Sacramento – Today, AB 523, the Equity in Clean Energy Investment bill, was approved by the full State Assembly and passed to the State Senate. The bill requires the California Energy Commission to allocate at least 25% of the money used for the deployment of renewable technologies to be used in disadvantaged communities and another 10% to be used in low-income communities, through the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program.
In December 2011, the CPUC established the EPIC fund with the purpose of investing in projects as described in their 2016 report, “that create and advance new energy solutions, foster regional innovation, and bring ideas from the lab to the marketplace.”
CalEnviroScreen 3.0 designates disadvantaged communities throughout the state based on multiple factors. According to the tool, the 47th Assembly District and surrounding areas are disproportionately impacted by multiple sources of pollution; with many areas among the top 10% most affected areas in the state.
"Often, both disadvantaged and low income communities pay triple what higher income households pay for their utility services” said Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes. “The lack of resources in disadvantaged areas makes it essential that we prioritize targeted investments because it is there that the deployment of these technologies can make the biggest difference.”
AB 523 now goes to the Senate to be heard in its first policy committee. For more information on the bill, click here.
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
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Contact: Galen Dobbins, galen.dobbins@asm.ca.gov,