A Just Transition for the San Joaquin Valley

CRPE’s goal is to build community power in the San Joaquin Valley to ensure California’s response to the climate crisis redresses persistent economic and environmental inequities. The region produces billions of dollars from oil and agricultural production, but is one of the poorest areas in the country with high rates of unemployment. It is also one of the fastest growing regions in terms of solar and wind power, yet is home to the largest oil producing county in the US. If California is going to meet its climate goals, the San Joaquin Valley needs reform how it produces food and energy. This is also an opportunity address racial injustices, economic and educational inequities, and provide a healthy environment. CRPE has a 27-year history in the Valley building community power through community organizing and legal advocacy. It plans to deploy these strategies to build the foundation for a just transition in the Valley.

* Increase public knowledge about the negative social, health and environmental impacts of fracking in Kern County and across the state * Protect Kern County groundwater and preserve productive agricultural land * Strong connection between the statewide environmental movement and Kern County residents * Increase investment in renewables in the San Joaquin Valley and an analysis of the best way for the SJV to transition from fossil fuels * Increase regulatory oversight and environmental enforcement on existing fossil fuel energy infrastructure with an emphasis on public health * Limit the expansion and development of oil and gas in the Valley * Empower and support Valley residents to serve in positions of local leadership in their communities * Help lead to a transition away from fossil fuels without decimating the San Joaquin Valley * Make Valley decisionmakers accountable to low income communities and communities of color, improving democratic systems * Provide new voices of leadership in the region beyond oil and conventional agriculture

Vision

People Powered Transition

CRPE can provide the essential missing piece to the movement for a sustainable energy future: the human story. CRPE works with the most inspiring residents that fight against the largest industries in the world daily. The stories, tactics and solutions they advance have great potential to inspire a resource revolution. CRPE will develop resources, films, policies and toolkits to accelerate change.

Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment

A Just Transition for the San Joaquin Valley

Model and Strategy

Impact

Leadership

Caroline Farrell