Margie Lewis CBE
member
I’m
here today because I believe that all Californians
should live cancer, asthma and pollution free. I believe in a
California where everyone has the ability to breathe clean air
and water – and knows that our children and generations to
come will be able to do the same. To achieve this I want a commitment from CARB members
to:
1.) Make EJAC a permanent part of the
scoping plan implementation process because California’s
frontline communities must be centered in Scoping Plan
implementation and the best way to do that is to make sure they
have a seat at the table via a permanent
EJAC.
2.) We need a dedicated
rulemaking process for Carbon Capture
and Street permitting that
ensures that CCS projects and energy transition don’t
increase air or water pollution in overburdened communities
already hit hardest by pollution.
3.) NO CCS on refineries or
gas power plants at all. California needs to invest
in renewable energy, not dirty hydrogen, polluting biofuels,
or carbon capture that locks in oil and gas
infrastructure.
4.) Reform the Low Carbon Fuel
Standard to
improve the health of communities and stop corporate grifters from
profiting off of public
subsidies. We need to ensure that climate-warming methane is
regulated directly, production of fuels like dairy biogas that
pollute communities aren’t subsidized, and credits
aren’t given to polluters that already received state
subsidies for the same so-called emissions
reductions.
4. I do want to thank the Board’s
leadership in improving the final scoping plan. But, this climate
plan still includes
sky-high targets for carbon capture and
storage which will endanger Californians.
a. I want to
appreciate the Board’s creation of a planning space for an
oil refinery phasedown for California; cutting VMT targets to
lead to more mass transit; and saying no to new gas plants and
setting strong interim targets for winding down gas power
plants
b.
But I also want to be clear that:
i.
CCS is a fossil fuel greenwashing tool that will extend the life of
polluting oil and gas in California.
ii.
And CCS on refineries and gas power plants will just keep those
harmful polluters online.
5. I urge the Board to continue
listening to the voices of frontline Californians a safe and
healthy future will be determined by staff and Board
decisions.