ECOS Climate Change Committee – October Monthly Meeting Join us for a conversation with Obadiah Bartholomy, Manager of SMUD’s Distributed Energy Strategy, to discuss the efforts that SMUD is making to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
Speaker: Obadiah Bartholomy, Manager, Distributed Energy Strategy, SMUD
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Time: Social Hour at 5:30 pm, Presentation at 6:00 pm
HYBRID meeting: In-person at Mogavero Architects, 1322 T. St. And online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155 To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155
The fossil fuel industry has enjoyed some of the best profit margins in history, while externalizing the costs of their operations onto our health, communities, and our planet. They have known for decades the impacts of their industry pollution on the climate, and they continue to obstruct the energy transition. Big Oil has used these profits to corrupt our government at all levels, and Trump said the quiet part out loud during his campaign, promising big tax cuts and deregulation in exchange for millions in contributions. Now the administration is gutting agencies and programs that protect people and planet, and pursuing the “drill baby drill” agenda.
In California, the word “unprecedented” has started to lose its meaning as wildfires, floods, droughts, sea level rise, and even fire tornados hammer the golden state regularly. And as a potential Trump recession looms, social programs, environmental protection and disaster relief, among others, may face major face cuts as the state budget faces shortfalls. California is on the verge of joining Vermont and New York in creating a Climate Superfund, but we need your support!
It is past time that we hold polluters accountable for the damage they have caused, and make the major investments that our communities desperately need. It is time to Make Polluters Pay! Join us at a peaceful rally in Sacramento at the West Steps of the Capitol from 5 – 7pm on May 27th.
New! Sacramento’s Streets for People Draft Plan is out! We want to make it easier for everyone to choose walking, rolling, or biking for the short trips they take every day.
Sacramento’s Streets for People Draft Plan is available for review through April 6. You can comment on the Plan in the link below or by sending staff a comment.
Part two will include completing the Streets for People Active Transportation Plan, with the public review of the Draft Plan available March 5 through April 6, and Plan adoption in summer 2025.
SB 375 has been the “North Star” of regional climate action in California since Darrell Steinberg got it enacted sixteen years ago. With half of State GHG emissions coming from vehicles, it requires State transportation funds to only go planning agencies (SACOG here) that show how they can fund transportation systems in a way that can achieve State-mandated GHG reductions. This has been challenging, as we see Caltrans continue to expand freeways, and as Sacramento County supervisors continue to approve sprawl development. After 16 years, a lot has changed — SACOG wants SB 375 to be paused until it can be revised. On Monday, let’s hear why – from SACOG’s leader. And also – from an academic leader – should it be revised, and if so, how?
AGENDA
6 PM: Welcome and Introductions
6:10 PM: Why does SACOG want the State to pause its SB 375 target setting process? CA Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg, 2008) provides the framework for reducing GHG emissions, requiring the Air Resources Board to set regional targets: for SACOG, 19% per capita vehicle GHG emission reduction, from 2018 to 2035. CARB is now working on establishing future targets for CA regions. In his last “State of the City” address, Sacramento Mayor Steinberg cited SB 375 as a notable legislative achievement.
Amy Lee, postdoctoral scholar at UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, will provide a perspective. Amy studied with UC Davis Prof. Susan Handy in Transportation Policy, including study of regional transportation planning and induced travel. Amy previously worked at SACOG.
7:20 PM: Q&A, Discussion
7:50 PM: Updates • Lawsuits over Caltrans’ plan to add lanes to I-80 in Yolo County • Sacramento County Climate Action Plan, & County’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force • ECOS’ work with SacRT to highlight benefits of public transit • Election Recap – Sacramento Region
