Staff Present the Latest in the CAP Update to the Planning Commission
10/13/23
On September 22, 2023 (H-2), Planning & Development Services presented an informational update on the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update to the Planning Commission in advance of the Draft CAP and its Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) public review later this fall/winter. Once available, the Draft CAP, Draft SEIR, and other supplementary materials will be hosted on our interactive CAP Update engagement portal. In case you missed the Planning Commission Hearing, a recording of the presentation and discussion is available on the Planning Commission website, and a brief summary of Staff’s report and presentation is below.
What is the CAP?
The CAP is a multi-objective plan that sets policy and programmatic commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with activities occurring within the unincorporated area (community) and from County operations. The CAP is a mitigation measure for GHG emissions associated with existing and future development anticipated to occur in the unincorporated area as a result of activities associated with the 2011 General Plan.
What is included in the Draft CAP?
The Draft CAP includes a 2019 GHG emissions inventory that identified and quantified GHG emissions from activities within the community and from County operations across nine categories: On-Road Transportation, Off-Road Transportation, Electricity, Natural Gas, Propane, Solid Waste, Agriculture, Water, and Wastewater.
The 2019 GHG emissions were 2,983,713 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e), relative to 3,404,481 MTCO2e from the 2014 inventory.
The Draft CAP also includes GHG emissions projections that estimate changes in emissions over time from anticipated population, housing, and employment growth, as well as the future impact of federal and State regulations, policies, and programs that would reduce GHG emissions from future activities.
The Draft CAP sets GHG reduction targets that are informed by Board
of Supervisors (Board) direction and align with State legislation and
plans. The Draft CAP establishes two GHG reduction targets and an
aspirational goal for the community and County operations.
- Target: 43.6% below 2019 levels by 2030
- Target: 85.4% below 2019 levels by 2045
- Aspirational Goal: Net zero emissions by 2045
Staff developed 70 actions in the built environment and transportation, energy, solid waste, agriculture and conservation, and water and wastewater sectors that the County will take to achieve the 2030 and 2045 targets and make progress towards the net zero goal. Quantified CAP actions avoid, reduce, and remove GHG emissions through County policies, programs, and incentives. CAP actions that are not quantified, or “path to net zero” actions, supplement quantified actions by providing informational and marketing materials, building community partnerships, and beyond.
The County prepared a Draft SEIR to evaluate the impacts of CAP measures and actions on the environment as required by the California Environmental Quality Act, which supplements the previous environmental analysis included in the 2011 General Plan Program Environmental Impact Report.
Staff are preparing a CAP Consistency Review Checklist which will provide GHG emissions coverage for discretionary housing and other development projects that are consistent with the General Plan.
What are the next steps?
The Draft CAP and Draft SEIR will be released for public review this fall/winter. The documents will be brought to the Board of Supervisors for an informational hearing during the 60-day public review period. During a future Planning Commission (Commission) hearing at which the CAP Update will be considered, the Commission will be asked to make a recommendation on the CAP Update and its Supplemental EIR.
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