June 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2024-newsletter/)
June 2024 Newsletter Local Action for a Better World TWO action items: Please call Sacramento today! In both the Assembly
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2024-newsletter/)### [ July 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2024-newsletter/)
It’s too damn HOT. This summer’s extreme heat is affecting all of us. Every month in the last year has
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2024-newsletter/)### [ August 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2024-newsletter/)
Contra Costa Communities rise up to oppose Montezuma CarbonHub; learn how you can help shape transportation options in your community;
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2024-newsletter/)### [ October 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2024-newsletter/)
October 2024 Newsletter Local Action for a Better World Why Local Elections Matter for the Climate Air quality. Emissions. Transit.
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2024-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2024-newsletter/)### [ November 2024 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2024-newsletter/)
November 2024 Newsletter Local Action for a Better World Local Climate Action Is More Important Than Ever! While the election
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2024-newsletter/)
## 2023 Issues
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2023-newsletter/)### [ January 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: What do you think? (5-minute survey); Why are all the cities suddenly talking about housing? Plus: Action item: End
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2023-newsletter/)### [ February 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2023-newsletter/)
Inside Why all the fuss about gas stoves? Plus: A fresh start for Concord Reuse Project; Oil and gas setbacks
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/february-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2023-newsletter/)### [ March 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Great news for our air quality! Plus: Hercules moving to cleaner energy; Grid resilience without gas; Poisoned soil in
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/march-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2023-newsletter/)### [ April 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Visit us online! Plus: Brentwood: the ban continues; Sacramento Update; Celebrate Earth Day! More: Bike and Walk for the
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/april-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)### [ May 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Action Alert: It’s time to call Sacramento! Plus: Court rules against Berkeley’s building electrification ordinance; Making solar more affordable;
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/may-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)### [ June 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Stop burning fossil fuels. Period. Plus: Greenhouse gas emissions: the big picture; Action Item: Tell Newsom to support public
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2023-newsletter/)### [ July 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Keep Cool with 350 Contra Costa’s Movie Night! Plus: The heat is on. We must act now; Making corporations
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2023-newsletter/)### [ September 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Action Alert: It’s time to call Sacramento! Plus: California takes a stand against fossil fuels; New county plans going
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2023-newsletter/)### [ October 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Walnut Creek Sustainability Week Free Lunch & Learn Webinars, Carbon Capture and Storage: A False Climate Solution, California Sues
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2023-newsletter/)### [ November 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2023-newsletter/)
Inside: Montezuma CarbonHub, Contra Costa County Draft General Plan and CAP, Urban Forest Grants to 3 Conta Costa Cities, Carbon
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2023-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2023-newsletter/)### [ December 2023 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2023-newsletter/)
Inside our December 2023 newsletter: The all-electric future, CPUC blocks rooftop solar, the Concord Reuse Project, Contra Costa County Climate
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2023-newsletter/)
## 2022 Issues
350 Contra Costa Action published our first newsletter in July 2022.
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2022-newsletter/)### [ July 2022 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2022-newsletter/)
Inside: SCOTUS delivers a major setback for climate action; El Cerrito residents face urgent action by Monday. Plus, learn the
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/july-2022-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2022-newsletter-2/)### [ August 2022 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2022-newsletter-2/)
Climate Action & Local Updates: Get Involved—The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers opportunities for climate progress—let’s build on it! Join
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/august-2022-newsletter-2/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2022-newsletter/)### [ September 2022 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2022-newsletter/)
Inside: Sacramento, Local Climate Action & Election Updates
Big news from Sacramento on climate policy! Learn about efforts to
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/september-2022-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2022-newsletter/)### [ October 2022 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2022-newsletter/)
Martinez, Walnut Creek & California Climate Updates: Martinez is moving forward with building electrification, while Walnut Creek residents are encouraged
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/october-2022-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2022-newsletter/)### [ November 2022 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2022-newsletter/)
In this issue: Invitation to our December 7 virtual open house, plus learn about local climate action, including methane reduction
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/november-2022-newsletter/)
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2022-newsletter/)### [ December 2022 Newsletter ](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2022-newsletter/)
Inside: Urgent Climate Actions & Local Wins—Take urgent action to protect rooftop solar and stop price gouging at the gas
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/december-2022-newsletter/)
## Get Involved
Header photo of mailboxes by [Mathyas Kurmann](https://unsplash.com/@mathyaskurmann) at [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/fb7yNPbT0l8)
---
### [Benicia Climate Action & Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
**Published:** March 29, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Benicia Climate Action & Advocacy
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
## Balancing Act: Climate Action and Advocacy in Benicia
### Longstanding Environmental Awareness
Concern about the health of the Carquinez Strait and emissions from the Valero Refinery has created a climate of environmental awareness in this city of 28,000. The Strait, which wraps around the city, was and still is vital to this city’s economic well-being and quality of life. With the recent Valero Refinery closure, Benicia climate action and advocacy is more important than ever before.
Established in 1847, Benicia soon grew as businesses, including shipbuilding, and homes were established. Then in 1969, an oil refinery opened on more than 900 acres of land facing the waterfront. This confluence of fossil fuel refining and a people-friendly waterfront has long called Benicia residents to environmental attention and activism.
***Note:** Although Benicia lies in Solano County, we’re including Benicia on our city action pages because it shares environmental concerns about the Carquinez Strait with much of Contra Costa County. Benicia climate action and advocacy prove especially important because Benicia, until this year, was home to a refinery, as are some Contra Costa cities.*
### Tank Farm Concerns
Now, as Benicia grapples with the closure of the 57-year-old Valero Refinery, the city faces additional challenges and opportunities. While the facility will no longer generate air pollution from refining, it is slated to become a “[tank farm](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-concerned-about-tank-farm-status/).”
Huge tanks store refined gasoline that is shipped in from other facilities and stored for distribution to California retail locations. This proposed storage facility status leaves in doubt efforts to clean up and redevelop the site.
Additionally, the closure will be a serious economic blow, reducing the city’s tax revenue and impacting most of the 400-plus facility workers, many of whom face job loss.
 From a resident’s backyard on a sunny day, the refinery and tank farm nestled between homes and hills above the Carquinez Strait appear almost picturesque
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 From a resident’s backyard on a sunny day, the refinery and tank farm nestled between homes and hills above the Carquinez Strait appear almost picturesque
Image credit: Christine Stevens
### Tank Farm Concerns
Now, as Benicia grapples with the closure of the 57-year-old Valero Refinery, the city faces additional challenges and opportunities. While the facility will no longer generate air pollution from refining, it is slated to become a “[tank farm](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-concerned-about-tank-farm-status/).”
Huge tanks store refined gasoline that is shipped in from other facilities and stored for distribution to California retail locations. This proposed storage facility status leaves in doubt efforts to clean up and redevelop the site.
Additionally, the closure will be a serious economic blow, reducing the city’s tax revenue and impacting most of the 400-plus facility workers, many of whom face job loss.
## Hope for a Healthy Carquinez Strait and a Viable Future
 Benicia's Lake Herman Recreation area is popular for hiking and cycling
Image credit: Christine Stevens.
Benicia’s future will be shaped by the city’s reaction to these changes. An environmentally sustainable future will depend on attracting clean, non-polluting industries. For example, renewable energy and green manufacturing can provide jobs and generate tax revenues to support essential services, such as fire, police, and public schools.
Upgraded public transit will not only play a role in a more sustainable lifestyle for Benicians but also signal the community’s commitment to a healthier, more sustainable future for the Carquinez Strait.
Residents of Benicia and nearby communities cherish the Carquinez Strait coastline for fishing, boating, swimming, and play dates with their dogs.
Diligent monitoring of the city’s port by state and local agencies will be a vital step toward preserving and safeguarding water quality, fueling hope for a thriving, healthy ecosystem in the Strait.
 People walking along the wetlands bordering the Carquinez Strait
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 People walking along the wetlands bordering the Carquinez Strait
Image credit: Christine Stevens
Residents of Benicia and nearby communities cherish the Carquinez Strait coastline for fishing, boating, swimming, and play dates with their dogs.
Diligent monitoring of the city’s port by state and local agencies will be a vital step toward preserving and safeguarding water quality, fueling hope for a thriving, healthy ecosystem in the Strait.
## Benicia’s Commitment to a Resilient Future
 The Seagull Girl sculpture stands at the edge of the Benicia waterfront
Image credit: Christine Stevens
Benicia’s efforts to address environmental and climate concerns are not new. In 2009, the city council approved its first Climate Action Plan. Their current [Climate Change Adaptation Plan](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/index.asp?SEC=A9D0EFE9-0349-4D1C-BD45-FA5DDA4C94A9&DE=3060235E-FED2-4E37-AA73-0B3A5022998B) (CCAP), “Preparing Benicia for a Resilient Future,” adopted in 2016, includes mitigation measures to respond to the increasing threat of more frequent flooding associated with sea-level rise.
As part of its CCAP implementation, the City Council recently unanimously passed an industrial safety ordinance that requires more stringent air-quality monitoring for Valero and other city industries. Although Valero is closing, the ordinance will help to ensure that new and existing industries follow pollution control guidelines.
## Refinery Pollution Fines
Refinery-related accountability in Benicia has extended beyond city policy.
Bay Area Air District (BAAD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently assessed the Valero Refining Company[ $82 million for more than 15 years](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/news/bay-area-air-district-and-carb-fine-valero-refining-co-82-million-air-quality-violations) of undisclosed discharge of hazardous materials into Benicia’s air. BAAD earmarked the money for pollution and environmental-related uses.
City officials are asking the board to let Benicia use some of the $82 million fine to fill the large budget gap that will be created when Valero closes next year. For details, see [Benicia Refinery Closure: Updates About Fines](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-refinery-closure-updates-about-fines/).
 Fire at the Valero Refinery in Benicia, CA, May 5, 2025
Image credit: Christine Stevens
 Fire at the Valero Refinery in Benicia, CA, May 5, 2025
Image credit: Christine Stevens
Refinery-related accountability in Benicia has extended beyond city policy.
Bay Area Air District (BAAD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently assessed the Valero Refining Company[ $82 million for more than 15 years](https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/news/bay-area-air-district-and-carb-fine-valero-refining-co-82-million-air-quality-violations) of undisclosed discharge of hazardous materials into Benicia’s air. BAAD earmarked the money for pollution and environmental-related uses.
City officials are asking the board to let Benicia use some of the $82 million fine to fill the large budget gap that will be created when Valero closes next year. For details, see [Benicia Refinery Closure: Updates About Fines](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-refinery-closure-updates-about-fines/).
 Ducks swim serenely in the Carquinez Strait beside the wetlands, Carquinez Bridge in background.
Image credit: Christine Stevens
Also in 2024, the Valero Refinery and Amports, which runs the Port of Benicia, agreed to pay $2.38 million for mitigation of damage caused to the Carquinez Strait after the nonprofit [Baykeeper](https://baykeeper.org/press_release/oil-giant-valero-amports-settle-lawsuit-over-bay-pollution/) gathered drone evidence that the refinery and Amports were leaking toxic petroleum coke dust (petcoke) into the air and into the Carquinez Strait.
## Ready to Take Action in Benicia?
### Stop the Dangerous Montezuma Pipeline
Building on the city’s longstanding environmental awareness, residents now have opportunities to participate in protecting their future. An immediate concern is the proposed Montezuma pipeline.
350 Contra Costa Action has joined [CACTI](https://350contracostaaction.org/350-contra-costa-action-joins-cacti-to-combat-the-montezuma-pipeline/), a nonprofit environmental organization driving efforts to block a proposal to build the **pipeline, which would transport dangerous pressurized carbon dioxide gas** down the Carquinez Strait.
Dubbed the Montezuma Pipeline because it traverses the restored Montezuma Wetlands, it [poses multiple risks](https://350contracostaaction.org/montezuma-carbon-capture-pipeline-potential-community-hazard/) to human populations and wildlife. We urge all **Benicia residents** to take a moment to **sign a petition** calling on the Benicia City Council to **oppose the pipeline**.
[ Sign the Benicia CACTI Petition ](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-benicia-city-council-to-say-no-to-bay-area-carbon-dumping-scheme)
## Benicia Climate Action Now
Ready to take action for strong climate solutions in Benicia? There’s always more we can do. Join our [Benicia City Liaison](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) team and help us encourage our elected officials to take a stronger stand against the effects of global heating here at home.
[ Join the Benicia City Liaison Team ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get to Know Benicia's Decision Makers
In addition to signing the petition, you can get involved by attending City Council or Planning Commission meetings to voice your concerns, writing to your elected officials, or joining local environmental groups. These actions help ensure that elected officials acknowledge community voices and that individuals can have a genuine impact on Benicia’s future.
 A person strides up the walkway to Benicia City Hall
Image credit: Christine Stevens
### Contact Elected Officials
Follow the links to learn about each of our elected officials.
- [Mayor Steve Young](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/citycouncil#628B0680-462B-4586-9E23-F936796F1F19)
- [Vice Mayor Trevor Macenski](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/citycouncil#D712ADF5-8EB1-40AD-94FC-1CAD0AC1F625)
- [Council Member Kari Birdseye](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/citycouncil#B513F40F-81C3-40EF-92A4-E5F28C27FCE4)
- [Council Member Lionel Largaespada](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/citycouncil#35223358-93E3-43FD-930E-0C4F4DE183BF)
- [Council Member Terry Scott](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/citycouncil#BF3AB5EB-ADFD-47BC-973C-EE1F7B5EA803)
### Attend a Meeting
#### Benicia City Council Meetings
The Benicia City Council meets on the **first**, **third**, and **fourth** **Tuesdays** of each month at **6 pm** in the council chambers, 250 East L St. Council members discuss and vote on issues affecting residents, the environment, and other matters.
#### Planning Commission Meetings
The Planning Commission meets on the **second Thursday** of each month at **6 pm** in the **council chambers** to discuss and make recommendations to the city council about planning issues.
#### Agendas and Minutes
Agendas and minutes for both the council and planning commission are available [here](https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas).
## Latest Climate Actions in the City
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-concerned-about-tank-farm-status/)### [ Benicia Concerned About Tank Farm Status ](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-concerned-about-tank-farm-status/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-concerned-about-tank-farm-status/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-refinery-closure-updates-about-fines/)### [ Benicia Refinery Closure, Updates About Fines ](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-refinery-closure-updates-about-fines/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/benicia-refinery-closure-updates-about-fines/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/pending-valero-refinery-closure-shocks-benicia/)### [ Pending Valero Refinery Closure Shocks Benicia ](https://350contracostaaction.org/pending-valero-refinery-closure-shocks-benicia/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/pending-valero-refinery-closure-shocks-benicia/)
**Take the next step. Get involved and help steward Benicia toward ever more responsible climate accountability.**
**Your engagement can make a significant difference in shaping the city’s future.**
[ Become a Benicia City Liaison ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
**Published:** December 5, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Electoral Team
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
## Electing local climate leaders, making climate and equity the key issues
Contra Costa County and its 19 [cities have a vital role](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/cities-driving-climate-change-part-solution-un-report-2022-04-05/) in addressing the climate emergency. The Electoral Team works to make sure that our local elected officials are effective climate leaders—leaders who are not afraid to take bold steps toward a clean, healthy, livable future.
At present, many sitting on city councils don’t clearly understand climate issues, don’t see how local policies could address the crisis, and don’t hear from their constituents that they care about the climate crisis.
What’s worse, as our main industry, oil and gas companies have a lot of influence over the discourse around climate. They oppose meaningful action to reduce fossil–fuel emissions by calling it ‘anti–business.’ So some elected officials shy away from climate issues.
That’s why we on the Electoral Team are focused on electing stronger climate leaders—and making climate action a priority for all our local leaders.
All of us want a healthy, prosperous, sustainable future for our communities. To get there, our government must have new priorities and new policies. And that means new leadership.
## Take One Action Right Now
Placeholder copy. Replace with info about the legislative action called for and add a link on the "Act Now" button to the info page/blog post. TO UNHIDE the section, click Section/Advanced/Responsive and unhide on all three views: Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile. TO HIDE THE SECTION AGAIN, go to the Responsive area again and click the "Hide" button for all three views.
Act Now
## To Get Those New Leaders in Place, We . . .
- Identify and support local candidates who are running on a climate with-equity platform
- Work with our parent organization, 350 Bay Area Action, to formally vet and endorse candidates
- Make climate action a key issue in elections—and get out the vote!
Learn more: [Want Climate Action? Elect Local Climate Champions!](https://350contracostaaction.org/want-climate-action-elect-local-climate-champions/)
## Vote 2026!
We are pleased to join 350 Bay Area Action in presenting our jointly endorsed candidates for the June Primary—a group of inspiring leaders who are committed to bold climate action and advancing climate justice. Contra Costa County candidates endorsed for the June primary, and one measure endorsed for the November election, include the following.
- [US Congress District 10: Mark DeSaulnier](https://350bayareaaction.org/us-congress-district-10-mark-desaulnier)
- [CA Assembly D16 – Rebecca Bauer-Kahan](https://350bayareaaction.org/ca-state-assembly-d16-rebecca-bauer-kahan)
- [Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 1: John Gioia](https://350bayareaaction.org/contra-costa-county-board-of-supervisors-district-1-john-gioia)
- [Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 4: Ken Carlson](https://350bayareaaction.org/ccc-bos-d4-ken-carlson)
- [Richmond City Council District 3: Doria Robinson](https://350bayareaaction.org/richmond-city-council-district-3-doria-robinson)
- [Contra Costa County Measure A](https://350bayareaaction.org/ccc-measure-a)
Every candidate on this list has refused fossil fuel money and is ready to stand up for democracy and our vital California climate laws. To see the full list of 2026 endorsed measures and primary candidates, visit [350 Bay Area Action](https://350bayareaaction.org/electoral/2026-endorsed-primary-climate-candidates).
## We Endorsed Fifteen Winning Climate Champs in 2024!
 Image credit: Element5 Digital on Pexels
[Fifteen of the 20 local climate champions we endorsed](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-county-voters-prove-theyre-ready-for-climate-action/), in partnership with 350 Bay Area Action, took office in January 2025!
Winners included those running for:
- **East Bay Regional Parks Board**
- **County Supervisor D5**
- **City Councils in 8 cities**
Our teams of volunteers helped shape our future by supporting these candidates, and getting out the **vote**! Together, we elected leaders who will protect our communities and the environment.
[ Get to Know Your Climate Champions ](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
Our task is huge, and we need your help. All hands on deck! Electoral work is so important— please, [get in touch](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-us/contact-us/) to learn more and become part of the climate solution.
## Contra Costa County's Current Lawmakers and Districts
Did you know that the districts for our county supervisors are different than the districts for our State Assembly members, which are separate from our state senate districts?
And did you know that all those districts are configured differently than your US Congressional district?
If you’ve moved recently, or aren’t sure how the lines have changed after the recent census redistricting, we’ve got you covered.
Go to [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/), where you will find your county supervisor’s name, web page, and district; as well as your California State Assembly, Senate, and federal lawmakers and legislative districts.
 Map courtesy [Contra Costa County Elections Division](https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns-measures/district-precinct-maps/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
**Published:** March 20, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Communications Team
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
## Engage with Community Members About Local Advocacy for Climate Solutions
The Communications Team connects with people in Contra Costa County to help them learn about and engage in local climate action. The county is large and diverse, with 19 cities and many unincorporated communities. We aim to develop a climate-focused presence in each.
We promote action through:
- Our monthly [newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)
- Tabling and petition signature gathering at public events
- Speaking engagements
- Webinars, [blogs](https://350contracostaaction.org/blog/), email blasts, and [letters to the editor](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/)
## What We Do
### Communicate
**Empower our communities** with timely updates on climate challenges and initiatives in Contra Costa County, delivered through our engaging monthly newsletter, lively social media posts, and dynamic website content.
### Educate
**Produce webinars and events** that provide a deeper understanding of climate threats and solutions.
**Write Letters to the Editor** that respond to local news items about climate change, amplify solutions, and correct misconceptions.
**Present** talks related to clean energy solutions, environmental justice, climate mitigation policy, and ending the use of fossil fuels.
### Outreach
**Meet community members** at local fairs and other events to showcase who we are, what we do, and offer local climate actions they can take right now. We encourage people to sign up for our newsletter and to volunteer with us.
**Encourage new volunteers** to find a role in our group that works for them. We connect them with veteran volunteers to act as guides and mentors.
## What Our Volunteers Do
### Team roles: Flexible as needed
- Engage through social media posts
- Create and maintain website
- Educate through letters to the editor
- Reach the community through event tabling
- Provide content for the newsletter
- Gather signatures on climate-related petitions
- Collaborate with youth groups
- Recruit and mentor new volunteers
- Develop educational tools, webinars, and training tools
If you are interested in attending a Comms team meeting or volunteering, please fill out our volunteer interest form below.
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [El Cerrito Climate Action & Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
**Published:** March 29, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### El Cerrito Climate Action & Advocacy
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Find Climate Action in CC County & Cities](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/)
- [County-Wide](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CCCounty)
- [East County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#EastCounty)
- [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/antioch-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/brentwood-94513-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Central County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#CentralCounty)
- [Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/benicia-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/martinez-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [Moraga](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/moraga-ca-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [San Ramon](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/san-ramon-climate-action-advocacy/)
- [West County](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/#WestCounty)
- [El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/)
## El Cerrito: City of Hills, Parks and Climate Action
El Cerrito, in Spanish “the little hill,” is truly a city of hills, parks and climate action and advocacy. The city was founded as a community by refugees from the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 on land then owned by Don Victor Ramon Castro, a large landowner in the East Bay area. Today it is a thriving city covering 3.7 square miles, with a diverse population of 26,000, good public transit options and shopping areas.
The hilly areas of the city provide views of San Francisco and the bay. Residents can enjoy many parks within the city as well as the adjacent Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Part of the Ohlone Greenway, a pedestrian and bicycle path running through parts of the East Bay, lies within the city as well.
## Transit-Friendly City with Population Growth
 A train enters the El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station
Image credit: Nerisa DeJesus
With a diverse population over 26,000, and growing at almost 2 percent a year, the El Cerrito community is well-served by public transportation, with two Bay Area Rapid Transit stations, the local AC Transit bus system, and the Interstate 80 freeway running through it.
Between 2018 and 2022, seven new projects added 463 new housing units, increasing the city’s housing stock. Construction of other housing is underway, including climate-friendly, transit-accessible units near both El Cerrito BART stations.
## El Cerrito’s Environmentally Sustainable Vision
### Citizens Committees Helped Shaped the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
During the two-year development of its climate action and adaptation plan (CAAP), the city worked to formulate El Cerrito’s climate goals. Through two citizens’ committees and an online survey, residents shared their vision of a sustainable and resilient El Cerrito, which helped shape key elements of the [El Cerrito Climate Action and Adaptation Plan](http://el-cerrito.org/325/Climate-Action-Plan). Residents said they want the community to be:
- Friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists
- Less dependent on cars
- Prepared for wildfires and other climate impacts
- Equitable and affordable
- A city of environmentally resilient and native trees
- Carbon neutral or carbon negative by 2045
 Bikers on one of El Cerrito’s biking paths
Image credit: N deJesus
 Bikers on one of El Cerrito’s biking paths
Image credit: N deJesus
During the two-year development of its climate action and adaptation plan (CAAP), the city worked to formulate El Cerrito’s climate goals. Through two citizens’ committees and an online survey, residents shared their vision of a sustainable and resilient El Cerrito, which helped shape key elements of the [El Cerrito Climate Action and Adaptation Plan](http://el-cerrito.org/325/Climate-Action-Plan). Residents said they want the community to be:
- Friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists
- Less dependent on cars
- Prepared for wildfires and other climate impacts
- Equitable and affordable
- A city of environmentally resilient and native trees
- Carbon neutral or carbon negative by 2045
A cornerstone of the final CAAP’s goals is to move toward cleaner energy by increasing electrification and reducing the use of natural gas. The Plan calls for the city to decrease human-caused emissions by 40 percent by 2030, 75 percent by 2040 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
### Dig into the CAAP and Climate Action Dashboard
For further information about the city’s plans to address the effects of climate change on its residents, dig into the General Plan and its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and follow the city’s progress on their Climate Action Dashboard.
- [El Cerrito Climate Action Dashboard](http://www.elcerrito.gov/1711/El-Cerrito-Climate-Action-Dashboard)
- [El Cerrito Climate Action and Adaptation Plan](http://www.elcerrito.gov/325/Climate-Action-Plan) (CAAP) (webpage)
[El Cerrito CAAP—July 2024](https://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/20655/El-Cerrito-CAAP-July-2024) (pdf)
- [General Plan – 1999 with 2014 amendments](https://www.el-cerrito.org/718/General-Plan)
## Building Electrification & Transportation
 An EV charges at one of 4 p0ublic Level 2 charging stations at El Cerrito City Hall
Image credit: N deJesus
El Cerrito building electrification and transportation successes include:
- Upgrading and expanding the EV charging stations at City Hall
- Shifting to renewable diesel for all diesel vehicles in the City’s fleet (including fire engines)
- Transitioning from gas to electric water heaters at 9 facilities
- Applying for and receiving a $200,000 technical assistance grant to plan for electrifying the City’s entire fleet
### Increase Electrification
We hope that the city council will consider in the future a citywide plan to increase home electrification. Outreach and engagement could encourage and help residents to build electrification by transitioning from gas furnaces and water heaters to electric appliances, which would lead to much cleaner indoor and outdoor air.
## Other Completed Climate-Friendly Actions
Other climate-friendly actions the City of El Cerrito has taken include the following.
- Adopting an Expanded Foodware Ordinance prohibiting plastic foodware in El Cerrito
- Updating the City’s Franchise Agreement and municipal code to ensure the rapid implementation of [Senate Bill 1383](http://www.elcerrito.gov/1581/Mandatory-Organics-Recycling) requiring the city to establish a green waste collection program that requires residents to sort their trash to separate out compostable waste
- Becoming a [Tree City USA](https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/)
- Purchasing electric landscape equipment
 Entrance to El Cerrito Foundation Memorial Grove and Hillside Nature Area
Image credit: N deJesus
## Other Completed Climate-Friendly Actions
 Entrance to El Cerrito Foundation Memorial Grove and Hillside Nature Area
Image credit: N deJesus
Other climate-friendly actions the City of El Cerrito has taken include the following.
- Adopting an Expanded Foodware Ordinance prohibiting plastic foodware in El Cerrito
- Updating the City’s Franchise Agreement and municipal code to ensure the rapid implementation of [Senate Bill 1383](http://www.elcerrito.gov/1581/Mandatory-Organics-Recycling) requiring the city to establish a green waste collection program that requires residents to sort their trash to separate out compostable waste
- Becoming a [Tree City USA](https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/)
- Purchasing electric landscape equipment
## Climate Challenges Facing El Cerrito
 The city of El Cerrito, CA, looking toward Richmond and across the San Francisco Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge
Image credit: Nerisa DeJesus
With the busy I-80 freeway running through it, El Cerrito residents suffer a constant source of air pollution—over which the city has no control—emphasizing the importance of **tree planting**, **electrification**, and other strategies they can control.
The ongoing addition of new residences as well highlights the importance of **encouraging electric rather than gas appliances** in new and existing homes.
And the city will need to increase its **walkability score** for areas with less public transit service.
## Ready to Take Action in El Cerrito?
### CTA Placeholder Title
Placeholder Text Area for CTA
## Ready to Take Action in El Cerrito?
### Join Us As an El Cerrito City Liaison
We’re looking for El Cerrito residents to join our [**City Liaison**](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) team to help us make El Cerrito more eco-friendly by working toward a just transition away from fossil fuels.
City liaisons:
- Monitor local environmental issues and city leaders’ response to them
- Get to know their city council members
- Attend city council and planning commission meeetings
- Help to inform residents of upcoming environmental issues affecting them
- Meet like-minded neighbors who love their city
Together, the city liaison team helps to keep the city healthy and thriving.
[ Learn About Our City Liaison Program ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
 350 Contra Costa Action Volunteers at the El Cerrito July 4, 2025, celebration
Image credit: Gary Farber
## Ready to Take Action in El Cerrito?
 350 Contra Costa Action Volunteers at the El Cerrito July 4, 2025, celebration
Image credit: Gary Farber
### Join Us As an El Cerrito City Liaison
We’re looking for El Cerrito residents to join our [**City Liaison**](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/) team to help us make El Cerrito more eco-friendly by working toward a just transition away from fossil fuels.
City liaisons:
- Monitor local environmental issues and city leaders’ response to them
- Get to know their city council members
- Attend city council and planning commission meeetings
- Help to inform residents of upcoming environmental issues affecting them
- Meet like-minded neighbors who love their city
Together, the city liaison team helps to keep the city healthy and thriving.
[ Learn About Our City Liaison Program ](https://350contracostaaction.org/fight-climate-change-locally-be-a-city-liaison/)
## Get to Know El Cerrito's Decision Makers
El Cerrito’s five city council members include 🍃three🍃whom we endorsed and campaigned for in 2024. They have shown leadership and strong advocacy for clean, affordable transit, green housing, and climate resilience.
 El Cerrito, California, City Hall
Image credit: N. deJesus
### Contact Elected Officials
Meet your [El Cerrito City Council Members](https://elcerrito.gov/113/City-Council). Click on a name below to email that council member directly.
- [Mayor Gabe Quinto](mailto:gquinto@elcerrito.gov)
- [Mayor Pro-Tem Rebecca Saltzman](mailto:rsaltzman@elcerrito.gov)🍃
- [Councilmember William Ktsanes](mailto:wktsanes@elcerrito.gov)🍃
- [Councilmember Lisa Motoyama](mailto:lmotoyama@elcerrito.gov)🍃
- [Councilmember Carolyn Wysinger](mailto:cwysinger@elcerrito.gov)
## Attend a Meeting
Two primary bodies make decisions affecting long-range climate actions throughout the city: the City Council and the Planning Commission.
### City Council
**6 pm, 1st and 3rd Tue of the month**
Except from July through September when the Council meets once each month. For exact dates, view the [2026 Regular Meeting Schedule for City Council](https://www.elcerrito.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21373/2026-Regular-City-Council-Meeting-Schedule?bidId=).
**Location:** City Hall
City Council Chambers
10890 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito, CA
The [city council](https://elcerrito.gov/113/City-Council) is composed of five elected members. In December each year, the Council elects the incoming year’s mayor and mayor pro-tempore from among its members. The mayor must have been a sitting council member for at least one year.
### Planning Commission
##### 7:00 p.m. usually 3rd Wed of each month
For exact dates, view the [2026 Planning Commission Meeting Calendar](https://elcerrito.gov/DocumentCenter/View/22743/2026-Planning-Commission-Meeting-Calendar).
**Location:**
City Hall
Council Chambers
10890 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito, CA
The El Cerrito [Planning Commission](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/boards_committees_commissions/planning_commission) serves and advises the city council on matters involving the built environment in relation to state, county, and municpal law.
### All Meetings/Agendas
See a [list of all city meetings](http://www.elcerrito.gov/698/Agendas-Minutes), their regularly scheduled dates and times, and links to agendas and past meeting video recordings.
## Latest Climate Actions in El Cerrito
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/)### [ Support William Ktsanes for El Cerrito City Council! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/)### [ Rebecca Saltzman: Sustainable Transportation Leadership in El Cerrito ](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/)
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/)### [ Lisa Motoyama Drives El Cerrito’s Green Transformation ](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/)
### Support Our Work
**We’re working to elect climate champions throughout Contra Costa in 2026. Support our work with a donation.**
[ Donate ](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Action Teams](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
**Published:** December 5, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Action Teams
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
## Taking Direct Climate Action in Contra Costa County
### You're invited!
Here’s the kind of work we’re doing—effective, *local* climate action. We could use your help! You don’t need special knowledge or skills; we’re all learning as we go along. Please join us!
## Local Policy Team
### Advocating for strong, equitable climate policies in Contra Costa
Our county and cities must take bold action to reduce GHG emissions and enable a safer, more equitable future—including climate, housing, transportation and land–use policies.
Estimates suggest that cities are responsible for [75 percent](https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/resource-efficiency/what-we-do/cities/cities-and-climate-change) of global emissions. With more than 60 percent of the US population living in cities, there is [urgency and opportunity](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/cities-driving-climate-change-part-solution-un-report-2022-04-05/) in focusing on local solutions.
Our Local Climate Policy Team educates city and county decision makers about best practices. We advocate for new policies and organize the local community to support the changes needed.
[Read More . . .](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
## Legislative Team
### Keeping California a leader in climate legislation
The Legislative Team focuses on the Sacramento lawmakers who represent Contra Costa residents. We cultivate strong relationships with these state senators and assembly members so we can influence their votes on important legislation. And we get the word out to our fellow constituents when letters and phone calls are needed to convince lawmakers to vote the right way.
[Read More . . .](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
### Keeping California a leader in climate legislation
The Legislative Team focuses on the Sacramento lawmakers who represent Contra Costa residents. We cultivate strong relationships with these state senators and assembly members so we can influence their votes on important legislation. And we get the word out to our fellow constituents when letters and phone calls are needed to convince lawmakers to vote the right way.
[Read More . . .](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
## Electoral Team
### Electing local climate leaders, making climate and equity the key issues
Contra Costa County and its 19 [cities have a vital role](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/cities-driving-climate-change-part-solution-un-report-2022-04-05/) in addressing the climate emergency. The Electoral Team works to make sure that our local elected officials are effective climate leader —leaders who are not afraid to take bold steps toward a clean, healthy, livable future.
At present, many sitting on city councils don’t clearly understand climate issues, don’t see how local policies could address the crisis, and don’t hear from their constituents that they care about the climate crisis.
What’s worse, as our main industry, oil and gas companies have a lot of influence over the discourse around climate. They oppose meaningful action to reduce fossil–fuel emissions by calling it ‘anti–business.’ So some elected officials shy away from climate issues.
That’s why we on the Electoral Team are focused on electing stronger climate leaders—and making climate action a priority for all our local leaders.
[Read More . . .](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
## Communications Team
### Engages with community members about local advocacy for climate solutions
The Communications Team connects with people in Contra Costa County to help them learn about and engage in local climate action. The county is large and diverse, with 19 cities and many unincorporated communities. We aim to develop a climate-focused presence in each.
We promote action through:
- Our monthly [newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)
- Tabling at public events
- Speaking engagements
- Webinars, [blogs](https://350contracostaaction.org/blog/), email blasts, and [letters to the editor](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/)
[Read more . . .](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
**Published:** May 10, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
## Your Clean Energy Guide for Contra Costa
**We are in this together. Use the information on this page to plug in to Contra Costa’s green energy future. Here you will find resources to make the switch from outdated fossil fuels to cleaner electricity in our homes and throughout our communities.**
## Building Electrification Resources in Contra Costa County
 Photo by [Vladimir Srajber](https://www.pexels.com/@vladimirsrajber/) at [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-a-lamp-15249996/)
350 Contra Costa Action advocates locally—countywide, and city by city—for [building electrification](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub#BuildingElectrification) (BE). Indeed, as we lean into 2026, we are stepping up these efforts while keeping in mind that the IRA-funded federal tax credits for electrification work expire at the end of the year. In 2026, federal credits will no longer be available for heat pump installation and building energy efficiency improvements.
**The good news:** There remain many local, regional and state incentive programs that help make more affordable the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with energy-efficient electric heating systems (e.g., heat-pump space-conditioning and water-heating systems).
### BE Resources for Local Leaders and Advocates
- [Design Guide for Home Electrification from Peninsula Clean Energy](https://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Design-guidelines-for-home-electrification-v051724.pdf)
- [RMI report on HVAC benefits for schools](https://rmi.org/insight/hvac-choices-for-student-health-and-learning/)
- [BAYREN Local Government Resources](https://www.bayren.org/local-government-resources)
- [SPUR modeling study on phasing out gas appliances: what timeline assures no gas appliances by 2045](https://www.spur.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/SPUR_Setting_California%27s_Clean_Appliance_Timeline.pdf)
- [San Francisco Tenant Protections in Building Decarbonization–good examples of helpful policies that protect renters](https://podersf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BEEP-SF-Tenants-Protections-Factsheet-.pdf)
- [Workshop 2 Handout: How can cities lead in electrifying operations and enabling electrification in their city?](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nsLSc6FPPtPtOPnYb0t40BXSQKgaw-K_/view)
- [Built It Green: Renter Protections in Equitable Building Decarbonization](https://www.builditgreen.org/blog/reporting-out-renter-protections-in-equitable-building-decarbonization/)
### BE Resources for Residents
- [The 100 Watt Diet: Learn how to upgrade to electric appliances without upgrading your panel](https://www.redwoodenergy.net/watt-diet-calculator)
- [Make the Switch to Heat Pumps—Here’s Why](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-the-switch-to-heat-pumps-heres-why/)
- [What Is All the Fuss About Gas Stoves?](https://350contracostaaction.org/what-is-all-the-fuss-about-gas-stoves/)
- [The Switch Is On](https://switchison.org/)
- [Get Gas Out of Buildings](https://350bayarea.org/get-gas-out-buildings)
- [The Home of the Future](https://switchison.org/news/the-home-of-the-future-with-ambassador-robert-whitehair/)
- [Contra Costa Conservation and Development Sustainability Resources](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9750/Sustainability-Resources)
- [QuitCarbon free personalized plan for home electrification, and connect with vetted contractors](https://www.quitcarbon.com/?utm_campaign=contra-costa-ira&utm_source=web&utm_medium=event)
- [Personal Climate Action Ideas](https://garyf8642.wixsite.com/climate-action-ideas)
- [Building Electrification FAQs](https://350contracostaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BE-FAQ-internet-version-final-9-24.docx.pdf) (pdf)
## Workforce
 Photo by [Los Muertos Crew](https://www.pexels.com/@cristian-rojas/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-of-installing-on-solar-panels-8853499/)
\[Keeping this section, but hidden, in case we find relevant workforce info to add here, but must remove all references to IRA\]
- [Workforce will be key to achieving promise of IRA](https://www.aceee.org/blog-post/2023/04/adaptable-creative-workforce-will-be-key-achieving-full-potential-federal-climate)
- [Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) job estimates throughout the Inflation Reduction Act](https://www.umass.edu/news/article/new-report-umass-amherst-political-economy-research-institute-shows-immense-job)
- [Bluegreen Alliance 9 Million Good Jobs from Climate Action–The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022](https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BGA-IRA-Jobs-Factsheet-8422_Final.pdf)
## Getting Around Clean and Green
When we think of transportation, inevitably in car-centric Contra Costa, we think automobiles. Yet, there’s a whole world of alternatives just waiting to be explored.
From biking along scenic paths to taking a leisurely walk to your local grocery store, library, or neighborhood café, **active transportation** offers fun and eco-friendly ways to get around. Whether you’re picking up fresh ingredients or enjoying a coffee with friends, these short treks not only benefit the environment but also foster a sense of community.
For those longer journeys, **public transit** provides an excellent option to connect with others while minimizing your carbon footprint. Together, these choices help create a cleaner, more vibrant neighborhood!
 Photo by [Mike Bird](https://www.pexels.com/@mikebirdy/) on [Pexels](https://350contracostaaction.org/wp-admin/upload.php?item=13428)
### Electrify Your Ride
If you’re ready to electrify your personal ride, check out the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) website, [DriveClean](https://driveclean.ca.gov/search-incentives?field_zipcode_target_id=94566). It features a handy search tool that helps you uncover electric vehicle incentive programs available in your area.
Embracing these clean-energy choices not only enhances our community but also contributes to a healthier future for our children and grandchildren.
## Clean-Energy Electrification Organizations
**The following organizations provide resources and actions to help Contra Costa County and its residents switch from fossil fuels to clean-energy electricity.**
**[Local Energy Resource Network (LERN)](https://forms.monday.com/forms/636ffb5bab99a61c5c7eed9a25d7d376?r=use1):** Monthly zoom calls hosted by the [California Climate and Energy Collaborative (CCEC)](https://eecoordinator.info/local-energy-resources-network-lern/) include lots of information on funding opportunities.
[Urban Sustainability Directors Network](https://www.usdn.org/index.html#/):** designated sustainability staff can network and learn of opportunities; free.
**[East Contra Costa Community Alliance (ECCA)](https://www.ecccalliance.org/):** A non profit collaborative network focused on economic and health equity, building community and resident capacity for systems change.
**[Rewiring America Local Leaders for Electrification](https://www.rewiringamerica.org/local-gov-leaders-for-electrification):** Free, newsletter and network keeps you up to date on opportunities.
[**Become a Switch is On Ambassador:**](https://switchison.org/be-an-ambassador/) Educate and promote access to electrifying homes and businesses.
**Climate Mayors:** Mayors can join this free network of Mayors demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities. **[Join here](https://climatemayors.org/join-us/). Or, contact** Rachel Paris at [**rachel@climate-mayors.org**](mailto:rachel@climate-mayors.org).
**[Local Infrastructure Bootcamp](https://localinfrastructure.org/application-bootcamp/#):** Free help for small cities on federal grant applications.
[**EPA State and Local Opportunities Newsletters**](https://www.epa.gov/statelocalenergy/state-local-tribal-energy-newsletters)
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
## Get Involved
---
### [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
**Published:** March 13, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Resources Hub
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
## Learn More, Dig Deeper
Get your climate savvy on here. Learn more about the issues and what you can do. Come back to this page often. We intend to add new resources frequently—a variety of resources to help us address the myriad facets of the crisis, and to help us all work smarter and quicker in this climate emergency.
## How To Talk About Climate Change
 Photo by [Kampus Production](https://www.pexels.com/@kampus/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/elderly-people-talking-to-each-other-6950731/)
Talking about climate change can make a difference. Sara Peach and Jennifer Marlon, at [Yale Climate Connections](https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/11/how-to-talk-about-climate-change-ask-questions/), say to start by asking questions. Follow their tips and you just may influence your neighbor, as one of them did, to go electric when their HVAC failed. Every one of us has the power to make small changes, and collectively, large ones.
## [Watch and Learn](https://www.youtube.com/@350contracosta)
Our sister organization, 350 Contra Costa, focuses on climate education and outreach. You’ll find these and many more enlightening, entertaining, educational, and sometimes just plain conversational climate-related videos on their YouTube channel at 350 Contra Costa.
### Making the Switch to Electric Appliances
This webinar is a user-friendly guide to the hows and whys of replacing your gas range, furnace, and water heater with electric appliances. Learn about rebates and tax credits that can help you upgrade your home and improve indoor air quality while shrinking your carbon footprint.
### Advocating for Climate Change Solutions
Want to do something about the climate crisis, but not sure where to start? In this webinar, you’ll learn about the public health and environmental issues of carbon emissions—and what you can do to bring in climate solutions. You’ll find out how to advocate for electrification and a transition to renewable energy sources—in your city or town, in Contra Costa, and in Sacramento.
### Advocating for Climate Change Solutions
Want to do something about the climate crisis, but not sure where to start? In this webinar, you’ll learn about the public health and environmental issues of carbon emissions—and what you can do to bring in climate solutions. You’ll find out how to advocate for electrification and a transition to renewable energy sources—in your city or town, in Contra Costa, and in Sacramento.
### Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Forests, wetlands, and grasslands capture and store carbon from the atmosphere all the time; in our efforts to cool our planet, Nature is a wonderful ally. But CCS technology, the not-so-natural way to remove carbon and put it in the ground, is not a viable climate solution. In this webinar, you’ll learn about the problems with CCS and the proposed Montezuma CarbonHub in our own backyard. Find out what you can do to stop this project.
[ See all 350 Contra Costa climate videos on their YouTube Channel ](https://www.youtube.com/@350contracosta)
## What is Building Electrification and Why Does It Matter?
## A Key 350 CC Action Campaign
Many homes and businesses in Contra Costa still rely on gas for heating, cooking, and hot water. Building electrification—replacing gas stoves, furnaces, and water heaters with all-electric alternatives—cuts methane emissions, which are [more than 25 times as potent](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/feb/inconsistent-reporting-leads-underestimation-climate-impact-methane) as carbon dioxide over a 100-year period, thereby significantly helping to fight climate change.
When home owners and landlords replace old gas cooking stoves with electric coil or induction cook tops and electric ovens, they may well see immediate health benefits in improved indoor air quality. Gas stoves release asthma-inducing gases like nitrogen dioxide, putting families—especially kids—at risk.
 Photo by [Andrea Piacquadio](https://www.pexels.com/@olly/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/stainless-steel-cooking-pot-on-stove-3768169/)
While some may worry about the initial costs of switching to all-electric systems, the long-term savings on energy bills and maintenance often outweigh these expenses. Additionally, modern electric technologies offer reliable performance, ensuring comfort without compromising on convenience.
Removing fossil fuels from our homes and offices is vital—for the health of the planet, and for the health of our families. Join us in leading the way to making Contra Costa homes and businesses cleaner, safer, and all-electric. See our full resource guide to making the switch: [Plug In to Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/).
## Clean Energy Transition Links
Watch this space for more links on how—and why—we work to promote a transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
 Photo by [Orlando Schwarz](https://www.pexels.com/@orlando-schwarz-197680330/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/solar-light-panels-on-grass-near-windmills-13205474/)
- [Refineries Damage Contra Costa: 4 Ways to Fight Back](https://350contracostaaction.org/refineries-damage-contra-costa-4-ways-to-fight-back/)
- [The Campaign to Stop New Oil and Gas Drilling in Contra Costa](https://www.sunflower-alliance.org/the-campaign-to-stop-oil-drilling-in-contra-costa/)
- [Ban Contra Costa Drilling: Protect Our Children’s Health—Sign the Petition Today](https://350contracostaaction.org/ban-contra-costa-drilling-petition/)
- [A look back at six of the worst refinery incidents in Contra Costa County](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/A-look-back-at-six-of-the-worst-refinery-14537296.php)
## Wildfires and Climate Change
Each year breaks global heat records, contributing to the rise of ever-more disastrous wildfires. Learn about the connection between climate change and the wildfires plaguing our state and what we are doing about it right here in Contra Costa County.
- [Wildfires and Climate Change: What’s the Connection?](https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/07/wildfires-and-climate-change-whats-the-connection/) (Yale Climate Connections)
- [Wildfires, Global Climate Change, and Human Health](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsr2028985) (New England Journal of Medicine)
- [How Climate Change Fuels Increasing Wildfire Disasters](https://www.snappywords.com/knowledge/how-climate-change-fuels-increasing-wildfire-disasters) (Snappywords)
- [2025: A Time to Help Each Other](https://350contracostaaction.org/january-2025-newsletter/) (350CCA Jan Newsletter)
- [Central Contra Costa: Make Polluters Pay!](https://350contracostaaction.org/central-contra-costa-make-polluters-pay/) (350CCA)
 Image credit: James Lee on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/helicopter-aerial-firefighting-at-sunset-29328148/)
## Restoring Natural Systems
Keeping fossil fuels in the ground is the main thing, but it’s not the only thing. We also need to get carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by growing forests, wetlands and grasslands—more plants of every kind to draw down carbon and store it in the soil. Restoring these ecosystems not only removes greenhouse gases, but also preserves the complex Web of Life that we all depend on.
- [Regeneration.org](https://regeneration.org/) is an encyclopedic source for ways we can learn to live in harmony with natural systems instead of destroying them
- [California’s 30 X 30 Initiative](https://www.californianature.ca.gov) aims to conserve 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030
- [Urban rewilding](https://therevelator.org/urban-microrewilding/) is a worldwide movement to restore Nature where people live
- In cities and towns around the globe, [mini-forests planted with the Miyawaki method](https://www.wcwatershed.org/blog/for-a-cooler-future-concord-needs-mini-forests-now) will mature in decades, not centuries, to create small but functioning ecosystems
 Volunteer Staff Photo
## I'm Just One Person--What Can I Do?
Plenty, as it turns out.
- Visit the [Personal Climate Action](https://garyf8642.wixsite.com/climate-action-ideas) website for tips, including low-cost options, replacing gas appliances with electric, and practical considerations for electric cars
- Lower your personal contribution to toxic emissions with the [Consumer’s Guide to Reducing Pollution](https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pollution-reduction/)
- Write a [Letter to the Editor](https://350contracostaaction.org/write-and-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor-its-easy/)
- [Sign Up today](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/volunteer/) and help us grow our impact on climate policy decisions at the city and county level here in Contra Costa County
-
 Photo by [Mikhail Nilov](https://www.pexels.com/@mikhail-nilov/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/hands-passing-the-globe-to-the-person-8542538/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [About Us](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-350-contra-costa-action/)
**Published:** February 27, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### About Us
## The 350 Family
350.org, the international non-profit that sparked 350 Contra Costa Action, had its origins in a 2008 environmental campaign organized by Bill McKibben, the author of *The End of Nature*, a book that alerted the general public to the risk of a warming planet.
Today, 350.org is global in scope, with worldwide affiliated groups and campaigns aimed at speeding our transition to renewable energy, banning all new fossil fuel projects, and ending the financing of dirty energy
## What Does 350 Mean
 Why 350?
The name ‘350’ refers to what is considered to be the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: 350 parts per million (ppm). The 2020 level of carbon dioxide is estimated at 412.5ppm, a historical high.
## 350 in the Bay Area
350 Bay Area, the first local group to come under the global organization’s umbrella, began campaigning for a fossil fuel free future in 2012. Groups that were affiliated with 350 Bay Area but focused more locally soon sprang up, including 350 East Bay in 2014 and more recently 350 Bay Area Action.
In 2019, Jackie Garcia Mann, Lisa Jackson, and Marti Roach, Contra Costa County residents who had been working with 350 Bay Area and 350 East Bay, saw a need for a group with a deeper focus on our county’s issues, and 350 Contra Costa was born. In 2022, we formed 350 Contra Costa Action to work for change through legislation and electing responsive local public officials. At that point 350 Contra Costa became our educational and outreach sister organization. While our group is affiliated with 350 Bay Area Action and shares its mission, we choose and develop our campaigns independently.
As a county with four oil refineries, a number of oil wells, and a diverse population of 1.2 million people, including disadvantaged Black and brown communities, Contra Costa presents unique opportunities to work toward an end to fossil fuel dependence while fostering environmental justice.
## Support Our Work
[Donations](https://donation-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350_contra_costa_action) to 350 Contra Costa Action, classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(4) non profit, do not qualify as tax deductions.
If you would prefer to donate to our sister organization, [350 Contra Costa](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, these donations are tax-deductible, because we engage in non-political educational activities.
## Contact Info
Email:
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Volunteer](https://350contracostaaction.org/volunteer/)
**Published:** February 27, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Volunteer
## What Can One Person Do?
With a problem this huge, it’s easy to feel very small. What can one person—like you, for instance—possibly do to help? A good first step is to start talking about local climate issues with family, friends, and coworkers.
350 Contra Costa Action is a great place to find out about climate issues in California, in the county—and in your city.
[
](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-and-why-to-join-350-contra-costa-action/)### [ How and Why to Join 350 Contra Costa Action ](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-and-why-to-join-350-contra-costa-action/)
Are you feeling anxious about climate change? You don’t have to face it alone. Join 350 Contra Costa Action (350 CCA) to be part of grassroots efforts fighting fossil fuel extraction, pushing for climate action plans, and electing leaders who prioritize the climate. Volunteering is easy and impactful—come make a difference with us!
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/how-and-why-to-join-350-contra-costa-action/)
[ Jump to the Volunteer Form ](#VolunteerForm)
## Climate Anxiety? We Have a Remedy for That!
Ready to turn that anxiety into action? Volunteer with us and make a tangible impact in your community!
By joining our local climate organization, you can:
- Make a difference in your community
- Connect with like-minded individuals
- Take actionable steps toward solutions
We have exciting volunteer opportunities available:
- [Become a Climate Action Newsletter Writer–Learn more](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-an-impact-volunteer-for-newsletter-writer-for-local-climate-action/)
- [Help Lead as a Social Media Manager–Discover More](https://350contracostaaction.org/climatevolunteer-for-social-media-manager/)
- [Serve as a City Climate Action Liaison–Get involved](https://350contracostaaction.org/sign-up-become-a-city-climate-action-liaison/)
Be part of the solution and help us create a healthier planet!
## Make Good Stuff Happen
**YOU** can make all kinds of good stuff happen when you connect with other folks in your community, learn about the issues, and *take action*. And we’re here to help you do that. Please, [get in touch](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-us/contact-us/) to learn more about what you can do at this critical time. We’d love to hear from you!
## Join an Action Team
Working with 350 Contra Costa Action, you can help …
- Elect climate leaders to your city council
- Press the Board of Supervisors to stand up to the oil companies and phase out fossil fuels
- Petition your city council to support the green energy transition
- Make sure that local climate solutions focus on the needs of frontline communities
- Build broad public support for bold climate action
- Get important climate legislation passed in Sacramento
[Learn more about our action teams](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/) and the great work they do.
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
**Published:** May 12, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### CCC Lawmakers and Districts
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
- [Resources Hub Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/)
- [Plug Into Contra Costa’s Green Energy Future](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/plug-in-to-contra-costas-green-energy-future/)
- [CCC Lawmakers and Districts](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/ccc-lawmakers-and-districts/)
- [Newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/)
## Our Local, State, and Federal Lawmakers
### CCC Board of Supervisors
 Map courtesy [Contra Costa County Elections Division](https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns-measures/district-precinct-maps/)
- [John M. Gioia, District 1](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5216/District-1-Supervisor-John-M-Gioia)
- [Candace Andersen, District 2](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/4668/District-2-Supervisor-Candace-Andersen)
- [Diane Burgis, District 3](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6437/District-3-Supervisor-Diane-Burgis)
- [Ken Carlson, District 4](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6291/District-4-Supervisor-Ken-Carlson)
- [Shanelle Scales-Preston, District 5](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/781/District-5-Supervisor-Scales-Preston)
Not sure which district you’re in? There’s a solution: [Find my supervisor](https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5715/Supervisor-Who-Represents-Me).
### Our California Assembly Members
- [Lori Wilson, District 11](https://a11.asmdc.org/district-map)
- [Buffy Wicks, District 14](https://a14.asmdc.org/district-map)
- [Anamarie Ávila Farías, District 15](https://a15.asmdc.org/district-information)
- [Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, District 16](https://a16.asmdc.org/district-map)
Click on the links to see district maps. Not sure what district you’re in? [Find my district](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/).
 Map courtesy [Contra Costa County Elections Division](https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns-measures/district-precinct-maps/)
### Our California Senate Members
 Map courtesy [Contra Costa County Elections Division](https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns-measures/district-precinct-maps/)
- [Christopher Cabaldon, District 3](https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd03.senate.ca.gov/files/map/sd03.html)
- [Jesse Arreguín, District 7](https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/district)
- [Tim Grayson District 9](https://sd09.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd09.senate.ca.gov/files/map/sd09.html)
Click on the links to see district maps. Not sure what district you’re in? [Find my district](https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/).
### Our United States House of Representatives Members
- [John Garamendi, District 8](https://garamendi.house.gov/)
- [Josh Harder, District 9](https://harder.house.gov/)
- [Mark DeSaulnier, District 10](https://desaulnier.house.gov/)
Not sure which Congressional district is yours? [Find my district](https://www.latimes.com/projects/california-congressional-district-map-2021/).
 Map courtesy [Contra Costa County Elections Division](https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns-measures/district-precinct-maps/)
### California's United States Senators
 Photo by [Tom Fix](https://www.pexels.com/@tomfisk/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/national-capitol-building-in-washington-d-c-11563773/")
- [Senator Alex Padilla](https://www.padilla.senate.gov/)
- [Senator Adam Schiff](https://www.schiff.senate.gov/)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [2024 Endorsees](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
**Published:** September 5, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### 2024 Endorsees
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
- [Action Teams Overview](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/)
- [Local Policy Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/)
- [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/legislative-team/)
- [Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/)
- [2026 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/#Vote2026)
- [2024 Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/electoral-team/2024-endorsees/)
- [Communications Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/communications-team/)
# Congratulations to Our Winning Endorsees!
We are thrilled to congratulate our winning endorsees in the 2024 general election! We look forward to working with each of you over the next few years to tackle the climate challenges facing Contra Costa County.
We supported fifteen successful local, county, regional, and state candidates whose decisions will affect Contra Costa County for decades. Our endorsements spanned ten cities, with at least one climate champion winning in each municipality. In several cities two or more candidates won. El Cerrito elected all three of our endorsees! This momentum will drive the quest for meaningful action on climate change forward.
## Meet Our 2024 Endorsees
Our team of electoral volunteers spent weeks researching and vetting candidates. We endorsed each of these individuals for their commitment to clean energy and environmental justice. Candidates who won are marked with a “Winner 2024” badge.
### California State and Regional Candidates
While these candidates span multiple counties, some Contra Costa County voters reside in each of their districts.
### California Senate
District 7
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/jovanka-beckles-leads-on-environmental-justice-in-ca-senate-race/)### [ Jovanka Beckles Leads on Environmental Justice in CA Senate Race ](https://350contracostaaction.org/jovanka-beckles-leads-on-environmental-justice-in-ca-senate-race/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/jovanka-beckles-leads-on-environmental-justice-in-ca-senate-race/)
### California Senate
District 9
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/marisol-rubio-for-ca-senate-district-9/) 
### [ Marisol Rubio for CA Senate District 9! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/marisol-rubio-for-ca-senate-district-9/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/marisol-rubio-for-ca-senate-district-9/)
### East Bay Regional Parks Board
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/lynda-deschambault-for-east-bay-parks-board/)Winner 2024
### [ Lynda Deschambault for East Bay Regional Parks Board! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/lynda-deschambault-for-east-bay-parks-board/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/lynda-deschambault-for-east-bay-parks-board/)
### Contra Costa County Supervisor and City Candidates
### CCC Supervisor
D5
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-shanelle-scales-preston-for-contra-costa-supervisor-d5/)Winner 2024
### [ Elect Shanelle Scales-Preston for Contra Costa Supervisor D5 ](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-shanelle-scales-preston-for-contra-costa-supervisor-d5/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-shanelle-scales-preston-for-contra-costa-supervisor-d5/)
### Brentwood City Council
D3
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)Winner 2024
### [ Return Jovita Mendoza to Brentwood City Council D3 ](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/return-jovita-mendoza-to-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
### Concord City Council
D4
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-pablo-benavente-for-a-sustainable-concord/)Winner 2024
### [ Elect Pablo Benavente for a Sustainable Concord ](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-pablo-benavente-for-a-sustainable-concord/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-pablo-benavente-for-a-sustainable-concord/)
### El Cerrito City Council
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/)Winner 2024
### [ Support William Ktsanes for El Cerrito City Council! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-william-ktsanes-for-el-cerrito-city-council/)
### El Cerrito City Council
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/)Winner 2024
### [ Lisa Motoyama Drives El Cerrito’s Green Transformation ](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/lisa-motoyama-drives-el-cerritos-green-transformation/)
### El Cerrito City Council
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/)Winner 2024
### [ Rebecca Saltzman: Sustainable Transportation Leadership in El Cerrito ](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/rebecca-saltzman-sustainable-transportation-leadership-in-el-cerrito/)
### Hercules
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/alex-walker-griffin-hercules-climate-action-champion/)Winner 2024
### [ Alex Walker Griffin: Hercules Climate Action Champion ](https://350contracostaaction.org/alex-walker-griffin-hercules-climate-action-champion/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/alex-walker-griffin-hercules-climate-action-champion/)
### Lafayette
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/)Winner 2024
### [ Support Carl Anduri for a Greener, Stronger Lafayette! ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-carl-anduri-for-a-greener-stronger-lafayette/)
### Lafayette
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/gina-dawson-for-environmental-sustainability-in-lafayette/)Winner 2024
### [ Gina Dawson for Environmental Sustainability in Lafayette ](https://350contracostaaction.org/gina-dawson-for-environmental-sustainability-in-lafayette/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/gina-dawson-for-environmental-sustainability-in-lafayette/)
### Pinole
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/devin-murphy-building-a-sustainable-energy-future-for-pinole/)Winner 2024
### [ Devin Murphy: Building a Sustainable Energy Future for Pinole ](https://350contracostaaction.org/devin-murphy-building-a-sustainable-energy-future-for-pinole/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/devin-murphy-building-a-sustainable-energy-future-for-pinole/)
### Pinole
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/)Winner 2024
### [ Support Maureen Toms for Re-election to the Pinole City Council ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/support-maureen-toms-for-re-election-to-the-pinole-city-council/)
### Richmond
District 1
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/melvin-willis-fights-for-housing-and-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)### [ Melvin Willis Fights for Housing and Environmental Justice in Richmond ](https://350contracostaaction.org/melvin-willis-fights-for-housing-and-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/melvin-willis-fights-for-housing-and-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)
### Richmond
District 6
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/claudia-jimenez-leading-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)Winner 2024
### [ Claudia Jimenez: Leading Environmental Justice in Richmond ](https://350contracostaaction.org/claudia-jimenez-leading-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/claudia-jimenez-leading-environmental-justice-in-richmond/)
### San Ramon
Mayor
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-chirag-kathrani-bold-climate-leader-for-san-ramon-mayor/)### [ Elect Chirag Kathrani: Bold Climate Leader for San Ramon Mayor ](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-chirag-kathrani-bold-climate-leader-for-san-ramon-mayor/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/elect-chirag-kathrani-bold-climate-leader-for-san-ramon-mayor/)
### Walnut Creek
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/cindy-darling-for-environmental-justice-in-walnut-creek/)Winner 2024
### [ Cindy Darling for Environmental Justice in Walnut Creek ](https://350contracostaaction.org/cindy-darling-for-environmental-justice-in-walnut-creek/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/cindy-darling-for-environmental-justice-in-walnut-creek/)
### Walnut Creek
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/vote-for-laura-patch-for-walnut-creek-city-council/)### [ Vote for Laura Patch for Walnut Creek City Council ](https://350contracostaaction.org/vote-for-laura-patch-for-walnut-creek-city-council/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/vote-for-laura-patch-for-walnut-creek-city-council/)
### Walnut Creek
At-Large
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/)Winner 2024
### [ Re-elect Kevin Wilk: Leading Climate Action in Walnut Creek ](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/)
[ Read More » ](https://350contracostaaction.org/re-elect-kevin-wilk-leading-climate-action-in-walnut-creek/)
## Thank You to All Candidates
A heartfelt thank you to all our candidates, both those who won and those whose vote counts came up short. We recognize the immense effort, time, and resources you dedicated to your campaigns. Your commitment to local governance and community well-being is truly appreciated.
## Gratitude to Our Team & Supporters
A huge thank you to the volunteers and supporters across Contra Costa County who canvassed, made calls, sent texts, worked in campaign offices, and donated. Your hard work and dedication helped elect fifteen of our twenty climate champion endorsees—major wins for the future!
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Author: Editorial Team
Top Image credit: [Mikhail Nilov](https://www.pexels.com/@mikhail-nilov) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-vote-stickers-on-people-s-fist-8846632)
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Thank You](https://350contracostaaction.org/donate-2/thank-you/)
**Published:** February 14, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Thank you for donating to 350 Contra Costa Action. Your generous support enables our local group of volunteers to advocate and lobby for strong, equitable climate focused policy, to move us to a clean energy future and livable planet.
---
### [Donate](https://350contracostaaction.org/donate-2/)
**Published:** December 6, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Donate
#### Support our work with a donation
Your generous support enables our local group of volunteers to effectively advocate and lobby for strong equitable climate focused policy, to move us to a clean energy future and livable planet.
Please note that 350 Contra Costa Action is a registered 501 (c)(4) organization, and donations are NOT tax–deductible.
To make a tax–deductible gift, please go to our sister organization, a 501(c)(3) that focuses on public education and outreach: [350ContraCosta.org](https://give-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/350contracosta).
#### Ways to Donate
- Recurring monthly donation to help
us plan for future programs. Click
on the link in the upper right corner.
- One Time Donation:
- By Credit Card: Check the
amount on the right and
‘Continue.’
- By Check:
Please make your check
payable to: 350 Contra Costa Action
Send to: PO Box 18762
Oakland, CA 94619
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
### [Unsubscribe](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources-hub/newsletter/unsubscribe/)
**Published:** March 29, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Unsubscribe
---
### [Contact Us](https://350contracostaaction.org/about-350-contra-costa-action/contact-us/)
**Published:** December 7, 2022
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
### Contact Us
## We Want To Hear From You
Can’t find answers to your questions on our website? Send us an email.
## Get Involved
**[Sign up for our newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/resources/newsletter/)**
---
## Venues
### [Wells Middle School](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/wells-middle-school/)
**Published:** May 24, 2026
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Sheraton Grand Hotel Sacramento](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/sheraton-grand-sacramento-hotel/)
**Published:** April 18, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Brentwood Farmers Market](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/brentwood-farmers-market/)
**Published:** November 11, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Walnut Creek Library](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/walnut-creek-library/)
**Published:** October 6, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Martinez Open Air Market](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/martinez-open-air-market/)
**Published:** October 6, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [La Moine (Cheese) Park, Richmond, CA](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/la-moine-cheese-park-richmond-ca/)
**Published:** September 21, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Cerrito Vista Park](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/cerrito-vista-park/)
**Published:** May 31, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
---
### [Todos Santos Plaza, Downtown Concord](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/todos-santos-plaza-downtown-concord/)
**Published:** June 12, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Short walk from BART.
Parking available at Todos Santos Parking Center, Concord Avenue between Salvio and Pacheco Streets. Also Grant St. Garage, Salvio St., between Grant and Colfax Streets.
---
### [California Capitol—West Steps](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/california-capitol-west-steps/)
**Published:** May 13, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/saint-timothys-episcopal-church/)
**Published:** April 25, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [El Cerrito Plaza Bart—North Parking Lot](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/el-cerrito-plaza-bart-north-parking-lot/)
**Published:** April 10, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Forest Home Farms, San Ramon, CA](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/forest-home-farms-san-ramon-ca/)
**Published:** April 10, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Fernandez Park, Pinole, CA](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/fernandez-park-pinole-ca/)
**Published:** April 10, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [El Sobrante Library](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/el-sobrante-library/)
**Published:** April 9, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Concord Bart Plaza](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/concord-bart-plaza/)
**Published:** April 9, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Contra Costa Community College](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/contra-costa-community-college/)
**Published:** March 7, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Walnut Creek Civic Park](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/civic-park-walnut-creek/)
**Published:** October 13, 2024
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Zoom Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/zoom/)
**Published:** July 11, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
If you would like to attend our next meeting, contact the team leader for the Zoom link.
---
### [Fireside Room, Gateway Complex, Rossmoor](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/fireside-room-gateway-complex-rossmoor/)
**Published:** July 8, 2024
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Calicraft Brewing Company](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/calicraft-brewing-company/)
**Published:** June 30, 2024
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Bringing Back the Natives](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/bringing-back-the-natives/)
**Published:** March 1, 2024
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Contra Costa Library Online Events](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/contra-costa-library-online-events/)
**Published:** September 2, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
The Contra Costa Library hosts numerous classes for adults and children, story-times, as well as film screenings and other online events.
---
### [Orinda Theatre](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/orinda-theatre/)
**Published:** July 23, 2023
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Contra Costa Event Park](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/contra-costa-event-park/)
**Published:** June 11, 2023
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Williamson Ranch Park](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/williamson-ranch-park/)
**Published:** May 31, 2023
**Author:** Kate
---
### [The Crockett Waterfront](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/the-crockett-waterfront/)
**Published:** March 22, 2023
**Author:** Kate
---
### [The Plaza Park](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/the-plaza/)
**Published:** March 22, 2023
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Los Medanos College](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/los-medanos-college/)
**Published:** September 15, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Tilden Nature Area Environmental Nature Center](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/tilden-nature-area-environmental-nature-center/)
**Published:** September 17, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Boys and Girls Club of Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/boys-and-girls-club-of-martinez/)
**Published:** March 3, 2026
**Author:** Kate
---
### [El Cerrito Community Center](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/el-cerrito-community-center/)
**Published:** April 19, 2026
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Susana Park Martinez](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/susana-park-martinez/)
**Published:** April 29, 2026
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Small World Park](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/small-world-park/)
**Published:** April 30, 2026
**Author:** Kate
---
### [California Theatre](https://350contracostaaction.org/venue/california-theatre/)
**Published:** May 1, 2026
**Author:** Kate
---
## Events
### [Tri-Valley Polluters Pay Town Hall | Funding Climate Resilience](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/tri-valley-polluters-pay-town-hall-funding-climate-resilience/)
**Published:** May 25, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join 350 Contra Costa Action, neighbors, advocates, and community leaders in Dublin for the Tri-Valley Polluters Pay Town Hall! Learn how you can help hold polluters accountable, support climate solutions, and invest in a cleaner, safer future for all.
**Content:**
Big Oil and gas corporations have been profiting while our communities pay the price. But together, we can make a difference! **Join us in Dublin on June 6** for the Tri-Valley Polluters Pay Town Hall—an energizing morning of inspiration, action, and community as we **flip the scrip**t.
From devastating fires and floods to extreme heat and more intense storms, climate change is here, and the costs are only rising for Californians statewide. The world’s biggest fossil fuel polluters are overwhelmingly responsible for this intensifying climate devastation, but right now, it’s taxpayers and families struggling to rebuild who are footing the bill. We’ve paid enough!
The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act would hold major fossil fuel companies accountable for their share of climate-related damages to our state and reinvest that money in community resilience, clean energy, essential workers responding to climate disasters, and much more.
## Discover, Connect, and Take Action
At the Tri-Valley Polluters Pay Town Hall, join neighbors, advocates, and experts for an energizing morning of community, stories, and climate solutions.
**Keynote Speaker:** Dr. Clair Brown, Professor Emerita of Economics and Director of the Center for Work, Technology and Society at UC Berkeley, brings her commitment to climate justice and a wealth of experience from organizations like 350 Bay Area, Fossil Free California, Sierra Club, and Earth Justice. Dr. Brown will open the event with inspiring remarks on how smart economic policy can drive bold climate action, setting the tone for an uplifting, solution-oriented program. She’ll then moderate a lively, interactive panel featuring leaders from labor, interfaith, climate action, local government, and more.
**Dynamic Panel Discussion:** Dive into a lively conversation with voices from across our community! Meet two local high school students, representatives from 350 Contra Costa, water experts, climate insiders, emergency responders, unions and professional groups, faith leaders, and members of the agricultural community—all coming together to share their stories and solutions.
- **Powerful Stories**: Hear from electeds and diverse local speakers on the front lines.
- **Energetic Education**: Discover how a “Polluters Pay” policy works––and how we’ll win it.
- **Interactive Action**: No boring slide decks! Get involved with engaging activities, live strategy sessions, and hands-on skill-building.
- **Community Growth**: Meet neighbors and fellow advocates who care deeply about accountability, climate solutions, and winning the transformative investments our communities deserve.
**Bring the whole family!** Enjoy complimentary food and beverages in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.
Join 350 Contra Costa, Indivisible, Food and Water Watch, Sierra Club, TV Dems, Climate Health Now, California Interfaith Power and Light, and neighbors from across the Tri-Valley for the Polluters Pay Town Hall in Dublin. This is your opportunity to get involved, connect with dedicated advocates, and help drive the campaign to hold polluters accountable while building a cleaner, more just future for California.
Let’s **Make Polluters Pay** and **Invest in Our Communities**!
Let us know you’re coming:
### [Register here!](https://actionnetwork.org/events/tri-valley-polluters-pay-townhall)
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [WALL-E Family Movie Event | Pittsburg Green Footprint Movie Series](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/wall-e-family-movie-event-pittsburg-green-footprint-movie-series/)
**Published:** May 1, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join us in Pittsburg for a special family screening of WALL-E, part of the Pittsburg Green Footprint Movie Series. Enjoy activities for all ages, exciting raffles, and connect with local sustainability leaders. Screenings available in both English and Spanish!
**Content:**
### WALL-E — Imagine a Brighter, Greener Future
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 30! Join us for the third feature in **Pittsburg’s Green Footprint Movie Series**, as the City of Pittsburg and the California Theatre bring **WALL-E to the big screen** in both English and Spanish. Explore new worlds with WALL-E, a small waste-collecting robot, as he cleans up a deserted Earth, meets EVE, a spirited robot companion, and together they embark on a heartwarming adventure through space.
Doors open at noon. There will be two viewings of the film, the first in English at 12:30 pm, and the second in Spanish at 3:30 pm, with community environmental organizations, including 350 Contra Costa Action, present to discuss the film between viewings. Stop by and say hello on June 30!
While our group will be tabling only at the WALL-E screening, we encourage you to check out the entire Green Footprint Movie Series—a collection of engaging films that highlight environmental stewardship and inspire positive change. This year’s lineup includes:
- June 16, 2026: [The Lorax](https://www.pittsburgrec.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11370/1416?curdate=6-30-2026&curm=6&cury=2026)
- June 23, 2026: [Happy Feet](https://www.pittsburgrec.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11371/1416?curdate=6-30-2026&curm=6&cury=2026)
- June 30, 2026: [WALL-E](https://www.pittsburgrec.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11372/1416)
- July 7, 2026: [Bee Movie](https://www.pittsburgrec.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11373/1416?curdate=6-30-2026&curm=6&cury=2026&npage=2)
The Green Footprint Movie Series is more than just a movie event—it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and a shared drive to make a positive impact. The series brings together inspiring films that spark conversations and empower us all to take meaningful steps toward a greener, more sustainable future.
### Meet Up With Us Between Screenings
Whether you attend the **English showing at 12:30 PM** or the **Spanish showing at 3:30 PM**, be sure to stop by our table in the lobby. We’ll be there between screenings to hear your thoughts and share in your excitement. Let us know what inspired you most in the film, or ask any questions about the [Healthy Homes Projec](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/)t and how it can benefit Pittsburg families.
While you’re there, connect with other local sustainability leaders and enjoy hands-on activities for all ages. Don’t forget to enter the raffle for your chance to win great prizes!
We hope to see you there for an inspiring day of film, learning, and community action!
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [California 2026 High-Impact Climate Bills | Community Climate Forum](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/california-2026-high-impact-climate-bills-community-climate-forum/)
**Published:** May 13, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join us for the June Community Climate Forum as we unpack the high-impact climate bills moving through Sacramento in 2026. Discover which proposals could shape California’s future, how they affect Contra Costa County, and ways you can support or oppose key legislation. Open to all.
**Content:**
What happens in Sacramento does *not* stay in Sacramento! The climate bills moving in Sacramento in 2026 affect us all—impacting our air, our wallets through energy bills and higher insurance costs, and our communities as we harden against firestorms and floods. These decisions ripple outward, shaping the planet we share and our ability to grow healthy food to feed us all.
At the June Community Climate Forum, we’ll dig into the bills that matter most in 2026: the bold proposals worth fighting for, and the harmful ones worth fighting against. On the table this month:
- Data centers’ electricity and water use
- Portable solar panels permitting
- The right to sue fossil fuel companies
- Costs of environmental remediation when refineries close
See all the bills we’re tracking right now: [California Climate Bills Tracker: The Stakes for Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-bills-tracker-the-stakes-for-contra-costa-county/).
## Join the discussion!
What’s happening in Sacramento and how does it impact us in Contra Costa County? **We want to hear from you**. At the forum, we’ll highlight the high-impact climate bills that 350 Contra Costa Action considers to have the greatest environmental stakes, around the state, and here in Contra Costa County.
We’ll also walk through valuable steps you can take—from supporting the good bills to pushing against the harmful ones. Most importantly, we want to hear your thoughts on current climate legislation.
This event is free and open to all. Register below to get your Zoom link.
[**Register and get Zoom link!**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfydj5W3WEGxBbuy2RtKBgmLCpAx433pirYI4gz28x26zSlGg/viewform)
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Image created in Google Gemini
**Tags:** California Climate Legislation
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Pittsburg Summer Kickoff Celebration: School’s Out for the Summer!](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/pittsburg-summer-kickoff-celebration-schools-out-for-summer/)
**Published:** April 30, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** School’s out and summer fun is here! Join us at Small World Park for the Pittsburg Summer Kickoff Celebration—packed with crafts, games, and family activities. Don’t miss 350 Contra Costa’s booth with updates on the Healthy Homes Project for Pittsburg families.
**Content:**
**School’s out for the Summer!** Join the fun at the Pittsburg summer kickoff celebration at **Small World Park** on June 5, 2026.
Pittsburg families are invited to experience a day of **live performances**, creative arts and crafts, and **fun activities** for all ages. Community organizations—including 350 Contra Costa—will be on hand with interactive crafts, games, demonstrations, and plenty of kid-centered activities to celebrate the end of the school year.
Stop by our booth to see what we’ve got planned for kids and families. While you’re there, take a minute to get the latest updates on the [Healthy Homes Project](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/) and learn how it supports local families.
Join in the excitement, connect with valuable local resources, and help your kids make lasting summer memories as the school year wraps up.
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [17th Annual Martinez Beaver Festival: Nature’s Engineers, Community Fun!](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/17th-annual-martinez-beaver-festival-natures-engineers-community-fun/)
**Published:** April 29, 2026
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join us for the 17th Annual Martinez Beaver Festival! Discover how beavers shape our environment while enjoying family fun, hands-on exhibits, and community spirit in downtown Martinez. Get inspired by citizen science and urban wildlife, and see how our community is working together to tackle drought, fire, and climate change—all in a friendly, festive setting.
**Content:**
It’s time for the Martinez Beaver Festival, now in its 17th year! Come enjoy a day of free, family-friendly fun and explore the beaver’s remarkable impact on our community and environment. There’s something for everyone:
- Giant beaver skull display
- 1500-gallon traveling aquarium
- 18-piece jazz band
- Children’s parade
- Live raptor, owl, and bat demonstrations
- Award-winning chalk artist
## Discover Why Beavers Matter
This is the original beaver festival that inspired similar events across the country, as well as books and films about why beavers matter. See for yourself why beavers are truly “Worth A Dam.” And why we care so much about them! Curious? At the festival, you’ll discover:
- How beavers help **turn streams into long-lasting carbon sinks**, helping fight climate change.
- Why scientists call beavers “**nature’s ecosystem engineers**.”
- How beaver wetlands offer **safe havens for wildlife** and help landscapes recover even after wildfires—earning them the playful nickname “**Smokey the Beaver**.”
- Surprising connections between **beaver wetlands, pollinators**, and a buzzing, fluttering world of bees and butterflies.
- The many ways beavers **support river life, water quality**, and healthy habitats.
- How beavers fit into North America’s **climate action efforts**.
Come explore hands-on displays and friendly talks that bring these fascinating facts to life!
Swing by our 350 Contra Costa booth to say hello, **meet our team**, and learn about the **latest climate action happening in Martinez** and nearby neighborhoods. You’ll find fun facts about beavers, get inspired by citizen science and urban wildlife, and see how our community is working together to tackle drought, fire, and climate change—all in a friendly, festive setting.
We’d love to **see you there!** Bring your questions, your curiosity, and your beaver spirit!
**Tags:** Martinez Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Fix It, Don’t Trash It--Earth Day Repair Workshop in El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/fix-it-dont-trash-it-earth-day-repair-workshop-in-el-cerrito/)
**Published:** April 20, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Got something broken at home? Bring it to El Cerrito's Earth Day Fixit Workshop on April 25—and stop by our table to find out about a gas-powered leaf-blower ban and what's happening locally on climate.
**Content:**
### Bring Your Broken Stuff—and Find Out What Else You Can Do Close to Home
Got something broken at home? Bring it to the El Cerrito Earth Day Fixit Workshop, where volunteer repair coaches will walk you through the process of diagnosing and fixing it yourself. [Register by April 12](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXcv6eu-nfQu1GKvpIgB-BU2GlA8BHPRSOLynQLZd3TdNwOQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=113839056590098298055) to schedule an appointment, or just walk in.
Workspace and specialty tools are available on-site. Even if your item doesn’t make a full comeback, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how it works — and how to tackle repairs on your own down the road. We’ll be there alongside other local sustainability organizations.
While you’re there, stop by our table. We’ll be talking about the gas-powered leaf-blower ban we’re working on and other concrete steps underway in our town. See [what’s happening in El Cerrito](https://350contracostaaction.org/action-team/local-policy-team/find-climate-action-in-cc-county-cities/el-cerrito-climate-action-advocacy/) and find out how to get involved.
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Image courtesy City of El Cerrito
**Tags:** Contra Costa Earth Month Events 2026
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Co-ord Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/co-ord-team-meeting-2/2026-04-14/)
**Published:** April 6, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
The Co-ord Team (formerly the Leadership Team) meets on Zoom from **11 am to 12 noon** on the **second** and **fourth** **Tuesdays** of the month. During these meetings, team leaders and organizers share updates, talk about campaigns, and make decisions to advance our grassroots climate work in Contra Costa County. We also plan events, vote on key matters, and develop strategies to support our mission. Other benefits include:
- Enabling team members to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and increase coordination across various teams and campaigns—strengthening all ongoing projects.
- Fostering shared understanding of our action work and our organizational health through financial updates and regular assessments of our effectiveness.
- Raising important issues, introducing and coordinating new actions, and receiving support from others.
We welcome new volunteers and encourage all active members to participate. Please contact team leaders at to get the Zoom link and details for the next meeting.
**Tags:** 350 Contra Costa Action Teams
**Event Categories:** Action Team Meetings
---
### [Community Climate Forum: Health, Air Pollution, and Our Homes](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/community-climate-forum-health-air-pollution-and-our-homes/)
**Published:** March 27, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join our first ever Community Climate Forum on April 16 to explore how indoor gas appliances drive NOx pollution and harm Bay Area families' health. Learn about cleaner options like electric heat pumps and simple actions you can take to protect your family and community. Most importantly, join the discussion! We want to hear from you.
**Content:**
Join us April 16 for our first **Community Climate Forum!** This re-imagined version of our Climate Circle will bring together community members every other month for a one-hour online conversation focused on key climate and clean-air campaigns happening right here in Contra Costa and the Bay Area. This month, the topic is **Health, Air Pollution, and Our Homes**.
We’ll provide a short overview of the issue, then open the topic for discussion, and simple actions participants can take to help move solutions forward.
## What’s Up about Air Pollution, Our Homes, and Our Health?
Most people think of cars or industry when they think about air pollution. But gas appliances *inside our homes*, especially furnaces and water heaters, are actually one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution in the Bay Area.
NOx pollution contributes to smog and fine particulate pollution that worsen asthma, increase heart and lung disease, and shorten lives. In fact, pollution from fossil-fuel furnaces and water heaters in the region is linked to thousands of asthma attacks each year and dozens of premature deaths, with significant health costs across our communities.
At our first Community Climate Forum, we’ll explore:
- **How** pollution from buildings affects public health in the Bay Area
- **Why** reducing it matters for our communities, and
- **What** cleaner technologies like electric heat pumps can offer for healthier homes
We’ll also discuss the [Bay Area Air District’s upcoming standards](https://350contracostaaction.org/protect-clean-air-in-the-bay-area-your-voice-matters/) that will begin phasing in cleaner replacements for gas appliances as they reach the end of their life, starting with water heaters in 2027 and furnaces in 2029. These rules are currently under review. Community voices will play an important role in ensuring they remain strong while working well for all households.
Join us to learn more about this issue and how you can help support clean air protections in the Bay Area for healthier homes for all our families.
[**Register for the Community Climate Forum to be sent the Zoom link**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=ipZFgDf3lX6FcYXsPqF_PnDQP2A6LuRm2JXlZy8qt-UW9qM-OLQtsVJRonEUJoD6&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blast_community_climate_forum&n=1)
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Image created in Google Gemini
**Tags:** Bay Area Air District (BACA), Climate Solutions at Home, Heat Pumps
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [California Climate Policy Summit 2026](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/california-climate-policy-summit-2026/)
**Published:** March 6, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join us for the California Climate Policy Summit 2026 on April 13 in Sacramento! Meet leaders and people committed to developing and broadening strong climate policy. Learn how we can keep California at the forefront of climate action and work together for a brighter, more sustainable future!
**Content:**
Save the date: Monday, April 13, 2026, in Sacramento. The Climate Center invites you to a lively event focused on advancing climate action, even as federal challenges persist.
You’ll meet elected officials, activists, innovators, advocates, scientists, and policy experts who are helping California lead on climate issues. Learn about practical, science-based solutions that serve everyone in the state. Individuals and organizations involved in monitoring and shaping California climate policy will find lush networking and strategizing opportunities.
Connect with leaders who are putting new climate strategies into action across several fields. Find out how policymakers are working to bring clean energy to all Californians.
Join us and help make a difference. Visit the California Climate Policy Summit 2026 website for further information and to register.
## Featured Climate Policy Speakers
The event will feature eight well-known speakers, including lawmakers, scientists, and leaders in social and environmental justice.
**Josh Becker**, Senator, California State Senate
**Isaac Bryan**, Assemblymember, California State Assembly
**Diane Papan**, Assemblymember, California State Assembly
**Sammy Roth**, Journalist and Founder, Climate-Colored Goggles
**Dr. Leah Stokes**, Anton Vonk Associate Professor at UC Santa Barbara
**Maro Kakoussian**, Director of Climate and Health Programs, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles
**Jamie Court**, President and Chairman of the Board, Consumer Watchdog
**Bahram Fazeli**, Director of Research & Policy, Communities for a Better Environment
For information about all the event speakers, visit the **agenda page on** [**Eventleaf**](https://click.everyaction.com/k/127193988/607244302/1593532983?eId=iUQdUkmalFJhLOMGQ3p5GQ%3D%3D&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzEwNTg0MiIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICI4YjQ4MThlYy0zNDFlLWYxMTEtOWE0OC0wMDBkM2ExNGI2NDAiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogInBhbWVsYUB0aGVjbGltYXRlY2VudGVyLm9yZyINCn0%3D&hmac=QEjCI1caVYHVUjQkGVueU08xDHwlW1zpU1q_bGEXdMU=&emci=2b1ec5b4-871d-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&emdi=8b4818ec-341e-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&ceid=19349257#spk)**.**
We hope you can join us.
### [Register Here](https://www.eventleaf.com/Attendee/Attendee/Register?eId=iUQdUkmalFJhLOMGQ3p5GQ%3D%3D&isPreview=False)
**Early bird pricing** is available through **March 13**.
Enter the discount code **350ContraCosta2026** to get 25% off **regular** tickets. With this code, Individual, Government, or Non-Profit tickets cost $195.
(Code not valid for early bird pricing)
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Image courtesy The Climate Center
**Tags:** California Climate Policy Summit
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Co-ord Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/co-ord-team-meeting/2026-03-10/)
**Published:** March 8, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
The Co-ord Team (formerly the Leadership Team) meets on Zoom from **11 am to 12 noon** on the **second** and **fourth** **Tuesdays** of the month. During these meetings, team leaders and organizers share updates, talk about campaigns, and make decisions to advance our grassroots climate work in Contra Costa County. We also plan events, vote on key matters, and develop strategies to support our mission. Other benefits include:
- Enabling team members to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and increase coordination across various teams and campaigns—strengthening all ongoing projects.
- Fostering shared understanding of our action work and our organizational health through financial updates and regular assessments of our effectiveness.
- Raising important issues, introducing and coordinating new actions, and receiving support from others.
We welcome new volunteers and encourage all active members to participate. Please contact team leaders at to get the Zoom link and details for the next meeting.
**Tags:** 350 Contra Costa Action Teams
**Event Categories:** Action Team Meetings
---
### [Celebrate MCE-Martinez Mural Unveiling](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/celebrate-mce-martinez-mural-unveiling/)
**Published:** March 3, 2026
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join us on March 7th at the Martinez Boys & Girls Club for the unveiling of the new MCE mural! Enjoy music from Alhambra High School’s marching band while sampling food from local vendors. There will be plenty of fun activities for the whole family, so come celebrate community spirit and creativity with us!
**Content:**
**Celebrate** with us on **March 7th** at the **Martinez Boys & Girls Club** for the unveiling of the new MCE mural, designed and executed by the Illuminaries, a local art collective. The mural celebrates kid energy, community energy, and, of course, electric energy. This event is **free** and open to all who wish to celebrate.
“This community-inspired mural is more than just art—it’s a symbol of the deep connection between MCE and the local Martinez community,” say the organizers on their [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/779784408471256/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5B%7B%22surface%22%3A%22home%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D%5D%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D) page. The mural “celebrates our shared commitment to promoting **climate action**, **equity**, and the **power of art** to bring people together.”
**Come for the unveiling**. **Stay** for the **food**, **entertainment**, and **activities** with local vendors and organizations, including 350 Contra Costa Action, and so much more:
- Alhambra High School’s marching band
- Live mural painting for kids
- Tours of the Boys and Girls Club
- Arts and crafts
- Face painting and games
- More music
- MCE swag
- Food from local vendors
- Plenty of fun for the whole family
**Stop by our table** and say hello. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Image courtesy [MCE](https://mcecleanenergy.org/martinez-mural/)
**Tags:** Martinez Climate Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Meet Us at the Brentwood Farmers Market November 22](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/meet-us-at-the-brentwood-farmers-market-november-22/)
**Published:** November 11, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Stop by our table at the Brentwood Farmers Market on November 22 and discover immediate local actions you can take to protect against climate change
**Content:**
With over 41 vendors, the Brentwood Farmers Market has everything from soup to nuts, some of it organic, all of it tasty. And now—350 Contra Costa Action! Yes, we’ll be there too, on November 22. Bring your portable shopping cart, fill up on goodies, and stop by our table to say hello and check out what we’re working on this month.
---
Image: Seed Sower statue, Brentwood City Park
Credit: Anne Grenier, used with permission
**Tags:** Brentwood Farmers Market
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Celebrate Contra Loma Estates Park Grand Opening November 15](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/celebrate-contra-loma-estates-park-grand-opening-november-15/)
**Published:** November 11, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Celebrate with us the re-opening of the newly redesigned Contra Loma Estates Park in Antioch November 15! Bring the family and join in the festivities, then stop by our booth and learn about our new Healthy Homes collaboration—a project bringing cleaner air and jobs to east Contra Costa County.
**Content:**
Join us in celebrating the re-opening of the newly redesigned Contra Loma Estates Park in Antioch November 15! This exciting event features live music, games, speeches of course, a raffle, and plenty of food. Bring the whole family and take a tour of the park. Then take a moment to stop by our booth and learn about our new [Healthy Homes collaboration](https://350contracostaaction.org/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes-project-moving-forward/).
This project aims to make homes healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient—helping to improve air quality, lower costs, and better protect against heat and smoke. It also supports the growth of local clean-energy jobs by identifying training opportunities and partnerships that can strengthen the future workforce in East Contra Costa County.
Stop by our booth to learn all about it and how you might benefit.
Image courtesy Rising Juntos and used with permission---
Images courtesy Rising Juntos, used with permission
**Tags:** Antioch, East Contra Costa Healthy Homes
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Meet Us at the Martinez Open Air Market November 9](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/meet-us-at-the-martinez-open-air-market-nov-9/)
**Published:** October 28, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Stop by our table at the Martinez Open Air Market on November 9! Discover unique treasures and learn about local climate action initiatives.
**Content:**
### Climate, Vintage, Food and Fun!
Stop by our table near the **Martinez Open Air Market** on Sunday, November 9, along the charming **800 block of Main St.** Experience an enchanting array of vintage items, collectibles, antiques, arts & crafts, and much more at this monthly gem! We would love for you to **stop by our table near the Starbucks between 10 and noon**, say hello, and learn about local climate action initiatives while exploring the unique offerings in this vibrant atmosphere that complements the lively Martinez Farmers’ Market**.**
While the Open Air Market occurs only on the second Sunday each month, the adjoining **Martinez Farmers’ Market** takes place weekly, bringing together community, fresh local produce, and artisanal goods from Ferry Street to Castro Street**.** Enjoy a variety of items, including honey, eggs, and local cheese, all telling the story of regional craftsmanship. This market is more than just a shopping destination; it’s a celebration of local flavors and connections that you won’t want to miss!
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Celebrate with El Sobrante Pride 2025!](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/celebrate-with-el-sobrante-pride-2025/)
**Published:** September 21, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Come out and celebrate with El Sobrante Pride 2025—second annual event! The Pride Committee has lots of food, entertainment, and frolic in store. We're joining in the fun, so stop by our table and say hello. Come prepared to party!
**Content:**
Come out and celebrate with El Sobrante Pride 2025—second annual event! The Pride Committee has lots of food, entertainment, and frolic in store. We’re joining in the fun, so **stop by our table and say hello**.
## Come Prepared to Party!
The [organizers say](https://allevents.in/el-sobrante/2nd-annual-el-sobrante-pride/200028904615342), “Bring your lawn chair, your dancing shoes, and your open heart. Because around here, community is everything!” When you’re not dancing, take advantage of all that is on offer, including:
- Live entertainment with local bands and DJs
- Vendors & food trucks
- Community organizations
- Family fun zone
- Guest speakers
- Music, dancing & Pride
Grab your rainbow boas and suspenders and join the fun!
**Tags:** social justice
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Yes We Can Reduce Climate Risks in Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/yes-we-can-reduce-climate-risks-in-contra-costa-county/)
**Published:** October 6, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Learn effective strategies to reduce climate risks in Contra Costa County and become an active participant in creating a sustainable future.
**Content:**
## Local Climate and Sustainability Experts to Discuss Ways We Can Reduce Risks in Our Homes and Communities
We are already feeling the effects of climate change—such as wildfires, droughts, heat waves, and storms—in Contra Costa County. The good news: Yes, we can reduce climate risks in Contra Costa County! This is your chance to discover effective actions you can take within your households and communities to contribute to a sustainable future.
### Event Information
- **Date:** October 14
- **Time:** 7 PM
- **Location:** Oak View Room
- **Organizers:** Walnut Creek Library Foundation and Sustainable Contra Costa
### Panel Discussion
Engage with local leaders in sustainability, including [Wei-Tai Kwok from Climate Realty.](https://www.climaterealityproject.org/wei-tai-kwok) They will share insights and strategies to combat climate change at a community level and in the home.
### Registration
Secure your spot by registering through this link: [Event Registration](https://prod1.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/ticketsearchcriteria.aspx?evtinfo=502710~6d34a6bb-a91c-4ff6-8423-1f244950688f&).
Fight climate anxiety! Learn how you can make a difference!
**Tags:** Reduce local climate risks, Sustainable Contra Costa
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Meet Us at the Martinez Open Air Market](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/meet-us-at-the-martinez-open-air-market/)
**Published:** October 6, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Stop by our table at the Martinez Open Air Market on October 12! Discover unique treasures and learn about local climate action initiatives.
**Content:**
### Climate, Vintage, Food and Fun!
Join us at the **Martinez Open Air Market** on the second Sunday of the month, located along the charming **800 block of Main St.** Experience an enchanting array of vintage items, collectibles, antiques, arts & crafts, and much more at this monthly gem! We would love for you to **stop by our table near the Starbucks between 10 and noon**, say hello, and learn about local climate action initiatives while exploring the unique offerings in this vibrant atmosphere that complements the lively Martinez Farmers’ Market**.**
While the Open Air Market occurs only on the second Sunday each month, the adjoining **Martinez Farmers’ Market** takes place weekly, bringing together community, fresh local produce, and artisanal goods from Ferry Street to Castro Street**.** Enjoy a variety of items, including honey, eggs, and local cheese, all telling the story of regional craftsmanship. This market is more than just a shopping destination; it’s a celebration of local flavors and connections that you won’t want to miss!
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Clean Air Week 2025: Decarb Policy Panel](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/clean-air-week-2025-decarb-policy-panel/)
**Published:** September 21, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Thinking about reducing fossil fuels in your home? Join Electrify Now’s Clean Air Week 2025: Electrify 101 webinar for an insightful hour on transforming your space into a cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient environment. Learn practical steps for electrifying your appliances, tailored for both renters and homeowners.
Register now to secure your spot and contribute to a healthier home and planet!
**Content:**
Explore the future of building decarbonization at the **Clean Air Week 2025: Decarb Policy Panel**. This webinar discussion will delve into the evolving landscape of policies aimed at promoting healthy air and combating climate change, especially in light of recent legal developments that have reignited momentum in the movement.
### What to Expect
- **Positive Policy Developments**: Insights into recent policies that have been successfully passed and upheld in court.
- **Challenges Ahead**: An examination of the ongoing obstacles the movement faces.
- **Future Predictions**: Panelists will share their visions and concerns for policy development over the next 5, 10, and 20 years.
- **Key Stakeholder Roles**: Discussion on how government, utilities, advocates, and industry can either accelerate or hinder progress.
### Meet the Panelists
- [**Anne Pernick**: Senior Advisor at Stand.earth](https://stand.earth/about/people/anne-pernick/), Anne has extensive experience working with local governments to phase out fossil fuels.
- [**Marnese Jackson**: Executive Director of the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition](https://midwestdecarb.org/news-updates/executive0224), Marnese is a dedicated advocate for environmental and climate justice.
- [**Emily Levin**: Policy and Program Director for Clean Buildings at NESCAUM](https://building-performance.org/board-of-directors/emily-levin/), Emily leads initiatives to support the transition to zero-emission buildings.
- [**Allison MacMunn**: Program Director at Sunstone Strategies](https://www.sunstonestrategies.org/allison), Allison specializes in strategic communications around clean air and pollution-free buildings.
- [**Carra Sahler, J.D.**: Director at the Green Energy Institute](https://law.lclark.edu/live/profiles/13468-carra-sahler), Carra focuses on equitable decarbonization measures and climate policy.
- [**Nancy L. Seidman**: Senior Advisor at the Regulatory Assistance Project,](https://www.raponline.org/experts/nancy-seidman/) Nancy brings over 35 years of experience in energy and environmental policy.
This panel promises to provide valuable insights into the future of decarbonization policies and their impact on air quality and climate health.
## Register Now
[**Register now**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_52ny4rUsSV6cO0SawOdDDA) to secure your spot and be part of the discussion on decarb policymaking. Your voice matters!
§
*Home Air Filtration is the second in a series of webinars hosted by Electrify Now during Clean Air Week 2025. For more about Clean Air Week, see [Everything We Burn, We Breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 Has an App for That](https://350contracostaaction.org/everything-we-burn-we-breathe-clean-air-week-2025/).*
---
Image credit: [Clean Air Week 2025](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/s/shareable-graphics), used with permission
**Tags:** Building Decarbonization, Building Electrification, Clean Air Week 2025
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Clean Air Week 2025: Electrify 101](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/clean-air-week-2025-electrify-101/)
**Published:** September 21, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Thinking about reducing fossil fuels in your home? Join Electrify Now’s Clean Air Week 2025: Electrify 101 webinar for an insightful hour on transforming your space into a cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient environment. Learn practical steps for electrifying your appliances, tailored for both renters and homeowners.
Register now to secure your spot and contribute to a healthier home and planet!
**Content:**
## Transform Your Home for a Cleaner Future
Thinking about ditching fossil fuels in your home—or lessening their impact? Take advantage of Electrify Now’s **Clean Air Week 2025: Electrify 101** webinar, an insightful hour designed to empower you to transform your home into a cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient space. Discover how electrifying your appliances can significantly reduce the harmful effects of fossil fuels, enhance your comfort, and lower your energy bills, all while contributing to a healthier planet.
## What You’ll Learn
Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, sustainability and electrification experts will guide you through practical steps to create an electrification plan tailored to your needs, including:
- How to develop a simple electrification plan
- Tips for renters and homeowners
- Available rebates and incentives to make the transition more affordable
- Health benefits of appliance electrification
- Economic advantages and climate benefits
Our expert panelists, including [**Wael Kanj**](https://theorg.com/org/rewiring-america/org-chart/wael-kanj) from Rewiring America and [**Ted Tiffany from the Building Decarbonization Coalition**](https://buildingdecarb.org/about-us/our-team), will share valuable insights on how electrification contributes to a sustainable future.
Don’t miss this opportunity to take the first step towards a healthier home environment!
## Register Now
[**Register now**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nAW_mxBqRn2NY-011IdwIA) to secure your spot and be part of the discussion on improving indoor air quality. Your voice matters in our community of sustainability enthusiasts!
§
*Home Air Filtration is the second in a series of webinars hosted by Electrify Now during Clean Air Week 2025. For more about Clean Air Week, see [Everything We Burn, We Breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 Has an App for That](https://350contracostaaction.org/everything-we-burn-we-breathe-clean-air-week-2025/).*
---
Image credit: [Clean Air Week 2025](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/s/shareable-graphics), used with permission
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Clean Air Week 2025
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Clean Air Week 2025: Home Air Quality Monitors](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/clean-air-week-2025-home-air-quality-monitors/)
**Published:** September 21, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join Brian Stewart from Electrify Now for an informative session on improving your home’s air quality. With many of us spending most of our time indoors, understanding indoor air pollutants like VOCs, mold, and particulate matter is essential for our health. Brian will introduce affordable air quality monitors and share tips on their effective use. Register now to learn how to create a healthier living environment!
**Content:**
**Learn from an expert**: Join Electrify Now’s Brian Stewart for an engaging and informative webinar on Clean Air Week 2025: Home Air Quality Monitors. Discover how to understand and improve your home’s air quality, leading to a healthier and more comfortable living environment.
## Why Indoor Air Quality Matters Now
With a significant portion of the population spending most of their time indoors, understanding the air quality in our surroundings has never been more critical. Common indoor pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold, and particulate matter, can have a significant impact on our health and well-being. In this webinar, we’ll explore the importance of monitoring indoor air for a healthy living environment and discuss the best tools to achieve this goal.
## Home Air Monitoring Tools for Cleaner Air
Brian will introduce a range of affordable and highly accurate indoor air quality monitors that can help you keep track of the air you breathe. He will share valuable insights on the appropriate placement and uses of these monitors, including:
- Gas leak detectors
- Carbon monoxide alarms
- Smoke alarms
- PM2.5 monitors
## Benefit from Brian’s 40 Years Experience
With 40 years experience in engineering, manufacturing, product design, and sustainability, Brian Stewart co-founded Electrify Now and ensured its commitment to educating homeowners and energy consumers about the benefits of ditching fossil fuels and electrifying their homes.
## Register Now
**[Register now](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__c2cPkarSOStjn2C4mKNtg#/registration)** to secure your spot and contribute to the discussion on improving indoor air quality!
§
*Home Air Filtration is the second in a series of webinars hosted by Electrify Now during Clean Air Week 2025. For more about Clean Air Week, see [Everything We Burn, We Breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 Has an App for That](https://350contracostaaction.org/everything-we-burn-we-breathe-clean-air-week-2025/).*
---
Image credit: [Clean Air Week 2025](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/s/shareable-graphics), used with permission
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Clean Air Week 2025, Home Air Monitors
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Clean Air Week 2025: Home Air Filtration](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/clean-air-week-2025-home-air-filtration/)
**Published:** September 20, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join electrification expert Brian Stewart from Electrify Now for an engaging webinar that will provide valuable insights into enhancing the air you breathe at home. Participants will learn about common indoor air pollutants, effective methods for combating them, and various home air filtration technologies.
**Content:**
What are the health risks of using natural gas indoors? Which appliances emit the most health-impacting vapors? Who is most at risk? And how can you best clean the air in *your* home? Join electrification expert [**Brian Stewart** from **Electrify Now**](https://electrifynow.net/about-contact) for an engaging Clean Air Week 2025 webinar, “Home Air Filtration” and gain valuable insights into enhancing the air you breathe at home. Participants will learn about:
- Common indoor air pollutants and their sources
- Effective methods for combating them
- Various home air filtration technologies, and
- Practical advice tailored for both homeowners and renters
## **Register Now**
This webinar promises to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to create a healthier indoor environment, making it a must-attend event for anyone concerned about air quality in their home. **[Register now](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vL2K-S25T-CEx3XsvlxFmQ)** to secure your spot!
§
*Home Air Filtration is the second in a series of webinars hosted by Electrify Now during Clean Air Week 2025. For more about Clean Air Week, see [Everything We Burn, We Breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 Has an App for That](https://350contracostaaction.org/everything-we-burn-we-breathe-clean-air-week-2025/).*
---
Image credit: [Clean Air Week 2025](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/s/shareable-graphics), used with permission
**Tags:** Building Electrification
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Clean Air Week 2025: The Dangers of Burning Gas in the Home](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/clean-air-week-2025-the-dangers-of-burning-gas-in-the-home/)
**Published:** September 20, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** The Dangers of Burning Gas in the Home webinar explores the hidden health risks associated with gas appliances. Learn about harmful pollutants, the most at-risk populations, and effective strategies to improve indoor air quality.
**Content:**
Discover the hidden dangers of using natural gas in your home during an engaging webinar that highlights the serious health risks associated with gas appliances. Burning gas can release a mix of harmful pollutants, posing risks similar to those of secondhand smoke.
## **Panel Features Leading Researchers and Physicians**
This informative session features a panel of leading researchers and physicians who will share the latest findings on how gas appliances impact indoor air quality. Attendees will learn about the specific pollutants emitted during combustion, their effects on health, the most vulnerable populations, and how poor ventilation can exacerbate these risks.
Gain insights into which gas-burning appliances contribute the most to indoor pollution and explore practical strategies to reduce these hazards. The panel includes **[Dr. Curtis Nordgaard](https://www.hennepinhealthcare.org/provider/curtis-nordgaard-md-msc/)**, a pediatrician and environmental health advocate, and **[Dr. Eric Lebel](https://www.psehealthyenergy.org/staffs/eric-lebel/)**, a senior scientist focused on emissions from residential appliances.
## **Register Now**
Don’t miss this chance to equip yourself with knowledge that can improve your family’s health and well-being. Learn what’s at stake for your family’s health and the best steps to protect yourselves. **[Register now](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H6r93zYLSCSkxt7N8i8jfg#/registration)** to secure your spot!
§
*The Dangers of Burning Gas in the Home is the first in a series of webinars hosted by Electrify Now during Clean Air Week 2025. For more about Clean Air Week, see [Everything We Burn, We Breathe: Clean Air Week 2025 Has an App for That](https://350contracostaaction.org/everything-we-burn-we-breathe-clean-air-week-2025/).*
---
Image credit: [Clean Air Week 2025](https://cleanairweek.substack.com/s/shareable-graphics), used with permission
**Tags:** Building Electrification
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Relax and Meet on the Tilden Bioblitz Nature Walk](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/relax-and-meet-on-the-tilden-bioblitz-nature-walk/)
**Published:** September 17, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join us Satuday, September 20, for the Tilden Bioblitz Nature Walk, where nature enthusiasts of all ages can explore the diverse flora and fauna of Tilden Regional Park. Discover the beauty of local ecosystems while contributing to citizen science efforts.
**Content:**
With so much happening in our climate-heating world, it’s good to pause and step into nature from time to time. Recharge. Meet old friends and make new ones while reacquainting ourselves with the vibrant world still around us. Join us and members of other enviro orgs this Saturday for a refreshing day with the Tilden Bioblitz Nature Walk!
Instead of their usual monthly Zoom meeting, our sister org, [350 East Bay](https://350bayarea.org/350-east-bay) is excited to host a **bioblitz** nature walk at Tilden Park, presented by [East Bay Regional Parks](https://www.ebparks.org/) and the [Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force](https://www.cemtf.org/). Don’t miss out—**register [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cemtf-ebrpd-bioblitz-at-tilden-nature-area-registration-1397750251629?aff=oddtdtcreator)**!
While exploring the local flora and fauna, you’ll have an opportunity to help EB Parks document the rich biodiversity of the **Tilden Nature Area.** We’ll walk to **Jewel Lake**, where we’ll explore, photograph, and identify various forms of life. We’ll utilize the **iNaturalist** mobile app to capture our observations of local wildlife, plants, and more!
## Details for the Tilden Bioblitz Nature Walk
- **Start Time**: 9:00 AM
- **Gathering Location and Brief Introduction**: Tilden Nature Area Environmental Nature Center, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley, CA 94708
- **Cost:** This event is free and open to everyone, regardless of experience level. We’re all here to learn and have fun together.
- **What to Wear**: Dress in comfortable layers, wear sturdy shoes, and apply sun protection.
- **Stay Hydrated**: Bring along water to stay hydrated.
- **Preparation**: Get a head start by downloading the **iNaturalist** app and creating a free account before you arrive.
- **Optional Gear**: Bring a fully charged mobile device or camera to capture your experiences.
- **Group Activities**:
- Split into groups led by naturalists for bioblitz walks.
- Explore, learn, take photos, and breathe the fresh air. It’s an opportunity to explore the hidden wonders of the Tilden Nature Area.
- **Reunion Time**: Return to the nature center at 11:15 AM. After the walk, we’ll gather at the nature center for a sharing session. It’s an excellent opportunity to discuss our observations, share photos of our discoveries, and learn from each other.
- **End**: The event will conclude around 12:00 PM.
## **Need a Ride?**
If you need a ride, catch a bus from UC or arrange a carpool by contacting **Jack at 510-436-7682**. The bus departs from **Bancroft above Telegraph** at **8:40 AM**.
For more details or if you have any questions, please refer to the attached flyer.
We look forward to seeing you on **September 20th!**
Tilden Area Bioblitz Nature Walk
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Refinery Closures and a Just Transition](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/refinery-closures-and-a-just-transition/)
**Published:** September 17, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join us and our friends at Climate Health Now for a vital discussion addressing refinery closures—and their bailouts--and how to plan for a just transition. Four California leaders will lead the discussion and share their insights and solutions for a sustainable future.
**Content:**
## Community and Labor Solutions from the Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership (CCRTP)
Concerned about the two threatened refinery closures in California and what that will mean for the workers, their communities, gas prices, and the climate? Join members of our team and [Climate Health Now](https://climatehealthnow.org/) for this vital, **solutions-based** discussion toward refinery closures and a just transition.
For context, visit our article on the [pending Benicia Valero refinery closure](https://350contracostaaction.org/pending-valero-refinery-closure-shocks-benicia/) and what that means to the workers, the community at large, and our health and well-being. Of course, with the [governor and top Democratic legislators forging lucrative deals](https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/oil-compromise-california-legislature/) to spend millions of tax dollars to keep the refineries open, the conversation will have to go deep and wide.
This event will feature insights from key California leaders who will discuss the Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership (CCRTP). They will share valuable recommendations that provide essential lessons for navigating the challenges of energy transition today.
### Featured Speakers
- [**Emma Ishii** – Local Policy Coordinator, APEN](https://apen4ej.org/who-is-apen/)
- [**Jessie HF Hammerling** – Co-director, Green Economy Program, UC Berkeley Labor Center](https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/people/jessie-hf-hammerling/)
- [**Josh Anijar** – Executive Director, Contra Costa Labor Council](https://www.cclabor.net/leadership)
### Register Now!
[Register here](https://climatehealthnow.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=152) to get the link and join the discussion! We look forward to your participation in this crucial dialogue!
---
Image Credit: Christine Stevens
**Tags:** A Just Transition, Climate Health Now, Refinery Closures, Valero refinery Benicia
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Get Ready for the Contra Costa 2025 Youth Summit!](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/get-ready-for-the-contra-costa-2025-youth-summit/)
**Published:** September 16, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Get ready, Contra Costa youth! The 2025 Youth Summit on September 20 at Los Medanos College is your chance to engage with inspiring speakers, explore career opportunities, and build essential skills. Don't miss this empowering event designed for students in grades 6-12!
**Content:**
Calling Contra Costa youth in grades 6-12! You are invited to the Contra Costa 2025 Youth Summit on Saturday, September 20, at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. Hosted by Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, the summit is an exhilarating event designed to empower young people in Contra Costa County—a chance to engage in a day filled with inspiring activities and connections.
As a participant, you will explore career objectives and real-world opportunities. You’ll zero in on what’s important to *you* and gain practical confidence-boosting tools. Learn how to protect yourself online and whether you want to have a say in the way the world is run.
### Four Exciting Speakers to Inspire and Empower
- **Emcee: Eddie Cortez** An award-winning youth speaker, Eddie inspires students to overcome self-doubt with his engaging “I’m Possible” mindset.
- **Dr. Julia Garcia** A nationally recognized psychologist, Julia delivers transformative insights on emotional health and empowerment through her interactive keynote, “Hope is a Practice.”
- **Nicki Joiner** Nicki is a dynamic career readiness speaker who empowers students to embrace personal branding and take actionable steps toward their future.
- **EJ Carrion** EJ is an Afro-Latino entrepreneur and Forbes Top 30 Under 30 honoree who inspires students to turn obstacles into opportunities with his keynote, “From Possible to Powerful.”
## CC 2025 Youth Summit–Your Launchpad for Success
Whether you’re a tween in sixth grade looking to what’s ahead, or a senior about to graduate, the Contra Costa 2025 Youth Summit is your launchpad for success! Don’t miss this chance to build confidence, develop essential skills, and connect with peers. While you’re there, be sure to stop by the Healthy Homes booth to meet some of our 350 Contra Costa Action volunteers!
[Learn more about the summit](https://www.youthsummitdistrict5.com/) and its engaging speakers, *raffle prizes*, and *fun-filled events* planned throughout the day.
[Register for this free event](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/contra-costa-county-district-5-7/2025-youth-summit?_gl=1*aat0mg*_gcl_au*NDczNDIyNjU4LjE3NTM5MTI5ODUuNjk2NDkzNzg1LjE3NTM5MTI5ODcuMTc1MzkxMjk5MA..*_ga*Nzk5MDkyNjA1LjE3NTM5MTI5ODU.*_ga_YBJE2MHW01*czE3NTM5MTI5ODQkbzEkZzEkdDE3NTM5MTQ5MzUkajE5JGwwJGgw) so the organizers can plan the best possible day for you.
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Communications Team Meeting—Special Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/communications-team-meeting-2-2/)
**Published:** August 27, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
***One-Time Date Change:** Due to the regular meeting falling on Labor Day this month, we have moved the first September meeting to the following Monday, September 8. We will meet again as scheduled on September 15 as well.*
The Communications Team meets via Zoom every other Monday. At our bi-weekly meetings the Communications Team identifies and plans ways to engage with county residents about climate solutions. We encourage community members to become active volunteers through actions like monthly newsletter emails, website posts, speaking engagements, and tabling at public events. Contact the team organizer for more information and the zoom link to the next meeting.
**Tags:** 350 Contra Costa Action Teams
**Event Categories:** Action Team Meetings
---
### [Communications Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/communications-team-meeting-2/2025-09-15/)
**Published:** August 27, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
The Communications Team meets via Zoom every other Monday. At our bi-weekly meetings the Communications Team identifies and plans ways to engage with county residents about climate solutions. We encourage community members to become active volunteers through actions like monthly newsletter emails, website posts, speaking engagements, and tabling at public events. Contact the team organizer for more information and the zoom link to the next meeting.
**Tags:** 350 Contra Costa Action Teams
**Event Categories:** Action Team Meetings
---
### [August Climate Circle: Status of California Climate Action in Wake of OBBB Act](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/august-climate-circle-status-of-california-climate-action-in-wake-of-obbb-act/)
**Published:** July 25, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** July Climate Circle: Engage in vital discussions and explore sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of refinery shutdowns on our local communities.
**Content:**
## Status of California Climate Action in Wake of OBBB Act
In early July Congress passed the budget reconciliation bill, outrageously and erroneously dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill.” It became law on July 4th. Among many other impacts, this bill guts federal climate and clean energy funding throughout the country, including eliminating rebates and tax credits for solar and wind farms, **[rooftop solar](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=MWMxNlKf1dbEjRyidmNsDSxntvS-f4Njj0sxw7KuPhJdZVfLelUiHeYa-mW6f-YZDDxptFGsn3YzIjmYdYSqvUEKdMLrykj_tOYSjuFmiV_DacSnQ8woLOix98gSx_Oq&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=august_climate_circle&n=2), [electric vehicles](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=WLiYijLGQd-CuyhSYAypyFX-uqepM5KDpKfjNqUnyoVSlLKslox_34dMViyFDJHcKvg_os02RCEFq9FH4nL1f5S1ugrIfxb1oKWFBRq3vg4&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=august_climate_circle&n=3)** and energy-efficient home upgrades. Since solar and wind are currently less expensive sources of energy than fossil fuels, utility rates are predicted to jump another ten percent in the next few years.
## Some of the Questions to be Discussed
How can California continue it’s clean energy initiatives without the federal funding provided by the [Inflation Reduction Act](https://350contracostaaction.org/the-inflation-reduction-act-opportunities-for-contra-costa-county/)? What can we do in our state, county and cities to keep moving forward toward a healthier environment for all?
Join us on Monday, August 4th, 2025, noon to 1 PM to discuss how the climate-related features of this budget act will affect California businesses and residents and what we can do about it.
[**Sign up here**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform) to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.
**Come curious. Leave inspired. Everyone is welcome.**
---
Image credit: [Akil Mazumder](https://www.pexels.com/@akilmazumder/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-coins-with-a-small-plant-5550904/)
**Tags:** Contra Costa Climate Circles
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [July Climate Circle: Refinery Shutdowns--Consequences for Our Communities](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/refinery-shutdowns-consequences-for-our-communities/)
**Published:** June 8, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** July Climate Circle: Engage in vital discussions and explore sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of refinery shutdowns on our local communities.
**Content:**
## Refinery Shutdowns–Consequences for Our Communities
Are you concerned about [Valero’s announced closure of its Benicia refinery](https://350contracostaaction.org/pending-valero-refinery-closure-shocks-benicia/)? What happens if Chevron shuts down?
- **Environmentalists** point to improved health outcomes and progress towards a carbon-free future.
- **Industry** argues that gasoline prices and pollution will increase because we will have to import less-regulated gas.
- **Unions** fear their members will not find well-paying jobs if the refinery closes.
- **Local city and state officials** worry about loss of tax revenues.
**As California transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, we need a framework for scaling down refinery operations that includes refinery accountability, community support and safety oversight.**
**Join us to discuss this multi-layered topic at our next Climate Circle on Monday, July 7, at 12:00 pm.**
[**Sign up here**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=climate_circle_blast_june_7th&n=1) to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.
---
Image credit: Christine Stevens
**Tags:** Contra Costa Climate Circles
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Celebrate with Us at the El Cerrito 4th of July 2025 Festival!](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/celebrate-with-us-at-the-el-cerrito-4th-of-july-2025-festival/)
**Published:** June 16, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join us at the El Cerrito 4th of July Festival on July 4, 2025! Celebrate with food, rides, and community spirit at Cerrito Vista Park.
**Content:**
Celebrate with us on Friday, July 4 from 11 AM to 5 PM at the annual El Cerrito 4th of July Festival! Come together with friends and family amidst colorful banners and world-class music.
Attractions abound! Dance to live bands, munch on delicious food, cool off at beverage stands, take the kids on rides, and watch them squeal in the bounce houses. Don’t forget the vendor stalls. We’ll be there! The festival is free, but some attractions require payment. Learn more [here](https://www.el-cerrito.org/702/July-4th-Festival).
**Stop by our booth and celebrate with us for a day filled with fun, community spirit, and excitement!** We’ll have activities for the kiddos and plenty of information about our latest initiatives to stop fossil fuels, mitigate the effects of climate change, and foster a livable future.
Can’t make the July 4th celebration in El Cerrito? Catch us at one of our other [upcoming events](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/category/upcoming-events/).
---
Image courtesy City of El Cerrito, used with permission
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Meet Us at Music & Market in Concord June 19!](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/meet-us-at-music-market-in-concord/)
**Published:** June 12, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Meet us at Concord’s popular outdoor music series, Music & Market, on June 19th! Look for us next door to MCE.
**Content:**
350 Contra Costa Action will have a booth at Concord’s popular outdoor music series, Music & Market, on June 19th! Look for us next door to MCE. The farmers’ market and food vendors will open at 4pm. Music by the party band Pop Rocks will start at 6:30.
Free admission and parking: Todos Santos Parking Center, Concord Avenue, between Salvio and Pacheco Streets. Also Grant Street Garage at Salvio Street between Grant and Colfax Streets. Short walk from BART.
Come on by our booth and learn [why making the switch to a heat pump](https://350contracostaaction.org/make-the-switch-to-heat-pumps-heres-why/) will save you money, shrink your carbon footprint, and help to keep your family healthy. **Plus, enter your name to win a FREE induction cooktop and stainless steel fry pan!** You might even get to see us cooking!
**FREE DRAWING** **for an Induction Cooktop and Frypan!**
Free to enter drawing—no purchase or donation required. Drawing to be held at our table in Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, CA, on June 19, 2025, at 6:20pm. Must be present to win.
---
Image courtesy City of Concord, used with permission
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [NO KINGS Nationwide Day of Defiance June 14, 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/no-kings-nationwide-day-of-defiance-june-14-2025/)
**Published:** May 18, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** June 14th NO KINGS Nationwide Day of Protest---The biggest climate issue is saving democracy! Keep up the fight! Join Indivisible and partners for a rally or march near you.
**Content:**
Join us, Indivisible and pro-democracy allies on June 14, 2025, for the [NO KINGS Nationwide Day of Defiance,](https://indivisible.org/statements/indivisible-and-partners-announce-no-kings-nationwide-day-defiance-flag-day-during) coinciding with Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C. Communities all over the country are shifting the spotlight from the parade to grassroots activism as everyday citizens rally and demonstrate peacefully for democracy and freedom for all. Why is 350 Contra Costa Action involved? Because the biggest climate issue facing us today is saving democracy. Learn more in our [June newsletter](https://350contracostaaction.org/june-2025-newsletter/).
With over 100 events scheduled and more planned every day, activists unite to reject authoritarianism and champion true democracy. This day honors the legacy of standing up to tyranny and pushes back against corrupt politics.
Core principle of the events nationwide: Commit to nonviolent action and foster peaceful interactions.
Let’s send a clear message: No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings!
[Join a rally or march near you](https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/).
**Tags:** democracy is a climate issue
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Mobilize to Make Polluters Pay on May 27](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/mobilize-to-make-polluters-pay-on-may-27/)
**Published:** May 13, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Mobilize to Make Polluters Pay at an inspiring and history-making rally at the Capitol in Sacramento on May 27. California is poised to finally hold polluters accountable for the billions of dollars of damages and harms they have caused for decades. Join us!
RSVP here and we'll share more details soon. Please help spread the word!
**Content:**
California is poised to finally hold polluters accountable for the billions of dollars of damages and harms they have caused for decades. **Join a broad coalition of organizers, activists, and citizens ready to make polluters pay on May 27th at the Capitol—**in a history-making and inspiring rally.
[RSVP here](https://actionnetwork.org/events/mobilize-to-make-polluters-pay) and the organizers will share more details soon. Please help spread the word!
**Tags:** Make Polluters Pay
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [June Climate Circle: Breaking the Spiral of Silence–Why We Don’t Talk and How We Can Start](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/climate-breaking-the-spiral-of-silence/)
**Published:** May 13, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** June Climate Circle---Join our open Climate Circle June 2 for "Climate: Breaking the Spiral of Silence—Why We Don’t Talk About It and How We Can Start.” We’ll explore why, when 89 percent of the populace are concerned about the climate crisis, we avoid sharing our concerns and how we can foster meaningful conversations for action.
**Content:**
## June Climate Circle: Breaking the Spiral of Silence
Are you comfortable talking to your neighbors, friends, or family about climate change? If the answer is no, you’ve got company.
According to a recent global study by *The Guardian* and international newsrooms, **89% of people are concerned about climate change—**but most of us aren’t talking about it.
### **Fear of judgment, disagreement, or social tension silences us**
Psychologists and communication experts call it the *Spiral of Silence*—a powerful force that keeps us quiet when we fear judgment, disagreement, or social tension. We assume others aren’t concerned, or that we don’t know enough, so we stay silent—even with the people closest to us.
### **Connection, emotion, and trust open pathways to change**
Silence slows progress. Research shows that people don’t change their minds through facts alone—they change through connection, emotion, and trust. If most of us want to accelerate climate action, then the way forward starts with conversation.
### Let’s turn concern into connection—and silence into momentum
**Join us** for our next **Climate Circle** on **Monday, June 2**, as we explore how to break the climate spiral of silence. Learn how to talk about climate change in ways that open minds, spark action, and bring communities together.
Let’s turn concern into connection—and silence into momentum.
[**Sign up here**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=350cca_may_2025_newsletter&n=8&test_email=1) to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.
---
Image credit: [Ekaterina Bolovtsova](https://www.pexels.com/@ekaterina-bolovtsova/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-women-talking-to-each-other-4051134/)
**Tags:** Contra Costa Climate Circles
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Webinar: Why California Needs the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/webinar-why-california-needs-the-polluters-pay-climate-superfund/)
**Published:** May 15, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** California wildfires are causing catastrophic damage—with a price tag around $250 billion. But why should taxpayers carry that cost while Big Oil gets a free pass? Join us and our hosts at The Climate Center for a timely webinar on SB 684 (Menjivar) and AB 1243 (Addis)—legislation that would make fossil fuel companies pay into a Climate Superfund to support disaster recovery, frontline communities, and real climate action.
**Content:**
California wildfires are causing catastrophic damage—with a price tag around $250 billion. But why should taxpayers carry that cost while Big Oil gets a free pass?
Join us and our hosts at The Climate Center for a timely webinar on SB 684 (Menjivar) and AB 1243 (Addis)—legislation that would make fossil fuel companies pay into a Climate Superfund to support disaster recovery, frontline communities, and real climate action.
Hear from bill authors, economists, and advocacy leaders on how this bold plan can deliver justice and resilience for Californians.
**Register [here](https://theclimatecenter.org/events/how-and-why-to-establish-the-polluters-pay-climate-superfund/?emci=05d82e4c-3e2f-f011-8b3d-6045bded8cca&emdi=b039ac28-2130-f011-8b3d-6045bded8cca&ceid=19361378) for the Climate Center Superfund webinar.**
---
Image Credit: Isabel Perlman
**Tags:** Make Polluters Pay
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Concord Rally and March April 19th](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/concord-rally-and-march-april-19th/)
**Published:** April 9, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
From the organizers:
Homegrown group against Trump’s attacks on the people and the environment. A safe non-violent rally! Hands off our Social Security and Medicare. Stop mass firings of Federal employees. Defend DEI & LGBTQ rights. Stop scapegoating immigrants. Protect our environment!
Meet at Concord Bart Plaza at 1, then march to Todos Santos Plaza. Yup, you’ll find some of us
Please support and thank our local businesses during these peaceful, community rallies!
Register [here](https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/769023/).
And yes, some of us from 350 Contra Costa Action will be there! Watch for us at several of these [2025 Earth Month events](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-earth-day-events-2025-celebrate-connect-and-take-action/) in Contra Costa County and beyond.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Image credit: Markus Spiske on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/city-people-street-sign-2990603/)
**Tags:** climate action 2025, Contra Costa Earth Month Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [California Climate Policy Summit 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/california-climate-policy-summit-2025/)
**Published:** April 18, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Don’t miss the fourth annual California Climate Policy Summit on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Sacramento! This is your chance to join forces with state decision-makers, elected officials, climate activists, environmental justice champions, business innovators, scientists, and policy experts to drive forward science-based climate action.
Get inspired by the bold initiatives of climate leaders working to fast-track the phase-out of fossil fuels, boost carbon drawdown, and build a resilient, clean energy future for all. Dive into dynamic conversations about the latest legislative and regulatory battles unfolding in Sacramento. Plus, connect with the trailblazers shaping the future of climate policy across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Look for 350 Contra Costa Action members there. We’re looking forward to it. [See why we’re going](https://350contracostaaction.org/california-climate-policy-summit-and-lobby-day-2025/).
Space is limited—[registration](https://www.eventleaf.com/Attendee/Attendee/EventPage?eId=Pv5iEH%2BS9ly7nsPMITVOLw%3D%3D) is required!
**Tags:** CA Climate Policy Summit
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Cleaning Up California’s Manufacturing Sector: Clean Heat for Communities and Workers](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/cleaning-up-californias-manufacturing-sector-clean-heat-for-communities-and-workers/)
**Published:** April 20, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Join Earthjustice, Industrious Labs, and Sierra Club for a [webinar on Thursday, April 24th at 6pm](https://sierraclub.zoom.us/meeting/register/6ydUUhkCTz2vThfjCdAyCQ) to learn about how we can clean up California’s polluting manufacturing sector. Industrial emissions are responsible for 20 percent of our state’s total greenhouse gas emissions, second only to the transportation sector. By cleaning up industrial heating processes, we will not only reduce emissions, but improve community health, protect, and create good jobs.
That’s why we’re inviting you to our webinar: Cleaning Up California’s Manufacturing Sector: 🔥Clean Heat for Communities and Workers
Together we’ll explore how electrifying industrial builders can:
✅ Protect public health and frontline communities
✅ Safeguard workers
✅ Slash climate pollution
✅ And move us toward a cleaner, more just future
You’ll hear from advocates, experts and organizers leading this fight—whether it’s pushing for stronger clean heat rules in California’s Bay Area or building momentum for policies nationwide.
[RSVP now to join the conversation and take action](https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00000kuoFlIAI&_gl=1*432fkd*_gcl_au*NzA0OTMwMjIuMTczNjI4NjI0Mi4xMTUyNzc1MjYuMTc0NDA1ODA5Ni4xNzQ0MDYwNDQy*_ga*MTU2OTgwOTEwMS4xNzIwNjMzNDc5*_ga_41DQ5KQCWV*MTc0NDA1ODAwNi4xNzYuMS4xNzQ0MDYwNDY2LjM0LjAuMA).
**Tags:** cleanup manufacturing sector, Industrial emissions
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [El Cerrito Go Green Mobility Fair April 26th](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/el-cerrito-go-green-mobility-fair-april-26th/)
**Published:** April 10, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
## Traveling with the Planet in Mind
Join the City of El Cerrito, City of Berkeley, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), [ECRA Walk and Roll](https://www.ecrawalkroll.org/) & [Bike East Bay](https://bikeeastbay.org/) for a GO GREEN! Mobility Fair at the El Cerrito Plaza BART north parking lot, on Saturday, April 26, 11am-3pm. Bring the family for games, music, food and much more!
Get the skinny on [every aspect of the fair](https://el-cerrito.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=9655&month=4&year=2025&day=26&calType=0)—from games to test rides to live music and bike smoothies. While you’re there, meet up with us and our friends at Climate Reality Bay Area, with whom we are sharing a booth.
See other [Earth Day and Earth Month events](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-earth-day-events-2025-celebrate-connect-and-take-action/) around Contra Costa County. There’s one near you!
**Tags:** Contra Costa Earth Month Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Interfaith San Ramon Valley EarthFest 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/i-srv-interfaith-earthfest-2025/)
**Published:** April 25, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** See Hope–Seed Change at the third annual Interfaith San Ramon Valley EarthFest, inspired by Creation itself, highlighting eco-success stories, community action, and sacred interconnectedness---the foundation of a flourishing eco-system and regeneration
**Content:**
## See Hope Seed Change
From the organizers:
This year’s focus receives inspiration from Creation itself and explores the essential practices of interconnectedness, reciprocity, and relationships which are the foundation of flourishing of a eco-system and regeneration. Across the wisdom and faith traditions of the world, humanity acknowledges our very existence occurs within a web of relationship. By offering this event, we are inviting people, our congregations, and our collective action in the San Ramon Valley to align with our shared values. Recognizing those who have gone before and our responsibility to those who will come after, we offer EarthFest to spur meaningful action now. See Hope–Seed Change!
- Spotlight Our **Eco-Success Stories**
- Draw **Hope** from One Another
- Inspire **Local Commitment** to Action
Activities • Speakers • Rituals • And More
Food Trucks • Live Music • Booths
A collaborative effort of Baha’i, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Sufi, Hindu, Taoist, and Christian friends, with acknowledgement to our Indigenous relations.
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Utility Justice 101—Mass Training with Bill McKibben May 28, 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/utility-justice-101-mass-training-with-bill-mckibben-may-28-2025/)
**Published:** May 16, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join us for "Utility Justice 101," a Mass Virtual Training on May 28th from 5-6:30 PM PT. Hosted by 350 Bay Area, the 350 Network Council, and Third Act, with special guest Bill McKibben, this training will cover how electric and gas utilities operate, the reasons behind high bills, and strategies to hold utility companies accountable. Connect with others in regional breakout rooms to advocate for Energy Equity in Northern California!
**Content:**
Join us for a Mass Virtual Training on May 28th: Utility Justice 101!
350 Bay Area is putting on this training with the 350 Network Council, Third Act, and special guest Bill McKibben to reach people across the country who want to learn more about our current energy system and how they can fight back against monopoly utilities!
From 5-6 pm PT, we’ll be tackling questions like:
**⇒ How do electric & gas utilities work?**
**⇒ Why are my bills so expensive?**
**⇒ Why do utility companies have so much power, and such little accountability?**
**⇒ How can we fight back and achieve utility justice?**
Then, from 6-6:30 pm, we’ll hold regional breakout rooms and connect with others in our area who want to join the campaign for Energy Equity here in Northern California! Show up and represent! This is a great space to invite your friends, family, and neighbors who are concerned about their utility, but aren’t sure what they can do themselves.
**[Register Now!](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=50Qpr8YNqMT0FqwzJ28pX8TvrjRHCM42OJ3NPVHY2o0txZSwpm2PcuIM4Vtkz1D9CGxSO202mJooPn6EUh8G74xRNGgnCLi4VaVd8pRyQZY&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=day_of_action_uj_recap&n=3)**
*Plus, If you’re interested in joining the 350 Bay Area Energy Equity Campaign team and listserv, send an email to .*
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [CANCELLED! Congressman DeSaulnier Hosts Environmental Town Hall and Fair May 3](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/congressman-desaulnier-hosts-environmental-town-hall-and-fair/)
**Published:** April 29, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** CANCELLED!! The Congressman’s office sent a notice the afternoon of April 30 stating he has had to cancel.
Congressman DeSaulnier invites you to an Environmental Town Hall and Resource Fair in Oakley on May 3. Join the discussion on the path forward in addressing climate change, learn about local solutions, and hear about his efforts in Congress to push back against the Administration’s harmful environmental rollbacks.
**Content:**
**Update April 30, 2025: We received notice this afternoon that the Congressman has had to cancel this event.**
From Congressman DeSaulnier:
Here in California, we’ve seen firsthand the disastrous effects of climate change from devastating wildfires to more extreme temperatures. Amid this climate crisis, the Trump Administration’s policies have undermined the tools we have to address global warming, including rolling back environmental protections and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement.
To discuss the path forward and my efforts in Congress to fight back against the Administration’s dangerous actions, I am hosting an outdoor **Environmental Town Hall and Resource Fair this Saturday, May 3rd in Oakley**.
Starting at 1:30 p.m., local agencies and organizations will share resources on their work to protect the environment. At 2:00 p.m., I will provide an update on my efforts to protect our planet, and we will hear from several local agency leaders about the work being done at the local level. We will also take your questions.
**This event is RSVP only and the venue has limited capacity.** [Click here to RSVP](https://it.cwnls.com/?action=link&url=https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp&id=31110000BC5038F0BD8282A485258C7B005705E5620B538E940658FD85257E530011BEB8). Confirmed attendees will receive more information, including the exact location, prior to the event.
I hope you will join us for this conversation.
**Tags:** Congressman DeSaulnier, Environmental Town Hall
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [May Climate Circle: Flipping the Grid--How Neighborhood Power Can Keep the Lights On](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/may-climate-circle-flipping-the-grid-with-distributed-energy-resources/)
**Published:** April 24, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join the Contra Costa Climate Circle May 5 from Noon to 1 pm to explore how local communities are using clean energy tools—like solar, wind, batteries, and EVs—to create resilient local power with Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).
**Content:**
Join us for the May 5 Climate Circle. This month’s topic focuses on **flipping the grid with community-powered Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)** to keep the lights on when neighborhood power goes down.
## When the Power Goes Out
Has your power gone out during a heatwave or wildfire warning—spoiling food, shutting off fans, or disconnecting critical medical equipment? A local, community-based Distributed Energy Resources network can pick up the slack when the Big Grid fails.
As the climate crisis accelerates, so do the threats to our electricity system. With more heatwaves, droughts, and storms, utilities like PG&E are shutting off power more often to prevent wildfires. At the same time, more people are switching to electric vehicles, stoves, and heaters—putting even more pressure on the grid. And it’s not just homes and cars—massive new data centers across the country consume enormous amounts of electricity to power cloud computing, AI, and the internet we all rely on. That demand is straining the grid even further.
## **Can We Build Power in Our Own Neighborhoods?**
It’s not a quick fix, but the answer is *yes*. While it takes effort, collaboration, and some investment, local communities are already starting to make it happen. By tapping into clean energy solutions like rooftop solar, small wind installations, home batteries, electric vehicles, and smart appliances—together, these are known as **Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)**—we can create local power networks that make our neighborhoods more resilient—even when the grid goes down. The [City of Richmond already uses such a network](https://www.energizeinnovation.fund/projects/richmond-advanced-energy-community-aec-phase-ii-project) to provide more [resilient and flexible power](https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/01/youth-community-center-in-richmond-california-becomes-a-resilience-hub/) to its residents.
**Join us on May 5** for a lively discussion on how communities are **flipping the grid with DERs**, and what we can do in our own neighborhoods. Whether you’re just getting familiar with energy issues or you’ve studied them in depth, there’s plenty to share and learn from each other.
[**Sign up here**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=226faefe849341b58d4930a4c816f4b2&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=climate_circle_week_3&n=2) to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.
**Come curious. Leave inspired. Everyone is welcome.
###### *The Contra Costa Climate Circle is a Zoom meeting for the climate concerned. Come connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space, each month, the first Monday, from 12-1 pm. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting you!*
---
Image Credit: [Designed by redgreystock / Freepik](http://www.freepik.com)
**Tags:** California climate solutions, community energy resilience, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [San Ramon Forest Home Farms Earth and Arbor Day Celebration](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/san-ramon-forest-home-farms-earth-and-arbor-day-celebration/)
**Published:** April 10, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
## Plant a tree for Earth Day at Forest Home Farms
Did you know San Ramon is a registered Tree City? Join the [Forest Home Farms](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=10826130&pageId=11665734&objectId.188292=20745839&contextId.188292=11665735&parentId.188292=11665736&localStartDate=2025-04-19T11:00&localEndDate=2025-04-19T14:00&ref=mesTP9fg96fVsgzpWYeogPMVtsWsHFyT%2fcG8c4xvsCk%3d) crew for an annual tree planting and celebrate our planet for Earth Day!
Fun on the Farm Activities are FREE\* crafts and activities that highlight farm life and the late Victorian era. This Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration is an opportunity to step back into history and enjoy the simple things of life. This free event is a partnership between the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Historic Foundation.
Look for our friends of the [San Ramon Valley Climate Coalition](https://srvclimate.org/) where you’ll find plenty of fun activities for the kids.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Image credit: Lorna Pauli on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/playful-lambs-resting-in-sunny-pasture-31507576/)
**Tags:** Contra Costa Earth Month Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Walnut Creek Earth Month Celebration April 19th](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/walnut-creek-earth-month-celebration-april-19th/)
**Published:** April 10, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
## **Sustainability in Motion!**
This April, accelerate your journey toward a greener future with dynamic, interactive workshops that showcase innovative sustainable practices, strengthen community ties, and boost personal well-being. Experience how forward movement transforms ideas into action—***culminating in a vibrant [celebration at Civic Park on April 19th](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/earth-month-2025/).***
- Live Performances
- Interactive Demos
- Explore Over 30 Booths
- Kids Zone
- Food Trucks
We’ll be there! Stop by our booth for fun activities with the kids, chat with us, and ask questions!
Not in Walnut Creek? Celebrate Earth Day and Earth Month with us at [events around Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-earth-day-events-2025-celebrate-connect-and-take-action/) and beyond!
**Tags:** Contra Costa Earth Month Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Pinole Earth Walk and Earth Month Events](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/pinole-earth-walk-and-earth-month-events/)
**Published:** April 10, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
## Celebrate Earth Day in Pinole All Month Long
The City of Pinole will celebrate Earth Day throughout April, offering various ways to take ACTION by learning different ways to implement climate action into our routine to protect the planet.
**Planned activities align with the four sectors of Pinole’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan:**
1. Water
2. Waste Reduction
3. Transportation
4. and Energy
The main community event is the Pinole Earth Walk.
## Pinole Earth Walk, Saturday, April 19
Each year for Earth Day, Pinoleans take a walking pledge to protect the planet as a community. Meet your neighbors, spend time with family, get some fresh air, and bring Fido for a walk! The walk is about 3 miles and begins and ends in Fernandez Park, following a paved loop that goes along the Pinole Creek and Bay Trail. Snacks and refreshments will be provided at the finish line, and there will be kids’ activities and local environmental organizations for you to connect with. **The first 100 people to register win a stainless steel straw set!**
FREE event. [Registration](https://www.pinole.gov/our-community/earth-day/) is required. All are welcome.
**Tags:** Contra Costa Earth Month Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [El Sobrante Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/el-sobrante-earth-day-cleanup-and-celebration/)
**Published:** April 9, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
## Come for the Earth Day 2025 Cleanup
**Earth Day 2025** cleanup is on April 19. Meet at 9:30 AM at El Sobrante Library, 4191 Appian Way, and select a location to clean up with other volunteers. Bring your own hat and water bottle. You can borrow equipment (grabbers, gloves, safety vests, buckets, bags, etc.) or bring your own to help pick up litter. Return equipment by noon or so and enjoy the program and company of other volunteers afterwards. Volunteers always needed, so [please drop the Green Team an email](mailto:info@keepelsobrantebeautiful.info).
## Stay for the Celebration!
After the cleanup, join 350 Contra Costa Action at the Green Team 94803 Earth Day celebration at the library 11:45am-2pm. Music, food, face painting, and lots of activities for the kids. And look for us at some of these other [2025 Earth Month events](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-earth-day-events-2025-celebrate-connect-and-take-action/) in Contra Costa County and beyond.
**Tags:** Contra Costa Earth Month Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [El Cerrito Earth Day 2025 Celebration](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/el-cerrito-earth-day-2025-celebration/)
**Published:** April 9, 2025
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
**Each year in April, the City of El Cerrito celebrates Earth Day with a morning of volunteerism.**
**We invite you to join or organize an Earth Day work party!**
The City of El Cerrito welcomes volunteers to:
- Help tidy parks & public spaces
- Pick up litter to reduce the amount of trash that ends up in our creeks, waterways and the Bay
- Remove invasive plants and weeds
- Participate in activities that beautify our community’s natural areas
The City encourages individuals, families and groups to register their work parties in advance by completing a [**Work Party Registration Form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKvPxFK4ptBaMb6DR4GSApw7XmCk19qJ3ORhRdTZHAEV_z4w/viewform) or emailing [**earthday@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us**](mailto:earthday@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us) with details on site location, number of volunteers and type of work that will be performed by April 13, 2025.
Not ready to organize your own work party? The City has a [list of locations and parties you can join](https://www.el-cerrito.org/645/Earth-Day-Celebration).
We’ll be there! Watch for us pitching in, or find us at some of these other [2025 Earth Month events](https://350contracostaaction.org/contra-costa-earth-day-events-2025-celebrate-connect-and-take-action/) in Contra Costa County and beyond.
**Tags:** Contra Costa Earth Month Events
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [April Climate Circle: California’s Electric Rates Are Too High](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/april-climate-circle-californias-electric-rates-are-too-high/)
**Published:** March 13, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join the Contra Costa Climate Circle April 7 from Noon to 1 pm to discuss California’s high electricity rates and possible solutions. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, between 2019 and 2023, residential rates rose by 47 percent. There is general agreement on the causes of the rate increase, but considerable disagreement about solutions. How can we generate more local, affordable electricity? Join the next Climate Circle on Monday, April 7th to discuss issues and possible solutions.
**Content:**
## **California’s electric rates are too high!
This month the Contra Costa Climate Circle will discuss California’s high electricity rates and **possible solutions**.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, [between 2019 and 2023, residential rates rose by 47 percent](https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950#Why_Are_California.2019s_Electricity_Rates_High.3F). There is general agreement on the causes of the rate increase, but considerable disagreement about solutions. How can we generate more local, affordable electricity? Join the next Climate Circle on Monday, April 7th to discuss issues and possible solutions.
[**Register here**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPBJ8MFQO11xJ-jc1i5BrXu9AbdYy2TUQP-tsYJD4qhZUndA/viewform) to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.
###### *The Contra Costa Climate Circle is a Zoom meeting for the climate concerned. Come connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space, each month, the first Monday, from 12-1 pm. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting you!*
---
Image Credit: [Severin Demchuk]() on [Unsplash]()
**Tags:** California climate solutions, California’s Electric Rates Are Too High
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Join a Contra Costa Climate Circle!](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/join-a-contra-costa-climate-circle/)
**Published:** February 13, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join the Contra Costa Climate Circle to discuss the impact of wildfires on California, explore fire safety strategies, and connect with like-minded individuals in a supportive environment.
**Content:**
[**The Contra Costa Climate Circle**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2025_newsletter&n=2&test_email=1) is a Zoom meeting for the climate concerned. Come connect with like minded folks and discuss current events in a safe and friendly space. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting you!
This month, the focus is on wildfire. Wildfires in California in the past 10 years have destroyed thousands of homes and burned millions of acres of forest, polluting the air we breathe and releasing harmful carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere.
As a result of catastrophic wildfires, homeowners’ fire insurance is becoming prohibitively expensive, or unavailable. How could future local wildfires impact us and our neighborhoods? What can we do to make our homes and communities more fire safe?
The Climate Circle takes place the first Monday of the month from 12-1pm.
[**Register here**](https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/r?u=2zlXxqR7STCgprs5CzKC-jKMfoJEzLlqtnwLTkVilh-wbBevT_ke9gV2jQ_o4tb_2Hlvq2KT-A38ICJSZPciwrTWCwkwRiyK0dLallDzUbZgWOkhpWU-bfqxERKTltwNww2r-6AltwVttjW8aGVKAw&e=7ab05585428787959f22b7603aa1c408&utm_source=350bayarea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb_2025_newsletter&n=3&test_email=1) to receive the discussion materials and Zoom link.
---
Image Credit: [dmncwndrlch](https://pixabay.com/users/dmncwndrlch-3075312/) on [Pixaby](https://pixabay.com/photos/demonstration-fridays-for-future-4891275/)
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Because of Youth Festival 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/because-of-youth-festival-2025/)
**Published:** March 7, 2025
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** MCE Because of Youth Festival 2025—Empowering tomorrow’s green leaders through green jobs and internship possibilities, special guest presentations, carnival games, fun, food, and music!
**Content:**
MCE is hosting their inaugural Because of Youth Festival at Contra Costa College on March 30, 2025 from 10:30 AM-3:00 PM. This free event will invite youth in high school and college from Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, and Napa to explore climate justice pathways in their local community.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Learn about internship and volunteer opportunities
- Connect with special guest speakers
- Participate in games and live music
**RSVP** through [the link provided here](https://cloud.info.mcecleanenergy.org/because-of-youth-festival). Participants will need to fill out an RSVP form and sign a waiver to attend (parent signature required under 18).
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Heat Pump Water Heaters--Lowest Cost, Lowest Carbon Hot Water](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/heat-pump-water-heaters-lowest-cost-lowest-carbon-hot-water/)
**Published:** October 17, 2024
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** DIY Heat Pump Water Heater Install – Ask Your Questions During a Live Installation!
**Content:**
**Boost Your Showers and Save with a Heat Pump Water Heater**
Ready to slash your energy bills and cut carbon emissions? A heat pump water heater (HPWH) can help you do both! With more models available than ever and sales rising by **35% in 2023**, these efficient appliances are set to dominate the market. New federal standards and local policies are pushing HPWHs to the forefront, yet many homeowners are still unsure how they work or why they’re the future of water heating.
Join us on **Tuesday, October 22nd** for a quick, informative **30-minute “HPWH 101” webinar** and learn how to incorporate these game-changing appliances into your home.
[REGISTER HERE](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bbfmmHuaSO6hM3JOin-_kA)
**Tags:** ElectrifyNow, Low Carbon Heat Pump Water Heaters
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Heat Pump Water Heater Day](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/heat-pump-water-heater-day/)
**Published:** October 17, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join us for a full day of sessions focused on heat pump water heater (HPWH) education and market updates. Featured session at 1:15 PM covers the latest HPWH products and manufacturers entering the market. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and explore the future of water heating technology!
**Content:**
#### An entire day dedicated to heat pump water heater (HPWH) education and awareness.
**Featured Session: Residential HPWH Market Update**
**1:15 PM Pacific Time**
The HPWH market is transforming, with more manufacturers entering the scene. Join **Electrify Now** for an exciting session showcasing companies that have recently launched heat pump water heaters—and others planning to enter the market soon. Learn about new products and see how manufacturers are gearing up to expand in this competitive space.
Don’t miss out on **Heat Pump Water Heater Day**! Drop in for the entire day, or just the sessions that catch your eye. [Full agenda here](https://www.advancedwaterheatinginitiative.org/hpwh-day)
[REGISTER HERE](https://www.advancedwaterheatinginitiative.org/hpwh-day)
**Tags:** ElectrifyNow, Heat Pump Water Heater Day
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Lunch and Learn: Climate Change Solutions and Advocacy](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/lunch-and-learn-climate-change-solutions-and-advocacy/)
**Published:** October 19, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Ordinary citizens can advocate for clean, renewable energy to power our world and ensure a livable future for our children. Lunch and Learn with 350 Contra Costa and the Contra Costa Library Wednesday, Oct 25.
**Content:**
## The role of advocacy for clean, renewable energy to power our world
To bring in a livable future for our children, we need ordinary citizens to advocate at all levels of government for electrification and a transition to renewable energy sources.
350 Contra Costa is proud to co-host this event with the Contra Costa County Library.
Photo by [Kevin Grieve](https://www.pexels.com/@kevin-grieve-99378594/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-a-poster-about-climate-change-9344352/)
**Tags:** Climate Change Solutions, Lunch and Learn, Renewable Energy, Sustainability Week
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [DIY Heat Pump Water Heater Webinar](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/diy-heat-pump-water-heater-webinar/)
**Published:** October 17, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** DIY Heat Pump Water Heater Install – Ask Your Questions During a Live Installation!
**Content:**
Installing a heat pump water heater (HPWH) can save money and energy, but it often costs more than traditional water heaters. Finding an experienced installer can also be tricky.
That’s why many homeowners are taking the DIY route—up to 30-50% in areas like the Northwest and Maine.
**Join Us Live** on **Monday, October 21st** for a step-by-step HPWH installation, led by pro installer **Steve Brotton** from Great Northwest Installations.
**What You’ll Get:**
- Watch a full installation in real-time
- Learn expert tips and shortcuts
- Gain confidence to tackle your own install
**Save your spot now!** Don’t miss out on this unique chance to learn from the pros.
[REGISTER HERE](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y-UrJU_8QQSkW7iPxZV2wg#/registration)
**Tags:** ElectrifyNow, Heat Pump Water Heater Installation
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Walnut Creek Climate March and Rally](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/walnut-creek-climate-march-and-rally/)
**Published:** October 13, 2024
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join the Walnut Creek Climate March & Rally on October 26, 2024, as we come together to raise awareness for climate action. Marchers will pause at Mt. Diablo Blvd & North Main, celebrating solidarity with music, chants, and banners. RSVP and volunteer with Sustainable Walnut Creek.
**Content:**
Get ready for a vibrant march and celebration to help raise awareness and visibility for climate action in Walnut Creek on Saturday, October 26.
Marchers will pause at the intersection of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and North Main Street for 5-10 minutes, occupying all four corners. During the pause we will celebrate our solidarity and our commitment to addressing climate change with music, chants, loads of energy, and hoisting our banners and signs.
Learn more, volunteer to help, and RSVP at [Sustainable Walnut Creek](https://www.sustainablewalnutcreek.org/climate-march-2024/).
Join us at the Walnut Creek Climate March and Rally October 26th.
**Tags:** March and Rally
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Communications Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/communications-team-meeting/2023-07-24/)
**Published:** July 11, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
The Communications Team meets via Zoom every other Monday. At our bi-weekly meetings the Communications Team identifies and plans ways to engage with county residents about climate solutions. We encourage community members to become active volunteers through actions like monthly newsletter emails, website posts, speaking engagements, and tabling at public events. Contact the team organizer for more information and the zoom link to the next meeting.
**Tags:** 350 Contra Costa Action Teams
**Event Categories:** Action Team Meetings
---
### [Lafayette Earth Day Festival](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/lafayette-earth-day-festival/)
**Published:** April 1, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Look for our 350 Contra Costa Action banner and stop and say hello. We'll have some fun things to do for the kids.
**Content:**
Join us for fun family activities!
- Live music with the Jim Ocean Band
- Activities for kids
- Petting zoo
- Organizer: [Sustainable Lafayette](https://www.sustainablelafayette.org/)
**Tags:** Earth Day Festival
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Third Annual Bay Area Walk and Ride with 350 Bay Area](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/third-annual-bay-area-walk-and-ride-with-350-bay-area/)
**Published:** April 1, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Back by popular demand: Join us for the third annual biking and walking extravaganza around the Bay Area to center and embody climate action!
**Content:**
Back by popular demand: Join us for the third annual biking and walking extravaganza around the Bay Area to center and embody climate action!
Each event will feature inspiring speakers, climate points of interest along the way, a delicious lunch, prizes and more. Sign up today to find your path on the road to a livable climate.
Times and locations at individual events vary. [Click here](https://bikewalkbayarea.rsvpify.com/) to find an event near you and for detailed information.
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [The Shoreline Festival on the Waterfront](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/the-shoreline-festival-on-the-waterfront/)
**Published:** April 1, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Say hello to our all-volunteer team at the Shoreline Festival on May 20.
**Content:**
Bring the kids and find our booth at this fun-packed day!
Live music all day, hot air balloon rides, children’s area, free activities.
Bring your reusable water bottle for a discount on beverages.
**Organizer:** [Contra Costa Resource Conservation District](https://www.ccrcd.org/)
**Event Details:** [Shoreline Festival](https://www.ccrcd.org/shoreline-festival)
**Free Admission**
**Tags:** Fossil fuels and our health
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Let Freedom Ring: Juneteenth Celebration](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/let-freedom-ring-juneteenth-celebration/)
**Published:** June 11, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** "Strengthening Our Village." Join the Antioch community for three days celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. We'll be there on Monday, June 19, joining in the fun as well as in the serious business of working toward ending environmental racism.
**Content:**
This year’s theme is “Strengthening Our Village.” Join the Antioch community all three days for carnival rides, food, crafts and arts, live entertainment, and a job fair in celebration of the [Emancipation Proclamation](https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/emancipation-proclamation/) and the [13th Amendment](https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/reconstruction/defining-freedom), which abolished slavery. Learn about community resources while you’re there. And look for our booth on the final day, Monday, June 19, when we’ll be there, joining in the fun as well as in the serious business of working toward ending [environmental racism](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623001640).
**Tags:** Juneteenth
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Fourth Annual Climate Justice Awards](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/fourth-annual-climate-justice-awards/)
**Published:** June 6, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** Join the 350 Bay Area & 350 Bay Area Action community during our 4th annual Climate Justice Awards! During this year's awards, held on the Summer Solstice, we are honoring leaders who have been working at the many intersections of climate justice.
**Content:**
Join the 350 Bay Area & 350 Bay Area Action community during our 4th annual Climate Justice Awards! During this year’s awards, held on the Summer Solstice, we are honoring leaders who have been working at the many intersections of climate justice.
And join us, 350 Contra Costa and 350 Contra Costa Action, in celebrating our own, Pinole Mayor Devin Murphy, this year’s elected honoree!
Our honorees will share about their work, the struggles and the wins that make the Bay Area a global leader in the fight against the climate crisis. We hope you can join us!
This is a virtual event on Zoom.
*Register today to receive the zoom link.* ***Thank you*** *for attending and giving what you can to support 350 Bay Area, 350 Bay Area Action and our honorees!*
**Tags:** Climate Justice Awards
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [2023 City of El Cerrito & WorldOne 4th of July Festival](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/2023-city-of-el-cerrito-worldone-4th-of-july-festival/)
**Published:** May 31, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Excerpt:** We are excited to once again celebrate with the El Cerrito community and supporters on Tuesday, July 4 from 11am-5pm at Cerrito Vista Park.
**Content:**
The Recreation Department hosted the first co-sponsored 4th of July Festival with [worldOne](https://worldoneradio.org/) in 1998. Since then, the festival has grown into a world-class hometown institution featuring high quality musical performances, family entertainment such as rides and bounce houses, non-profits and civic organization booths, vendors, and food booths and trucks offering a wide variety of cuisines.
After a two-year hiatus during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Festival returned in summer 2022 thanks to the generous support of sponsors and individual donors. The City is committed to annual fundraising efforts to make sure the 4th of July Festival comes back year after year and remains fiscally sustainable and accessible to all.
We are excited to once again celebrate with the El Cerrito community and supporters on Tuesday, July 4 from 11am-5pm at Cerrito Vista Park.
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Local Policy Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/local-policy-team-meeting/2023-07-18/)
**Published:** July 11, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
The Local Policy Team meets via Zoom on the third Tuesday of the month. We discuss our position on policies for which we advocate at the city and county level and also plan campaigns. Keeping environmental justice in mind we focus on: Building Electrification, Climate Action Plans, Housing, Transportation and Just Transition.
This is a great space for anyone wanting to focus on their city, or unincorporated county, or if you have a specific interest in the above areas or want to learn about effective policy.
Contact the team leader for more information and the zoom link to the next meeting.
**Tags:** 350 Contra Costa Action Teams
**Event Categories:** Action Team Meetings
---
### [The Scale of Hope | Film and Q&A with Molly Kawahata](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/the-scale-of-hope-film-with-qa-with-molly-kawahata/)
**Published:** July 23, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join 350 Contra Costa in a free screening of The Scale of Hope | Film and live Q&A with Molly Kawahata, Aug 10, 2023, at 7:00 pm PT, at the historic Orinda Theatre
**Content:**
###
### Keep Cool with 350 Contra Costa!
350 Contra Costa is delighted to host a free screening of *The Scale of Hope* on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 7:00 pm PT, at the historic Orinda Theatre, 4 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda CA 94563.
The scale of climate change can make an individual feel hopelessly small. Molly Kawahata knows this feeling well. As a former climate advisor to the Obama White House and an alpine climber with dreams of big summits, Molly has dedicated her life to taking on seemingly insurmountable challenges. But it’s her personal struggle with mental health that gives her a profound understanding of how to harness the power of the mind to create change.
*The Scale of Hope* follows Molly as she prepares for an expedition in the Alaska Range while working to create a new climate narrative that centers her favorite question—”What can I do to help?”—with a surprising answer. It’s a story about struggle, hope and what it will take to solve the greatest issue of our time.
[Watch the trailer](https://youtu.be/JMv568k9sdY), then join us on the tenth to view spectacular footage on the big screen and hear Molly’s inspiring message of grit, determination, and hope. We’ll have live Q&A with Molly immediately following the film.
Orinda Theatre is a 5-10-minute walk from the Orinda BART station. There are several restaurants close to the theatre.
Join us! This is a free event—please [register here](https://bit.ly/3XYIuid) to let us know you’re coming.
***Who is Molly Kawahata?***
Molly Kawahata is a public speaker, climate strategist, mental health advocate, and former Climate Advisor at the Obama White House. She is the Founder of Systemic Impact Strategies, a consultancy and advisory.
Her life story, depicted in Patagonia’s film, *The Scale of Hope*, intimately explores her pursuit of climbing steep ice faces in Alaska, her personal struggle with mental health, and her work to transform societal narratives by infusing them with hope and empowerment.
The film has resonated with audiences worldwide, amassing over one million views and earning a place in the permanent collection at the New York Museum of Modern Art. It is now streaming on all Delta flights through Delta’s InFlight Entertainment.
Molly has been asked to speak at institutions such as Google, Nike, Harvard, the U.S. Congress, global IMAX audiences, and the Kennedy Center presidential monument. She is an Advisory Board Member to the Environmental Voter Project and an Advisory Council Member to the AAPI Victory Fund. Outside of work, you can find Molly ice climbing in her local mountains.
Share this event
**Tags:** Climate Crisis, The Scale of Hope
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [The Scale of Hope: Online Screening with Live Q&A](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/the-scale-of-hope-new-screening/)
**Published:** September 2, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Join 350 Contra Costa and the Contra Costa Library in a free online screening of The Scale of Hope | Film followed by live Q&A, September 26, 2023, 6:00-8:00 pm.
**Content:**
#### Join Co-Hosts 350 Contra Costa and Contra Costa Library
If you missed our August screening of the breathtaking Patagonia film, *The Scale of Hope*, 350 Contra Costa is delighted to co-host this second viewing and Q&A, *online* this time, with the Contra Costa Library on Tuesday, September 26, from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Featuring ice climber and climate activist Molly Kawahata, the film features heart-stopping close-ups of Kawahata as she scales vertical ice walls in Colorado and Alaska while grappling with the climate change issues facing us all.
#### “What Can I Do to Help?”
*The Scale of Hope* follows Molly as she prepares for an expedition in the Alaska Range, while working to create a new climate narrative that centers her favorite question—What can I do to help?—with a surprising answer. It’s a story of struggle, hope and what it will take to solve the greatest issue of our time.
[Watch the trailer](https://youtu.be/JMv568k9sdY), then join us on the twenty-sixth to view spectacular footage and hear Molly’s inspiring message of grit, determination, and hope.
Join us! [Register with the Contra Costa Library](https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/events/64e38321c0db8d2800cc70a0) to reserve your place for this free online event.
***Who is Molly Kawahata?***
Molly Kawahata is a public speaker, climate strategist, mental health advocate, and former Climate Advisor at the Obama White House. She is the Founder of Systemic Impact Strategies, a consultancy and advisory.
Her life story, depicted in Patagonia’s film, *The Scale of Hope*, intimately explores her pursuit of climbing steep ice faces in Alaska, her personal struggle with mental health, and her work to transform societal narratives by infusing them with hope and empowerment.
The film has resonated with audiences worldwide, amassing over one million views and earning a place in the permanent collection at the New York Museum of Modern Art. It is now streaming on all Delta flights through Delta’s InFlight Entertainment.
Molly has been asked to speak at institutions such as Google, Nike, Harvard, the U.S. Congress, global IMAX audiences, and the Kennedy Center presidential monument. She is an Advisory Board Member to the Environmental Voter Project and an Advisory Council Member to the AAPI Victory Fund. Outside of work, you can find Molly ice climbing in her local mountains.
**Tags:** Climate Crisis, The Scale of Hope
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Lunch and Learn: Building Electrification at Home](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/lunch-and-learn-building-electrification-at-home/)
**Published:** October 17, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Thinking about switching to electric appliances? Lunch and Learn with 350 Contra Costa and the Contra Costa Library Monday, Oct 23.
**Content:**
## Practical information for switching to electric appliances
Learn about rebates and tax credits that help upgrade your home and improve indoor air quality while helping the environment.
350 Contra Costa is proud to co-host this event with the Contra Costa County Library.
Photo by [Ron Lach](https://www.pexels.com/@ron-lach/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-brown-wooden-kitchen-8175344/)
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Lunch and Learn, Switch to Electric Appliances
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Lunch and Learn: What Is a Carbon Sink?](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/lunch-and-learn-what-is-a-carbon-sink-2/)
**Published:** October 19, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and what does it have to do with our local wetlands? Lunch and Learn with 350 Contra Costa and the Contra Costa Library Thursday, Oct 26.
**Content:**
## Natural and not-so-natural ways to cool our planet by removing and storing carbon
It’s in the news every day: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Learn about both kinds of CCS: the natural carbon capture happening in forests, wetlands, and grasslands, as well as the technology for capturing and storing carbon pollution from fossil fuels. We’ll discuss the proposed Montezuma Wetlands CCS project in our own backyard and what you can do to prevent it.
350 Contra Costa is proud to co-host this event with the Contra Costa County Library.
Photo by [Ferenc Tibodi](https://www.pexels.com/@tibodif/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-great-egret-standing-on-grass-near-body-of-water-2895673/)
**Tags:** Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Carbon Sink, Lunch and Learn, Montezuma Wetlands
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Electrified Home Tour](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/electrified-home-tour-3/)
**Published:** March 12, 2024
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Excerpt:** Free tour of four all-electric, green homes in Alameda and Contra Costa County on Sunday, March 10
**Content:**
The Electrified Home Tour is an in-person, free event that will take place at four electrified homes in Alameda and Contra Costa County.
Electrifying your home can save you money, protect your and your children’s health, help reduce global warming, and keep you more comfortable.
Come learn how on the upcoming, free Electrified Home Tour, a new program of the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase.
**Tags:** Building Electrification, Green Homes
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Join Us at the El Cerrito WorldOne July 4th Festival](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/join-us-at-the-el-cerrito-worldone-july-4th-festival/)
**Published:** June 30, 2024
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
Stop by our booth for free games and fun for the kids, the latest local climate action events, and much more. The City of El Cerrito and WorldOne partner this year to bring a fantastic Fourth of July celebration. Plus, lots of *glocal* food, games, and rides.
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Live! EcoForum with Walnut Creek City Council Candidates](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/live-ecoforum-with-walnut-creek-city-council-candidates/)
**Published:** July 8, 2024
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
Meet the five candidates running for Walnut Creek City Council:
- Cindy Darling
- Craig DeVinney
- Brendan Moran
- Laura Patch
- Kevin Wilk
With 350 Contra Costa Action, this forum is presented by these non-partisan organizations:
- Contra Costa Climate Leaders
- Contra Costa Climate Reality Project
- Interfaith Climate Action Network
- Sustainable Contra Costa
- Sustainable Rossmoor
- Sustainable Walnut Creek
- Walnut Creek Climate Coalition
- Walnut Creek Climate Action Network
For a gate pass to enter Rossmoor, RSVP to carol4ofa@gmail.com
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
### [Contra Costa County Electrification Fair 2024](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/contra-costa-county-electrification-fair-2024/)
**Published:** June 30, 2024
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
Join us at the free 2024 Contra Costa County Home Electrification Fair! Discover new appliances, tax credits, rebates, and more. View full flier:
[](https://350contracostaaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CCC-Electrification-Fair-2024.jpg)
**Event Categories:** Upcoming Events
---
## Series
### [Community Climate Forum](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/community-climate-forum/)
**Published:** March 27, 2026
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Martinez Open Air Market](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/martinez-open-air-market/)
**Published:** October 6, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Clean Air Week 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/clean-air-week-2025/)
**Published:** September 20, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Contra Costa Climate Circles](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/contra-costa-climate-circles/)
**Published:** February 13, 2025
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Heat Pump Water Heater Webinars](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/heat-pump-water-heater-webinars/)
**Published:** October 17, 2024
**Author:** Kate
---
### [2024 Election](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/2024-election/)
**Published:** July 8, 2024
**Author:** Kate
---
### [Test Event](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/test-event/)
**Published:** March 12, 2024
**Author:** Tod Abbott
---
### [350 Contra Costa Lunch and Learn Webinars](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/350-contra-costa-lunch-and-learn-webinars/)
**Published:** October 17, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Photo by [Ferenc Tibodi](https://www.pexels.com/@tibodif/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-great-egret-standing-on-grass-near-body-of-water-2895673/)In partnership with the Contra Costa County Library, 350 Contra Costa will host three ‘lunch and learn’ webinars for Walnut Creek Sustainability Week. These are free events, and will be held from noon to 1:15 pm on October 23, 25, and 26. Each webinar focuses on a single topic currently in both local and national news.
- [Building Electrification at Home: Practical information for switching to electric appliances](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/lunch-and-learn-building-electrification-at-home/) (Oct 23)
- [Climate Change Solutions and Advocacy: The role of advocacy for clean, renewable energy to power our world](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/lunch-and-learn-climate-change-solutions-and-advocacy/) (Oct 25)
- [What is a carbon sink? Natural and not-so-natural ways to cool our planet by removing and storing carbon](https://350contracostaaction.org/event/lunch-and-learn-what-is-a-carbon-sink/) (Oct 26)
Please join us!
---
Photo by [Ferenc Tibodi](https://www.pexels.com/@tibodif/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-great-egret-standing-on-grass-near-body-of-water-2895673/)
---
### [The Scale of Hope | Film](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/the-scale-of-hope-film/)
**Published:** September 2, 2023
**Author:** Kate
**Content:**
**
350 Contra Costa is delighted to host a series of screenings of the Patagonia film, *The Scale of Hope*, each followed by live Q&A.
*The Scale of Hope* follows ice climber and climate activist Molly Kawahata as she prepares for an expedition in the Alaska Range, while working to create a new climate narrative that centers her favorite question—*What can I do to help?*—with a surprising answer. It’s a story of struggle, hope and what it will take to solve the greatest issue of our time.
---
### [Leadership Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/leadership-team-meeting/)
**Published:** July 11, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
350 Contra Costa Action volunteers together in 2022
---
### [Legislative Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/legislative-team/)
**Published:** July 11, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
Members of the Legislative Team meet with Assembly member Rebecca Bauer Kahan
---
### [Local Policy Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/local-policy-team-meeting/)
**Published:** July 11, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
The Local Policy Team organized a mini demonstration at the County offices
---
### [Communications Team Meeting](https://350contracostaaction.org/series/communications-team-meeting/)
**Published:** July 11, 2023
**Author:** Editorial Team
**Content:**
---
## Categories
### [Blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/)
**Description:** All posts that appear on our blog
---
### [Newsletters](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/newsletters/)
---
### [Volunteer](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/volunteer/)
---
### [Electoral Blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/electoral-blog/)
**Description:** Blog posts showing the work, as well as calls to action we amplify in the effort to elect climate champions in Contra Costa County and the State of California.
---
### [Legislative Blog](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/legislative-blog/)
**Description:** Blog posts about our legislative initiatives and legislation related to decreasing the threats of climate change.
---
### [Climate Policy](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/local-policy/climate-policy/)
**Description:** Blog posts that fall under local/climate policy
---
### [Local Policy](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/local-policy/)
**Description:** Blog posts that fall under local policy activities
---
### [Climate Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/climate-action/)
**Description:** Climate actions ordinary folk can take
---
### [Endorsee 2024](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/endorsee-2024/)
**Description:** 2024 350 Contra Costa Action Endorsee
---
### [Winner 2024](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/endorsee-2024/winner-2024/)
**Description:** Our local endorsees who won their elections in 2024
---
### [How-To](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/how-to/)
**Description:** Posts in this category will be linked on the Resources Hub and other pages as appropriate. They will not appear on the blog.
---
### [Volunteer Spotlight](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/volunteer-spotlight/)
**Description:** All volunteer spotlights will be posted with this category
---
### [Environmental Justice](https://350contracostaaction.org/category/blog/local-policy/environmental-justice/)
---
## Tags
### [climate change](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-change/)
---
### [2022 Election](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2022-election/)
---
### [Climate Candidate](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-candidate/)
---
### [climate champions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-champions/)
---
### [Climate Crisis](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-crisis/)
---
### [Gas Stoves](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/gas-stoves/)
---
### [Fossil Fuels](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/fossil-fuels/)
---
### [Fossil fuels and our health](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/fossil-fuels-and-our-health/)
---
### [Electric induction cooktop benefits](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/electric-induction-cooktop-benefits/)
---
### [California SB1137](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-sb1137/)
---
### [Rooftop solar](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/rooftop-solar/)
---
### [CARB 2022 Scoping Plan](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/carb-2022-scoping-plan/)
---
### [Oil Profits](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/oil-profits/)
---
### [Building Electrification](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/building-electrification/)
---
### [Climate Leaders](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-leaders/)
---
### [Renewable Energy](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/renewable-energy/)
---
### [Earth Day](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/earth-day/)
---
### [Earth Day Festival](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/earth-day-festival/)
---
### [solar parking lot canopies](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/solar-parking-lot-canopies/)
---
### [Fossil Fuel Divestment Act](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/fossil-fuel-divestment-act/)
---
### [bidirectional EVs](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bidirectional-evs/)
---
### [Gas and Oil Drilling Bans](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/gas-and-oil-drilling-bans/)
---
### [California Climate Legislation](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-climate-legislation/)
---
### [Bike and Walk for the Planet](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bike-and-walk-for-the-planet/)
---
### [Renewable Electricity](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/renewable-electricity/)
---
### [Grid Resilience](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/grid-resilience/)
---
### [Climate Solutions at Home](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-solutions-at-home/)
---
### [Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/inflation-reduction-act-ira/)
---
### [Climate Emergency Resolution](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-emergency-resolution/)
---
### [Climate Webinar](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-webinar/)
---
### [EcoFest](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ecofest/)
---
### [Fossil gas and climate change](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/fossil-gas-and-climate-change/)
---
### [Concord Reuse Project](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/concord-reuse-project/)
---
### [Oil and Gas Setbacks](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/oil-and-gas-setbacks/)
---
### [2023 Survey](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2023-survey/)
---
### [Price Gouging at the Pumps](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/price-gouging-at-the-pumps/)
---
### [Carb Scoping Plan](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/carb-scoping-plan/)
---
### [Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-action-and-adaptation-plan-caap/)
---
### [Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHINA)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/regional-housing-needs-assessment-rhina/)
---
### [End NOx Pollution](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/end-nox-pollution/)
---
### [Martinez Refinery](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/martinez-refinery/)
---
### [SCOTUS EPA Ruling](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/scotus-epa-ruling/)
---
### [Biofuels Refining](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/biofuels-refining/)
---
### [Dirty Dollars in Sacramento](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/dirty-dollars-in-sacramento/)
---
### [Climate Policy Summit](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-policy-summit/)
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action Open House](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/350-contra-costa-action-open-house/)
---
### [Methane Reduction](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/methane-reduction/)
---
### [Drilling Setbacks](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/drilling-setbacks/)
---
### [solar credits](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/solar-credits/)
---
### [climate action plan](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-action-plan/)
---
### [Sustainability Week](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/sustainability-week/)
---
### [neurotoxic insecticides](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/neurotoxic-insecticides/)
---
### [Sustainability Action Plan Walnut Creek;](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/sustainability-action-plan-walnut-creek/)
---
### [Referendum Accountability](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/referendum-accountability/)
---
### [Solar Job Training](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/solar-job-training/)
---
### [Solar Lobby Day](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/solar-lobby-day/)
---
### [Transportation and Climate](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/transportation-and-climate/)
---
### [Plastic Pollution](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/plastic-pollution/)
---
### [EV Rebates](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ev-rebates/)
---
### [Climate Justice Awards](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-justice-awards/)
---
### [Juneteenth](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/juneteenth/)
---
### [GHG Emissions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ghg-emissions/)
---
### [Climate Savvy](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-savvy/)
**Description:** Posts that define climate terms and help us learn more, understand better
---
### [Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/greenhouse-gas-emissions-ghgs/)
---
### [corporate climate accountability](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/corporate-climate-accountability/)
---
### [climate financial risks](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-financial-risks/)
---
### [Zero Emission Buses](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/zero-emission-buses/)
---
### [Public Transit Funding](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/public-transit-funding/)
---
### [350 Contra Costa Action Teams](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/350-contra-costa-action-teams/)
---
### [The Scale of Hope](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/the-scale-of-hope/)
---
### [Movie Night](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/movie-night/)
---
### [Climate Solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-solutions/)
---
### [Volunteers Needed](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/volunteers-needed/)
---
### [Lunch and Learn](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/lunch-and-learn/)
---
### [Switch to Electric Appliances](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/switch-to-electric-appliances/)
---
### [Climate Change Solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-change-solutions/)
---
### [Carbon Sink](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/carbon-sink/)
---
### [Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/carbon-capture-and-storage-ccs/)
---
### [Montezuma Wetlands](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/montezuma-wetlands/)
---
### [California Sues Big Oil](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-sues-big-oil/)
---
### [Montezuma CarbonHub](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/montezuma-carbonhub/)
---
### [All-Electric](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/all-electric/)
---
### [CA Restaurant Association v City of Berkeley](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ca-restaurant-association-v-city-of-berkeley/)
---
### [Green Homes](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/green-homes/)
---
### [Climate Policy](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-policy/)
---
### [Clean Cars for All](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/clean-cars-for-all/)
---
### [Contra Costa Earth Month Events](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/contra-costa-earth-month-events/)
---
### [Clean Energy Transition](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/clean-energy-transition/)
---
### [Bringing Back The Natives Garden Tour](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bringing-back-the-natives-garden-tour/)
---
### [Brentwood Bans Drilling](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/brentwood-bans-drilling/)
---
### [Pinole Gas Station Moratorium](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/pinole-gas-station-moratorium/)
---
### [Cutting pollution at home](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/cutting-pollution-at-home/)
---
### [Earth Day 2024 Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/earth-day-2024-contra-costa-county/)
---
### [Earth Day 2024](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/earth-day-2024/)
---
### [Defeating Big Oil](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/defeating-big-oil/)
---
### [Green Amendment](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/green-amendment/)
---
### [2022 Year in Review](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2022-year-in-review/)
---
### [endorsed climate champions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/endorsed-climate-champions/)
---
### [Polluters Pay Initiative](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/polluters-pay-initiative/)
---
### [Refinery Tax](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/refinery-tax/)
---
### [Richmond CA Polluters Pay Initiative](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/richmond-ca-polluters-pay-initiative/)
---
### [Refinery pollution](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/refinery-pollution/)
---
### [Environmental Justice](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/environmental-justice/)
---
### [2024 Election](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-election/)
---
### [Local climate champions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/local-climate-champions/)
---
### [Climate Emergency](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-emergency/)
---
### [Make Polluters Pay](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/make-polluters-pay/)
---
### [MCE Charged By Public Power Program](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/mce-charged-by-public-power-program/)
---
### [Free Energy Efficient Kits](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/free-energy-efficient-kits/)
---
### [CoCo Home Electrification Fair](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/coco-home-electrification-fair/)
---
### [Virtual Green House Call program](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/virtual-green-house-call-program/)
---
### [Rising Sun Center for Opportunity](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/rising-sun-center-for-opportunity/)
---
### [Climate Careers](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-careers/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee El Cerrito City Council_LM](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-el-cerrito-city-council_lm/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee El Cerrito City Council_RS](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-el-cerrito-city-council_rs/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Hercules City Council_AWG](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-hercules-city-council_awg/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee E Bay Regional Parks Board](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-e-bay-regional-parks-board/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee CA Senate D9](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-ca-senate-d9/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Lafayette City Council_GD](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-lafayette-city-council_gd/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Pinole City Council_DM](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-pinole-city-council_dm/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Richmond City Council D1](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-richmond-city-council-d1/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Richmond City Council D6](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-richmond-city-council-d6/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Walnut Creek_CD](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-walnut-creek_cd/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee CA Senate D7](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-ca-senate-d7/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Contra Costa County Supervisor D5](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-contra-costa-county-supervisor-d5/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Concord City Council D4](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-concord-city-council-d4/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee El Cerrito City Council_WK](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-el-cerrito-city-council_wk/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Pinole City Council_MT](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-pinole-city-council_mt/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Walnut Creek_LP](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-walnut-creek_lp/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Walnut Creek_KW](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-walnut-creek_kw/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee San Ramon Mayor](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-san-ramon-mayor/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Brentwood City Council D3](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-brentwood-city-council-d3/)
---
### [2024 Endorsee Lafayette City Council_CA](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-endorsee-lafayette-city-council_ca/)
---
### [March and Rally](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/march-and-rally/)
---
### [Heat Pump Water Heater Installation](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/heat-pump-water-heater-installation/)
---
### [ElectrifyNow](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/electrifynow/)
---
### [Low Carbon Heat Pump Water Heaters](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/low-carbon-heat-pump-water-heaters/)
---
### [Heat Pump Water Heater Day](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/heat-pump-water-heater-day/)
---
### [Local Election Endorsees 2024](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/local-election-endorsees-2024/)
---
### [Heat Pump Water Heaters](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/heat-pump-water-heaters/)
---
### [2024 CA Climate Legislation Passed](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-ca-climate-legislation-passed/)
---
### [Why Local Climate Action Matters](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/why-local-climate-action-matters/)
---
### [Bay Area Clean Appliance Rules](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bay-area-clean-appliance-rules/)
---
### [Bay Area Polluters](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bay-area-polluters/)
---
### [The Switch Is On](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/the-switch-is-on/)
---
### [local action drives change in Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/local-action-drives-change-in-contra-costa-county/)
---
### [California climate solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-climate-solutions/)
---
### [BAAQMD Rules 9-4 and 9-6](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/baaqmd-rules-9-4-and-9-6/)
---
### [zero NOx water heaters](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/zero-nox-water-heaters/)
---
### [zero NOx furnaces](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/zero-nox-furnaces/)
---
### [Fossil Fuel Drilling Ban](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/fossil-fuel-drilling-ban/)
---
### [Fossil Fuel Drilling](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/fossil-fuel-drilling/)
---
### [Home electrification](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/home-electrification/)
---
### [climate action 2024](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-action-2024/)
---
### [2024 election Contra Costa County](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2024-election-contra-costa-county/)
---
### [climate leaders elected](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-leaders-elected/)
---
### [Wildfire recovery support](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/wildfire-recovery-support/)
---
### [Environmental justice initiatives](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/environmental-justice-initiatives/)
---
### [Legislative climate action](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/legislative-climate-action/)
---
### [2025 climate priorities](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2025-climate-priorities/)
---
### [California climate bill](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-climate-bill/)
---
### [polluter accountability](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/polluter-accountability/)
---
### [climate superfund](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-superfund/)
---
### [Local climate actions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/local-climate-actions/)
---
### [Contra Costa Climate Circles](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/contra-costa-climate-circles/)
---
### [Greenpeace rally](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/greenpeace-rally/)
---
### [Sunflower Alliance](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/sunflower-alliance/)
---
### [California’s Electric Rates Are Too High](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/californias-electric-rates-are-too-high/)
---
### [California Strong](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-strong/)
---
### [BARCAP Survey](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/barcap-survey/)
---
### [California Climate Policy Summit](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-climate-policy-summit/)
---
### [Sacramento Lobby Day](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/sacramento-lobby-day/)
---
### [Earth Day 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/earth-day-2025/)
---
### [How and Why to Join 350CCA](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/how-and-why-to-join-350cca/)
---
### [CA Climate Policy Summit](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ca-climate-policy-summit/)
---
### [No drilling petition](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/no-drilling-petition/)
---
### [California Climate Superfund Bill](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/california-climate-superfund-bill/)
---
### [HandsOff! Rallies](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/handsoff-rallies/)
---
### [Concord March and Rally](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/concord-march-and-rally/)
---
### [climate action 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-action-2025/)
---
### [Industrial emissions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/industrial-emissions/)
---
### [cleanup manufacturing sector](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/cleanup-manufacturing-sector/)
---
### [Climate protests](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-protests/)
---
### [National Day of Action](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/national-day-of-action/)
---
### [Central Contra Costa](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/central-contra-costa/)
---
### [BAR-CAP Survey](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bar-cap-survey/)
---
### [Valero refinery Benicia](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/valero-refinery-benicia/)
---
### [Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/distributed-energy-resources-ders/)
---
### [community energy resilience](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/community-energy-resilience/)
---
### [Environmental Town Hall](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/environmental-town-hall/)
---
### [Congressman DeSaulnier](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/congressman-desaulnier/)
---
### [democracy is a climate issue](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/democracy-is-a-climate-issue/)
---
### [No Kings March and Rally](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/no-kings-march-and-rally/)
---
### [CACTI](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/cacti/)
---
### [Clean Air Week 2025](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/clean-air-week-2025/)
---
### [Refinery Closures](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/refinery-closures/)
---
### [A Just Transition](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/a-just-transition/)
---
### [Climate Health Now](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-health-now/)
---
### [Home Air Monitors](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/home-air-monitors/)
---
### [Building Decarbonization](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/building-decarbonization/)
---
### [social justice](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/social-justice/)
---
### [AB 740: Virtual Power Plants](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ab-740-virtual-power-plants/)
---
### [AB 823: Microplastics](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ab-823-microplastics/)
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### [Sustainable Contra Costa](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/sustainable-contra-costa/)
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### [Reduce local climate risks](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/reduce-local-climate-risks/)
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### [East Contra Costa Healthy Homes](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/east-contra-costa-healthy-homes/)
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### [Gas Stove emissions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/gas-stove-emissions/)
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### [Green Energy Revolution](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/green-energy-revolution/)
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### [solar energy cheaper](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/solar-energy-cheaper/)
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### [Get Ready for Sun Day](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/get-ready-for-sun-day/)
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### [Brentwood Farmers Market](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/brentwood-farmers-market/)
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### [Antioch](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/antioch/)
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### [350 CCA Volunteer](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/350-cca-volunteer/)
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### [Richmond Refinery](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/richmond-refinery/)
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### [Benicia Refinery](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/benicia-refinery/)
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### [Benicia CA](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/benicia-ca/)
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### [Bay Area Air District (BAAD)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bay-area-air-district-baad/)
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### [Brentwood drilling ban](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/brentwood-drilling-ban/)
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### [Brentwood](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/brentwood/)
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### [leaf-blower ban](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/leaf-blower-ban/)
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### [Contra Costa Drilling](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/contra-costa-drilling/)
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### [CA Climate Summit](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/ca-climate-summit/)
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### [Bay Area Clean Air (BACA)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bay-area-clean-air-baca/)
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### [Gas Leaf Blowers](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/gas-leaf-blowers/)
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### [Electric leaf blowers](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/electric-leaf-blowers/)
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### [Clean Air Solutions](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/clean-air-solutions/)
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### [Heat Pumps](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/heat-pumps/)
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### [Martinez Climate Events](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/martinez-climate-events/)
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### [350 Contra Costa Action Electoral Team](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/350-contra-costa-action-electoral-team/)
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### [350 Bay Area Action Legislative Teams](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/350-bay-area-action-legislative-teams/)
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### [Bay Area Air District (BACA)](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/bay-area-air-district-baca/)
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### [2025 Climate Action Accomplishments](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2025-climate-action-accomplishments/)
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### [2026 Climate Action Plans](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2026-climate-action-plans/)
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### [Contra Costa Earth Month Events 2026](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/contra-costa-earth-month-events-2026/)
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### [Martinez Events](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/martinez-events/)
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### [Community Climate Forum](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/community-climate-forum/)
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### [2026 Climate Legislation](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2026-climate-legislation/)
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### [2026 Primary Endorsements](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/2026-primary-endorsements/)
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### [Measure A](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/measure-a/)
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### [San Ramon Youth Climate Activists](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/san-ramon-youth-climate-activists/)
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### [Climate poetry](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/climate-poetry/)
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### [Marathon Renewables Biodiesel Refinery](https://350contracostaaction.org/tag/marathon-renewables-biodiesel-refinery/)
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## Event Categories
### [Action Team Meetings](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/category/action-team-meetings/)
**Description:** Meeting times, dates, and information for the 350 Contra Costa Action leadership team, as well as our action teams
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### [Upcoming Events](https://350contracostaaction.org/calendar/category/upcoming-events/)
**Description:** Climate-related events throughout Contra Costa County and beyond
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