Draft 2026
Climate Action Plan
and Cost Analysis
Special City Council Meeting
September 23, 2026
CI T Y C OU NCI L A GEN DA I T EM
2 SUBJECT: Presentation of the draft updated Climate Action Plan and Cost Analysis
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
1. Receive and review the proposed 2026 Climate Action Plan and associated Cost Analysis; and
2. Provide input and direction to staff.
I NT RO DU CT IO NS
City of Encinitas
Crystal Najera, Sustainability Manager
Scott Drapkin, Development Services Director
Energy Policy Initiatives Center
Scott Anders, Executive Director
Yichao Gu, Senior Policy Analyst
Xiaodan Chen, Technical Policy Analyst
3 BA CKG RO UN D
A Climate Action Plan is a
comprehensive blueprint for
addressing climate change
through goals and measures
that aim to:
1. Reduce greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG)
2. Manage and adapt to future
climate vulnerabilities
4 Scripps
BA CKG RO UN D
5 Why update the CAP?
• 2020 CAP committed to 5-year updates
• New State law and guidelines on GHG reduction and climate adaptation • New market and technology trends support new GHG reduction measures • City Council FY25-26 Work Plan Item 5.3: “Update the CAP and Complete Benefit Cost Analysis”
PU BL I C ENG A GE MENT
6 Type Details Participation
Public
Workshops
3 evening meetings 50 people
Stakeholder
Interviews
24 invitations to local
community groups
8 organizations interviewed
Online Survey Open Aug 5, 2024 to
Nov 5, 2024
19 responses
Commission
Meetings
11 presentations Planning, Environmental (4),
Public Health and Safety,
Parks and Recreation, Mobility
and Traffic Safety, Youth,
Urban Forest Advisory
Committee.
City Council
Workshop
May 27, 2026 14 public speakers
Public
Comments
Received via email,
survey, public
meeting, etc.
206 total
65%
support
27%
concern or
opposition
8%
Community Sentiment Distribution
Dr aft 2 026 CAP
On May 27, 2026, City Council reviewed
the draft updated 2026 CAP, including:
• Updated GHG emissions inventory
• Proposed emission reduction targets for
2030 and 2045
• New and revised GHG emission reduction
measures (32)
• Assessment of climate vulnerability and
adaption strategies
• Results of the CAP Update Cost Analysis
7 Council Direction: Requested that a second CAP Workshop be scheduled to continue discussion with a focus on providing feedback on the proposed GHG reduction measures.
Dr aft 2 026 CAP
8 Overview of Draft 2026 CAP:
Executive Summary
Chapters:
1. Introduction
2. GHG Emission Inventory, Forecast, and
Targets
3. GHG Reduction Strategies, Goals, and
Measures
4. Climate Adaptation
5. Implementation and Monitoring
6. References
Appendices
Dr aft 2 026 CAP
Key CAP Components and Commitments:
GHG reduction targets:
• 40 percent below 2016 GHG emissions by 2030
• 85 percent below 2016 GHG emissions by 2045
7 GHG reduction strategies
32 GHG reduction measures
Supporting Actions
Vulnerability Assessment and Adaption Strategies
9 EXC L UD ED ME ASU RES
10 Potential Measure Reason for Exclusion
Added as a
Supporting
Action?
Reduce Embodied Carbon in Building
Construction Material
Not Quantifiable. Embodied carbon not included in GHG emissions inventory Yes Require Residential Additions/Alterations to
Install Graywater systems
Infeasible. Retrofitting existing plumping is onerous and cost prohibitive No Implement Blue Carbon Projects to Sequester
Carbon
City lacks authority. Occurs in lagoons and ocean in which the City does not have jurisdiction Yes
Incentivize or Require the Construction of
Hydrogen Fuel Facilities
Infeasible. Hydrogen fueled vehicles are technically viable but currently lack economic and logistical viability for the mass market.
No
Purchase of Agriculture Conservation
Easement to Preserve Agricultural Land
Infeasible. Not enough potential agriculture land remaining to realize significant GHG reductions within the City.
No
Acquire Open Space for Preservation Infeasible. Not enough potential new open space area to realize significant GHG reductions within the City.
Yes
Administer School Busing Program City lack authority. School busing is the responsibility of the local school districts. Yes Require All New Development to be All-Electric City lacks authority. Preempted by federal law (Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA).
No
Establish a Parking Benefits District Infeasible. A parking benefits district, or an area with metered street parking, should be considered outside of the CAP.
No
C OS T A NA LYSI S
11 Benefit–Cost Analysis Implementation Cost Analysis
What is the cost effectiveness of
implementing each GHG reduction
measure?
Range: Net benefit of $500 to a net
cost of $22,000 per MTCO2e reduced
Average: Net cost $245 per MTCO2e
reduced
What would it cost the City to
implement the draft 2026 CAP?
$600,000 annually from General Fund
over 20 years.
Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e): the standard unit used to measure and compare the warming impact of different greenhouse gases based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that would have the same global warming potential.
C OS T E FF EC T I VEN ESS & EMI SSI O NS LO G G RA PH
12 Key Insights:
1. Measures clustered near
net-zero
2. Right-most measures have
greatest reductions
3. Least cost-effective: WE-2
and MWE-1
4. Most cost-effective: MRE-1,
RE-2, BD-1, WE-1, ZE-2
5. Low cost, high GHG
reduction: BD-5, RE-1, ZW-1
(80% of total reductions)
6. Consider the co-benefits and
cumulative cost
Cost
Effectiveness
LESS Total Emissions Reduced MORE
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
G HG EMI SSI O NS F OR ECAST WI T H CA P I MPLEMENTAT IO N 13 State and Federal
CA P Mea su re Ta bl es (re vi ew ed Ma y 27 , 2 026 )
14 Measure Description 2030 Performance
Metric
2045 Performance
Metric
Revisions
Cost
Effectiveness
RE-1: Maintain Membership in San
Diego Community Power
Continue to offer Power100 as the primary electricity rate for Encinitas customers and maintain participation rate through incentives, outreach and education.
18,267 MTCO2e 0 MTCO2e Existing ($59)
RE-2: Require Existing
Nonresidential Buildings to Install
Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Readopt existing nonresidential solar photovoltaic (PV) system building code requirement (“reach code”) via ordinance for each 3-year State Building Code cycle.
239 MTCO2e 665 MTCO2e Existing $469
MRE-1: Install Microgrids with Onsite Renewable Generation and Battery Storage at Existing
Municipal Facilities
Complete a feasibility study and install on-site renewable microgrids at suitable municipal facilities.
0 MTCO2e 341 MTCO2e Revised $477
MRE-2: Require New Municipal
Facilities to Install Microgrids with
On-Site Solar and Battery Storage
Adopt a policy requiring the design and construction of new municipal facilities to include microgrids.
Not quantified Not quantified New N/A
CA P MEASU RE EVAL UAT IO N T OO L
15 CI T Y C OU NCI L A GEN DA I T EM
16 SUBJECT: Presentation of the draft updated Climate Action Plan and Cost Analysis
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
1. Receive and review the proposed 2026 Climate Action Plan and associated Cost Analysis; and
2. Provide input and direction to staff.