In November 2020, Denver as well as three California cities—Berkeley, Long Beach, and Albany — all considered ballot measures to create climate action funds. These funds would allocate the funding towards meeting each city’s climate action pledges.
Berkeley’s Measure HH would raise the local Utility Users Tax on electricity and gas from 7.5% to 10%, with exemptions for low-income users, to pay for general municipal services, including programs to equitably reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, and authorizing the City Council to increase the gas users tax by an additional 2.5%, with the total tax estimated to generate $2.4 million annually. These revenues are then to be placed in a Climate Equity Action Fund. A public Commission must provide non-binding recommendations to the City Council on how these proceeds could be spent to address climate equity issues. At the City Council’s discretion, the proceeds may be spent to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions or for any other municipal purpose.
Measure HH appeared to pass following the election.
Albany’s Measure DD would raise the local Utility Users Tax from 7% to 9.5% for gas and electric service, and apply the tax to water service at 7.5%, providing an additional $675,000 (exempting self-generated energy and low-income households). The city will endeavor to spend at least 1/3 of the resultant revenue pursuing measures identified in the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Measure DD appeared to pass following the election.
The Long Beach proposal, Measure US, would up taxes local oil production. Measure US would increase the general purpose Barrel Tax from 15 cents to 30 cents per barrel and apply a Consumer Price Index to the entire general purpose tax. The measure is expected to raise an incremental $1.6 million in General Fund revenue in the first year to fund City services. Funds are expected to decline in future years by about 8 to 10 percent a year as oil production normally declines each year. The City Council had previous passed a measure declaring their intent to use this revenue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; educate and inform the public of the consequences of climate change; implement the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan or other environmental strategic plans; promote air and water quality; and support other climate and environmental programs.
Measure US appeared to pass following the election.
Denver’s Measure 2A would work by raising the local sales tax by .25%, which would raise $40 million annually. These funds could all be used to fund clean energy and climate adaptation projects. An office of climate action, sustainability and resiliency and a citizen’s sustainability committee are to oversee spending, and investments are to be maximized in “communities of color, under resourced communities, and communities most vulnerable to climate change.”
Measure 2A appeared to pass following the election.