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City of Pleasanton 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations 24 FirstCarbon Solutions Https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480022/FOF/21480022 Pleasanton Housing Element FOF.docx natural gas, and 5,831,526 gallons of transportation fuel annually (Draft Program EIR, Page 3.5-23, Table 3.5-1). Development consistent with the Housing Element Update would be considered to result in wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources if it would conflict with the following energy conservation goals: • Decreasing overall per capita energy consumption; • Decreasing reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, or oil; and • Increasing reliance on renewable energy sources. Decreasing Overall Per Capita Energy Consumption: The Housing Element Update would result in population growth which outpaces the forecasted VMT growth. As such, the Housing Element Update would result in an overall decrease in per capita transportation energy consumption with respect to transportation energy resources. As such, energy consumption related to per capita transportation would decrease from that experienced by the region’s current per capita transportation energy consumption patterns. The County currently has estimated per capita energy consumption of 6,162 kWh of electricity and 13 MMBtu of natural gas per year. Development consistent with the Housing Element Update is anticipated to utilize 35,079,950 kWh per year and up to 95,220 MMBtu per year. This number does not include any mitigation or consideration of future implementation of CAP 2.0 measures. As the Housing Element Update could result in a maximum of 18,029 residents, the per capita energy consumption is estimated at 1,946 kWh per year and 5.28 MMBtu per year, both of which would be below the County’s average electricity and natural gas consumption rates. Future development is likely to consume less electricity than what is disclosed in this analysis because the energy consumption estimates rely on CalEEMod Version 2020.4.0, which assumes minimum energy efficiency design compliant with the 2019 California Building Code. Because development is anticipated to be permitted after January 1, 2023, individual development projects would be subject to additional energy efficiency standards beyond what is currently required. Therefore, the Housing Element Update is consistent with this criterion. Decreasing Reliance on Fossil Fuels: As discussed above, the Housing Element Update would result in a relative decrease from the County per capita consumption rates for natural gas and electricity. A decrease in per capita natural gas and transportation fuels translate directly to a decrease in reliance on fossil fuel energy resources. Strategies contained in the CAP 2.0 would further reduce energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuel energy resources. Strategy BE-1 would result in the default electricity service choice being a zero-emission service option for both community and municipal operations. Strategy BE-1 would also result in the implementation of an all-electric reach code for new construction, which would preclude the future installation and consumption of natural gas plumbing for building energy needs and space and water heating needs. Strategy BE-2 would further promote energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits in buildings into the future, and Strategy BE-3 would expand the use of renewable energy generation and storage. Other strategies of the CAP 2.0, such as Strategy TLU-1, would also serve to reduce fossil fuel reliance for transportation through the improved use of EVs and installation of EV charging infrastructure. Therefore, the Housing Element Update is consistent with this criterion.