Comment Log Display

Comment Log Display

Below is the comment you selected to display.
Comment 69 for EJAC Community Meeting Comments (ejac-comm-mtgs-ws) - 1st Workshop.


First Name: Rachael
Last Name: O'Brien
Email Address: rachael@agcouncil.org
Affiliation: Ag Council

Subject: EJAC Community Meetings
Comment:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the recent
Environmental Justice Advisory Committee community meetings.  

Ag Council is a member-supported organization advocating for more
than 15,000 farmers across California, ranging from farmer-owned
businesses to the world’s best-known brands. Ag Council works
tirelessly to keep its members productive and competitive, so that
agriculture can remain California’s number-one industry and members
can continue to produce the highest quality food for the entire
world.

Ag Council has been participating in the AB 32 implementation
process since its inception. We support developing climate change
policies that are best for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
yet allows businesses to continue serving our communities and grow.
 This formula provides the necessary economic and environmental
balance for California.

The goals of these EJAC community meetings are to hear ideas from
the community about how they believe EJAC can best inform ARB in
the update of the Scoping Plan for 2030.  It is imperative that the
true community is accurately being represented and their
suggestions are being accounted for. It would be unfortunate if ARB
only received predetermined EJAC recommendations and not the true
concerns on the individuals in these communities.  

It is important to note that the EJAC voice is not always the voice
of the community and when ARB is developing the update to the
Scoping Plan it should take into account that AB 32 is intended to
reduce GHG emissions at the least cost and in a technologically
feasible manner. Assuring local California communities that our
climate change policies will reduce GHG emissions while maintaining
local jobs, keeping energy prices low, and providing affordable
food will go a long way in continued community support and
participation.  

Local businesses and consumers must be convinced that California’s
future climate change policies are implemented in a manner that are
fiscally and environmentally analyzed to assure we are receiving
the best programs and GHG reductions that are equitable,
cost-effective and technologically feasible.

California already has the cleanest energy and lowest emitting
industrial facilities in the country.  Our members already spend a
higher than average percentage of their budgets on utilities and
energy. 

A state with lofty environmental co-benefit goals but without jobs,
higher energy costs, and increasing food costs will be a state that
is doing a disservice to all residents – not only those in
disadvantaged communities.

Thank you.

Attachment:

Original File Name:

Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2016-08-12 16:52:36



If you have any questions or comments please contact Office of the Ombudsman at (916) 327-1266.


Board Comments Home

preload