WHEREAS, Climate change is a pressing threat facing our state, our nation, and the world; and
WHEREAS, Globally, 2016 and 2020 were the hottest years on record and Californians have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of carbon on our climate, including devastating wildfires, rising temperatures, and decreased snowpacks; and
WHEREAS, Locally, Sacramento is one of the most polluted cities in the country—a recent report by the American Lung Association ranked the Sacramento area sixth in the nation based on days of unhealthy and unsafe levels of air pollution in the ozone layer; and
WHEREAS, For nearly 75 years, the community-owned, not-for-profit Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has been the Sacramento region’s committed electricity partner and has led the way in providing environmentally responsible electricity and environmental stewardship to benefit its customers and community; and
WHEREAS, SMUD has been a consistent leader in carbon reduction and became the first large California utility to have at least 20 percent of its electricity come from renewable sources; and
WHEREAS, SMUD has a long list of notable firsts: it had the first utility-owned commercial-scale solar photovoltaic power plant in 1984; it implemented the original green power pricing program for utility customers; it was the first California utility to make time-based rates standard for all its customers; and it built the first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in the western United States; and
WHEREAS, SMUD has reduced its emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by nearly 50 percent from 1990 levels in 2017, 2018, and 2019 (the equivalent of removing 377,000 vehicles from the road) and has reduced the carbon intensity of its electricity mix, which is now, on average, more than 50 percent carbon free; and
WHEREAS, SMUD provides numerous programs for customers, including the State of California, to receive electricity from carbon-free and renewable resources; and
WHEREAS, SMUD provides all Department of General Services buildings in its service territory with 100 percent renewable electricity through SMUD’s SolarShares and Greenergy programs; and
WHEREAS, Through SMUD’s Sustainable Communities Program, the utility engages community partners to target and maximize GHG emissions reduction benefits to neighborhoods that are likely to be underserved or in distress due to lack of community development, livable wage employment, training opportunities, affordable housing options, education, or transportation, among other factors; and
WHEREAS, SMUD spearheaded the development of the California Mobility Center, a public-private consortium to foster clean, scalable e-mobility technologies and solutions that are poised to generate $2.5 billion, in economic activity and 8,500 new jobs over the next five years; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, SMUD set one of the most aggressive carbon reduction targets in the country with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040; and
WHEREAS, In July 2020, SMUD’s Board of Directors declared a climate emergency and adopted a resolution calling for SMUD to take significant and consequential actions to become carbon neutral by 2030; and
WHEREAS, On April 28, 2021, SMUD’s Board of Directors solidified SMUD’s commitment to leading the way to a clean energy future with the approval of SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Plan; and
WHEREAS, SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Plan is a flexible roadmap to completely eliminating carbon emissions from SMUD’s electricity supply by 2030, without compromising affordability or reliability and in a manner that engages all customers and promotes environmental justice and equity; and
WHEREAS, SMUD has committed to keeping rate increases within the rate of inflation; and
WHEREAS, To pay for new technologies and make them available to customers in an equitable manner, SMUD will aggressively pursue partnerships, investors, and grant funding; and
WHEREAS, SMUD conducted extensive outreach, including: (1) seven stakeholder workshops with representatives from the solar and storage industries, environmental groups, business leaders, and community organizations; (2) three customer and community meetings; (3) three expert panels; and, (4) a public internet website with frequently asked questions, meeting recordings, videos, an email option for feedback, and LISTSERV notification emails; and
WHEREAS, SMUD has committed to working in partnership with its customers, the community, government agencies, community leaders and organizations, business leaders and the business community, legislators, regulators, and others to help align resources and programs for maximum impact in all communities; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes SMUD for setting the most ambitious carbon reduction goal of any large utility in the country and applauds SMUD’s commitment to finding innovative ways to reach its zero-carbon emissions goal without impacting reliability or rates, which are among the lowest in California; and be it further
Resolved, That this ambitious zero-carbon emissions goal puts the Sacramento region on the map as an example to follow and as a region where innovative, climate-friendly businesses want to be; and be it further
Resolved, That achieving the zero-carbon emissions goal brings benefits not only globally, but also locally, and reduced emissions improve our local air quality and overall health and create jobs; and be it further
Resolved, That SMUD is helping create a cleaner, more prosperous, and healthier region for all, and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.