Though Santa Cruz did not pass an official ordinance, the
council agreed that if people want to opt out of Smart
Meters, they should be able to do so for free, instead of
being charged a potential fee from PG&E.
Community members have asked the city to ban Smart Meters.
Vice Mayor Don Lane said state law prevents any city
ordinance from being effective.
“The city of Santa Cruz chose to not go through with an
ordinance,” Lane said, “not because we didn’t have any
sympathies, but because we knew it would just be a symbolic
act.”
Tony Madrigal, a Santa Cruz councilmember since 2004, is a
proponent of having alternatives to Smart Meters for city
residents to choose from.
“I support the community members having an option about
having Smart Meters,” Madrigal said. “I think our community
functions best when people have options, when everyone is
clearly educated on what the options are, especially in
their own native language.”
Lane said he has “mixed feelings” about Smart Meters.
“I have concerns about the radiation issue,” Lane said, “but
the concept of a statewide network can be really valuable in
terms of energy efficiency and a possible reduction of our
state’s carbon footprint. It’s really a challenging issue.
There’s a reason the Public Utilities chose to do this. It’s
not just PG&E versus the people.”
Even though 43 counties in California have voted against
Smart Meters, PG&E continues installation.
The Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors voted in favor of
Ordinance No. 5084, which prohibited the installation of
Smart Meters in unincorporated areas of the county for one
year beginning in January 2011.
“No Smart Meter may be installed in or on any home,
apartment, condominium or business of any type within the
unincorporated area of the County of Santa Cruz,” according
to the policy, “and no equipment related to Smart Meters may
be installed in, on, under, or above any public street or
public right of way within the unincorporated area of the
County of Santa Cruz.”
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