As climate change intensifies, local governments face the need to increase funding for emergency services for climate disasters and support the clean energy transition, while community members are also compelled to decarbonize their own organizations and households. Recent increases in electricity rates are making that clean energy transition difficult. This session will ask and answer three questions about how we can address these challenges: What could we do? – In partnership with Green Cities California, LGSEC will explore the root causes of rising electricity rates and identify potential options for rate reform. What should we do – Some local jurisdictions are moving beyond regulatory processes, forming coalitions to influence state legislation and shift the policy landscape. What are we doing? – Local governments are partnering to create through more Regional Energy Networks to deliver programs and advocate for policies that ensure underserved and hard-to-reach communities are not left behind in the clean energy transition.

• Aisha Cervantes-Cissna, San Diego Regional Energy Network (SDREN), Senior Policy Manager
• Steven Moss, MCubed, Partner
• Chris Read, City of San Luis Obispo, Sustainability Manager
• Cory Downs, City of Chula Vista, Conservation Specialist