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CPUC solar plan takesstate in wrong direction

Re. “California’s energy grid needs more solar — not less,” Page A6, Dec. 8:

The Dec. 8 opinion piece by Laura Neish summed up perfectly the proposal currently before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regarding rooftop solar compensation rates.

It takes us in completely the wrong direction, virtually eliminating any incentive to install rooftop solar. That will lead to California, long a leader in rooftop solar, beginning the process of eliminating something that desperately needs expanding. Completely counterintuitive and wrong-headed.

However, if past actions by the CPUC are any indication, they will rubber stamp PG&E’s request, and that will be the end of it as far as they’re concerned.

Or perhaps not. With any luck, a vote to approve it will outrage California’s 1.5 million rooftop solar customers enough to finally take action themselves. When elected officials and their appointees refuse to act in the best interests of their constituents, the courts and ballot initiative process are the logical next steps.

George RiggsDanville

Developer’s ‘concession’is an empty gesture

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved an immense development last week that decimates a 30-acre property next to Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek. 17,000 dump trucks worth of soil and bedrock will be excavated and the current bucolic hills will be flattened to make way for a development that does nothing to resolve the moderate-priced housing shortage. It will be an exclusive living community for a small segment of the senior population.

Worse, a quirk in the way this development is classified as an “Institutional/Service” community lets the developer ignore county residential development requirements for integrated greenspace, greenbelts or public access. This 30-acre site begs for these requirements to be honored.

The developer, with the board’s blessing, wishes to appear magnanimous in its “concession” of 2.4 acres of open space, which is an insultingly empty “gift” of unusable steep hillsides in an inaccessible, unseen area.

Jan WarrenWalnut Creek

Concord voters rejectSeeno for CNWS

Re. “Some election lessons from San Jose and the East Bay,” Page A16, Dec. 4:

Add to the list of lessons learned from election results: In the Concord City Council District 5 election, Laura Nakamura won by a large margin over Tim McGallian, who voted in favor of Seeno/Concord First as master developer of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Laura Nakamura stated she would not have chosen Seeno as the master developer.

In the recent Contra Costa County race to fill retiring Supervisor Karen Mitchoff’s seat, two Concord City Council members who either voted for Seeno/Concord First or voted to move forward with Seeno/Concord First on the CNWS lost the election, one of them miserably.

The lesson that should be learned? Concord residents do not want Seeno/Concord First to develop the CNWS. The Concord City Council needs to listen to its constituents who clearly want change.

Kathleen BarnettConcord

We should extendCOVID assistance

The COVID-19 state of emergency is set to end on Feb. 28, 2023. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing for the last two years, we are running out of funds and resources to dedicate to the public.

Without government funding, people without health insurance or who can’t provide enough personal funds have limited options for seeking care, are forced to look for community-based care options, must find providers willing to absorb the bill, or pay out of pocket.

Continuing COVID funding and providing additional benefits to the people would make a difference, especially to those still putting their lives on the line. Increase government funding to provide for COVID vaccines and tests. As a result, more citizens will be able to return to work, school and business.

Shardaya JohnsonDiscovery Bay

Respect for MarriageAct respects all sides

Congratulations to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. They have finally been able to come together and send a bipartisan piece of legislation to President Joe Biden for his signature. Passage of the Respect for Marriage Act demonstrates that cooperation and partnership are possible in today’s divided world.

The act recognizes both sides of the same-sex marriage issue and addresses each side’s concerns. It gives rights to supporters of same-sex marriage without restricting or denying the religious freedom of individuals and institutions opposed to the concept and practice.

The United States operates on the principle of personal and religious freedom. The Same Sex Marriage Bill recognizes and supports those values. The act clearly shows that America’s recognition of individual values and principles still exists and continues to function.

Franklin BurroughsWalnut Creek