Pasadena residents called on city officials Monday to take urgent action on climate change by implementing a detailed emissions plan and fast-tracking solar installations before key federal incentives expire.
During the Municipal Services Committee meeting, speakers urged the city to move beyond symbolic declarations and adopt concrete policies, citing recent extreme weather events as evidence of a worsening climate crisis.
“We are talking about climate disaster,” said Cynthia Cannady, a Pasadena resident who referenced the drowning deaths of children in Texas, homes destroyed in the Eaton Canyon and Palisades fires, and dozens killed or injured during a series of May tornadoes in the Midwest.
“Can we please have a real plan after all of this time — with specifics, a budget, a timeline and accountability?”
Cannady praised the City Council for previously passing a climate emergency resolution but criticized the lack of perceived follow-through. She pointed to the availability of residential tax credits as an immediate opportunity to help homeowners transition to clean energy and urged the city to capitalize on such federal programs before they lapse.
Carlos Javelera, a local solar installer, echoed her urgency. He warned that the federal 30% residential investment tax credit — a major driver of home solar adoption — is set to expire at the end of the year.
“The clock is ticking,” Javelera told the committee. “PWP [Pasadena Water and Power] must act now to educate customers, streamline permitting, and ensure systems are connected before the deadline.”
Javelera recommended a city-led outreach campaign to inform residents of the expiring incentive, along with increased staffing to speed up permitting and inspection processes. He also encouraged Pasadena to highlight the continued advantages of its existing net energy metering policies, especially in contrast to more restrictive rules adopted in investor-owned utility areas.
City officials acknowledged the urgency but noted that the solar incentive issue was not formally on the agenda and could not be acted on during Monday’s meeting.
Councilmember Jason Lyon, however, expressed interest in adding the item to a future agenda and working with Pasadena Water and Power General Manager David Reyes to explore possible actions.
“We can’t afford to miss this window,” Javelera said. “Be the catalyst, be the guide, be the partner.”
The comments came as the city weighs how to implement its climate goals, including a transition to a zero-emission vehicle fleet and broader sustainability measures outlined in Pasadena’s environmental roadmap.
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