Watts Up San José
April 2023
Happy Earth Day!
April is the time of year when we celebrate Earth Month! April 22 is Earth Day. It reminds us of the need to protect our planet for future generations through preservation and how our choices can make a big difference. Take action and invest in our planet in April and all year long:

Another way you can make an impact is by powering your home with TotalGreen, 100% renewable energy. Signing up for TotalGreen is easy:
  • Requires no extra equipment,
  • Takes less than 5 minutes to sign up, and
  • Costs a few extra dollars a month, depending on your energy usage.

Whatever action you take, large or small, will be an investment in protecting our planet!
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU PURCHASE A USED ELECTRIC VEHICLE 
As more electric vehicles (EVs) come on the market, there are new incentives to help make them more affordable.

The Inflation Reduction Act established a new tax credit of up to $4,000 for a used EV. PG&E also offers a rebate of up to $4,000 for a used EV.

All SJCE customers are eligible for these incentives as long as you meet the program eligibility.

San José has over 1,600 public chargers available throughout the city with plans to double this amount in the next few years.
THE GOVERNMENT MAY HELP PAY FOR YOUR ENERGY UPGRADES 
With the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, more households can lower their energy costs and help combat climate change. New incentives will be available over the next decade to help you choose cleaner and healthier electric home appliances. Read more in our recent blog post.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) recently passed a rule to ban the sale and installation of NOx-emitting water heaters in 2027 and furnaces in 2029. This new rule does not affect your current gas appliances and you are not required to switch them out. Learn more on BAAQMD’s website.
Left to right: Lori Mitchell Director of San Jose Clean Energy, Gaston Moore from IBEW Local 428, and Don Eckert Executive Director of Pioneer Community Energy.
SJCE CELEBRATES ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOLAR PLUS STORAGE PROJECTS 
In February, SJCE had the pleasure of attending the ribbon-cutting of the Edwards Air Force Base Solar Project in Kern County.

SJCE is one of several community choice aggregators benefitting from the facility, which is comprised of over 2 million solar panels. The project will displace more than 320,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually – almost the same as removing 70,000 cars from the road each year. In total, the monumental project adds 1,300 MW of new solar and 971 MW of battery storage resources to the grid.

Our first agreement with the project developer, Terra-Gen, guarantees delivery of 62 MW of renewable energy between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. every day of the week. By providing renewable energy during the evening hours when demand is high and the grid needs it the most, projects like this help make our grid more reliable, reduce the need for natural gas peaker plants, improve air quality, and fight climate change.
UPCOMING EVENTS
APRIL
20
Thursday
 
SJSU Earth Day Resource Fair
San José State University's Environmental Resource Center will be hosting the event which will include speakers, tabling from community organizations and student groups, interactive activities such as yoga, tree planting, sustainable fashion show, Aztec dance group, live music and more.
APRIL
22
Friday
 
2023 Great American Litter Pickup
Join your neighbors to pick up litter, beautify your community, and celebrate Earth Day together!

All events will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Exact hours will vary by location. Visit the City's website for a list of locations.
WE'RE HIRING

We are always looking for people who are passionate about the environment and want to help San José be healthier and more sustainable for the next generation. Check out our open positions and apply to Join Our Team.
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200 E. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113
833-432-2454