Public asked to keep the beauty in the bloom by staying on designated trails and taking only photos, not flowers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – This spring, California’s desert state parks could potentially be adorned with a sea of rainbow colors as the wildflower season is expected to be an impressive one, and California State Parks is asking all visitors to enjoy them responsibly. 

“In recent years, California has been lucky to see spectacular wildflower blooms in many public lands, including in state parks,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “We welcome all Californians and visitors from around the world to experience this natural phenomenon and ask all to keep the ‘Beauty in the Bloom’ by staying on designated trails and taking only photos, not flowers.”

Current Bloom Situation

Depending on the park, visitors may see colorful lupine, coreopsis, desert sunflowers, evening or brown-eyed primroses, desert bells, desert poppies or desert lilies.

• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Blooms are arriving in the heart of Borrego Springs along Henderson Canyon Road, the lower sandy dune portions of Coyote Canyon and in the southern portion of the state park along Highway S2 southeast of Agua Caliente County Park. Additionally, areas near June Wash moving northeast toward Fish Creek and Arroyo Tapiado are beginning to show the early bloomers like primrose, phacelia, and wooly sunflower. If moving south along the Highway S2, four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on any unpaved park road.
• Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve: Sporadic individual poppies are already starting to bloom. From mid-March to May, this park expects a variety of wildflowers to bloom. Poppies, fiddleneck, and red stem filaree have sprouted throughout the Poppy Reserve in large, dense quantities. Live updates from this park are available through the PoppyCam live feed. If the weather remains mild, the bloom is expected to be better this year compared to last year. If the weather turns hot, this could affect the bloom in the next few months.
• Red Rock Canyon State Park, Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area, Chino Hills State Park, Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, Fort Tejon State Historic Park: These parks are expected to have good wildflower blooms from mid-March to May, and into the spring season.

Detailed information, in Spanish and English, on this year’s potential wildflower blooms and park rules is available at parks.ca.gov/WildflowerBloom.

Recreate Responsibly

For those wishing to visit areas where the blooms are popping, State Parks is providing visitors with tips on how to explore safely and responsibly, especially in the desert parks where the landscapes may have changed due to recent storms.

Understand the Area

• Cell coverage can be spotty or nonexistent in some parks—be prepared.
• Read about your state park destination online and download a map prior to your visit, especially if you are visiting a desert. Many GPS and map apps will take you to dirt roads requiring four-wheel drive vehicles.
• Know your vehicle’s limits. Know which areas allow off-highway vehicle recreation.
• Visit the parks during the week and arrive early to beat the crowds.
• Remember to pull off the roadway when viewing wildflowers, wildlife or to take photos. Please leave roadways clear for vehicle traffic.
• Leave an itinerary of your trip with a family member or friend with information such as time of departure and expected return, site visit location and names of everyone in your group. This will ensure law enforcement personnel have a better understanding of your location in the event of a rescue.

Check the Weather

• While planning your trip, check weather conditions. Be prepared and plan for all types of weather.
• Make sure your equipment and clothing are appropriate for the expected weather.

Respect the Landscapes

• Each park has unique landscapes. Stay on designated trails whenever possible. Tread lightly in the desert. Do not trample flowers.
• When viewing the blooms, take only pictures. Flower picking is prohibited.
• If dogs are permitted, they must remain on leash, on designated roads, in campgrounds and in picnic areas. Dogs are not allowed on hiking trails, in the backcountry or in the wildflower fields. Do not leave dogs unattended in your vehicles—temperatures can reach lethal levels.
• Drone use may be prohibited. If drone use is allowed, a filming permit from individual state park units must be requested.
• Help keep the landscapes pristine, leaving it better than when you arrived by packing out anything you packed in—pack it in, pack it out.

Know Your Body Limitations

• Bring plenty of food and water. There are often no restaurants, gasoline stations or stores near the bloom areas.
• Drink plenty of water prior to your visit to remain hydrated and avoid heat-related emergencies.
• Outdoor conditions can change quickly, especially in the desert. Bring sunscreen, a hat, layers of clothing and closed-toe shoes to avoid injury.
• Walk at a pace that allows you to talk easily. If you are too out of breath to speak, you are probably working too hard. Take a rest or stop exercising.
• In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Background

In 2017, 2019 and 2023, wildflowers carpeted state parks like Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR, Anza-Borrego Desert SP and Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), attracting hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to view this rare occurrence in nature. These wildflower blooms vary from year to year based on multiple factors: Precipitation levels, the timing of that precipitation, amount of sunlight, humidity levels and seasonal temperature patterns can all affect both the bloom timing and number of flowers seen across the region. Since California was fortunate to receive more rain last fall and this winter, public land managers are expecting a “good” to “better-than-average” wildflower blooms in spring, depending on the continued weather conditions.

By Julie Yee, Public Affairs Specialist, Western Regional Office, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday, March 1, 2024, that households impacted by widespread power outages that started on February 4th as the result of a strong winter storm in California could be eligible for replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/CalFresh benefits. This is one of many recent steps USDA has taken to ensure California residents in need have food to eat.

Rather than require SNAP households to report food losses individually, USDA allowed the State of California to approve automatic mass replacements for residents of certain zip codes who lost food as a result of the power outages and winter storm. The waiver applies to specified zip codes from 27 counties. More details will be made available through the  California Department of Social Services (CDSS). 

SNAP participants in areas hardest hit by the power outages may have a portion of their February benefits replaced. SNAP recipients residing in other affected areas may request replacement benefits by filing an affidavit with the local office attesting to disaster-related loss.

Additionally, USDA has approved CDSS’ request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that were lost as a result of power outages due to the winter storms that began in February. The waiver is in effect through March 4, 2024.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is ready to consider additional waivers that may be needed to help program participants who have lost food due to widespread power outages and to simplify the application process for affected households, upon request from the CDSS. Individuals seeking more information about this and other available aid should dial 2-1-1. For more information about California SNAP, visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Same PAC supporting Grayson in Senate District 9 race

By Allen D. Payton

So far, a political action committee named “Leadership for California: East Bay Committee, Sponsored by Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy” has spent $214,162 to oppose Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson in her campaign for the State Assembly District 15 seat.

To date the PAC has paid for six mailers against Wilson between Feb. 7th to 15th, ranging in cost from $35,242 to $77,492. According to the PAC’s Form 460 financial disclosure report from Jan. 1 thru Feb. 17, 2024, there are two mailers that had yet to be mailed. Most likely they have been by now.

According to Cal-Access, the California Secretary of State’s political campaign finance website, the PAC raised $333,392.50 as of Feb. 17, including:

$260,000 from Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy  ID# 1275549

$49,000 from American Beverage Association California PAC

$10,000 from Keeping Californians Working, a Coalition of Insurance Agents, Technology, Energy, and Health Care Providers

$14,392.50 as an in-kind non-monetary contribution by Brighter Future for All ID# 1463665 for polling and research.

Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy Supported By Medical, Business Interests

According to Cal-Access, contributors to The Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy PAC include the California Medical Association PAC, Target, Dart Container, Cooperative of American Physicians State PAC, Californians Allied for Patient Protection PAC, California Cable Telecommunications Association, Davita, Lyft, Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) PAC, Fresenius Medical Care, In-N-Out Burgers, California Real Estate PAC, Chevron, PG&E, Walmart, Chime Financial, Inc., Anheuser-Busch Companies, McDonald’s Corporation and California Bankers Association State PAC.

Same East Bay PAC is Supporting Grayson for Senate

The same Leadership for California: East Bay Committee PAC also spent $72,350 on two mailers supporting Assemblyman Tim Grayson, for whose seat Wilson is seaking, in his campaign for State Senate District 9.

Wilson is facing three opponents in the race for Assembly District 15, including two fellow Democrats, County Board of Education Trustee Anamarie Avila Farias and former County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, and one Republican, Realtor Sonia Ledo. The election is next Tuesday, March 5th and the top two vote-getters will face off in the November general election.

By Antonia Ehlers, PR and Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Pittsburg mother-to-be Josephine Trujillo had a big surprise Wednesday night – she went into labor! What began as a trip to see a midwife at the Kaiser Permanente Delta Fair Medical Offices ended at the Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center. A few hours later – at precisely 12:04 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, – Josephine gave birth to baby Blake Harper. The adorable baby with lots of hair and steel blue eyes is one of the Bay Area’s first 2024 Leap Year babies.

Proud dad Timothy Trujillo, a project manager at the Worley Group, said the little bundle of joy weighed in at 9 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 21 inches.

“It feels surreal but excellent,” he said.

Josephine, a middle school science teacher at Edna Brewer Middle School in Oakland, said everything happened so fast once she went into labor.

“Our due date was February 27, but it was still a surprise,” she said. “Our care at Kaiser Permanente was amazing – they made it easy. Everyone was on top of it. ‘We’ve been calling him our ‘little chonker’ and we’re just ecstatic.”

“Congratulations to the Trujillo family on the birth of baby Blake,” said Pam Galley, Kaiser Permanente senior vice president and area manager for the Diablo Service Area. “Our health care team at the Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center welcomed a very special Leap Year baby today, and we wish his family all the best.”

By Allen D. Payton

Some of the same unions backing Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson in the Assembly District 15 race on the March primary ballot have spent almost $253,000 attacking one of her three opponents, former Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff.

At least four mailers have been sent to Democrat voters in the district criticizing Mitchoff’s pay raise she voted for while on the board, and her votes against pay raises for county employees.

Two of the mailers obtained by the Herald show they were paid for by “Opportunity PAC – A coalition of teachers, health care givers, faculty members, school employees, and public and private employee organizations.” The political action committee’s Top Funders for the mailers are listed as SEIU (Service Employees International Union) California State Council, California Faculty Association (of the UC and CSU systems) and California School Employee Association.

When asked about the mailers Mitchoff said they’re all pretty much about the same issue. “The same group with the same message. My decision on the pay raise was made over 10 years ago because I wanted to make sure the county supervisors were paid enough to make it a full-time position.” She also pointed out that she did vote for pay raises for county employees, “in 2022, giving them 5% a year for four years, for a total increase of 20%.”

The interesting part is that some of the state teachers’ unions including college and university faculty and staff are helping pay for the mailers, even though as a member of the Board of Supervisors, Mitchoff had no say about education funding.

According to Cal-Access, the California Secretary of State’s campaign finance reporting website, so far, the PAC has made three expenditures of $46,446.03 each for three mailers opposing Mitchoff, two on Feb. 1 and one on Feb. 13, 2024. The cost for a fourth mailer that appear under the PAC’s Accrued Expenses show an additional $46,446.03. That totals $185,784.12. In addition, the PAC spent $37,000.00 on polling and consulting and $30,126.43 on research in their effort against Mitchoff.

Contributions to PAC Total Over $2.5 Million

The PAC is supporting and opposing a variety of candidates throughout the state. Their most recent Form 460 financial disclosure report dated Feb. 17, 2024, shows they have raised $1.715 million this year and their report ending Dec. 31, 2023, shows $803,500 was raised last year for a total of $2,518,500. They had cash on hand of over $1.1 million as of Feb. 17th.

Contributions include the following amounts and sources:

$750,000 from the California Teachers Association Independent Expenditure Committee;

$534,500 from SEIU California State Council for Working People;

$225,000 from PACE (Political Action for Classified Employees) of California School Employees Association;

$190,000 from Smart Justice California Action Fund;

$150,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council Independent Expenditure PAC;

$150,000 from California Federation of Teachers COPE (Committee on Political Education);

$150,000 from Service Employees International Union Local 1000, Keeping California Healthy, Safe and Strong;

$100,000 from Service Employees International Union Local 721 CTW, CLC Workers’ Strength Committee;

$75,000 from SEIU United Healthcare Workers West PAC;

$59,500 from Faculty for Our University’s Future, a committee sponsored by California Faculty Association;

$59,500 from Standing Committee on Political Education of the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO;

$50,000 from the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual & Transgender) Caucus Leadership Fund; and

$25,000 from SEIU California State Council (nonprofit 501 (c)(5))

Wilson’s Backers Funding Mitchoff Opposition Effort

Wilson’s campaign has been the beneficiary of support from many of those same unions. On her campaign website, Wilson shows endorsements by the California Faculty Association, SEIU California, National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 5, as well as unions that are members of the AFL-CIO.

Wilson and Mitchoff also face two others in the race, including County School Board Trustee Anamarie Avila Farias and Realtor Sonia Ledo in the March 5th primary election next Tuesday. The top two will face off in the November election.

To two former Antioch residents posthumously, three Pittsburg residents and one Oakland resident

By Allen D. Payton

During Antioch’s Black History Month Closing Celebration, this evening, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe will present a Key to the City to each of “six deserving individuals who have significantly impacted our community,” according to the Eventbrite invitation. “This prestigious honor recognizes their outstanding achievements and dedication.”

The recipients include two former Antioch residents who have passed away, Antioch’s first African American councilmember, the late Hon. Reginald “Reggie” Moore and the late Dietra King, co-owner of Dad’s BBQ and owner, broker of Hearts Realty. In addition, three Pittsburg residents, Board of Supervisors Chair Federal Glover, local civil rights and community activist Willie Mims and NAACP East County Branch leader and Building Black Political Power PAC President Frances Green will also receive a Key to the City.

Finally, a sixth Key to the City will be presented to Oakland resident Shamawn Wright, Founder of the non-profit Bridge Builders to the New Generation which has an office inside the East Family Justice Center in Antioch and serves Antioch youth.

The mayor chose each of the recipients and has said in the past that it doesn’t require council approval.

The event will be held at Delta Bay Community Church, 1020 E. Tregallas Road in Antioch. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the program begins promptly at 7:00 pm. A special reception with music and hors-d’oeuvres will follow the program.

Group behind effort to defeat her has spent over $233,000

By Allen D. Payton

At least two campaign mailers against candidate for State Assembly District 15 Anamarie Avila Farias were sent to voters this month by a group named “Contra Costa Neighbors opposed to Farias for Assembly 2024”, and the most recent mailer clearly stretches the truth in one of its claims. They’re part of an effort that has spent over $233,000 to defeat her, so far.

The mailer readers “Typical Politician Anamarie Avila Farias’ Double-Dipping Record Hurt Progress on Homelessness” and among other accusations claims she, “Collected salaries and benefits from multiple governmental agencies at the same time.”

The mailer offers a link to “Check The Facts” on the Transparent California website, which lists public employees’ compensation records provided to them by government agencies – http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?q=anamarie+farias&y=.

First, while I prefer employees for one government agency to not serve as elected officials for another, it’s not uncommon for local elected officials to also work for other government agencies. That was the case for Avila Farias 10 and 11 years ago. Since then, she has worked for a non-governmental agency and non-profit organization, while serving as both an elected and appointed official.

Some of that information is listed on Avila-Farias’ campaign website.

Government Employment

When reviewing the information about the Assembly candidate on the Transparent California website, it shows she previously worked in government positions as a Senior Management Analyst for the City of Oakland in 2013, then a Program Analyst for the City of Concord in 2013 and 2014, for which she was paid a salary and benefits. Those positions aren’t mentioned on her campaign website but are the only government positions she has held.

Non-Government, Elected & Appointed Positions

Avila Farias currently works as the executive director for the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary of Contra Costa County, a non-profit organization, for which she first served on the board of directors. Avila Farias said she stepped down from the board after being hired to run the organization in 2019.

As a member of the Martinez City Council from 2012-16, Avila Farias received pay and benefits totaling $16,552.01 to $18,791.48 per year. She is now serving in her first term as an elected trustee on the Contra Costa County Board of Education, having been elected in 2020, for which she receives about $550 in stipend and $2,500 in benefits per month.

Avila Farias has also served on the Board of Directors of the California Housing Finance Agency since she was appointed in 2015, for which she said she receives a small stipend of $100 per meeting. That was confirmed by agency staff and is also reflected on the Transparent California website. Avila Farias also serves on the Board of Directors of the Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center, but that is not a paid position.

According to her profile on the Finance Authority’s website, “She held multiple positions at the Housing Authority of Contra Costa County from 1989 to 2018, including Housing Policy and Program Analyst and Central Waiting List Housing Manager.” However, according to the Housing Authority website, it is not a government agency even though its seven-member board includes all five county supervisors.

Following is the list of Avila Farias’ government position-related compensation from the Transparent California website to which the mailer provides the link, in order of years:

Year     Position                                                                       Pay                  Benefits           Total

2012    Martinez Council Member                                          $195.97           $294.78           $490.75

2013    Martinez Council Member                                          $7,020.00        $9,532.01        $16,552.01

2013    Senior Management Analyst, City of Oakland           $20,381.66      $8,850.29        $29,231.95

2013    Program Manager, City of Concord                           $60,587.94      $21,271.40      $81,859.34

2014    Program Manager, City of Concord                           $31,087.64      $7,038.95        $38,126.59

2014    Member, Martinez Council                                         $7,020.00        $11,348.02      $18,368.02

2015    Member, Martinez Council                                         $7,020.00        $11,771.48      $18,791.48

2016    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $200.00           $ -0-                 $200.00

2016    Member, Martinez Council                                        $6,834.00        $11,523.00      $18,357.00

2016    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $700.00           $ -0-                 $700.00

2017    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $700.00           $ -0-                 $700.00

2018    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $700.00           $ -0-                 $700.00

2019    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $500.00           $ -0-                 $500.00

2020    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $700.00           $ -0-                 $700.00

2020    Member, Contra Costa Board of Education              $541.97           $ -0-                 $541.97

2021    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $800.00           $ -0-                 $800.00

2021    Member, Contra Costa Board of Education               $6,720.44        $30,590.42      $37,310.86

2022    Member, CA Housing Finance Agency Board           $700.00           $ -0-                 $700.00

2022    Member, Contra Costa Board of Education               $6,857.99        $29,685.26      $36,542.55

Mostly False

So, there were only two years, 2013 and 2014 that Avila Farias received pay and benefits both as a government employee and as an elected official, supporting the mailer’s claim of her “double dipping”. But even that is a stretch as she wasn’t paid a salary for both positions, merely a stipend for her elected position and benefits for both and it was for only two agencies at a time. Thus, the mailer’s claim that Avila Farias “Collected salaries and benefits from multiple governmental agencies at the same time” is mostly false.

Group Behind the Mailer

According to the disclosure requirement on the mailers, the group behind them “a coalition of charter public school advocates, insurance agents, technology, energy, and health care providers” and the “Ad Committee’s Top Funder” is listed as a political action committee (PAC) named “Keeping Californians Working.” A search of the California Secretary of State’s Cal-Access campaign finance website shows the committee’s FPPC ID number is 1365806 and as of the Feb. 17, 2024, report has raised $521,500 and spent $658,516.89 this year, with ending cash of $759,206.46. The PAC raised $1.125 million in 2023.

According to the PAC’s reports the coalition has spent over $233,000 to defeat Avila Farias. The PAC’s Form 497 Late Contribution Report number 321801-05 dated Feb. 26, 2024, shows they contributed $30,000 to the Contra Costa Neighbors opposed to Avila Farias coalition. According to the PAC’s Form 497 Late Contribution Report number 321801-04 dated Feb. 22, 2024, the committee also contributed $52,785 to defeat her, and report number 21801-03 dated Feb. 20, 2024, shows they contributed $150,000 to the effort against Avila Farias. Another Form 497 report number 321801-06 was filed today, Wednesday, Feb. 28 for an additional $1,000 contribution to the coalition’s efforts.

The PAC’s major contributors include $125,000 from the Personal Insurance Federation of CA Agents & Employees PAC; $250,000 from the Pharmaceutical Research And Manufacturers Of America IEC (Independent Expenditure Committee); $250,000 from Uber Innovation Political Action Committee; $250,000 from Powering California’s Future, Sponsored by Edison International, the Los Angeles-area energy company; $250,000 from DaVita, Inc., a kidney dialysis company; and most recently, $10,000 from Leadership for California: East Bay Committee, whose ID number was pending as of the date of the Form 49 report on Feb. 5, 2024. The PAC is also spending money to support other candidates in other parts of the state.

The election is next Tuesday, March 5. Avila Farias faces fellow Democrats former Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson and Republican Realtor Sonia Ledo in the race to replace Assemblyman Tim Grayson who is running for State Senate. The top two candidates will face off in the November general election.

Supervisors suspend all-electric requirements following U.S. Court of Appeals ruling

(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Tuesday suspended enforcement of its requirement that most new buildings be constructed as all-electric buildings.  The County’s all-electric building requirement, as part of the County’s building code, had prohibited the installation of natural gas infrastructure in most new buildings and required developers to use electricity as the sole source of energy in the building.  With Tuesday’s action, the County’s all-electric building requirement will not be enforced.

Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invalidated a City of Berkeley ordinance that prohibited natural gas infrastructure in new buildings. The court held that the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act precludes cities and counties from adopting building codes that prohibit the installation of gas plumbing in buildings.

Contra Costa County’s all-electric building requirement, like the invalidated City of Berkeley ordinance, prohibits the installation of gas plumbing in new buildings.  The County is therefore suspending this requirement in response to the Ninth Circuit’s decision.

At the same time, the Board of Supervisors remains committed to the goals that prompted it to adopt the all-electric requirement: improving public health and fighting what they believe contributes to climate change. The Board referred the topic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings to its Sustainability Committee and directed staff to report on alternatives for advancing this objective at the Committee’s next meeting.

“Contra Costa County remains committed to reducing the use of fossil fuels in buildings and continues to support the construction of new buildings using all-electric technologies,” said Board Chair Federal D. Glover, District 5 Supervisor.  “We are eager to identify new and innovative ways to continue to pursue our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.”

The County encourages residents and businesses to continue to install all-electric building systems and appliances. There are many benefits of all-electric construction, some of which include:

• Cleaner air and better health outcomes from eliminating the emissions associated with burning fossil fuels, particularly indoors.
• Not having to pay to install gas pipes in new buildings.
• Taking advantage of financial incentives and rebates for all-electric appliances.
• Resilience against power outages, particularly when electric technologies are paired with battery storage.
• Hedging against high electricity costs by being able to schedule electric appliances to operate at times of day when electricity costs are lowest.
• Preparing for the potential discontinuation of gas appliances in the future that could occur from possible regulatory actions by regional, state, or federal agencies.

There are many good resources on the benefits of all-electric buildings, including:

The County’s sustainability web site has information on state and federal incentives, rebates, and other ways to fund all-electric upgrades.

The Bay Area Regional Energy Network has information on training opportunities, rebates and incentives, and contractors.  

MCE, the community choice energy provider for most of Contra Costa County, offers rebates and incentives.

The Switch Is On, sponsored by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, is a collaborative campaign to support all-electric home conversion by providing tools, support, and resources to Californians.

Rewiring America provides information about the benefits of all-electric technologies, and helps generate a personalized plan for individuals, including costs and savings.

PG&E also has resources on all-electric buildings, including rebates, incentives, rate plans, and design guides.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.