Dear <<First Name>>,
One week after our landmark vote to phase out polystyrene products in Los Angeles, we’re not letting up on our efforts to create a greener Los Angeles.
At this morning’s Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice and LA River Committee, we advanced important proposals that will help us achieve 100% renewable energy by 2035 — all while creating a green economy powered by new industries and good-paying jobs.
BUILDING DECARBONIZATION
If we’re serious about reducing carbon emissions, we must stay focused on our built environment, which accounts for *43% of greenhouse gas emissions* in Los Angeles.
Today, we received a report from our Bureau of Engineering and City Departments regarding a pilot program to decarbonize nine City facilities. This means total electrification, in addition solar panels and battery storage at these locations.
Two of these buildings - the Silver Lake Library and the Las Palmas Senior Center - are located in the 13th Council District! This program is made possible from a *$30 million investment* that I secured in this year’s budget, and combined with an $80 million commitment from LADWP, represents a $110 million downpayment to fully decarbonize our City buildings. This nation-leading effort now advances to the Budget Committee, where we will advocate for its approval.
We’re also turning our attention to the rest of Los Angeles’ built environment. The committee approved a motion I helped introduce that will require new construction in Los Angeles to be carbon-free, while addressing any impacts to workers, housing production and low-income tenants. The motion directs our City Attorney to prepare a regulatory framework that would become effective on or before January 1, 2023.
ENSURING RELIABLE POWER SOURCES
Our transition to 100% renewable energy requires us to stand up various renewable energy sources so that we can bring new job-creating industries to our city, in addition to keeping our lights on during extreme weather events.
The passage of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents an unprecedented investment in these objectives and includes $8 billion to create four regional hydrogen hubs overseen by the Department of Energy (DOE). Green hydrogen is another clean power source that can help us power hard-to-electrify industries like our shipping and transportation sectors. To avail ourselves of this opportunity, the committee approved my motion to submit an application to the DOE to make our region a hub of green hydrogen technology. My team and I look forward to continuing our work with environmental partners and advocates on this initiative so that any green hydrogen project reflects our values and principles.
Each of these investments will prioritize equity and collaboration from historically marginalized communities who have unfairly shouldered our dependence on fossil fuels.
We can and will uplift all Angelenos.
MITCH O'FARRELL
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