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Green Blue New Deal
Summary
On July 6, 2021, the Richmond City Council adopted Resolution 88-21 to support the process of developing a Richmond Green-Blue New Deal and Just Transition to 21st Century jobs.
The goal of the project is to catalyze at least 1,000 new green-blue jobs for Richmond residents to continue to build a just, equitable, and sustainable future.
The primary effort of this plan is to outline training to career pathways for different green business supporting positions. The target industries include renewable energy, electrification and efficiency, sustainable transportation, zero waste, water, and land use.
On October 1, 2024, City staff presented the Richmond Green-Blue New Deal (RGBND) Opportunities Report and its appendices to the City Council for initial review. In response to City Council and community feedback, City staff initiated an internal evaluation process to refine the implementation strategy and narrow the scope of projects to be prioritized over the next five years.
Per the June 17th, 2025 Agenda Item, City staff:
- Conducted additional research and reviewed all 24 projects identified in the Opportunities Report
- Surveyed internal departments, the Economic Development Commission (EDC), and the Workforce Development Board (WDB).
- Factored in staff feedback, combined Port Upgrades, and Offshore Wind Manufacturing.
- Factored in staff feedback, combined Building Electrification Retrofits, and Green Accessory Dwellings (June 17th, 2025 Agenda Item).
Project Deliverables as of October 1, 2024
Green-Blue New Deal Opportunities Report with Appendixes
Appendix I: Jobs per $1 Million Invested
Appendix II: Eight Municipal Green New Deals
Appendix III: K-12 Environmental Education and Green Careers Awareness
Appendix IV: Gap Analysis: Environmental Policy Goals and Current State
Appendix V: Community Outreach and Findings Report
Appendix VI: Insights About the Future Green-Blue Economy from Justice-Involved Richmond Residents
Appendix VII: Community Profile and Economic Development Insights
On October 7, 2021, the City Manager’s Office, Economic Development released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit the professional services of a qualified organization to assist in the development and implementation of a community driven workforce development plan using a Green-Blue New Deal and Just Transition Framework. The RFP Closed on November 2, 2021 and City Council awarded the contract on April 5, 2022, to Appraccel, LLC who's team includes Groundwork Richmond, Richmond Safe Return Project, MIG, HR&A Advisors, Medema Consulting, and Abbe & Associates.
Previous Presentations
In the last two years, Appraccel, LLC gave an introductory presentation on the Green-Blue New Deal at various Richmond Commissions, Committees, & Trade Councils. To wrap up community engagement, the City of Richmond and Appraccel hosted community feedback workshops.
- September 14, 2022 and October 12, 2022 - Richmond Economic Development Commission
- September 15, 2022 - Richmond Workforce Development Board
- October 17, 2022 - Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- September 19, 2022 - Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council
- November 2022 - Richmond Workforce Development Board
- January 9, 2023 at 7PM - Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council
- January 2023 - East Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council
- March 2023 - Council of Industries, Richmond Chamber of Commerce
- April 12, 2023 - Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council
- May 20, 2023 - Community Feedback Workshop #1
- May 24, 2023 - Community Feedback Workshop #2
- June 14, 2023 - Richmond Economic Development Commission
- December 2, 2025 - City Council Meeting
Community Champions Meeting Series
Appraccel, LLC organized a series of Community Champions meetings from October 2022 through Spring 2023, where groups, both public and private, met to serve as an advisory body to the GBNDWD Project Team. These sessions are intended to help guide and refine the plan's goals and strategies to ensure that the plan is responsive to the community's interests and needs.
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Background
Summary of the Green-Blue New Deal and Just Transition
Green-Blue New Deal
As stated in Resolution 88-21:
- A Green New Deal- “a program of investments in equitable clean-energy jobs and infrastructure, transforming and transitioning not just the energy sector, but the entire economy.”
- A Blue Economy- “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.”
- Green-Blue New Deal- “must incorporate key sectors of the Blue Economy in order to fully address the climate crisis.”
Just Transition
The Just Transition framework, developed by the Climate Justice Alliance and Movement Generation, can be found here, describes transitioning from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.
The four steps of the cycle are:
- Resources,
- Worldview,
- Purpose, and
- Governance.
COVID-19 Effects on Unemployment
The City of Richmond’s workforce has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 caused a surge in unemployment in Richmond with a peaked of 3,412 weekly unemployment claims in late March 2020. Since then, weekly unemployment claims have significantly decreased and have stayed below 500 per week. In February 2020 the Richmond unemployment rate was at 3.3 percent and spiked to 17.10 percent in April 2020. Although there has been some recovery, the Richmond unemployment rate is higher than the Contra Costa County unemployment rate of 6.2 percent and slightly higher than the California unemployment rate of 7.5 percent.
The City Manager’s Office, Economic Development division is continuously working to promote a competitive, sustainable, and equitable economy for all. City staff members are focused on supporting our community through both the COVID-19 pandemic and in the long-term to maintain the City of Richmond’s vibrancy and diversity.
Unemployment Rate of the City of Richmond, Contra Costa County, and California
| Richmond | Contra Costa County | California |
February 2020 (%) | 3.3 | 3.1 | 4.3 |
April 2021 (%) | 17.1 | 14.5 | 16 |
June 2021 (%) | 8.7 | 6.2 | 7.5 |
Examples of Local Green New Deals in California and Other States
Bay Area Case Studies
- San Francisco, CA - 100% renewable energy by 2030. Now, more than 18.5 MW of in-City renewables already installed, with 15 MW of solar PV (more than 2,000 systems) city-wide and 3.5 MW of biogas cogeneration at the wastewater treatment plants. All public transportation runs on electricity or biodiesel.
- City of San Jose, CA - Provided a city-wide ‘Green Vision,’ a 15-year sustainability plan to steer economic growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under that plan, the City made strides as a national leader in the sustainability movement. In 2018, that plan was updated with Climate Smart, an ambitious campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save water, and improve quality of life. Details of the Climate Smart Plan focus on building public private partnerships. The program includes Better Communities for residents and Building Performance Leaders for commercial, municipal and educational facilities.
- City of Richmond, CA has a solar farm project that is an example of a public-private partnership to increase renewable energy infrastructure and create hundreds of good jobs in the process.
- Green job training program
- Climate Action Plan
- A separate climate and energy element in the General Plan
- City of Chico, CA - City of Chico Green New Deal was introduced to the City of Chico and serves as a model along with tips, information, and opportunities for going forward. Link to the City of Chico Green New Deal.
- City of Burlingame, CA - City of Burlingame joined numerous cities, and passed their own all-electric reach code for new construction and larger renovations projects.
- City of Fremont, CA - City of Fremont with three fire stations on solar microgrids. During a blackout, critical facilities with solar microgrids can island from the electricity grid and still serve the community. This project included local cleantech companies. and used a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that generates revenue and has no up-front costs.
- City of Pinole, CA - "Visit Pinole" is a campaign to support economic growth and public-private partnerships.
Southern California Case Studies
- City of Encinitas, CA - "Power 100." 100% renewable energy by 2030, resulting in more local jobs in clean energy.
- City of Lancaster, CA - Net zero electricity by 2020. Since 2008, the city has actively recruited solar and other renewable energy developments to great success. The latest is the world’s largest renewable hydrogen fuel plant which will convert municipal solid waste into hydrogen vehicle fuel. This strategy has generated hundreds of jobs. Partnerships with local higher education to develop programs ensures that the local workforce has the skills needed for future jobs in renewable energy.
- City of Los Angeles- Accelerates targets to ensure 55% of L.A.’s energy is renewable by 2025 and 100% by 2045; increase the percentage of zero-emissions vehicles in the city to 25% by 2025 and 100% by 2050; convert all city fleet vehicles to zero emissions by 2028; ensure all new buildings are emissions-free by 2030; and ensure 57% of new housing units are built within 1,500 feet of transit by 2025. pLAn_2019_final.pdf (lamayor.org)
- City of San Diego, CA - 100% renewable energy and 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. A comprehensive Climate Action Plan launched by Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer seeks to increase water and energy efficiency in buildings, expand public transport, increase the number of electric vehicles, promote walking and cycling routes, implement zero-waste strategies, & enact climate adaptation measures.
- City of Solano Beach, CA - 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Case Studies Outside of California
- City of Ithaca, NY (2019) – Ithaca’s Green New Deal sets a goal of carbon-neutrality community-wide by 2030 while addressing economic inequality and racial injustice.
- New York City, NY (2019) – New York City’s Green New Deal includes goals of carbon neutrality and 100% clean electricity by 2050 while creating thousands of new green jobs. Some strategies include requiring existing buildings to cut emissions and banning inefficient glass-walled buildings.
- City of Columbia, SC – The City of Columbia, SC has committed to clean energy, energy efficiency, and water conservation improvements including the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2036. Their resolution emphasizes economic growth, job creation, and reduced utility costs. Between 2015 and 2016, they supported the increase of solar energy–related jobs in Columbia by 46%.