I come to climate the way I come to most things: practically. I've driven an electric car for ten years, and there are solar panels on my roof, because the technology works, the math works, and the future they point to is one I want for Albany.
I love this town, and I pay attention to the big picture. But what I care about most is what Albany can actually change. There is a lot happening in the world, and I want us to put our energy where this city can have a real, measurable impact.
Albany has been a leader here. The city adopted its first Climate Action Plan in 2010 and in 2019 adopted a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan with real targets: a 70% emissions cut by 2035 and net zero by 2045. In 2024, the council declared a climate emergency.
That work shows up in programs residents can actually use: rebates for heat pump water heaters and heating systems, an induction cooktop lending program, and a whole-block electrification pilot with residents and PG&E that has drawn national attention. California's new neighborhood decarbonization law will let utilities scale this approach, and three Albany blocks have been identified as eligible candidates for the city's all-electric neighborhoods pilot.
We have a lot of people in this community who know this work extremely well. My approach would be to listen to them, ask questions and concentrate on the areas where city policy can produce measurable results.
One thing Albany's numbers make clear: transportation is our largest source of emissions. Even if every car in Albany turned electric tomorrow, that alone would not get us to our targets. Cleaner cars are part of the answer. The other part is making it safe and practical to get around without a car.
My priorities:
Make it safer and easier to get around without a car. Traffic calming on neighborhood streets, safe routes to school, sidewalks and crossings that work for everyone, better connections to public transit, and closing the gaps so the network connects. The Active Transportation Plan the council adopted in July now needs to be implemented well.
Expand public EV charging. Many Albany residents rent or live in multifamily housing, where charging at home can be difficult. For those residents, public chargers matter, and we have too few. I'll back the projects underway and push for more.
Protect rebates, especially for lower-income residents. Climate costs fall hardest on the people least able to absorb them. Rebates that prioritize lower-income households help make sure everyone can take part in the transition.
Continue electrifying city vehicles and buildings as the budget allows. Replace city vehicles with electric and hybrid models as they retire, and keep adding electrification and solar to city buildings.
Improve emergency preparedness with solar and battery backup where practical. I support working with our partners and community organizations on a community space where people can charge, stay warm or cool, and ride out an emergency.
There is also a practical budget angle. A lot of regional and state transportation funding is tied to streets that work for people walking, biking and taking transit, and to partnership with our regional transit agencies. Doing this well means Albany pays for less of it out of our own tight budget.