350 Bay Area

Outreach, education and advocacy programs--350 Bay Area supports a speakers bureau, local group outreach efforts in seven of the nine Bay Area counties, climate emergency mobilization virtual summits, legislative advocacy, and campaigns to support the 350 Bay Area platform. The 350 Bay Area platform aims to ensure resilient, safe, affordable clean energy -- and clean energy jobs; speed the shift to carbon-free, affordable, safe and accessible mobility for everyone; end toxic air pollution, prioritizing heavily impacted front-line communities; create a fast transition to healthy, clean-energy buildings; and accelerate the fossil fuel end game and achieve a just transition.

350 Bay Area's Clean Energy Program advocates an Advanced Community Energy Model for California to modernize and democratize energy generation and delivery. We seek a resilient and stable grid capable of providing all the renewable energy and storage necessary to reach California's climate goals. We support and protect Community Choice Energy (CCE) and Net Energy Metering (NEM) from challenges by the investor owned utilities. Nearly everyone in the Bay Area now receives their electricity from energy generation purchased by CCE's, rather than investor-owned utilities. We are recognized by the California Public Utilities Commission as a legal party in rule-makings related to roof-top solar incentives, microgrids, and other distributed energy resources. We also consult with legislators and other non-profits to promote local, decentralized resiliency, to support CCEs and more socially equitable ways of reaching 100% renewable energy.

Fast Path to Clean Indoor Air -- This 350 Bay Area pilot project provided portable heat pumps and air purifiers to neighborhoods heavily impacted by air pollution. 350 Bay Area has convened key partners to create a roadmap for policy and successful implementation. Each participant received equipment and support, with training to assist them in best using and maintaining the air purifier and portable heat pump. This pilot provided information for shaping specific solutions that can be rolled out quickly and improve the lives of heavily impacted communities. PROJECT COST: The pilot project will cost $205,000. To date $150,000 has been raised from grant funding and $55,000 is needed for successful completion. The pilot, benefitting 30 households, starts February 1, 2023 and ends May 1, 2024.

Our seven local groups prioritize different relevant local issues in their cities and counties. For example, Napa and Sonoma have been more impacted by wildfires, and are more agricultural, encountering different land use and outdoor and migrant worker equity issues. More urban counties prioritize issues like public transportation and walkable communities. All of our groups are working to figure out how to decarbonize across sectors. 350 Bay Area is developing toolkit to provide resources needed to educate policy makers about best practices around the Bay Area and beyond.