This Week's News for LA’s Best Buildings
New Data Indicates California Remains Ahead of Clean Electricity Goals
The CEC estimates that in 2020, 34.5 percent of the state’s retail electricity sales were served by Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS)-eligible sources such as solar and wind. When sources of zero-carbon energy such as large hydroelectric generation and nuclear are included, 59 percent of the state’s retail electricity sales came from non-fossil fuel sources in 2020.
Mayor Garcetti Announces Hundreds of Millions in Utility Debt Relief for Angelenos
Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has issued $275 million in utility debt relief to 280,000 residential and commercial customers.
“For the past two years, debt has dragged down countless lives and livelihoods – and today, we’re proud to lift that burden for hundreds of thousands of families and business owners,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This relief is more than just a shot in the arm for those behind on their utility bills – it's a new set of doors to opportunity and a fresh start for Angelenos who have suffered financially because of the pandemic.”
Mercury-Laced Fluorescent Bulbs Should Be Phased Out—LEDs Now More Economical
Fluorescent tube light bulbs, once embraced as an energy-efficient option, use far more energy than today’s LEDs and are now a needless toxic health risk, according to a study published today. Laws and rules restricting the use of toxic mercury have generally exempted these mercury-containing bulbs because of a lack of better options, but the study shows for the first time that LEDs are now available in all needed shapes and sizes—and cost less to own and operate.
Climate Report Confirms Housing is Essential to Adaptation
The latest report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms what housing advocates and activists have long known: healthy, decent, affordable, sustainable housing must be at the core of the climate transition.
The IPCC’s newest report summarizes current scientific knowledge about the impacts of climate change and the vulnerability of people and nature to climate-related hazards. It also assesses current efforts and opportunities to adapt to a changing climate. Overall, the picture is dire: the impacts of climate change are already more severe than predicted, and about to get worse. These impacts will be most devastating for marginalized and vulnerable groups, including racial minorities, Indigenous peoples, and poorer communities in the Global South.
One Way to Combat Russia? Move Faster on Clean Energy
When a geopolitical crisis sent gasoline prices skyrocketing four decades ago, President Carter called on Americans to achieve “energy independence” from Middle Eastern oil exporters. He installed solar panels on the White House, donned a cardigan sweater to stay warm and took steps to boost domestic oil production.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has again upended global energy supplies, threatening to raise gas prices that are already higher than ever in California. The U.S. oil industry wants President Biden to ease restrictions on drilling, and Europe has already started importing more fossil fuel from the United States to reduce its dependence on Russian supplies.
Image via California Energy Commission