City of San Jose gets a $644 million bill to meet its carbon neutrality goal
(The Center Square) – In 2021, the city of San Jose announced it was the largest city in the country to commit to carbon neutrality by 2030.
At least part of that cost came due in 2023 when the city committed to spending $644 million over the next 25 years on solar energy production and storage.
The San Jose city council approved that spending on four solar projects in 2023.
“San Jose continues to lead the nation in prioritizing the fight for our planet,” said former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo in a 2021 press release. “We have the unique opportunity today to take bolder action to create a better future for ourselves — and more importantly our children. I am proud to join my colleagues in advocating for local climate action.”
The city said it needs to enact its climate plan rapidly “to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change.”
The strategies include buying more zero-emission vehicles and investing more money in transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure. The city also passed an ordinance requiring all new construction to be all-electric.
The city is spending $332 million over 25 years on Yellow Pine Solar II, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources Development, for an energy and battery storage facility. The Yellow Pine Solar II development would begin in 2024 and power up to 40,000 homes.
The city is spending $225.2 million over 20 years on a subsidiary of Longroad Development Company for renewable energy and a battery storage facility.
San Jose is spending $77.4 million over 20 years on Yellow Pine Solar III, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, for a battery storage facility.
The city will also spend $5.4 million over 12 years on a subsidiary of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses for a battery storage facility.
