Environment

Court Ruling a Blow to “No Coal in Oakland”

Published

7 years ago

May 18, 2018

Oakland community groups are calling this week’s federal court ruling that the City of Oakland violated its contract with the developer a “temporary setback” as they plan further actions to block construction of a coal terminal in West Oakland.

According to Ted Franklin, an organizer with the grassroots No Coal in Oakland campaign, “We disagree with the judge’s decision, but this is only a temporary setback. We are part of a broad movement that opposes construction of a coal terminal in Oakland and we will fight as long as it takes.”

“Utah’s largest coal producer, Bowie Resource Partners, and local developer Phil Tagami have teamed up on a foolish plan to ship Utah coal overseas,” he said. “A coal export terminal in Oakland would bring toxic dust to our most vulnerable neighborhoods and add to carbon pollution around the world.”

According to Franklin, Bowie and Tagami are seeking to raise $200 million to complete the project.

“No Coal in Oakland will be campaigning to make sure that no investor makes the foolish error of lending them the money to follow through on their plan,” said Franklin.

In 2016, a loose coalition of community, labor, faith, and political groups successfully campaigned for the Oakland City Council to adopt an ordinance banning coal storage and handling in Oakland. In December 2016, Tagami, with Bowie’s financial backing, filed suit to challenge the application of the ordinance to the proposed coal export facility.

Asian Pacific EnvironmentalNetwork (APEN), Center for Biological Diversity, West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, Communities for a Better Environment, and No Coal in Oakland filed an amicus brief highlighting the numerous environmental impacts the project would impose on Oakland residents.

Responding to Tuesday’s decision by U.S. District Judge Vince Girdhari Chhabria, Oakland Chinatown resident and APEN member leader, Pan Hai Bo said:

“While Phil Tagami celebrtes his win today, he is working to endanger the lives of people across Oakland and pollute the air that he himself breathes—all to line his pockets. We are going to keep fighting, and we are going to make sure that we stop Tagami’s disastrous proposal from putting us all at risk.”

Addressing the City’s options, Lora Jo Foo of No Coal in Oakland said:

“It is important to be clear what the judge’s ruling actually says. He did not overturn the coal ban ordinance. He overturned the resolution applying the ordinance to this particular terminal only because he found the evidence before the City Council in 2016 insufficient.

He also indicated that the city could try again to bar use of the terminal for coal shipping and handling ‘so long as it complies with its legal obligations, including any legitimate contractual obligations to the project developers.”

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

2 weeks ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

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Business

Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Tackle Rising Electric Bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to help alleviate the financial burden of skyrocketing electric bills on residents. This directive instructs the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Energy Commission to identify strategies to lower electricity costs and prevent rapid increases in the future.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Among the key actions proposed, the governor emphasized a closer examination of utility expenditures related to wildfire mitigation, which accounts for about 13% of residential electric bills.

Newsom underscored the state’s commitment to balancing affordability with environmental goals.

“We’re taking action to address rising electricity costs and save consumers money on their bills,” said Newsom. “California is proving that we can address affordability concerns as we continue our world-leading efforts to combat the climate crisis.”

California now has the second-highest electric rates in the country, trailing only Hawaii, with residential bills having surged as much as 110% over the past decade. The largest utilities, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, have seen rate hikes of 20% to 50% in just the last three years, approved by the state’s regulatory bodies.

The executive order also directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to explore increasing the California Climate Credit, which provides some relief on energy costs for residents. Additionally, the PUC is urged to pursue federal funding opportunities to further reduce electric expenses.

While consumer advocates welcomed the governor’s focus on lowering costs, concerns were raised regarding potential cuts to essential clean energy programs. CALPIRG, a consumer group, pointed out that the real issue behind high utility bills is wasteful spending by utilities and urged greater accountability.

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Bay Area

California Ports to Receive Over $1 Billion in Federal Funds to Decarbonize

Last week, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will allocate over $1 billion to seven California ports for zero-emission (ZE) infrastructure and climate management plans. In an Oct. 29 press release, Padilla said this funding, part of the EPA’s Clean Ports Program and supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality at ports nationwide.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

In an Oct. 29 press release, Padilla said this funding, part of the EPA’s Clean Ports Program and supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality at ports nationwide.

Among the grants, the Port of Los Angeles received over $411 million, the largest award in the country. California ports are vital to the national economy, handling about 40% of containerized imports and 30% of exports.

“California’s ports move the goods that power our economy. This historic investment in our ports is a major step forward in accelerating the zero-emission infrastructure transition,” said Padilla.

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka and fellow port officials echoed Padilla’s sentiments, with plans to acquire over 400 pieces of ZE cargo handling equipment, reducing emissions by 41,500 tons annually.

“This transformative investment will be a tremendous boost to our efforts to meet our ambitious zero emission goals, improve regional air quality, and combat climate change while accelerating the port industry’s transition to zero emissions across the country,” said Seroka.

Other ports, including Oakland, Stockton, San Diego, and San Francisco, will also use their grants to transition to ZE operations, improve regional air quality, and create job opportunities.

The EPA’s funding will support various projects, from electrifying cargo terminals to establishing the first high-speed zero-emission ferry network in the U.S. Ports will collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure these investments benefit their surrounding communities.

The port of Hueneme in Ventura County and the Port of Redwood City on the Southern San Francisco Bay will also receive funding, respectively.