LA voters have already rejected Karen Bass’ ‘Green New Deal’

LA voters have already had their say about the “Green New Deal” that is the foundation of Mayor Karen Bass’ new climate policy. 

In 2019, then-Mayor Eric Garcetti announced his own “Green New Deal,” after the one introduced in Congress by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Under his plan, 25% of LA drivers would be in electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025, and 80% by 2035. Three of the city’s natural gas power plants would be closed.

City officials privately wondered how LA would keep the lights on. 

More significantly, the local branch of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the main union for the LA Department of Public Works, rejected Garcetti’s plan. 

They knew that shuttering three natural gas plants meant thousands of job cuts. 

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So in a special city council election after Garcetti announced his plan, the union backed a Republican — a rare event in California.

John Lee went on to win, defeating a Democrat who backed the Green New Deal. And voters sent a clear message: We want a healthy planet, but we also want affordable and reliable energy. And don’t tell us how to get to work.

Garcetti’s plan never came to fruition. Drivers bought more EVs, but fell far short of the 25% goal. And the three natural gas plants stayed open. 

The solar and wind energy that Garcetti hoped would fill the gap have also faltered. Last year, the state had to intervene to keep the Ivanpah solar array open in the Mojave Desert. 

Bass’ plan is even more ambitious than Garcetti’s, in some ways. She wants the city to rely 100% on renewable energy sources — presumably wind and solar — by 2035. 

She is more careful about targets for EVs, but wants to convert the city’s bus fleet to 100% electric by 2028. That’s in two years. (About one-third of the fleet is electric today.)

Angelenos want clean streets, clean water, and clean air.

So do visitors — and there will soon be many, for the World Cup and the Olympics. 

That’s what the mayor should be focusing on. No new “plan” required.

Consumers will switch to EVs when electricity is cheap and gas is expensive. You don’t need to convince drivers to save money.

There’s no reason to stop developing renewables. But there’s no reason to cut off fossil fuels, either.

LA’s voters cast their ballots on “green” policies long ago. Mayor Bass should stick to the basics.