Laserfiche WebLink
City of Pleasanton Climate Action Plan, CAP Format, Approach, and Content <br /> Attachment 1 summarizes the BAAQMD requirements, as well as other policies, regulations, plans and legal <br /> agreements that will be taken into account in projecting future emissions and developing Pleasanton's CAP. <br /> Assembly Bill 1493 (Pavley) sets GHG emission standards for automobiles, reducing GHG emissions from <br /> California passenger vehicles by about 22% by 2012 and about 30% by 2016. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard <br /> (Executive Order S -1 -07) calls for a reduction of at least 10% in the carbon intensity of California's transportation <br /> fuels by 2020. California's Renewable Portfolio Standard targets 20% of the state's retail sales of electricity to <br /> come from renewable sources by 2017, increasing to 33% by 2020. SB375 (Steinburg) sets targets for regional <br /> transportation emissions and aligns regional transportation planning efforts, regional GHG reduction targets, and <br /> land use and housing allocation. <br /> In preparing this memorandum, ESA reviewed and compared nine CAPs produced by Bay Area cities (see <br /> summary in Attachment 2). These CAPs exhibit a broad range of styles and content. For example, there are wide <br /> variations in numeric targets for GHG reduction and varying levels of specificity for GHG baseline inventories <br /> and projections. Six include consideration of adaptation to climate change, while only a few provide robust cost - <br /> benefit analysis and clear quantification of GHG reduction strategies. <br /> Most of these CAPs were produced prior to BAAQMD's adoption of its new CEQA Guidelines, and therefore, it <br /> is unlikely that many would be considered "qualified." CAPs for the City of San Ramon and the City of San <br /> Carlos, both recently completed, appear to have the closest alignment with BAAQMD guidelines, as each <br /> provides the following: <br /> • GHG Inventory for current year and forecast for 2020; <br /> • An adopted GHG reduction Goal for 2020; <br /> • Feasible reduction measures to reduce GHG emissions for 2020 to the identified target; <br /> • Inclusion of relevant measures from the AB 32 Scoping Plan; <br /> • Quantification of the reduction effectiveness of each measure; <br /> • Implementation steps and financing mechanisms, identification or responsible parties; <br /> • Monitoring and updating the inventory and reduction plan at least every 5 years; <br /> • Schedule of Implementation; <br /> • Certified CEQA document. <br /> ESA intends to develop the City of Pleasanton CAP in accordance with these BAAQMD guidelines, which <br /> dovetail nicely with the requirements of the Final Settlement Agreement and the City's other goals and purposes <br /> in preparing a CAP. BAAQMD has been closely coordinating with the Attorney General's office as they develop <br /> regional climate policy, including its recently published GHG Plan Level Quantification Guidance (April 15, <br /> 2010). For these reasons, the BAAQMD qualified CAP requirements will be used as the primary guidance for <br /> CAP content. ESA will be working with BAAQMD to ensure that its "qualified CAP" guidelines are well - <br /> understood and properly implemented, particularly with respect to emissions projections, target setting, and <br /> emissions quantification methodologies. <br /> The City of Pleasanton CAP must also be consistent with the city's General Plan, building on the relevant work <br /> that has already been completed, and informing the General Plan Amendment with new analysis and alternatives <br /> that will enable successful completion of the EIR for both the CAP and the General Plan Update. San Carlos and <br /> San Ramon score well in integrating their CAPs with their General Plans, and both cities included the CAP in <br /> their General Plan EIR. They serve as potentially useful examples for both CAP development and CEQA <br /> documentation in Pleasanton. As for the other CAPs reviewed, Albany discusses the updates that will be needed <br /> in the General Plan to account for the CAP measures. Berkeley's CAP is built upon several policies and plans, <br /> including the General Plan, and states that proposed zoning adjustments or changes to the General Plan will not <br /> have any force or effect until approved by a separate action by the City Council. Hayward's CAP includes an <br /> 2 <br />