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City of Pleasanton CEQA GHG Emissions Thresholds and Guidance 5 Utilizing Quantitative CEQA GHG Thresholds As discussed in Chapter 4, Determining Consistency with, if a plan/project is not consistent with the existing(2005-2025) General Plan land use of the plan area/project site or has a post-2030 buildout year or is not consistent with all applicable GHG reduction strategies of the CAP 2.0 as listed in the CEQA GHG Emissions Analysis Compliance Checklist,then that plan/project cannot utilize the CEQA GHG Emissions Analysis Compliance Checklist to streamline its project/plan-level GHG emissions analysis in a qualitative manner. Instead,the significance of that plan/project's GHG emissions can be evaluated using quantitative GHG thresholds derived from the assumptions of the CAP 2.0. If that plan's/project's GHG emissions are at or below the applicable quantitative threshold,the plan/project, if it has a pre-2030 buildout year,can determine that the project/plan would result in a less-than-significant GHG emissions impact or, if a CAP-specific project,can tier from the existing programmatic environmental review contained in the adopted programmatic IS-ND for the CAP 2.0. In doing so,such plans/projects would result in less-than-significant GHG emissions and would not result in a cumulatively considerable impact related to GHG emissions and climate change. In addition, plans/projects with post-2030 buildout year and GHG emissions at or below the quantitative thresholds for 2040,which equate to net zero MT of CO2e per year,would be considered less-than-significant and would not result in a cumulatively considerable GHG emissions impact. Note that the CEQA GHG thresholds need to be updated for consistency when new General Plan land use designations and CAP updates are adopted. The following sections provide an explanation of the methodology used to calculate the quantitative GHG emissions thresholds, guidance on how to utilize the thresholds, and justification for use of the thresholds. 5.1 Thresholds Calculation Methodology CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.4 does not establish a specific quantitative threshold of significance for evaluating GHG emissions associated with a proposed plan or project. Lead agencies have the discretion to establish significance thresholds for their respective jurisdictions, and in establishing those thresholds, a lead agency may appropriately look to thresholds developed by other public agencies, or suggested by other experts, as long as the threshold chosen is supported by substantial evidence (CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.7[c]).The following methodology is consistent with guidance provided by the AEP Climate Change Committee in 2016 for establishing GHG emissions efficiency thresholds using the local jurisdictional GHG inventory and demographic forecasts.24 An efficiency threshold is a threshold expressed as a per-person metric(e.g., per resident, per employee, or per service person). Efficiency thresholds are calculated by dividing the allowable GHG emissions inventory in a selected calendar year by the resident,employee,or service population in that year.The efficiency threshold identifies the quantity of GHG emissions that can be generated on a per-person basis without significantly impacting the environment. Locally appropriate, plan-and project-specific GHG emissions efficiency thresholds were derived from the GHG emissions forecasts calculated for the CAP 2.0.These thresholds were created to comply with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines and interpretive GHG emissions analysis case law, which are summarized in Chapter 3,Regulatory and Legal Setting. The City of Pleasanton GHG 24 AEP.2016.Final White Paper Beyond 2020 and Newhall:A Field Guide to New CEQA Greenhouse Gas Thresholds and Climate Action Plan Targets for California.https:Hcalifaep.org/docs/AEP-2016_Final_White_Paper.pdf. 24