INTRODUCING WOMEN’S ENERGY MATTERS

Women’s Energy Matters (WEM) is a network of women and men who approach energy issues from a woman’s point of view. WEM works for a rapid transition to an efficient, renewable energy system, in order to promote healthy communities and ecosystems and improve international relations. WEM also celebrates the ways women have used their own energy through the ages to work for the public good.

This website provides a sampling of the information WEM is gathering and actions we are taking, and links to other sites addressing these issues. WEM encourages you to get involved, and appreciates your support.

WEM'S CURRENT CAMPAIGNS

COMMUNITY CHOICE - California's "Community Choice" law, passed in 2002, allows any California city, county, or group of cities and counties to choose alternative electricity providers for bulk power supplies — and run their own energy efficiency programs. WEM is working to establish Community Choice in Marin County and supporting similar efforts in other cities and counties in the Bay Area and throughout the state.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY - Women’s Energy Matters is a leading player in energy efficiency proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) since 2001. As a public interest participant ("intervenor"), WEM advocates for more effective programs that would increase energy savings. WEM founded the California Coalition for Energy Efficiency to advocate for independent energy efficiency programs, because utilities have a fundamental conflict of interest with energy savings. WEM proposed an administrative structure for energy efficiency that is similar to one in Texas that saved 40% more energy per dollar than California's current system.

POWER PROCUREMENT - WEM is also an intervenor in power procurement proceedings, where we focus on the need to increase clean resources and energy efficiency to address climate change. We opposed PG&E's request for 2300MW of new gas-fired power (about five power plants); the Judge approved only 800-1100MW and urged them to use renewables instead of fossil fuel. WEM demonstrated the need for coordination between energy efficiency and power procurement, so that energy efficiency can be used to reduce the need for more "peak" power supplies and power lines. In response to WEM's questioning, PG&E's energy efficiency and procurement planners testified that they do not communicate with each other and do not know how to use energy efficiency as a resource at "peak" (times of greatest use).

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE - Power plants are almost all located in low-income, minority communities, causing serious health damage. WEM members in these communities are pushing for construction of a clean energy system with local jobs and economic benefits.

See >BACKGROUND: WHY WOMEN’S ENERGY MATTERS