It has been a whirlwind month in Orange County, but we couldn’t be more excited about what we’ve accomplished with you in our corner: 100% clean electricity for Irvine, Buena Park, and Huntington Beach; and 70% clean electricity for Fullerton as the defaults offered through Orange County Power Authority (OCPA).
In Orange County, electricity is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Only 35% of your electricity from SoCal Edison comes from zero carbon sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. But we’re about to change this with OCPA.
These votes are a big deal because they will address one of our greatest sources of pollution while eliminating 1.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year. That’s equal to taking 364,000 cars off the road each year OR to the amount of carbon stored in a forest 2.5 times the size of Yosemite National Park every year.
As Orange County’s first Community Choice Energy (CCE) program prepares to serve customers this year, you can know that your advocacy swayed four cities to put their residents' health, wellness, and future first. Together, we submitted hundreds of emails, delivered dozens of letters from community organizations, and spoke truth to power at multiple council meetings.
When we show up for one another and speak out for justice, the change that starts in our hearts ripples out into the world around us.
Building Clean, Equitable Communities Together
At CAC, achieving 100% clean electricity through Community Choice Energy isn’t just about emissions, it is about equity. Orange County’s environmental justice communities have historically and are currently shouldering disproportionate burdens of pollution under our fossil fuel-powered energy and transportation systems. With cleaner electricity and much lower emissions on the way, we can begin to address the injustices that these communities face.
We Can Scale And Replicate
OC is the 6th largest county in the US, and what we do can be scaled and replicated throughout California and the United States. We are building a world where all people can breathe clean air and have access to clean electricity, and we can’t do it without you!
If you’re ready, we’d love to have you join us at an upcoming Orange County Climate Coalition meeting. We have a special training from the Climate Advocacy Lab on February 23rd and our regular meeting on the 27th. Join our Google group to learn more!
In the meantime, check out highlights and a recap of the clean energy movement you helped make possible in this week's coverage in the LA Times and Voice of OC!