How Do The 5 Candidates Feel About Walking Away From Green Energy Plan?
Written by 991KBU on October 24, 2018
One of the most environmentally-important decisions in recent years went before the Malibu City Council Monday night.
The city council voted to step away from Malibu’s historical leadership role on the environment.
It voted to move Malibu electric customers to a power supply that is 50 percent renewable … 50 percent dirty energy .. like coal and natural gas fired electricity.
Residents will still have the option to choose the all-green power supply … which costs about 8 percent more.
But the council decided to leave everyone with the default selection of 50 percent clean / 50 percent dirty.
The majority said it was sneaky to move people into all clean energy …and that they were worried about pricing electricity too high.
And that 100 percent grene power is technically impossible … and a scam.
But the dissenters said this means a city that had prided itself at being the forefront of environmental, coastal action will stick with fossil fuels.
We asked the five city council candidates last night… to debate the issue … just
before the Malibu West candidates forum.
Four of the five told KBUU news they would have voted for 100 percent clean.
[[[NOTE TO READERS – THIS AUDIO WAS ROTATED INTO RANDOM ORDER IN ALL 7 NEWSCASTS ON THE RADIO – ALPHABETICAL HERE. ]]]
First, Olivia Damavandi:
NEWSCART 77878 OLIVIA DAMAVANDI
“Based on the information I have, I would have voted 100 percent.
“Because I think the decision of when to implement environmentally-progressive solutions, it’s never the right time.
“But when we have the opportunity. we should take that step.”
Karen Farrer:
NEWSCART 77881 KAREN FARRER
“Well, I think we could have gone 100 percent renewable, with the opt out.
“I think it’s 8 percent more, maybe 9 percent.
“I think there are people that are willing and able to pay for that.
“And for those who were not, there was an opt out.”
Mikke Pierson:
NEWSCART 77879 MIKKE PIERSON
“I’d have gone 100 percent and let the community know we’re taking a stand on clean energy.
“And make sure that the know they can back off.
“But make sure they know that the city was making a stand.”
And, Lance Simmons:
NEWSCART 77880 LANCE SIMMONS
“I agree with a hundred percent.
I think we ought to lead the way.
“I think we are a wealthy enough community to do that.
“And I think, after all, this is all about our kids.”
The lone vote in favor of a 50 percent clean / 50 percent unclean electric mix came from Jim Palmer … who said he would have gone along with the council majority … La Monte … Mullin and Wagner.
NEWSCART 77880 JIM PALMER
“I would have voted for 50 percent as well.
“This has been mandated by the state for Edison, so really, we can’t do much more than what Edison needs to do.”
Jim Palmer … disagreeing with the other four candidates about the immediate need to move Malibu electric customers to a default rate of 100 percent renewable electricity this year.
The issue will come back before the city council next year … when 2 of those 5 candidates will be in office.
The city council vote will be in the general November election … two weeks from now.
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