{"id":12817,"date":"2012-02-21T17:30:33","date_gmt":"2012-02-21T23:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=12817"},"modified":"2016-04-01T17:32:05","modified_gmt":"2016-04-01T22:32:05","slug":"a-triple-bottom-line-for-the-central-valley-environment-economy-equity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2012\/02\/21\/a-triple-bottom-line-for-the-central-valley-environment-economy-equity\/","title":{"rendered":"A Triple Bottom Line for the Central Valley: Environment, Economy, Equity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"city<\/a>This week the Air Resources Board (ARB) held a public workshop<\/a> in Fresno, California, to gather public input on ways to invest proceeds from California\u2019s cap-and-trade auction.\u00a0 ARB heard from a wide variety of individuals and organizations with bright ideas on how to spend this money on projects that can lower greenhouse gases (GHG) and maximize the benefit to disadvantaged communities who are the most vulnerable to climate change and pollution impacts.<\/p>\n

I represented EDF at the workshop, and an extended version of my public comments follows:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Good evening, my name is Jorge Madrid, and I am speaking as a representative from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) \u2013 I\u2019m also speaking as a community member with roots in the Central Valley, where my family has lived for the past 11 years.<\/p>\n

As I\u2019m sure most of you already know, California\u2019s Central Valley is home to four of the five most polluted cities in America, according to data<\/a> from the American Lung Association.\u00a0 And for those of you, like me, who have family members in the Valley who work outdoors every day, you know that the dual threat of dirty air and extreme heat is a recipe for poor health and costly medical bills.\u00a0 We can\u2019t afford not to act, and I am glad that the Air Resources Board is taking these bold steps to clean the air and fight climate change.<\/p>\n

EDF is committed to working with the strong coalition of organizations from across the state, representing a wide array of interests and stakeholders, who are committed to seeing that proceeds from the cap-and-trade auction are directed to projects that will advance the goals of AB 32 in an effective and equitable manner.<\/p>\n

We especially want to see projects that can deliver a \u201ctriple bottom line,\u201d which benefit people, the planet, and the economy.\u00a0 We know that all three of these things can grow together, and this is a fantastic opportunity to lead the rest of the country.<\/p>\n

There are many examples of triple bottom line investments; here are a few that should rise to the top:<\/p>\n