City of Monterey Planning Commissioners Concerned About Projected Sea Level Rise

Some City of Monterey Planning Commissioners would like local elected and appointed officials to act more urgently about projected threats to the city from climate change-related sea level rise. They want a City Council and Planning Commission subcommittee established to work on potential strategies to respond to it.

On February 2, 2021, the Monterey City Council received a January 2021 report funded by Caltrans entitled "Adapting a Threatened Transportation Network to Sea Level Rise - City of Monterey". It outlined the extent of the threat and also recommended various projects and programs to respond to it, including a Del Monte Avenue viaduct estimated to cost $481.7 million.


Your Chamber of Commerce believes the city needs to take a critical look at various responses to sea level rise and the degree to which the city would expect local businesses to pay for them. We are also aware that the threat of sea level rise is used as an argument against multi-unit residential development in the Downtown area or on Del Monte Avenue. It’s possible that the next Transportation Plan for the City of Monterey would not include Del Monte Avenue, and urban traffic would use other streets. Meanwhile, our Government Affairs Liaison has noted how a sea level rise strategy could be integrated with preparation for a tsunami that could cause an immediate sea level rise over 20 feet under certain circumstances. (The minor tsunami a week ago is a reminder not to forget about this risk.) Your Chamber of Commerce is sending a letter to the Monterey City Council and Monterey Planning Commission supporting the establishment of a special committee to review a broad set of alternatives to respond to projected sea level rise.
Vistra Announces Expansion of World's Largest
Battery Energy Storage Facility

Vistra announced yesterday, January 24, 2022, that it plans to further expand its Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in Moss Landing, California. The company has entered into a 15-year resource adequacy agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for a new 350-megawatt/1,400-megawatt-hour battery system. This would complement the existing 400 MW/1,600 MWh of energy storage capacity already at the site. On Jan. 21, 2022, PG&E filed its application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to approve the contract, with a decision expected within 180 days.

Like previous phases, Moss Landing Phase III will be able to move quickly due to the utilization of an already-approved development permit and its location on a Vistra-owned power plant site with existing interconnection and infrastructure. At its plant sites in California and across the country, Vistra is leading the way in responsibly reclaiming and repurposing sites that have been historically used for fossil fuels, transforming them with renewables and battery storage, leading to economic activity and tax base for the communities.

With the addition of the 350 megawatt Phase III at Moss Landing, Monterey County becomes further recognized as a vital renewable energy location and leader in California, the nation and the world.
1st & 3rd Thursday of Each Month | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
MPCC Offices - 353 Camino El Estero, Monterey
FREE

The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer the NEW Business Resource Center, providing access to no-fee business resource partners in the Monterey Bay region. Additionally, MPCC and its partners are offering FREE educational webinars on topics that are timely and matter to our local businesses.

Upcoming Webinars:

Thursday, February 3 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
presented by Dan Limesand, Director Business Development & Contracting, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
Meeting ID: 813 4550 4749
Passcode: 092750

Thursday, February 17 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
presented by Lindsay Horton of Social Monterey
RIBBON CUTTING: Balance Physical Therapy NEW Ryan Ranch Clinic
Thursday, February 3 | 4:30 - 5:30 PM
21 Upper Ragsdale Road, Suite 125, Monterey, CA

Celebrate the opening of the NEW Balance Physical Therapy Clinic in Ryan Ranch Office Park. Light refreshments provided.
Wednesday, February 23 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
The Inn at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach
$60 Members | $75 Prospective Members

Join us in celebrating Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce member milestones. We welcome Secretary Leon Panetta as our 2022 Keynote Speaker. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor Mechanics Bank.

MPCC LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
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