5 FEATURE
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March 22, 2024
41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: RENEWABLE ENERGY IN FREMONT
Climate Action Plan
In 2012, the City of Fremont adopted By Padma Balaji, Rajorshi Chatterjee, Abha Kulkarni & Lucy Yao its Climate Action Plan (CAP), which provides Staff Writers a roadmap to decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) On February 7, the SolSmart Program awarded the City of Fremont a Platinum emissions and improving energy usage, transportadesignation for its advancement of solar energy. Having previously received tion, and waste management. The plan was updated the Gold designation in 2016, Fremont is the first-ever local government on Oct. 10, 2023, to include the goals from the city’s Carbon to receive the Platinum designation. In light of this award, the Neutrality Resolution, which aims to achieve long-term carbon neutralSolarAPP+ Program Smoke Signal examined current sustainability measures ity by 2045. As a result, CAP has set a target of reducing its GHG emisOne of the largest changes related to renewand interviewed FUSD and City of Fremont officials to sions to 55% below its 2005 levels by 2030. It also intends on transitionable energy in Fremont in the past few years has been gain insight on renewable energy initiatives on ing buildings, infrastructure, and citizens to 100% clean energy as well as the installation of the Solar Automated Permit Processdistrict, city, and state levels. increasing sustainability in transportation, expanding green infrastructure, ing+, or SolarAPP+, a web-based platform that automates and promoting sustainable equity. the solar permit process, promoting solar energy and making
Community Partnerships
it easier for local governments to safely and efficiently approve solar projects. SolarAPP+ provides communities like Fremont The 2023 update to CAP includes partnerships with local organizations to help achieve emissions goals. Frewith a portal for receiving and processing permit information. mont has worked with local community nonprofits to help citizens achieve both affordable and sustainable homes. The platform also helps automate the extensive approval proFor instance, with the help of a $1 million award in 2022 from the International Council for Local Environmental cess surrounding solar panel installation, making several of the Initiatives (ICLEI) USA, an action fund that provides awards for projects that take local climate action, helps cities once lengthy steps in the review process instant. Although CA reduce their emissions, and builds overall climate resiliency, Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley began itself has already been pushing for increased solar power aca home electrification equity project in Fremont that aims to integrate solar energy and electricity into low-incessibility, Senior Program Specialist on Sustainability for the come housing rehabilitation. Prior to the project, Habitat for Humanity has worked to merge sustainability National League of Cities Kelly Aves said in an article from with affordable housing, having served more than 17,500 people and integrated solar energy in its work SolSmart that Fremont adopting this program serves as since 2003. “This award brings collaboration and data into the vital intersection of affordability and sus“a powerful example of how local governments play tainability. It means Habitat can do more to foster both housing and environmental justice, strengthening a key role in convening developers and nonprofits our communities and our planet,” Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley President and CEO Janice and connecting them with state- or federJensen said in a statement from ICLEI USA. al-level incentives.” Fremont has also worked to provide families with clean energy by partnering with companies like Ava Community Energy, a nonprofit public agency and local electricity provider, to offer a sustainable and affordable alternative to gas energy utilities provided by PG&E. Currently, Fremont residents and businesses automatically receive electricity through a 50% renewable energy plan from Ava but can opt-out for PG&E PROS and CONS of REnewable Energy instead. Consumers also have the option to upgrade to Ava’s 100% renewable energy plan, although it is expensive due to the higher cost of energy generation methods. All of the infraRenewable energy has many benefits beyond allowing for energy structure that Fremont owns and builds is currently on this fully renewable plan, consumption without GHG emissions, often being more affordable and meaning city buildings, streetlights, and facilities are completely emission-free. efficient than traditional energy. Unlike fossil fuels or nuclear energy, which As a part of CAP, Fremont also intends to work with Ava to transition all require costly, miles-long setups to generate electricity, renewable energy state efforts citizens’ default electricity plans to the 100% renewable one. like solar can be generated locally, boosting local economies and lowering CA Gov. Gavin Newsom has encosts. Local energy also decentralizes the power grid, enhancing resilience acted many environmental policies and aims compared to a centralized system that is more vulnerable to a single point of According to Forbes, solar panel costs range to target fossil fuels by making CA the second largest failure. Through advancements in solar panels and their approval process, it is producer of renewable energy in the country. For inanywhere from $8,500 to $30,500 becoming even easier and more convenient for homeowners and businesses to stance, CA passed SB100 in 2018, mandating switch to renewables. the state to achieve a 60% clean power mix by Despite its benefits, installing renewable energy can be costly and difficult to 2030 and a 100% renewable and carbon-free energy mix of renewable, nuclear, and offsetted gas energy sustain. In addition to thousands in installation prices, depending on the method by 2045. More recent efforts include plans to end the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. To achieve of renewable energy generation, solar panels can also require regular maintethis, the California Center for Sustainable Energy began the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) in 2010, nance. Solar panels and wind turbines, two of the most common generation methoffering rebates for the purchase of zero-emission, hybrid, or electric vehicles. Additionally, Newsom’s proods, require roughly $150 to $300 and 50% the initial cost worth of maintenance posed 2024-25 budget will invest $48.3 billion in renewable energy and climate programs, including the costs per year according to Sol Voltaics and Harvard Business Review, according to CVRP program and solar and wind projects, over the next seven years. With CA being the fifth sunniest LA Solar Group and Anemoi Energy Services respectively. In addition, in order to be state and its solar energy historically supplying 19% of the state’s utility-scale electricity net generation in viable, all energy generation methods must be consistent. Solar power, for instance, re2022, Newsom has pushed a vision for hundreds of new solar, technology, and battery storage projects. quires the steady absorption of sunlight, which is often deterred by weather conditions Infrastructure projects, which once generated pollution and inequity, “are now absolutely foundational to and cannot occur at night. getting us out of an existential crisis. We have to let this be the start of much more significant reforms,” CA Director for the American Clean Power Association Alex Jackson said in an article from the Los Angeles Times.
Green Transportation
In 2018, Fremont adopted the Active Transportation Plan (ATP), a consolidation of the Bicycle Master Plan and the Pedestrian Master Plan, to encourage human-powered transportation. So far, the city has constructed 10 miles of new bike lanes, which earned it a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly City in 2019 from the League of American Bicyclists. Fremont has also built 16 bike lockers at dispersed locations, like the Centerville Train Depot, across the city, along with “Although we may not 81 bicycle racks throughout city parks, community centers, and other facilities. have any control over our sourcHowever, many residents still face challenges transitioning from cars to bicycles. The most recent census from 2000 found that less than es of energy, we do have control over how 2% of Fremont residents walk or bike to work. In response to this and other transportation issues in the city, CAP outlines a multifaceted apwe use it. The same goes for any other resource. proach to reduce transportation emissions, aiming to improve electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, integrate low-carbon fuel alternatives, ... By using less stuff, we would also produce less and promote public transport and bicycling. With Fremont being the home to Tesla, Fremont residents own almost a third of all EVs in waste of these resources. For example, with regard to the county. As such, the city is currently partnering with Ava to develop and install more fast charging stations to make EV charging energy, MSJ can update and upgrade our infrastructure more accessible, according to Community Development Director Dan Schoenholz. (buildings, appliances, etc) to be more energy efficient so Reflecting Fremont’s sustainability goals, the FUSD Board of Education adopted a resolution to take action on climate change that we can cut down on energy use, but that costs money.” — in 2019, which began with FUSD transitioning to an electric and low-emission school bus fleet. The district currently has 14 elecAP Environmental Science Teacher Lisa Ishimine tric buses that are primarily used to transport students as a part of Special Education Services. The district hopes to expand the fleet to be 85% electric within the next five years. The buses also gener“I think that continuing to shift to renewables is important. While ate funding for FUSD with every charge, as the emissions they prevent The 2000 census found less than of Fremont has significantly improved, there is still a carbon footprint generate a carbon offset tax credit which is sold to GHG emitters. Fremont residents walk or bike to work. that we should continue working to minimize.” — MSJ Youth4Climate “We believe it to be, quite literally, our path to the future,” Director President Shrey Raju, 12 of Transportation Ernest Epley said in a FUSD article.
2%
PHOTO COURTESY THE CITY OF FREMONT. GRAPHICS BY NEWS EDITOR KAYLEE LIU
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The highly-anticipated Kung Fu Panda 4, starring Jack Black, Awkwafina, and Viola Davis, was released in theaters on March 8. Read the full movie review on the Smoke Signal’s website.
This month, three writers visited three Bánh mì restaurants at three different price points to find the best Bánh mì place in Fremont. View this newest edition of Smokie Eats online.
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