SPUR

California’s building #decarbonization is getting bogged down by the complexities and costs of electric panel and service upgrades. These upgrades discourage building owners from undertaking #electrification projects, clog utilities’ work queues, and increase costs for ratepayers. To avoid the upgrades and streamline them when they are truly necessary, state and local authorities and electric utilities can promote panel optimization strategies, and authorities responsible for the #California and national electrical codes can make updates to support electrification. SPUR’s latest report envisions three overarching strategies to overcome the building electrification barriers: 1️⃣ First, electrify buildings without touching the electrical panel or service, thereby saving building owners money and time and allowing utilities to eliminate expensive upgrades to distribution infrastructure. 2️⃣ Second, make unavoidable service upgrades as quick and affordable as possible, and pass policies to encourage building owners to undertake these upgrades at the least disruptive times. 3️⃣ Third, improve the state’s understanding of the impact of electric panel and service upsizing for building owners, utilities, and electrical rates, and compile better data to support utility planning for distribution grid upgrades. By adopting the 17 recommendations SPUR offers to support these strategies, California can accelerate the transition to a climate-friendly, climate-ready built environment. Moreover, its efforts could serve as a model for other states. Read the full report at https://lnkd.in/gZAa8aHN Laura Feinstein and Sam Fishman, SPUR Jenny Low, Build It Green Edward Randolph, Caliber Strategies

Tuesday, 5/14: Join Bay Planning Coalition's 2024 Spring Summit — convening industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders, including SPUR's Chief Policy Officer Sujata Srivastava — to discuss #resilience funding strategies for a changing #BayArea. Register at the link below ⬇️⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gWZptgzg

Meet Griffin Lee — SPUR's Corporate Relations Manager. Griffin helps advance SPUR's mission by nurturing collaborative partnerships with the Bay Area business community. Visit spur.org/staff to learn more about Griffin and the rest of the SPUR team.

SPUR co-authored a new toolbox to help policymakers and advocacy groups support smooth implementation of the Bay Area’s nation-leading air quality standard for HVAC systems and water heaters. Learn more ⬇️⬇️ spur.org/fossilfreeheat Laura Feinstein, Sam Fishman, SPUR Lauren Weston, Acterra Melissa Yu, Sierra Club Angela Sherry Evans, Menlo Spark Leah Louis-Prescott, RMI Marti Roach, 350 Contra Costa Action Leslie Alden, Act Now Bay Area Jed Holtzman, RMI Cheryl W., 350 Silicon Valley Megan Leary, Emerald Cities Collaborative

THIS TUESDAY, April 30, from 12:30-1:30 PT, SPUR will be hosting a special digital discourse on how New York City designed its congestion pricing policy, the process for moving it through approvals, and how it can serve as a model for the Bay Area. Register today! Congestion pricing could be a game-changer for transportation planning in San Francisco. By charging drivers a fee for driving on specific roads at peak times, the city can reduce the incentive to drive. Reduced vehicle volumes allow buses to travel faster and more reliably. The revenues from the program can then be used to support transit, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements. While international cities like London, Stockholm, and Singapore have operated road pricing programs for years, this type of program has faced resistance in the U.S. Congestion pricing has been studied for downtown San Francisco, but never progressed into implementation. But starting later this year, New York City will begin implementing a brand new congestion pricing program that will charge a toll on drivers entering downtown Manhattan. What can San Francisco learn from these cities? Could congestion pricing be the key to meeting our mobility and sustainability goals? Most importantly, could it help create a more equitable transportation system? What can San Francisco learn from these cities? Could congestion pricing be the key to meeting our mobility and sustainability goals? Most importantly, could it help create a more equitable transportation system? Joining us will be Carl Weisbrod from the MTA Traffic Mobility Review Board and Tilly Chang from the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA.) https://lnkd.in/gFpY6KGq

Meet Sam Fishman — SPUR’s Sustainability and Resilience Policy Manager. Sam’s work focuses on climate policy, resilient cities, and equitable building decarbonization. Visit spur.org to learn more about Sam and the rest of the SPUR team. https://lnkd.in/gzyMMvd4

This #EarthDay, we want to express gratitude to our planet for sustaining us with the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we call home. But amidst a state budget deficit in California, Governor Newsom has proposed billions of dollars of budget cuts for critical climate programs, which is why California needs a Climate Bond. The proposed climate bond will fund efforts related to safe drinking water, disaster mitigation (e.g., wildfire, flood, drought), conservation and nature-based climate solutions, and clean energy. By supporting this initiative, policymakers and Governor Newsom can give voters the chance to demonstrate their commitment to combating climate change, protecting our environment, and building a more sustainable and resilient future for all Californians. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗗𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱? 1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀: Email the Governor and your state Assembly and Senate representatives, expressing why climate programs are important to you, and advocating for a Climate Bond on the 2024 ballot so that you can vote for climate investments. A template email is available here: https://lnkd.in/g293VX5W 2️⃣ 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: Tell your friends to contact their state Assembly and Senate representatives to advance the Climate Bond. 3️⃣ 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱: Share on social media about why you want the climate bond, using the hashtag #𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱

The 2024 SPUR Annual Report is out now! Read about our big policy wins, publications, and other impact from the last year — made possible by your support. spur.org/2024annualreport

Please join us in congratulating Sujata Srivastava on her appointment as SPUR's new Chief Policy Officer. As SPUR's Planning & Housing Policy Director, Sujata has demonstrated exceptional leadership, policy expertise, and commitment to the people of the Bay Area. We look forward to the impact she will bring in this expanded role. https://lnkd.in/gBzjeaxc