Victory for Clean, Renewable Energy in Richmond, California

In Response to Community Protest, Richmond City Council Rejects Polluting Power Plant, Calls for Study of Green, Renewable Energy!

For more information, contact:

Bradley Angel Greenaction	(415) 248-5010
Henry Clark West County Toxics Coalition	(510) 232-3427

City Council Committee Votes for Green Energy, Rejects Polluting Power Plant Proposal

Victory for Clean Air, Green Energy and Environmental Justice

Richmond, CA-- In the face of community protest, the Richmond City Council Energy Subcommittee voted today to reject a proposed polluting power plant, and instead voted to support a study for clean and renewable energy such as solar and wind power.

One hundred residents of this low-income community heavily impacted by polluting industries turned out to denounce the proposed 500 megawatt power plant that reportedly would have used oil-derived fuel. Over 40 speakers called for clean renewable energy, and vigorously opposed adding any more pollution to their already polluted community. Richmond is home to many polluting industries, including the Chevron refinery and chemical plant, General Chemical, and other dirty industries.

The Richmond City Council was considering spending three million dollars to study building a city-owned 500 megawatt power plant at a site owned by Chevron. The power plant reportedly would use oil-derived fuel. In response to the unanimous objections from the community to the power plant plan, the City Council vote was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation from the audience.

Richmond residents already suffer from the daily pollution from refineries and chemical plants, as well as the frequent accidents and explosions at industrial facilities.

Greenaction, the West County Toxics Coalition and the Richmond Greens organized a coalition to educate and mobilize residents about the pollution threat from the proposed power plant. The coalition is calling for clean, renewable, and public energy, not polluting power plants in an already polluted community.

Greenaction and our coalition allies will now work with the City of Richmond to explore options for clean, renewable and public power.