Collaboration between agencies, levels of government and non-profit groups is the way to solve complex problems. Palo Alto may be a small city, but we can provide leadership on how to make changes that other cities can emulate. Our City's new program on electric heat pump water heaters is a great example of this. Rather than a resident having to find a contractor and figure out financing, the City Utilities have hired a contractor who will install modern, cost efficient electric water heaters to help you change your water heater before it unexpectedly fails ("Brr: no hot water!") — and you can pay half of the cost to have it installed and pay the rest on your monthly utility bill over time. This is a great example of city government responding to our needs. You can get details at the city's website: Web Link

350 Palo Alto is one of several citizen groups that will be collaborating to spread the word about this program in January by doing a neighborhood canvass. If you'd like to help, send a note to [email protected] power.org

@DebbieMytels,

“350 Palo Alto is one of several citizen groups that will be collaborating to spread the word about this program in January by doing a neighborhood canvass.”

If 350 is the same group that is a political organization, it should probably be disclosed and some effort made to not use the heat pump business as a way for a political non-profit to collect residents’ personal information or to send promotional materials for political purposes using the City as the calling card.

While there’s good things about all climate initiatives, money and politics corrupt and climate has become both a political and money soliciting platform.

Same goes for all for profit or non-profit alliances with the city.

Thanks for the above comment. 350 Palo Alto is a non-partisan organization, and we will definitely not be collecting names for our own mailing lists. Our goal is to collect names for the City Utilities of those who want to switch their old gas water heaters for an energy-efficient electric heat pump model -- with all the expertise and convenience that the City's program will involve.

@DebbieMytels,

"Our goal is to collect names for the City Utilities of those who want to switch their old gas water heaters for an energy-efficient electric heat pump model"

Any collection of names or solicitations using the City as a calling card IMHO is inappropriate. There are privacy issues, with the City itself. I don't feel it's any of the City's business to send you to knock on my door with any initiative. Having records of your interactions with me is also kind of odd. I think the City is being creepy.