Policy Resolution ETE-18-21

WHEREAS, investments in local infrastructure are making America’s cities technologically innovative for the purpose of creating a better quality of life for citizens, providing for the health, safety, and welfare of all our communities; and particularly, fixed income, low-income, under-served and minority communities”;

WHEREAS, “smart cities” have the potential to bridge economic and social barriers through technology and innovation and provide much needed benefits to all citizens including better health, cleaner air, and increased employment opportunities;

WHEREAS, the creation of smart cities consists of partnerships between government and the private sector including electric companies as they play an integral role in deploying innovative technologies that benefit its customers;

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes that a modernized electric grid is part of a holistic approach to creating and maintaining smart city infrastructure and ensuring all customers have access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy options;

WHEREAS, the NBCSL recognizes the regulatory challenges faced by stakeholders as they address the crucial question of who will bear the costs of creating and maintaining smart cities and, in particular, the costs to fixed-income and other vulnerable classes of customers; and

WHEREAS, public policymakers must ensure smart cities benefit all customers as they manage city ambitions, utility investments, and regulatory policy.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus State Legislators (NBCSL) will work with policymakers on the local, state, and federal level to develop policies that facilitate and accelerate the development of smart cities and ensure all communities benefit from its technologies;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL affirm their support for the creation and maintenance of smart cities, with an intentional focus of providing for the most under-served and vulnerable communities;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL recognizes the crucial role played by energy companies in investing and maintaining a modernized grid that ensures reliability, safety and affordability for all customers and that a modernized grid uses innovative technology that enhances smart city connectivity while generating economic opportunities; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR(s): Representative Billy Mitchell (GA), Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), Senator Anastasia Pittman (OK), and Delegate Angela Angel (MD)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Energy, Transportation, and Environment Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Chair(s): Representative Billy Mitchell (GA) and Representative Cherrish Pryor (IN)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 2, 2017
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gregory W. Porter (IN), President