Hello
everyone, my name is Kate Malig, I am a resident of Oxnard and I am
a youth leader with the non-profit CAUSE and I’m speaking on
the CARB scoping plan. I have traveled 400 miles from my EJ
community of Oxnard to speak at this meeting because CARB is
recommending alternative 3 which allows existing gas generators to
remain active; resulting in 10 gigawatts(GW) of fossil fuel
buildout by 2045. Build Outs that harm the lungs and health of my
community. The majority of the state’s 160 polluting gas
plants are in EJ communities .The reason why I care about this
issue so much is because this would concentrate the generation in
EJ communities like my community of Oxnard, which already has been
negatively impacted by gas-fired generators. My family, friends and
fellow community members are already directly affected by the
polluted air quality. Suffering high asthma rates and respiratory
problems. Oxnard is in the 90th percentile for asthma rates if
better action isn’t taken these numbers could get
worse. Which is why I ask CARB for a transition to clean,
renewable, zero-emissions electricity by 2035 with retirement of
all gas plants and no new gas plants in all the alternatives. We
need to transition to 100% zero-emissions, clean, renewable
electricity by 2035 and phase out air pollution from gas-fired
power. Not only is the pollution emitted is toxic it also directly
affects disadvantaged communities such as Oxnard more than anyone
else in the state. Our climate and communities can’t wait any
longer. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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