California’s clean energy transition relies on expansive development of transmission infrastructure. However, as the state accelerates this transformation, it must confront the legacy of environmental injustice borne disproportionately by low-income and tribal communities.
Brightline, an environmental justice nonprofit that bridges policy advocacy and on-the-ground partnerships to promote sustainability and opportunity in frontline communities, published a report called ‘Rewiring for Justice: How California Can Power Equitable Transmission’. This report provides information, strategies, tools and case studies that California policymakers, regulators, and others could use to support equitable transmission planning and development that avoids harm and maximises benefits for underserved communities and Tribal Nations, collectively referred to as environmental justice (EJ) communities.
These EJ communities have long hosted fossil fuel infrastructure, facing cumulative health, environmental, and economic harms. According to the report, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which leads the annual transmission planning process (TPP), lacks sufficient engagement with EJ communities due to inadequate notice and comment opportunities, and the absence of financial and technical support. It recommends that CAISO should take several actions to improve the TPP including establishing EJ liaisons to actively engage impacted communities and forming early agreements with Tribal Nations on transmission principles and co-management practices. Further, it should also incorporate justice-oriented criteria into its contract solicitation process under the third phase of the TPP.
To guard EJ communities from bearing unfair costs of new and upgraded transmission, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) should require investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to pursue resources with the lowest cost and highest benefit and support equitable rate reform and bill protections. Further, policymakers should support lower-cost transmission buildout by exploring public financing models and interregional grid planning approaches.
In order to make sure benefits reach EJ communities, the state legislature and government agencies could provide funding and support to impacted communities to enable them to negotiate project agreements with developers. Further, the government can also use its authority to monitor and enforce contracts to ensure developers meet their obligations. By taking these immediate actions, California can advance a cleaner, healthier, and more reliable transmission system that uplifts and benefits EJ communities.
The full report can be accessed here.
