Acterra Action for a Healthy Planet
EcoHappenings Newsletter

5 June 2025

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Team Acterra and others inspecting mobile monitoring vehicles
Team Acterra with the Aclima air quality measuring vehicles

On Tuesday, June 3, Acterra headed to Sacramento for the launch announcement of the Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI). We’re so proud to be part of it!

What’s this program about?
The SMMI is a first-of-its-kind program creating local solutions to improve air quality and public health. This year-long program, launching in 64 underserved communities across the state, will collect and analyze data on local pollution levels.

How do they collect all this data?
The SMMI will use sensor-equipped vehicles from Aclima, and mobile laboratories operated by researchers from University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Riverside and Aerodyne Research.

How do they know where to monitor?
That’s where Acterra came in! We worked with community members in East Palo Alto and San Jose to note areas in their neighborhoods most in need of air quality monitoring.

What’s next?
This hyper-local data will guide policies and actions to improve air quality. The data is also expected to inform future regulatory programs, academic research, and applications for grants.

Most importantly, this program is an opportunity to gather the detailed information necessary to better protect public health in neighborhoods that need it most.

Upcoming Events
East Bay Green@Home Tours
Construye tu propia cocina microempresarial
Electrify Your Life Flyer

East Bay Green@Home Tour

Acterra is proud to present the East Bay Green@Home Tours 2025—a free, community-powered event inviting the public to explore innovative, electrified homes throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Gain valuable insights from tour hosts on appliance selection, contractor decisions, installation processes, and available tax credits and incentives, making the shift to electric living informed and cost-effective.

 

Saturday, June 7, 12 – 4 PM

Locations throughout the East Bay

Register

¡Construye tu propia cocina microempresarial!

Acterra se asocia con Cameo Network y Cook Alliance para organizar un seminario web diseñado para que los emprendedores se sientan cómodos al iniciar sus propias cocinas domésticas para microempresas (MEHKO). En estos seminarios web, explicaremos qué es una MEHKO, cómo empezar y una gran cantidad de recursos diferentes para que los emprendedores puedan dar este siguiente paso. También proporcionar más informaciónsobre Cook Academy, un taller de 8 semanas para ayudarte a iniciar tu negocio de alimentos. Al finalizar el programa, los graduados recibirán $3,000 para ayudarles a iniciar su negocio.

 

miércoles, 18 de juni, 6 – 7 PM

Virtual

Regístrese

Electrify Your Life: Soaking Up Solar Benefits

Searching for new ways to make yourself more energy efficient? Look no further! Join us, and the City of Sunnyvale, for another installment of Electrify Your Life, as we focus on how to best harness the power of solar energy for your home and transportation needs. Whether you're curious about clean energy, considering installing solar panels, or looking to charge your EV with sustainable power, this event is for you!

Monday, June 23, 7 – 8 PM

Virtual

Register
Announcements

Promise to Our Planet 2025 - Thank You All! 

On May 17, we came together at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills to celebrate 55 years of Acterra’s commitment to climate action and community impact in the Bay Area. 

 

Guests enjoyed a delicious plant-based meal from Asúkar, danced to live music by The Song Gardeners and listened to an insightful discussion with Guest Speaker Rob Jackson and Emcee Lauren Martinez. 

We were honored to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations, and hear from our award winners, presenters and speakers. Thank you to Grassroots Ecology, the County of Santa Clara, Bay Area Action, the PCC, Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain, Zero Foodprint and Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga.

To our inspiring presenters, generous sponsors, dedicated board members, and the entire Acterra family, thank you. Your commitment powers our mission.

Here’s to the next 55 years of making the Bay Area (and beyond!) a better place for us all.

P.S. Couldn’t make it to the party, but want to support? Our Fund-a-Future is still open! 

Donate now
A gathering of people at round tables outdoors
A photo montage of guest speakers talking
 

Join Us for a Hackathon! 

Help Acterra add to the electrification incentives database during our 3 hour hackathon. Students welcome!

 

This project will help anyone in the US access crucial support to understand which incentives exist that would make electrifying their home easier. Lunch will be provided. 

 

Wednesday, June 25, 1 – 4 PM

3921 E Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303

 

 

Register
Join Acterra's Hackathon
 

EVENT RECAPS

People inspecting electric vehicles at the EV Ride & Drive

Sunnyvale EV Ride & Drive

After spending Saturday celebrating Acterra’s 55 years at Promise to our Planet, our Electrification team joined the City of Sunnyvale and Charge Across Town on Sunday, May 18, for an EV Ride & Drive!

Held on Sunday at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, residents had a blast test driving a variety of electric vehicles, learning more about EV incentives, and grabbing a free taco from La Familia Taqueria for taking a test drive.

Couldn’t make it, but have questions? You can schedule a FREE EV Consult with our Electrification team, anytime!

Two volunteers working in a green garden

Community Food Forest Work Day

Many hands make for a fun day in the garden!

On May 28, Acterra spent a beautiful and sunny morning with some amazing volunteers at our food forest-in-progress.

We were hard at work clearing out giant 5-foot weeds and monitoring the irrigation lines to see which ones need to be patched.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support!

Want to join the next volunteer day? We’ll announce more volunteer events throughout the summer - visit Acterra.org/volunteer and sign up to get notified!

Take Action with Acterra

On May 23, California’s House and Senate Appropriations Committees met to clear their suspense files. While SB 282 (heat pumps), AB 746 (inmate cooperatives), and many other good bills fell victim to the budget constraints of a lean cycle, key legislation that is still in play includes AB 1167 (IOU lobbying curbs), AB 368 (passive house standards), and SB 63 (Bay Area transit funding). 

 

As AB 306, which proposes freezing building codes until 2031, is about to be taken up by committee members in the State Senate, Acterra joined organizations taking an opposing stance against this misguided bill unless significant amendments are put into effect. The amendments called for include excluding existing construction from the bill and allowing 2025 code adoption. AB 942 is another controversial bill that we oppose. Authored by a 25-year Southern California Edison employee, it would eliminate residential solar net energy meeting agreements. Coincidently, the California Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments this week on an appeal contesting NEM 3.0, the latest (and least consumer-friendly) Public Utility Commission solar policy update.

 

No Kings Day on June 14 is a visible way to stand up for the democratic, science-based values we believe in. Community rallies have been planned for San Mateo, Palo Alto to Sunnyvale (El Camino), Palo Alto (Democracy Fair), and Half Moon Bay. Find more locations all across the country at www.mobilize.us/nokings.

 

On June 17 at 4:30 PM, State Sen. Josh Becker (District 13) will host an online town hall meeting to discuss energy affordability and proposed legislation, SB 254. Topics include the need to modernize utility rate-making, increase transparency, and hold utilities accountable for spending on wildfire mitigation. Learn more. 

 

Endorsed Events

 

Building for Health: Where Public Health and Energy Policy Intersect

June 10 from 9 AM – 12 PM. Link.

 

Eco-Everyday: Small Actions, Big Impact, a free Tiburon community Green Fest

June 21, from 11:00 AM – 2 PM. Link.

 

Bay Area Catalyst Convening

July 8, from 8:30 AM – 5 PM. Link.

 

6th Annual California Climate and Energy Collaborative Forum

July 9-10, session times vary. Link.

 

Acterra has newsletters for everyone. Our offerings include sustainable food, electric vehicles, EV charging equity, young professionals, and more. Click the "Subscribe to our Newsletters" link below and make sure to select each one you want to receive, even if you are already subscribed!

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Our Contact Information
Acterra
3921 E Bayshore Rd Suite 210
Palo Alto, CA 94303
650.962.9876
https://www.acterra.org

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