Marin Voice: Sustainability Team aims to connect at county fair

This year’s Marin County Fair theme, “Electrifying,” captures the excitement of embracing clean energy solutions.

The theme aligns perfectly with Marin County’s commitment to environmental stewardship, and the programs and resources that the Marin County Sustainability Team promotes in support of our climate action plan. The team is proud to be involved this year and we can’t wait to connect with the community at the cornerstone event of the summer.

Electrification plays a vital role in our journey towards a more sustainable future. Replacing the fossil fuels that contribute to climate change is now easier than ever, thanks to newer technologies like electric vehicles, heat pumps and induction cooktops.

Renewable electricity is more available than in the past, with 100% renewable electricity options now available to Marin homes and businesses through MCE (formerly Marin Clean Energy) and Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

The county’s work to incentivize electrification began in 2018, when a grant was received to launch Electrify Marin, a rebate program for gas-to-electric home appliance upgrades.

Beyond incentivizing electrification projects in over 500 homes in Marin, the program has also provided training and education to the building community, helping to greatly expand the pool of local contractors trained to complete these projects, ensuring that local builders are prepared for a clean energy future.

Additional rebates and incentives have followed, from sources like the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, MCE and Tech Clean California, creating a unique opportunity for Marin homeowners to stack multiple rebates to create an even higher incentive for their projects.

More recently, passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act represents a landmark investment in decarbonization and climate resilience, including significant tax credits and rebates for home energy efficiency and electrification projects.

Beyond rebates and incentives, outreach and education play a pivotal role in promoting electrification within our community. The Sustainability Team – in collaboration with community partners – organizes workshops, webinars and public events to raise awareness about the benefits of electrification.

By offering informative sessions on EV adoption, solar and battery storage, as well as home electrification, we can empower residents with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and embrace sustainable choices. Please visit the team’s website at MarinSustainability.org.

The fair features an “electrification experience,” located near the entrance of the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, where the community can get hands-on experience with some exciting clean energy solutions.

EVs, electric bicycles and electric motorcycles are on display, showing the broad range of e-mobility options that are on the market today. Attendees can practice plugging in EVs using an interactive charging display and learn how to use the PlugShare app to experience how EV charging really works.

You can also see how home appliances, such as induction cooktops, can be plugged into EV batteries, providing a valuable resiliency solution during an outage.

And if your mobile phone needs some juice after spending hours at the fair, come charge it up using a retired EV battery and learn about the ways old EV batteries can be repurposed.

The exhibit will be staffed by EV and home electrification experts who are happy to answer questions, connect you with resources and give you some ideas about how you can better utilize clean energy.

“Electrifying” is not just a theme for our fair; it encapsulates the essence of a brighter and more sustainable future for Marin County.

Embracing electrification offers numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, cleaner air and economic growth. With the availability of resources and programs, our community has the opportunity to make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable electricity in our vehicles, home appliances, and commercial equipment.

Let us come together, celebrate summer, educate ourselves and others, and together pave the way to an electrified Marin County.

Mark Chhabria is program coordinator for the Marin County Sustainability Team.