Advisory Board: Governing Board of the Green Empowerment Zone
Subject: Research Workplan for Green Empowerment Zone from UC Berkeley Labor Center for 2026
Presenter: Will Toaspern, Lead Researcher, UC Berkeley Labor Center
Contact: (720) 226-6039
Information:
The presentation is attached.
Referral History and Update:
On September 12, 2023, the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County authorized an agreement with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 to be used to provide administrative and other support services for the Green Empowerment Zone consistent with State legislation AB 179, the Budget Act of 2022. The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026. The Governing Board of the Green Empowerment Zone had its first meeting on December 7, 2023.
On December 7, 2023, the Green Empowerment Zone Governing Board received an informational presentation from the UC Berkeley Labor Research Center on a proposal of research to inform planning for the Green Empowerment Zone. Pursuant to the Green Empowerment Zone legislation, AB844 (Grayson), the duties of the Green Empowerment Zone include to partner with the University of California, the California State University, community colleges, and the state's other research and educational institutions, as well as private foundations, to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement in support of studies of particular interest and importance to the energy industry in the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa. The UC Berkeley Labor Center refined its proposed concept to focus on developing a high road strategy for the clean energy sector. This refined concept represented an example of research to inform planning for the Green Empowerment Zone that the GEZ Board might wish to consider before strategic planning can be completed.
On February 16, 2024, the Board provided direction to staff to provide an invitation to develop a detailed ...
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