Fortuna City Council
October 7, 2024

621 11th Street, Fortuna CA
Zoom Option: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 879 6761 2289 Password:
273915
We May Disagree, But We Will Be Respectful of One Another All Comments Will Be Directed to the Issue at Hand, and Addressed to the City Council Personal Attacks are Unacceptable
The City Council May Take Action on any Item on this Agenda.

1. CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE / ROLL CALL
Council
Council Member Kyle Conley
Council Member Mike Losey
Council Member Kris Mobley
Mayor Pro Tem Mike Johnson
Mayor Tami Trent
Staff
Interim City Manager Amy Nilsen
City Clerk Siana L. Emmons

2. PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS
a. Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation
b. Introduction of New Accounting Technician - Ciarra Tavares c. Introduction of New Lead Vehicle and Equipment Mechanic - Devin Gibney d. Special Presentation from the Chief of Police: Employee Commendations Regular Meeting Agenda
Monday, October 7, 2024 at 6:00 pm
e. Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan, Environmental Impact Report, and Regional Implementation Status
f. SNAP Presentation

3. ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Members of the Public may be heard at this time on any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City that is not on the Public Meeting Agenda. It is the practice of this Council to hold public comment for every item of business on the agenda at the time that item is heard. If a speaker cannot stay for a particular item of business, they may be heard during this time. Comments concerning the Consent Calendar may also be heard at this time. Speakers addressing the Council will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Be advised that, by law, the City Council can only deliberate or take action on items that are included on the agenda.

4. CONSENT CALENDAR
These matters are routine in nature and are usually approved by a single vote. Any member of the Council may pull a particular item for further discussion. a. City Council Minutes – September 16, 2024 (Regular Meeting) b. City Council Minutes – September 16, 2024 (Special Meeting) c. City Council Minutes – September 19, 2024 (Special Meeting) d. City Council Minutes – September 27, 2024 (Special Meeting) e. Report of Disbursements
f. Authorization of Destruction of Selected Finance Department Files, Resolution 2024-32 g. Approve Proposed Change to Public Works Department Organizational Chart

5. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
a. Authorize the Interim City Manager to award a Construction Contract for the Main Street Gateway Project (CIP 9128) and Approve a SBR
b. Consider Approval of Supplemental Budget Request for Rollover of Fiscal Year (FY) 23-24 Capital Outlay Funds to FY 24-25
c. Authorize the Interim City Manager to Negotiate a Contract for the 2024 Stormdrain Lining Project, Resolution 2024-33
d. Amend General Plan Land Use Diagram and Rezone 0.81 Acres of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 202-092-006, 202-092-003, and 1.1 Acres of 202-103-010; Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 2024-771

6. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
At this time, members of the Council may consider or request items to be placed on a future agenda through a consensus of the majority.

8. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
a. Council Member Kyle Conley
Redwood Region Economic Development Corporation (RREDC), Parks & Recreation Commission Alternate
b. Council Member Mike Losey
Redwood Region Economic Development Corporation (RREDC) Alternate, Redwood Coast Energy Authority Alternate, Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), Humboldt Transit Authority Alternate, Parks & Recreation Commission
c. Council Member Kris Mobley
Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) Alternate, Fortuna Business Improvement District (FBID), Historical Commission Alternate, Redwood Coast Energy Authority
d. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Johnson
Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG), Historical Commission, League of California Cities Transportation, Communication, & Public Works Commission, Indian Gaming Commission Alternate
e. Mayor Tami Trent
Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA), Indian Gaming Commission, League of California Cities Public Safety Commission, Fortuna Business Improvement District (FBID) Alternate

9. ADJOURN
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.5, any non-confidential documents or writings that the City distributes, less than 72 hours before a regular meeting, to all or a majority of the legislative body's members must be made available to members of the public at the same time as the distribution. Documents and information related to the agenda topics are available for review at City Hall, 621 11th Street, between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Members of the public are invited to come to the meeting and comment. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (707) 725- 7600. Notification prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

Contact: Siana L. Emmons, City Clerk ([email protected] 707-725-1409) | Agenda published on 10/03/2024 at 10:06 AM
In Recognition and Support of
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October, 2024
WHEREAS, October is annually recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, progress continues to be made toward violence prevention, domestic and intimate partner violence remains a serious issue affecting all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, socioeconomic status, literacy, sexuality, ability, religion, culture, and immigration status; and WHEREAS, domestic and intimate partner violence survivors are deprived of dignity, security, and autonomy with the systematic use of control and power through physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse; and
WHEREAS, children exposed to domestic violence can experience long-term consequences including difficulty at school, substance abuse, behavioral problems in adolescence, and serious adult health problems;
WHEREAS, Humboldt Domestic Violence Services (HDVS) has been serving Humboldt County since 1977 to continuously support all those living with or escaping abuse; WHEREAS, all survivors deserve access to culturally responsive prevention programs and services to increase their safety and self-sufficiency. HDVS enlists a diverse array of allies, agencies, and community members in supporting survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence; WHEREAS, only together can we change the health and safety of our community by challenging the societal norms that perpetuate violence;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Fortuna recognizes the month of October 2024 to be DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. The Council celebrates HDVS’s 47 years of effort to improve community safety by breaking the cycle of domestic and intimate partner violence.

SIGNED this 7th day of October 2024 at the City of Fortuna, in the State of California, and in witness thereof, the seal of Fortuna.
____________________________
Tami Trent, Mayor
City of Fortuna
Presentation Item 2e

STAFF REPORT
City Council Presentation Item
DATE: October 7, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Shari Meads, Community Development Director
THROUGH: Amy Nilsen, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan, Environmental Impact Report, and Regional Implementation Status
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the City Council receive an update and provide comments on the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan.

BACKGROUND:

The County of Humboldt (County), in coordination with the seven incorporated cities, Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA), and Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG), is developing a Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) to reduce countywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pursuant to State-adopted targets.

On August 14, 2024, the County released an updated RCAP public review draft (the 2024 Draft RCAP) which can be found on the County’s website: https://humboldtgov.org/2464/HumboldtRegional-Climate-Action-Plan. Input on the draft RCAP can be provided to County planning staff at [email protected].

In 2019, all Humboldt jurisdictions adopted a Memorandum of Understanding committing to RCAP participation. In April 2022, the County released a first public review draft of the RCAP (the 2022 Draft RCAP). Shortly thereafter, the County secured funding from HCAOG through a sub-allocation of HCAOG’s Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant to engage a consultant to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a necessary step in RCAP adoption. In the summer of 2022, the County contracted with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to begin work on the EIR.

Rincon identified concerns with the document and proposed revisions necessary to gain State “qualified” status (a State qualified CAP allows for CEQA streamlining of future development projects). At their October 17, 2023 meeting, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors authorized the reallocation of the REAP grant funds to pay Rincon to redraft the RCAP rather than prepare an EIR. As a result, Rincon has prepared the 2024 Draft RCAP which is now available for public review.

The 2024 Draft RCAP retains the goal to reduce countywide GHG emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 (as required by Senate Bill 32); however, the GHG emissions baseline inventory and forecast have been updated. The updated countywide GHG emissions provides data representing the year 2022 whereas the previous inventory which was used for the 2022 Draft Presentation Item 2e

RCAP was from 2015. The updated GHG emissions inventory excludes emissions from industrial point sources (due to a lack of local influence/control) and agriculture (due to limited local control and a lack of adopted State guidance on quantification methodology). Humboldt’s total 2022 GHG emissions are estimated to be 1,531,167 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MT CO2e), with onroad transportation contributing 73% of these emissions. Figure 1 below shows percentage of GHG emissions by sector.

Figure 1. Humboldt County GHG Emissions 2022 Inventory
The 2022 inventory along with other data sources were used to backcast 1990 emission levels and forecast future (2030) emissions. To meet the RCAP goal (and Senate Bill 32 requirement) to reduce GHG emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 will require the reduction of annual countywide emissions by approximately 218,000 MT CO2e. This level of regional reduction can only be achieved through the implementation of specific policies and programs at the local level.

An interactive community survey was released in May 2024 to gain an understanding of what strategies the community would like to see prioritized to meet emission reduction targets. 160 survey responses were received, with respondents’ top priorities including reducing organic waste sent to landfills and increasing zero-emission vehicle and public transit use.

Ultimately, eleven overarching strategies were chosen for the 2024 Draft RCAP, including a “cornerstone” strategy and strategies related to building energy, transportation, solid waste, water supply, wastewater treatment, and carbon sequestration:

Presentation Item 2e

Table 1. GHG Reduction Strategies Grouped by Sector
Sector Strategy
Cornerstone 1. Develop a regional climate coalition
Building Energy 2. Increase carbon-free electricity

3. Decarbonize existing construction

4. Decarbonize new construction
Transportation 5. Shift driving to walking and biking

6. Shift driving to public transit or car-share

7. Shift land use to reduce vehicle miles traveled

8. Increase zero-emission vehicle adoption
Waste 9. Reduce organic waste
Water & Wastewater 10. Conserve water and reduce wastewater emissions Carbon Sequestration 11. Increase carbon sequestration
The 2024 Draft RCAP includes 26 measures to implement the 11 strategies, 14 of which include quantified GHG emission reduction estimates, while the rest are unquantified “supportive” measures. Table 2 depicts the 14 quantified measures which relate to building energy, transportation, and solid waste:

Table 2. Quantified GHG Reduction Measures
Building Energy
Strategy Measure GHG Reduction
Increase carbonfree electricityBy 2030, source 90% of grid-supplied electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources.
15,403 MT CO2e
Decarbonize
existing
construction
Reduce existing residential building natural gas
consumption by 4% by 2030.
2,603 MT CO2e
Reduce existing nonresidential building natural gas
consumption by 5% by 2030.
3,821 MT CO2e
Decarbonize new
construction
Decarbonize 95% of new residential building
construction by 2027.
2,252 MT CO2e
Decarbonize 95% of new nonresidential building
construction by 2027.
1,374 MT CO2e
Transportation
Strategy Measure GHG Reduction
Shift driving to
walking and
biking
Increase the mode share of active transportation in
urbanized areas from 9% to 12% by 2030. 1,147 MT CO2e
Increase the mode share of active transportation in
rural areas from 5% to 6% by 2030. 1,080 MT CO2e
Shift driving to
public transit or
car-share
Increase public transit mode share from 2% to 20%
in urbanized areas.
18,055 MT CO2e
Increase public transit mode share from 1% to 10%
in rural areas.
20,180 MT CO2e
Increase zeroemission vehicle
adoption
Decarbonize 15% of passenger vehicle miles
traveled by 2030 through increased adoption of
low and zero-emission vehicles and development
of a regional electric vehicle charging and
hydrogen fueling network.
55,726 MT CO2e
Presentation Item 2e

Increase commercial zero-emission vehicle use
and adoption to 10% by 2030 through a regional
charging network and development of hydrogen
hubs.
17,441 MT CO2e
By 2030, electrify or otherwise decarbonize 12%
of applicable small off-road engines (SOREs) offroad equipment and replace fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel in 55% of
applicable large diesel in alignment with EO N-79-

20. 49,143 MT CO2e
Solid Waste
Strategy Measure GHG Reduction
Reduce organic
waste
Establish a local waste separation facility and
organics management to be able to reduce waste
sent to landfills by 75% by 2030.
29,689 MT CO2e
Achieve SB 1383 procurement requirements (0.08
tons recovered organic waste per person) by 2030. 1,532 MT CO2e Of the 12 unquantified “supportive” measures, two call on municipal governments to lead by example by:
 Electrifying or otherwise decarbonizing 50% of municipal fleets by 2030 in alignment with the State’s Advanced Clean Fleet Rule; and
 Decarbonizing 30% of municipal buildings and facilities by 2030.

Appendix C of the 2024 Draft RCAP includes details on the substantial evidence (case studies, scientific articles, calculations, etc.) used to quantify the GHG emissions reductions attributable to each measure. For each of the 26 GHG emissions reduction measures, the 2024 Draft RCAP also lists a number of implementing actions and includes an Implementation Work Plan which identifies the responsible parties and timeframe for each action.

One key difference between the 2022 and 2024 Draft RCAPs’ reduction measures is that the 2024 Draft RCAP includes different transportation and building energy measures for urban and rural areas of the County, such as requiring a higher percentage of car trips to be replaced by biking/walking in urban areas. The City of Fortuna, based on population size, is classified as an urban area. Another key difference is that unlike the 2022 Draft RCAP, the 2024 Draft RCAP does not break down reduction targets by jurisdiction in recognition that the County and each of the seven Cities must work together to meet regional GHG emission targets.

The 2024 Draft RCAP calls for a Regional Climate Committee to facilitate its implementation, including representatives from municipalities across Humboldt County as well as representatives from regional agencies such as HCAOG, Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA), Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA), and Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA). City staff is advocating for thoughtful consideration of how RCAP implementation can be weaved into existing regional governance, partnerships, and coordination efforts to avoid redundancy given limited resources and capacity.

For example, Councilmember Johnson is currently Chair of the HCAOG Board of Directors and the City Engineer is Chair of the HCAOG Technical Advisory Committee. Mayor Trent serves on the Humboldt Transit Authority Board, and Councilmember Mobley represents the City on the Redwood Coast Energy Authority Board. The Interim City Manager and Deputy City Engineer, in Presentation Item 2e

collaboration with other Humboldt County jurisdictions and the Humboldt Waste Management Authority, are developing a regional approach to implement Senate Bill 1383 (which, in part, established requirements organics waste recycling and other waste reduction and diversion requirements).

Significant staff time will be required to carry out the RCAP’s implementing actions, track progress on the reduction measures, regularly update the GHG emissions inventory, administer the Regional Climate Committee and seek grant funding to build capacity, etc. The RCAP calls for the creation of at least one dedicated staff position to lead the regional coordination efforts, referred to in the RCAP as a “Climate Program Manager.” The City of Fortuna (alongside all other participating jurisdictions) will likely be asked to contribute funding to this regional staff position in addition to allocating City staff time to support RCAP implementation. Allocating City staff time may include adding an additional position for the City of Fortuna to address all of the state-mandated compliance activities that will be required through Senate Bills 32 and SB 1383.

A RCAP EIR Notice of Preparation (NOP) was filed on Friday, August 30, 2024. A subsequent public scoping meeting was held on Tuesday, September 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the Agricultural Center in Eureka. Comments on the NOP will be accepted until September 30, 2024. The Draft EIR is anticipated to be published in early February 2025, with a public comment period running through late March. The County Board of Supervisors would then potentially adopt the Final EIR and RCAP in late June 2025, with the City of Fortuna and all other participating jurisdictions to consider RCAP adoption thereafter.

RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:

Receive update and provide comments on the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan.

ATTACHMENTS:
 2024 Draft RCAP Executive Summary
 2024 Draft RCAP which is also available at
https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/131636/Humboldt-RCAP_PublicDraft_w-Appendices?bidId=)  RCAP Frequently Asked Questions
Attachment 1
Humboldt RCAP Executive Summary
Recognizing the strength in collaboration, the County of Humboldt, City of Arcata, City of Blue Lake, City of Eureka, City of Ferndale, City of Fortuna, City of Rio Dell, and City of Trinidad, collectively referred to as Humboldt hereafter, have crafted a Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) to provide a framework to reduce regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in alignment with the State’s goal to reduce emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 (Senate Bill 32) and to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 (Assembly Bill 1279) . Through the development of a climate committee and the regional implementation of the measures and actions included in this RCAP, Humboldt will be able to maximize regional efficiencies, overcome challenges facing rural areas, attract funding, build a green economy, mitigate emissions, and increase resilience.

Humboldt GHG Emission Inventory
The 2022 Humboldt GHG emissions inventory encompasses regional communitywide activities from both incorporated and unincorporated jurisdictions within the boundary of Humboldt County. Pursuant to the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) methodologies, specifically, the United States Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Version 1.2 (Community Protocol), the GHG inventory encompasses sectors associated with Humboldt’s community activities and over which the local government has jurisdictional control or influence (Building energy, transportation, solid waste, water and wastewater) Note that water services to Humboldt occur fully within Humboldt county boundary and are therefore already encompassed within the energy sector. In 2022 Humboldt emitted 1,531,167 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MT CO2e). Figure ES- 1 shows the share of total emissions for the community broken out by community-wide activity.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
2 Figure ES- 1 Humboldt GHG Emissions for 2022
Humboldt Projected GHG Emission Forecast
Based on current community activity rates from the 2022 inventory and projected population and employment change in the region, future Humboldt GHG emissions were projected through 2045. Two scenarios were forecast to estimate the future emissions for Humboldt in the years 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045. This includes a business-as-usual scenario (BAU) forecast that estimates how future GHG emissions would change if consumption trends continued as they did in 2022 without consideration of any local or state regulations. Additionally, a legislative adjusted scenario (adjusted) forecast was developed that accounts for how currently adopted state legislation, such as the California Renewable Portfolio Standards, Title 24 building energy efficiency standards, and transportation legislation, would reduce GHG emissions from the business-as-usual scenario. Humboldt’s adjusted forecast projects emissions to be 1,459,598 MT CO2e in 2030 and 1,387,943 MT CO2e in 2045.

Forecasted emissions by community sector for both the 2030 and 2045 target years are shown in Figure ES-2.

On-road
Transportation
73%
Building Natural
Gas
13%
Off-road
Equipment
8%
Solid Waste
2%
Heating Fuel
2%
Building Electricity
1% Wastewater
1%
Humboldt RCAP Executive Summary
3 Figure ES- 2 Humboldt Forecasted GHG Emissions by Sector for 2022, 2030 and 2045
Humboldt GHG Emissions Targets
California has established Statewide GHG reduction goals for 2030 and 2045 that are relative to a 1990 baseline emissions level. The State has encouraged communities to adopt their own plans consistent with the goals included in the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2022 Scoping Plan. Humboldt does not have a 1990 GHG emissions inventory from which to develop GHG reduction targets consistent with SB 32, however, 1990 GHG emissions can be estimated for the community relative to Humboldt’s updated 2022 inventory using a state-level emissions change metric. As part of the RCAP, 1990 emission levels for Humboldt were calculated following the State-recommended procedure. In 1990, it is estimated that Humboldt GHG emission levels were 2,069,316 MT CO2e. In support of State climate goals, Humboldt has adopted the following GHG emission reduction targets:
 Reduce GHG emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 (SB 32 target year)  Carbon neutrality by 2045 (AB 1279 target year)
This results in an emission target of 1,241,589 MT CO2e by 2030 and 0 MT CO2e by 2045. The corresponding GHG emissions target pathway over the coming decades is illustrated in Figure ES- 3. The emissions gap between Humboldt GHG emission forecast and the emission targets is the quantity of GHG emissions that Humboldt is responsible for reducing with regional actions.
0 200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
1,800,000
2022 2030 2045
MT CO2e
Building Energy Transportation Waste Water Wastewater
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
4 Figure ES- 3 Humboldt GHG Emission Reduction Targets
The measures and actions in the RCAP and the establishment and emphasis of the climate committee will provide Humboldt with the GHG reduction necessary to achieve Humboldt’s 2030 climate action target and substantial progress towards the 2045 target, as shown in Table ES- 1. However, the 2045 GHG emissions reductions quantified for their longer-term measures are not yet enough to meet Humboldt’s 2045 climate action target of carbon neutrality. This RCAP strives to institute equitable and resilient systems and make substantial progress towards eventual carbon neutrality. Further updates to the Humboldt RCAP beyond 2030 will also delineate new technologies, legislation, and additional measures and actions that Humboldt will implement to close the remaining gap to achieve the carbon neutrality target.

Table ES- 1 Humboldt GHG Emission Reduction Pathway
Target/Forecast
2030 GHG Emissions
(MT CO2e)
2045 GHG Emissions
(MT CO2e
Adjusted Forecast 1,459,598 1,387,943
Reductions from Full Implementation of Measures 219,446 1,228,128 GHG Emissions after Measure Reductions 1,240,151 159,815 Climate Action Targets 1,241,589 0
Target Anticipated to be Met? Yes Substantial progress demonstrated 2045 Emissions Gap
(1,387,943) MT CO2e
Adjusted Forecast
2022 Emissions
1,531,167 MT CO2e
2030 Target
1,241,589 MT CO2e
2045 Target
0 MT CO2e
1990 Emissions
2,069,316 MT CO2e
1990 Emissions
0 500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
2022 2030 2035 2040 2045
GHG Emissions (MT CO2e)
Humboldt RCAP Executive Summary
5 Humboldt RCAP Measures to be Implemented by 2030
The RCAP's overarching approach emphasizes leveraging a formal climate coalition to implement region-wide measures for impactful reduction of GHG emissions.

Effective strategies are those that are specific, measurable, feasible, relevant, and time-bound. The RCAP strategies are organized by sector where measures establish specific goals measurable through a discrete performance metric to reduce GHG emissions by a quantifiable level within a specific time period. Measures are supported by actions, the discrete steps Humboldt will take to achieve the measure goal. The measures and actions are supported by substantial evidence and have been designed using principles called key attributes that support changes that are robust, effective, and inclusive. Key attributes include structural change, engagement, equity, feasibility studies, funding, and partnerships. Further, the measures and actions have been developed to account for strategy differences in rural (i.e., dispersed population with limited access to energy and transportation infrastructure) versus urbanized areas (i.e., more densely developed areas with greater access to energy and transportation infrastructure). Through full implementation of the RCAP suite of measures summarized in Table ES- 2, Humboldt will achieve the regions 2030 target of 1,241,589 MT CO2e and make substantial progress towards the 2045 target.

Table ES- 2 Humboldt RCAP GHG Emission Reduction Measures Overview Measure
ID
Measure Text GHG Emission
Reduction
Potential
(MT CO2e)
Measure
C-1
Establish a Regional Climate Committee comprised of elected officials from each jurisdiction, HTA, HCAOG, HWMA, and RCEA.

Supportive/Critical
Measure
BE-1
By 2030, source 90% of grid-supplied electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources.
2030: 15,403
2045: 0
Measure
BE-2
Increase the development of micro-grids and storage across the region to support RCEA’s RePower Humboldt goals of enhancing grid capacity and facilitating the electrification of buildings and transportation.

Supportive
Measure
BE-3
Urban
Reduce existing residential building natural gas consumption by 4% by 2030 and 74% by 2045.
2030: 2,603
2045: 55,866
Measure
BE-3
Rural
Reduce existing residential fossil-fuel consumption in households not connected to natural gas infrastructure by 2% by 2030.

Supportive
Measure
BE-4
Reduce existing nonresidential building natural gas consumption by 5% by 2030 and 79% by 2045.
2030: 3,821
2045: 42,887
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
6 Measure
ID
Measure Text GHG Emission
Reduction
Potential
(MT CO2e)
Measure
BE-5
Decarbonize 95% of new residential building construction by 2027. 2030: 2,252 2045: 13,907
Measure
BE-6
Decarbonize 95% of new nonresidential building construction by 2027. 2030: 1,374 2045: 8,492
Measure
BE-7
Decarbonize 30% municipal buildings and facilities by 2030. Supportive Measure
BE-8
Lobby Off-shore Wind developers and PG&E to build electrical infrastructure to supply Humboldt with energy produced by the off-shore wind project which will increase supply and resilience.

Supportive
Measure
TR-1
Urban
Implement programs, such as those identified in HCAOG’s RTP, to increase the mode share of active transportation in urbanized areas from 9% to 12% by 2030, thereby achieving a regional active transportation mode share of 8%. 2030: 1,147
2045: 2,594
Measure
TR-1
Rural
Implement programs, such as those identified in HCAOG’s RTP, that increase access to safe active transportation, to increase the mode share of active transportation in rural areas from 5% to 6% by 2030 thereby achieving a regional active transportation mode share of 9%.
2030: 1,080
2045: 4,405
Measure
TR-2
Urban
Expand the public transit network in support of HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan to increase public transit mode share from 2% to 20% public transit mode share in urbanized areas to achieve a regional 13% public transit mode share by 2030. 2030: 18,055
2045: 26,482
Measure
TR-2
Rural
Develop a robust public transit network in support of HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan to increase public transit mode share from 1% to 10% in rural areas and achieve a regional 13% public transit mode share by 2030. 2030: 20,180
2045: 29,703
Measure
TR-3
Reduce regional VMT by increasing promotion of mixed-use development in infill priority areas in alignment with HCAOG’s baseline connectivity score included in the RTP.

Supportive
Measure
TR-4
Develop and implement regional mobility hubs and ZEV car-share programs to support mode shift from single occupancy vehicles.

Supportive
Measure
TR-5
Require commercial and industrial employers with 25 employees or more to develop a Transportation Demand Management plan.

Supportive
Measure
TR-6
Decarbonize 15% of passenger vehicle miles traveled by 2030 and 100% by 2045 through increased adoption of low and zero-emission vehicles and development of a regional electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling network. 2030: 55,726
2045: 590,124
Measure
TR-7
Increase commercial zero-emission vehicle use and adoption to 10% by 2030 and 100% by 2045 through a regional charging network and development of hydrogen hubs.
2030: 17,441
2045: 279,775
Measure
TR-8
Electrify or otherwise decarbonize 12% of applicable SORE off-road equipment by 2030 and 100% by 2045 and replace fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel in 55% of applicable large diesel in alignment with EO N-79-20 by 2030. 2030: 49,143
2045: 139,645
Measure
TR-9
Establish Humboldt as a pilot program for the decarbonization of the transportation sector to help drive state and philanthropic investment throughout Humboldt.

Supportive
Humboldt RCAP Executive Summary
7 Measure
ID
Measure Text GHG Emission
Reduction
Potential
(MT CO2e)
Measure
TR-10
Work with the state and biofuel industry to establish a biofuel network within Humboldt thereby funding new green industry and job growth to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector.

Supportive
Measure
TR-11
Lead by example and electrify or otherwise decarbonize 50% of the municipal fleet by 2030 in alignment with the state’s Advanced Clean Fleet Rule.

Supportive
Measure
SW-1
Establish a local waste separation facility and organics management to be able to reduce waste sent to landfills by 75% by 2030. Reduce GHG emissions by limiting truck trips required to ship waste out of the county and import compost from out of the county.
2030: 29,689
2045: 32,568
Measure
WW-1
Expand regional opportunities for implementation of wastewater decarbonization technologies such as anaerobic digesters to reduce GHG and produce renewable fuel sources.

Supportive
Measure
WW-2
Reduce per capita potable water consumption by 15% by 2030. Supportive Measure
CS-1
Research and implement feasible carbon sequestration technology opportunities to support growth and expansion of green jobs industry within the region.

Supportive
Measure
CS-2
Offset fossil-based emissions and increase carbon sequestration in the community by achieving SB 1383 procurement requirements (0.08 tons recovered organic waste per person) by 2030.
2030: 1,532
2045: 1,681
Measure
CS-3
Develop a County-wide Natural and Working Lands GHG Inventory baseline by 2027 to better understand the existing and future GHG sequestration and help obtain resources to protect and increase natural carbon sequestration occurring in the region as well as promote biodiverse forests and wetlands resistant to wildfire.

Supportive
Total GHG Emission Reduction Potential 2030: 219,446
2045: 1,228,128
* Measures and actions marked as “supportive” may also be quantifiable and have substantial evidence to support their overall contribution to GHG reduction, but they are not quantified for one of several factors. Refer to RCAP Appendix C for more information.

Humboldt RCAP Implementation and Monitoring
The RCAP has established an implementation plan and schedule to achieve the 2030 GHG emissions reductions goals and make substantial progress to the 2045 goals. As part of the RCAP, Measures will be implemented using a phased approach with progress reports prepared on a bi-annual basis starting in 2026. The bi-annual progress reports will include the preparation of a regional community-wide GHG emissions inventory, as well as status update on implementation of RCAP Measures and Actions. Tracking implementation of the plan in conjunction with the inventory updates will demonstrate the progress the region is making in reducing GHG emissions and achieving its 2030 goal. If the actions identified in the RCAP to meet County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
8 the 2030 GHG emissions reduction milestone goal are not implemented or if the biannual inventory and progress report indicates that the region is off-track from achieving the 2030 goal, the RCAP will be updated to include additional actions or revised actions necessary to meet the 2030 goals.

The RCAP is a long-term programmatic plan consistent with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) that will be implemented through regular monitoring and updates to meet the State’s SB 32 GHG emission reduction goals and demonstrate substantial progress towards the State’s AB 1279 carbonneutrality goals. The RCAP is currently undergoing CEQA environmental review.

Following environmental review and adoption in a public process, the RCAP will fulfill the CEQA requirements to be considered a “qualified” GHG reduction plan.

Meeting these requirements means that if projects and plans within the Humboldt region in jurisdictions that have adopted the RCAP are consistent with the RCAP, CEQA analysis can be streamlined for projects by establishing consistency with the RCAP such that project GHG emissions may be considered to have a less than significant impact.

Attachment 2
Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan What is the Humboldt Regional Climate
Action Plan (RCAP)?
The RCAP is a long-range planning document that
guides the Humboldt region towards long-term
greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction in
accordance with the State’s goal to reduce GHG
emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by
2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

The RCAP creates a Regional Climate Committee
to maximize regional efficiencies, overcome
challenges facing rural areas, attract funding,
build a green economy, mitigate emissions, and
increase resilience. By prioritizing collaborative
efforts and tailored strategies, the RCAP aims to
address the unique needs of the rural
communities in the region while advancing
comprehensive GHG reduction and economic
development goals.

What does the RCAP do?
Provides a plan for the County, cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, and Trinidad, Humboldt County Association of Governments, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Humboldt Transit Authority and Humboldt Waste Management Authority to work collaboratively to more efficiently achieve greenhouse gas reductions.

Creates a Qualified CAP for the entire county by identifying strategies, measures, actions, and tracking mechanisms to provide a foundation for sustainable development and resilient infrastructure in the region.

Allows county and cities to use the RCAP to satisfy GHG analyses to streamline future California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) assessments of projects and plans.

Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan

What is in the RCAP?
The RCAP has been structured to allow the reader to
understand the purpose and objective of the RCAP, to
provide sufficient information to educate the reader on the issues being addressed, to give a summary of
Humboldt County’s context and to identify what will be
done to address GHG emissions. It is broken down into
the following sections:
 Chapter 1: The introduction provides the Vision, and purpose of the RCAP with background on the unique context of Humboldt County and describes the process for development of the RCAP.
 Chapter 2: Describes the Scientific and Policy context for Climate Change.  Chapter 3: Identifies GHG emissions inventory, forecast, and emission targets.  Chapter 4: Outlines the GHG emission reduction strategy, measures, and actions.  Chapter 5: The RCAP finishes with tracking, monitoring, and reporting and the Implementation plan.

What are the GHG Reduction Strategies?
The RCAP has a series of basic implementation strategies to accomplish GHG reduction objectives:

1. Development of a Regional Climate Committee, supported by a Program Manager to track, report and achieve regional goals.

2. Increase use of carbon-free electricity. Working with RCEA and PG&E.

3. Decarbonization of existing buildings. This includes a reduction of natural gas, propane, and diesel consumption in existing structures and decarbonizing 30% of municipal buildings and facilities by 2030.

4. Decarbonization of new construction. Decarbonize 95% of new building construction by 2027.

5. Modify commute patterns by shifting from driving to walking and biking.

6. Modify commute patterns by shifting from driving to public transit or car-share.

Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan

7. Shift land use patterns to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). (e.g Increase mixeduse development in infill priority areas.)

8. Increase zero-emission vehicle usage, including expanding regional electric vehicle charging network and development of hydrogen hubs. Includes goals for off-road engines and to decarbonize 50% of municipal fleets by 2030.

9. Reduce organic waste in the landfill. Establish a local waste separation facility and organics management to reduce waste sent to landfills by 75% by 2030.

10.Conserve water and reduce wastewater emissions.

11.Increase carbon sequestration. Including developing a county-wide natural and working lands GHG inventory baseline by 2027 to understand existing and future GHG sequestration.

What has been the process for Developing the RCAP?
The RCAP has been developed over a period of
years and has been an intentionally collaborative
and evolutionary process.
 Jurisdictional Collaboration began in 2019 with
support from the Redwood Coast Energy
Authority leading to an initial draft produced in
2023.
 This process included numerous community outreach events and campaigns with presentations to each of the Cities, the Board of Supervisors, and other stakeholder groups.
 Unfortunately, the initial draft could not achieve a qualified status, and the process was redirected to hire a consultant to prepare a qualified CAP. Rincon was hired to prepare the qualified CAP.
 Rincon took the following actions:

Established a Baseline GHG emission inventory.

Developed feasible goals and strategies.

Collected feedback through an interactive community survey published on the RCAP website. 160 submissions were received.

Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan

Identified that the region would have more success obtaining grant funds and achieve GHG reduction goals as a region rather than as individual jurisdictions and proposed the Regional Climate Committee.

What are the Regional Constraints?
The Humboldt region is largely rural with some
significant economic constraints to achieving
climate goals.

1. Geographic Isolation and Accessibility
The rural character of the region presents
challenges in terms of increasing costeffective public transportation, reducing vehicle miles traveled, and developing or
upgrading local infrastructure. Implementing projects over a geographically dispersed population can be costly and very complex.

2. Limited Infrastructure: The region lacks local waste management facilities such as recycling, composting, or processing centers, which diminishes local control, hinders compliance with state mandates, and necessitates long-distance transportation of waste outside of the county. Additionally, the existing natural gas and electricity infrastructure presents challenges for developing renewable energy projects and electrification efforts due to transmission and distribution limitations.

3. Economic Dependence and Limited Resources: The region is economically constrained due to low population, and recently diminished industries such as logging and fishing. As well, the local jurisdictions are limited in relation to available staff and resources dedicated to obtaining funding and implementing climate mitigation efforts. Converting infrastructure and transitioning to more sustainable practices can be challenging without adequate staffing, funding support, and incentives.

4. Social Vulnerability: Approximately forty percent (40%) of the population is either at or below the 80th percentile of the statewide median income, categorized as low-income and increasing social vulnerability to climate change.

Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan

What are the Regional Opportunities?
The region is rich with natural resources with
an environmentally conscious and engaged
community, offering several opportunities to
overcome the constraints of the region.

1. Partnerships and Collaboration:

Regional collaboration is necessary
in achieving the goals of the RCAP.

No single agency is responsible for
mitigating GHG emissions, and the
participating jurisdictions recognize
the need for strong coordination and partnerships. This will enhance the ability to obtain funding for implementing the RCAP.

2. Green Economic Growth: Opportunities will arise for new green industries and job creation with transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

3. Funding opportunities: There are several funding opportunities for low-income areas, including federal and state funding, incentives, and partnerships to implement climate-related projects.

4. Abundant Renewable Energy Resources: The region has potential for renewable energy generation, particularly from wind, solar and biomass sources. Specifically, there is the near-future plans for offshore wind energy generation.

5. Carbon Sequestration in Natural Ecosystems: The diverse ecosystems of the region provide valuable opportunities for carbon sequestration. There are significant opportunities to implement sustainable land practices that sequester carbon, protect biodiversity, enhance resilience to climate change, and support local economies.

Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan

Cost to meet the RCAP strategies?
The strength of the Regional Climate Action
Committee approach is to position the region to
be more attractive to entities who grant money
for Climate Resilience actions. It is envisioned
that the Climate Program Manager and
supporting staff will be grant funded. There are
ordinances and other programs to be developed
which may be developed by local staff for the
benefit of the region. For local governments
there is cost associated with moving fleet
vehicles away from carbon fuel sources and
retrofitting buildings to be energy efficient and
away from gas heating.

It is anticipated this too can be grant funded. Where retrofitting private development is called for, the RCAP provides reduction goals, but leaves room for the Regional Climate Committee to accomplish those goals using grants and other means so as to not impose all the cost on the owners of existing buildings.

What is the time frame for adoption of the RCAP?
August 14, 2024 Draft RCAP published for Public Review Period August 30, 2024 File Notice of Preparation for EIR
September 10, 2024 RCAP Public Meeting, Wharfinger Building, Eureka, 6:00 p.m., September 17, 2024 EIR Public Scoping meeting, Agricultural Building Humboldt Hill, 3:30 p.m.

September 20, 2024 Public Review Period ends for the draft RCAP September 30, 2024 30-day EIR Scoping period ends September 30, 2024 December 2024 Administrative Draft EIR completed
February/March 2025 EIR public review/comment period
May 2025 Final EIR preparation completed
June 2025 Humboldt County Planning Commission hearing
June 2025 Humboldt County Board of Supervisors hearing -- EIR certified and RCAP adopted -
Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan

Summer 2025 Cities adopt RCAP
Summer 2025 County, Cities, and JPAs work together to form a Regional Climate Committee
Ongoing Regional Climate Committee works to secure funding, implement the RCAP, and monitor progress
What about the GHG Reduction efforts already being pursued? The County, cities, Humboldt County Association of
Governments, Redwood Coast Energy Authority,
Humboldt Transit Authority and Humboldt Waste
Management Authority have all been involved in
implementing projects and programs to reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Many of these are
incorporated into the RCAP. The RCAP is not
envisioning starting over but rather to build upon
the good work that has been started in the region.

The concept is to strengthen and enhance the ongoing work, and where necessary to develop new initiatives to achieve the climate reduction goals.

Current Regional GHG Reduction Efforts
 North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP)
Has focused on ensuring clean and reliable drinking water supplies, watershed health, energy independence, climate adaptation and economic vitality – especially in economically disadvantaged communities.
 Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA)
The purpose of RCEA is to develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient and renewable resources available in the region for the benefit of the Member agencies and their constituents.
 Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA)
Provides the following services: affordable housing, assistance with energy bills or purchase of heating fuel, energy efficiency services, home repairs, natural Frequently Asked Questions – Regional Climate Action Plan

resources enhancement and mitigation, services for the houseless members, youth services, and community gardens.
 Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG)
A Joint Powers Agency comprised of the seven incorporated cities and the County of Humboldt. It is the designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA), as well as the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE). HCAOG is largely responsible for programming State highway, local street and road improvements, public transportation resources, and the roadside call box program. HCAOG also bears responsibility for preparing and implementing the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).
 Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA)
A joint powers authority between Humboldt County and the cities of Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, Rio Dell and Trinidad. HTA provides riders with affordable fixed route and dial-a-ride transportation options that allow access throughout Humboldt County.
 Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA)
HWMA was established by a Joint Powers Agreement comprised of the County of Humboldt and the Cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale and Rio Dell in 1999. The Authority receives municipal solid waste (garbage) and curbside recycled materials delivered by franchise haulers, and is a One-Stop Drop off for the general public for self-hauled municipal solid waste, recycling services and other material diversion programs and services.
 California Community Power (CC Power)
CC Power allows its member CCAs to combine their buying power to procure new, cost-effective clean energy and reliability resources to continue advancing local and state climate goals. CC Power members represent over 2.7 million customers across 112 municipalities spanning from Humboldt County to Santa Barbara County.
 Redwood Region Economic Development Commission (RREDC) Dedicated to expanding economic opportunity in Humboldt County. Creates opportunity and support the growth of local businesses. Leads projects of regional significance, make loans, and offer business consulting through partner, the North Coast Small Business Development Center.
133 V Street
Eureka, CA 95501 A Public Entity Serving Humboldt County Since 1976 Office: (707) 443-0826
Fax: (707) 443-2032
www.hta.org
TO: City of Arcata
City of Blue Lake
City of Eureka
City of Ferndale
City of Fortuna
City of Rio Dell
City of Trinidad
County of Humboldt
FROM: Greg Pratt, General Manager
DATE: October 2nd, 2024
SUBJECT: Letter for Jurisdictions Regarding Draft Regional Climate Action Plan Implementation Measures that Require HTA Participation
To Whom This May Concern,
Humboldt Transit Authority staff have been working with County staff and Incorporated City staff since February of this year on the development of the Draft Regional Climate Action Plan (Draft RCAP) that was released by the County on August 14th, 2024 for a 30-Day public comment period. HTA staff have provided feedback on some of the chapters, and on the implementation measures involving HTA in the Draft RCAP.

HTA involvement proposed in the Draft RCAP continues efforts that HTA staff are already doing, including:
• Increase frequency and span of service of transit routes, • Improve passenger experience such as streamlined fares and transfers and implementation of real-time trip planning services
• Support infrastructure development such as construction of the Eureka Transit Center, • Pursue grant opportunities,
• Implement community outreach and marketing efforts, and • Support regional planning efforts on first/last mile infrastructure and connectivity to transit routes, such as improving bus stop designs and providing input on the McKinleyville Town Center.

HTA staff have confirmed that all implementation measures involving HTA in the Draft RCAP are in alignment with the current Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) developed by HCAOG and approved by the HCAOG Board. The RTP also incorporates by reference and aligns with the following plans, many of which were developed with input from HTA staff:
• Humboldt County Coordinated Public Transit–Human Services Transportation Plan (2021) • McKinleyville Transit Study (2021)
Docusign Envelope ID: AB138E15-FF00-4EE7-9B2C-29ADE830EB10 133 V Street
Eureka, CA 95501 A Public Entity Serving Humboldt County Since 1976 Office: (707) 443-0826
Fax: (707) 443-2032
www.hta.org
• Mobility-on-Demand Strategic Development Plan (2020)
• HCAOG Public Participation Plan (2018)
• Humboldt Regional Bicycle Plan (2018)
• Humboldt County Transit Development Plan (2023-2028)
• Humboldt Regional Trails Master Plan (2010)
• Humboldt County Regional Pedestrian Plan (2008)
In addition, the current RTP is in alignment with the following CalTrans plans:
• California Transportation Plan 2050 (2020)
• California Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (2021) • Active Transportation Plan for District 1 (2021)
• Smart Mobility Framework Guide (2020)
• District 1 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Pilot Study (2014) HTA supports the HCAOG RTP, and therefore supports plans and efforts that align with the RTP.

Furthermore, HTA staff will continue to be involved in the RCAP effort as requested, and is committed to supporting jurisdictions as they navigate the RCAP process.

Please reach out to me at any time with any further questions, requests, or concerns.

Respectfully,
___________________________
Greg Pratt, General Manager
707-443-0826 x101
[email protected]
Docusign Envelope ID: AB138E15-FF00-4EE7-9B2C-29ADE830EB10 \
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
Public Draft
prepared by
Humboldt County
825 5th Street
Eureka, California 95501
Contact: John Ford, Director of Planning and Building
prepared with the assistance of
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
449 15th Street, Suite 303
Oakland, California 94612
July 2024
Attachment 3
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
ii
Acknowledgements
This Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) has been prepared for the benefit of the region, and its completion would not have been possible without the contributions of key partners. We are grateful for your active involvement, feedback, and support during this process. The RCAP was a coordinated effort between:

Cities and County
▪ County of Humboldt ▪ City of Ferndale
▪ City of Arcata ▪ City of Fortuna
▪ City of Blue Lake ▪ City of Rio Dell
▪ City of Eureka ▪ City of Trinidad
Regional Partners
▪ Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA)
▪ Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA)
▪ Humboldt County Association of
Governments (HCAOG)
▪ Humboldt Waste Management Authority
(HWMA)
▪ Recology
Regional RCAP Coordination Team
▪ John Ford, County of Humboldt Director of
Planning and Building
▪ Megan Acevedo, County of Humboldt
Associate Planner
▪ Elizabeth Schatz, County of Humboldt
Planning Manager
▪ Tom Mattson, County of Humboldt Director
of Public Works
▪ Hank Seemann, County of Humboldt
Deputy Director (Environmental Services)
Public Works
▪ Rincon Consultants, Inc.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
iv
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................iii Glossary...................................................................................................................................... 1 1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 4

1.1 Vision........................................................................................................................ 4

1.2 Purpose .................................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Background............................................................................................................... 5

1.4 Regional Climate Action Plan Development Process....................................................10 2 Scientific Context for Climate Change ...................................................................................13

2.1 Background on Greenhouse Gas Emissions................................................................13

2.2 Public Policy Context.................................................................................................17 3 GHG Emissions Levels..........................................................................................................19

3.1 Humboldt GHG Emissions Inventory ..........................................................................19

3.2 GHG Emissions Forecast............................................................................................21

3.3 Humboldt GHG Emissions Targets..............................................................................22 4 GHG Emission Reduction Strategy ........................................................................................24

4.1 Strategy Development..............................................................................................25

4.2 Type of GHG Reduction Measures.............................................................................25

4.3 Key Strategy Attributes.............................................................................................26

4.4 Co-Benefits of GHG Reduction Measures...................................................................26

4.5 Measures.................................................................................................................27 5 Implementation ..................................................................................................................79

5.1 CEQA Streamlining....................................................................................................79

5.2 Tracking, Monitoring, and Reporting..........................................................................79

5.3 Implementation Plan ................................................................................................80

5.4 Looking Forward.......................................................................................................81 Tables
Table 1 CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) Criteria Addressed in RCAP .................................. 5 Table 2 Humboldt Region GHG Emissions Reduction Pathway.................................................24 Table 3 Measure C-1 Actions.................................................................................................30 Table 4 Measure BE-1 Actions...............................................................................................32 Table 5 Measure BE-2 Actions...............................................................................................34 Table 6 Measure BE-8 Actions...............................................................................................36 Table 7 Measure BE-3 Urban Actions.....................................................................................37 Table of Contents
Public Draft v
Table 8 Measure BE-3 Rural Actions......................................................................................39 Table 9 Measure BE-4 Actions...............................................................................................40 Table 10 Measure BE-7 Actions...............................................................................................42 Table 11 Measure BE-5 Actions...............................................................................................43 Table 12 Measure BE-6 Actions...............................................................................................45 Table 13 Measure TR-1 Urban Actions.....................................................................................47 Table 14 Measure TR-1 Rural Actions......................................................................................48 Table 15 Measure TR-2 Urban Actions.....................................................................................51 Table 16 Measure TR-2 Rural Actions......................................................................................52 Table 17 Measure TR-4 Actions...............................................................................................54 Table 18 Measure TR-3 Actions...............................................................................................55 Table 19 Measure TR-5 Actions...............................................................................................56 Table 20 Measure TR-6 Actions...............................................................................................59 Table 21 Measure TR-7 Actions...............................................................................................61 Table 22 Measure TR-8 Actions...............................................................................................62 Table 23 Measure TR-9 Actions...............................................................................................63 Table 24 Measure TR-10 Actions.............................................................................................64 Table 25 Measure TR-11 Actions.............................................................................................66 Table 26 Measure SW-1 Actions..............................................................................................68 Table 27 Measure WW-1 Actions............................................................................................71 Table 28 Measure WW-2 Actions............................................................................................72 Table 29 Measure CS-1 Actions...............................................................................................75 Table 30 Measure CS-2 Actions...............................................................................................75 Table 31 Measure CS-3 Actions...............................................................................................77 Table 32 Implementation Work Plan .......................................................................................82 Figures
Figure 1 RCAP Development Process......................................................................................11 Figure 2 Greenhouse Gas Effect..............................................................................................14 Figure 3 Humboldt GHG Emissions 2022 Inventory ..................................................................20 Figure 4 Humboldt GHG Emissions Adjusted Forecast, 2022- 2045 ...........................................22 Figure 5 Humboldt GHG Emission Reduction Goals..................................................................24 Figure 6 How to Read this Section ..........................................................................................28 Appendices
Appendix A Climate Regulatory Context
Appendix B GHG Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
vi
Appendix C GHG Reduction measures Quantification and Evidence Glossary
Public Draft 1
Glossary
Term Definition
Active Transportation A means of transportation that is powered by human energy, for example walking or biking.

Adaptation Adjustment or preparation of natural or human systems to a new or changing environment which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.

Anthropogenic Made by people or resulting from human activities; usually used in the context of emissions that are produced as a result of human activities.

Bus headway The amount of time between two vehicles (e.g., buses) on the same route. The amount of headway on a bus route dictates the length of time a rider will wait between buses.

CALGreen An abbreviated reference to the California Green Building Standards code, which sets minimum requirements for sustainable practices for construction (residential and commercial) projects throughout the state. It is updated every three years in accordance with the building cycle.

CALGreen Tier 1 & 2 Requirements beyond the mandatory measures laid out by CALGreen: Tier 1 adds additional requirements to the mandatory sustainability requirements, and Tier 2 further increases those sustainability requirements.

CalRecycle Agency that administers and provides oversight for all of California’s state-managed nonhazardous waste handling and recycling programs.

California Air Resources
Board (CARB)
The lead agency for climate change programs that also oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards.

Carbon-free Energy Energy produced by a resource that generates no carbon emissions, for example, wind power, solar, large hydropower, and nuclear. Not all carbon-free energy sources are considered eligible renewable by California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard defined below.

Carbon-neutrality/
Net-Zero Emissions
Balancing anthropomorphically generated emissions out by removing GHGs from the atmosphere in a process known as carbon sequestration.

Carbon sequestration The long-term storage or capture of carbon dioxide and other forms of carbon from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, and physical processes.

CH4 Methane, a hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas produced through anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal wastes, production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum, coal production, and incomplete fossil fuel combustion.

Climate The average of weather patterns over a long period of time (usually 30 or more years).

Climate Change A change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time.

Complete Streets Are designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users.

Complete Streets approaches address a range of elements including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, bus lanes, public transportation stops, and median islands.

CO2 Carbon dioxide, a naturally occurring gas and a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes.

CO2e Carbon dioxide equivalent, a metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their GWP.

Decarbonization Replacing technologies and services that run on fossil fuels (ex. natural gas) with ones that run on zero-carbon sources of energy (for example electricity from renewable energy like solar or wind power), ideally from renewable sources.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
2 Term Definition
Disadvantaged
Communities
Refers to the areas throughout California disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure or environmental degradation. This includes areas with concentrations of people that are of low income, high unemployment, low levels of home ownership, high rent burden, or low levels of educational attainment.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Refers to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).

BEV refers to any vehicle that operates solely by use of a battery or battery pack, or that is powered primarily through the use of an electric battery or battery pack but uses a flywheel or capacitor that stores energy produced by the electric motor or through regenerative braking to assist in vehicle operation. PHEV refers to a hybrid electric vehicle with the capability to charge a battery from an off-vehicle electric energy source that cannot be connected or coupled to the vehicle in any manner while the vehicle is being driven.

Energy Storage Can provide frequency regulation to maintain balance between the network’s load and detected power generated, achieving more reliable power supplies. Batteries are an example of energy storage.

Fossil Fuel A general term for fuel formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth’s crust.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) A gas that absorbs infrared radiation, traps heat in the atmosphere, and contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Global Warming Potential
(GWP)
Total contribution to global warming resulting from the emission of one unit of that gas relative to one unit of the reference gas, carbon dioxide, which is assigned a value of 1.

Greywater Graywater refers to water that has been used domestically, commercially, and industrially.

Local Governments for
Sustainability (ICLEI)
A global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development – emissions estimates were calculated using ICLEI’s best available methodologies.

Mitigation An action that will reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, such as electrifying buildings that previously ran on natural gas.

Metric Tons (MT) Common international measurement for the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions – one metric ton is equal to 2205 pounds or 1.1 short tons.

Metric tons carbon dioxide
equivalent (MT CO2e)
Metric/unit that GHG emissions are reported per standard practice; when dealing with an array of emissions, the gases are converted to their carbon dioxide equivalents for comparison purposes.

Microgrid A group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources that act as a single controllable entity in respect to the grid. A microgrid can operate in ‘island mode’ and disconnect from the wider grid, or operate while connected to the wider grid.

Mode Shift Changing from one form of transportation to another, specifically, switching from traveling via car to traveling via bicycle or public transport.

N2O Nitrous Oxide, a powerful GHG with a high global warming potential; major sources of nitrous oxide include soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning.

Organic Material Natural or organic materials, for example food scraps and yard waste.

Reach Code A building code which requires a higher level of energy efficiency than the standard statewide code. Reach codes are allowed and encouraged under Title 24.

Regional Housing Needs
Allocation (RHNA)
Refers to the first two steps (Determination and Allocation) of a multi-step process that California governments utilize to plan for housing needs in each region of the state. The RHNA is a minimum projection of additional housing units needed to accommodate projected household growth of all income levels.

Glossary
Public Draft 3
Term Definition
Remodels/Alterations A building update that changes the exterior detail of a structure, but not its basic shape or size.

Renewable Energy Energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed (ex. wind, biomass); sources qualifying as renewable in California are listed in the State’s Renewables Portfolio Standard.

Resilience Ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate.

Supportive Measure or
Action
One which has not been quantified and does not provide a direct or easily quantified GHG reduction; however, these measures are expected to contribute to overall GHG reductions and/or provide co-benefits.

Transportation Demand
Management (TDM)
Transportation Demand Management focuses on how people make their transportation decisions, and facilitates greater usage of infrastructure for transit, ridesharing, walking, biking, and telework.

Vehicle Miles Traveled
(VMT)
The amount of total miles traveled by motor vehicle that are generated over a population over a given timeframe (Ex. 1 year).

Vehicle to Grid Charging A device that absorbs electricity from a car battery and pushes it back to the grid, allowing EVs to function as backup storage cells for the electrical grid.

Vulnerable Community Communities that experience heightened risk and increased sensitivity to climate change and have less capacity and fewer resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from climate impacts. These disproportionate effects are caused by physical (built and environmental), social, political, and/ or economic factor(s), which are exacerbated by climate impacts. These factors include, but are not limited to, race, class, sexual orientation and identification, national origin, and income inequality. In Humboldt, this includes low-income families, fixed-income seniors, agricultural workers, etc Zero-Emissions-Vehicle
(ZEV)
A vehicle that produces zero exhaust emissions of any criteria pollutant (or precursor pollutant) or greenhouse gas, excluding emissions from air conditioning systems, under any possible operational modes or conditions.

Zero Waste The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of materials and packaging, without burning, and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten human health. CalRecycle defines Zero Waste as a circular economy that collects and reuses items or remakes them into new products, SB 1383 established specific State goals for waste reduction.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
4 1 Introduction

1.1 Vision
Humboldt County is a diverse region made up of communities, rural areas, ecosystems, and infrastructure that are impacted by climate change and acknowledges that to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, greenhouse (GHG) emissions must be reduced significantly over the next two decades. Recognizing the strength in collaboration, the County of Humboldt, City of Arcata, City of Blue Lake, City of Eureka, City of Ferndale, City of Fortuna, City of Rio Dell, and City of Trinidad, collectively referred to as Humboldt hereafter, have crafted this Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) as a regional approach for addressing climate change. This RCAP is a starting place for a regional coalition focused on change and details a set of strategies to reduce GHG emissions, increase climate resiliency, and strengthen the growing regional green economy.

1.2 Purpose
Climate Action
The Humboldt RCAP is a long-range planning document that guides the Humboldt region towards long-term GHG emission reduction in accordance with the State’s goal to reduce GHG emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. 1 See Appendix A for a
written description of regulations related to climate action planning. This RCAP focuses on creating a climate coalition to maximize regional efficiencies, overcome challenges facing rural areas, attract funding, build a green economy, mitigate emissions, and increase resilience. By prioritizing collaborative efforts and tailored strategies, this RCAP aims to address the unique needs of the rural communities in the region while advancing comprehensive GHG reduction and economic development goals.

CEQA GHG Emissions Analysis Streamlining
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) provides a methodology for agencies to analyze and mitigate the significant impacts of GHGs at a programmatic level using a qualified CAP. This methodology allows project-specific environmental documents to tier from that programmatic review. A qualified CAP is one that clearly demonstrates that GHG emissions within a defined geographic area will be reduced over time in a manner consistent with State reduction targets. State guidance and recent CEQA case law makes it clear that tiering from a qualified CAP provides a defensible method of achieving GHG CEQA clearance for new development proposals.

This RCAP fulfills the requirements of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) to be considered a “qualified” GHG reduction plan.2 In compliance with CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines, local agencies must evaluate the environmental impacts of new development projects or plans, including impacts related to GHG emissions associated with the construction and operation of projects or plans. This process can be cumbersome for local agencies 1 The State carbon neutrality goal established by Assembly Bill 1279 considers carbon neutrality to be at least an 85 percent reduction in GHG emissions with the remaining fraction achieved through removals such as carbon sequestration. 2 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) (2019). General Plan Guidelines - Chapter 8: Climate Change. Accessed May 20, 2024 from https://opr.ca.gov/docs/OPR_C8_final.pdf
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and developers alike and can result in project delays. The CEQA Guidelines provide an option for new projects to streamline the CEQA analysis of GHG emissions by tiering from a qualified GHG reduction plan.

The RCAP is consistent with the criteria set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5 (b) as outlined in Table 1. For jursidictions that adopt the RCAP, CEQA analysis of GHGs can be streamlined for projects by establishing consistency with the RCAP and GHG emissions may be considered to have a less than significant impact.
3 Table 1 CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) Criteria Addressed in RCAP CEQA Criteria RCAP Chapter Addressing
Criteria

1. Quantify GHG emissions, both existing and projected over a specified time period, resulting from activities within a defined geographic area Chapter 3
Appendix B

2. Establish a level, based on substantial evidence, below which the contribution to GHG emissions from activities covered by the plan would not be cumulatively considerable Chapter 3

3. Identify and analyze sector specific GHG emissions from specific actions or categories of actions anticipated within the geographic area
Chapter 3
Appendix C

4. Specify measures or a group of measures, including performance standards, that substantial evidence demonstrates, if implemented on a project-by-project basis, would collectively achieve the specified emissions level Chapters 4
Appendix C

5. Establish a mechanism to monitor the plan’s progress toward achieving the level and to require amendment if the plan is not achieving specified levels Chapter 5

6. Adopt in a public process following environmental review Pending Adoption

1.3 Background
The Humboldt region is a geographic area that has long been committed to sustainability initiatives focused on environmental conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. There are strong environmental conservation efforts, with numerous protected areas and initiatives aimed at preserving the county's natural beauty and biodiversity. Many local businesses and organizations focus on sustainable tourism and promoting activities that do not harm the environment.

The Humboldt region is most vulnerable to sea level rise, extreme weather events, and wildfire. In recent years the region has experienced a growing frequency and intensity of precipitation events leading to flooding that regularly closes the primary routes into Humboldt County. This further isolates communities in the region, impacts the movement of goods across the region, and results in economic losses that the region counts on.4
Humboldt jurisdictions came together in 2019 and began preparing the RCAP to tackle climate change regionally, recognizing that a regional approach best leverages limited resources in the region. Further, regional coordination maximizes the effectiveness and benefit of GHG reduction strategies. Humboldt obtained a Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant from the US 3 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) (2019). General Plan Guidelines - Chapter 8: Climate Change. Accessed May 20, 2024 from https://opr.ca.gov/docs/OPR_C8_final.pdf
4 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), California Energy Commission (CEC), and California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) (2018). California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment - North Coast Region Report. Accessed June 10, 2024, from https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-001_NorthCoast_ADA.pdf 6 County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to prepare the RCAP.

Humboldt Community
Located on the northern coast of California, Humboldt County is 270 miles north of San Francisco.

Humboldt is known for its natural beauty with rugged coastlines, pristine rivers, mountainous terrain, and for being home to one of the largest densities of old-growth coast redwood forests in the world. Historically, logging and the timber industry were the backbone of the county's economy. However, the timber industry has been in decline over the past few decades. Other drivers of the economy in the region include agriculture, particularly dairy farming and specialty crops, tourism, and in recent decades cannabis production.

The county is approximately 4,052 square miles and has a population of approximately 135,010 people, with over half the population living in the unincorporated county. There are seven incorporated cities including Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, and Trinidad that range in population size from a few hundred residents to just under 30,000 residents. Per the U.S. Census Bureau 81.7 percent of the population are white and 5.7 percent are Native American.

The median household income in the region is $57,000 with much of the region denoted as lowincome as defined for California Climate Investments. Approximately 18 percent of residents are living in poverty, compared to 11.6 percent national average. The combination of geographic isolation, economic disparities, and demographic diversity in the region contribute to varied vulnerabilities to climate change impacts. Vulnerable populations, including low-income communities, may face heightened risks from climate-related hazards such as wildfires, sea level rise, and extreme weather events.

Though the community is largely rural and faces significant economic constraints, the unique community characteristics and ample natural resources provide climate action opportunities that may not be possible in other communities. The region has a strong sense of community, a vibrant local culture, and is passionate about their natural heritage contributing to a strong sense of environmental stewardship and conservation. The RCAP seeks to maintain the values of the Humboldt community and region while leveraging these opportunities with solutions that are impactful and feasible in Humboldt.

Regional Constraints
While addressing climate change and implementing climate change policies it is critical to understand the constraints facing the region both at a jurisdictional and community level. The Humboldt region faces unique obstacles that must be overcome for effective climate change. The primary constraints in the region for climate action policy implementation include:

1. Geographic Isolation and Accessibility: Humboldt’s rural character presents challenges in terms of achieving population densities needed for cost effective public transportation, reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and developing infrastructure economically. Limited economic opportunities due to geographic and social isolation further complicate these efforts. Implementing projects over a geographically dispersed population can be costly and logistically complex. For example,
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a. Jurisdictions have historically lacked integration of public transit in long range land use planning efforts. Combined with dispersed population centers and low populations densities, implementing effective public transit systems under current federal, state and local funding structures is difficult. b. The region’s remote and rural location requires long-distance transportation of waste to processing facilities, increasing both costs and emissions. c. The large area, dispersed communities and geographic isolation limits the region’s ability to bring in and rely upon current ZEV technologies and reduce VMT.

2. Limited Infrastructure: The region lacks local waste management facilities such as recycling, composting, or processing centers, which diminishes local control, hinders compliance with state mandates, and necessitates long-distance transportation of waste out of the county. Additionally, being on the periphery of natural gas and electrical infrastructure presents challenges for developing renewable energy projects and electrification efforts due to transmission and distribution limitations. Building and maintaining infrastructure like roads, utilities, and telecommunications networks can be more expensive and challenging in remote areas.

3. Economic Dependence and Limited Resources: Recently Humboldt has lost some of the major economic engines the region had historically relied on like logging and fishing.

Beyond being economically constrained, due to the low population, Humboldt also faces limited human resources to dedicate to obtaining funding and implementing climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Converting infrastructure and transitioning to more sustainable practices can be challenging without adequate staffing, funding support, and incentives.

4. Social Vulnerability: Approximately 40 percent of the Humboldt population is either at or below the 80th percentile of the statewide median income5,6, categorizing them as lowincome and increasing their social vulnerability to climate change.

Despite these challenges, Humboldt also has strengths that can support climate action, including a strong tradition of regional collaboration and environmental stewardship, active community organizations, and a growing interest in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.

Regional Opportunities
Humboldt, with its rich natural resources and an environmentally conscious and engaged community, offer several opportunities to overcome the constraints the region faces:

1. Partnerships and Collaboration: No single agency is responsible for mitigating GHG emissions, just as no community can avoid impacts related to climate change. One of the benefits of isolated areas like the Humboldt region is the recognized need to establish capable agencies and to foster collaboration to overcome challenges. This recognition has helped the region establish strong cross agency coordination and partnerships. Continuing 5 California Air Resources Board (2021). Identification of Low-Income Communities under AB 1550 Methodology and Documentation for Maps. Accessed May 20, 2024, from https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/auction-proceeds/kml/ab1550_maps_documentation.pdf 6 U.S. Census Bureau (2022). American Community Survey (ACS) 5 Year Estimates (2017-2022) S1901. Accessed June 10, 22024, from https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1901?g=050XX00US06023 County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
8 to work together through a formal coalition to implement the RCAP is a powerful way for the region to make rapid progress with GHG mitigation and increased resilience.

2. Green Economic Growth: Transitioning to a low-carbon economy presents opportunities for new green industries and job creation in Humboldt. Investments in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism, composting, and green infrastructure projects can stimulate economic growth while reducing GHG emissions.

3. Funding Opportunities: There are several funding opportunities for rural and low-income areas in California. This includes state and federal funding, incentives, and partnerships to implement climate-related projects in Humboldt.

4. Abundant Renewable Energy Resources: Humboldt has significant potential for renewable energy generation, particularly from wind, solar, and biomass sources. Expanding renewable energy infrastructure can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create local jobs and stimulate economic development. Recently, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management(BOEM) has auctioned two lease areas for potential commercial wind energy development in Federal waters off the coast of Humboldt County, referred to as the Humboldt Wind Energy Area (WEA).7

5. Carbon Sequestration in Natural Ecosystems: Humboldt’s diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and coastal habitats, provide valuable opportunities for carbon sequestration. Protecting and restoring these natural areas can enhance resilience to climate change impacts while mitigating carbon emissions. With its extensive natural lands there are significant opportunities to implement sustainable land practices that sequester carbon, protect biodiversity, and support local economies.

Overcoming the obstacles to climate change policy implementation will require collaboration, innovation, and commitment. Coalition building is a core concept of the RCAP as collaboration between stakeholders in rural areas will be the key to successful implementation of climate action policies and improving climate resiliency in Humboldt. Several resources including the California Climate Adaptation Strategy, Community Organization Boards (COBs), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality offer partnership strategies to reduce GHG emissions. Collaboration efforts have the potential to increase green jobs and provide other economic resources to mitigate GHG emissions and build increased resilience across the Humboldt region.

Past GHG Reduction Efforts
Humboldt has been committed to increasing sustainable operations and policies for many years and strives to reduce GHG emissions throughout the region. There are numerous community-based groups and advocacy groups established that focus on initiatives to address climate change through policy-change. For example, North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP) collaborates on various efforts to reduce GHG emissions across the North Coast which includes Humboldt County. This collaboration works to obtain grant funding, provide educational and promotional events, and implement a variety of programs across the region such as energy efficiency programs and land use and conservation projects that reduce GHG emissions and increase climate resilience. They are also 7 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (2024). Humboldt Winde Energy Area. Accessed June 6, 2024, from https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/humboldt-wind-energy-area Introduction
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involved in transporting, planning and supporting the development of renewable energy sources in the region to create an independent energy system.8
Additionally, Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA), a local not for profit government agency that procures electricity for the Humboldt region as a community choice aggregator is implementing severalinitiatives to reduce GHG emissions through the energy sector. RePower Humboldt9, RCEA’s Comprehensive Action Plan for Energy in the region, lays out a strategy to provide 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2027. Based on community input, the final report outlines policies and goals to lower utility rates and offer clean energy from local sources. RCEA’s long-term energy portfolio aims to be 100 percent renewable by 2030. In addition, RCEA offers several energy efficiency, fuel switching, and clean transportation programs to convert household and vehicle energy use from fossil fuels to renewable (low-carbon) sources.

Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) also offers a Weatherization Program that provides home repair services to increase energy efficiency for low-income households. Implementation of energy efficiency efforts and a continual increase of renewable and carbon-free energy on the grid through such efforts have led to a significant decrease in GHG emissions associated with electricity use in the region.

The Humboldt region is also dedicated to reducing vehicle miles traveled in the community and consequentially GHG emissions in its transportation sector. The Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) has developed numerous planning documents to de crease VMT in the region and is currently funding the County-led development of VMT thresholds for the region that would establish what amount of VMT change from development would be considered a significant impact and would require mitigation. This helps to limit increasing VMT. Additionally, HCAOG has secured numerous grants for the region for a variety of programs that aim to reduce VMT. 10 Several communities are planning and developing with climate change and GHG impacts in mind. For example, the City of Arcata recently adopted the Gateway Area Plan that focuses on a high-density mixed-use development that is in close access to the City’s center and key amenities of the city to reduce the need to drive.11 The City adopted the Gateway Area Code to establish the specific requirements and standards to implement the Gateway Area Plan.12 Land use decisions and developments such as this reduce VMT by placing residents near amenities, economic centers and access to other modes of transportation that is less GHG emitting.

The Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) is committed to fully transitioning their fleet to zero emission in compliance with the Innovative Clean Transit regulation. In 2022 HTA was awarded a $38.7 million grant funded by the California Climate Investment fund through California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TICRP) to introduce 11 New Flyer fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) and a hydrogen fueling station at HTA’s facility in Eureka. With 11 8 North Coast Resource Partnership (NCPA) (n.d.).Homepage. Accessed June 15, 2024, from https://northcoastresourcepartnership.org 9 Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) (2019). RePower Humboldt. Accessed May 5, 2024, from https://redwoodenergy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/06/RePower-2019-Update-FINAL-.pdf 10 Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) (2023). HCAOG 2023 Highlights. Accessed May 21, 2024, from https://www.hcaog.net/sites/default/files/HCAOG%202023%20Highlights%20(Canva).pdf 11 City of Arcata (2024). Resolution No. PC-24-05, Gateway Area Plan 2024. Accessed May 15, 2024, from https://www.cityofarcata.org/DocumentCenter/View/14232/25_Gateway20240514PC 12 City of Arcata (2024). Arcata Municipal Code Chapter 9.110 - Gateway Area Districts. Accessed May 15, 2024, from https://www.cityofarcata.org/DocumentCenter/View/14200/Gateway-FBC20240514_PC-Adopted County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
10 new zero-emission FCEBs added to the fleet and the hydrogen station, this project will help kickstart a hydrogen supply chain on the North Coast.13 Numerous community planning documents have been adopted in the Humboldt region that include a number of policies, goals, and projects that are focused on the reduction of GHG emissions including the County and local General Plans, City of Arcata Community GHG Reduction Plan14, RePower Humboldt15, Humboldt County Transit Development Plan 2023 - 2028, 16 HCAOG
Humboldt Bay Area Bike Map, HCAOG RTP17, and RCEA North Coast Medium-Duty and Heavy -Duty ZEV Blueprint Plan18.

1.4 Regional Climate Action Plan Development Process
Process
The RCAP was built off the completed 2022 GHG emissions inventory calculated for activities within the geographic area of Humboldt County and included future GHG emissions forecasts and analysis of GHG emission reduction targets in support of state reduction goals. After the targets were analyzed, GHG emission reduction measures and supporting actions were designed based on the success of the work done previously in Humboldt, current best practices, and information gathered from interested parties including the County, incorporated Cities, regional partners (e.g., HTA, RCEA, HCAOG), and community groups. Feedback from interested parties were considered to establish a list of priority projects and measures that were then further refined based on feasibility and substantial evidence for GHG reduction capacity. Figure 1 shows the iterative nature of the RCAP development process.
13 California Climate Investments (2023). Kick-Starting Zero-emission Fleets and Expanding Transit on California’s North Coast. Accessed June 10, 2024, from https://www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov/2023-profiles/hta 14 City of Arcata( 2006). Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. Accessed June 7, 2024, from https://www.cailg.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/resources__Greenhouse_Gas_Reduction_Plan_0.pdf?1460653786 15 Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) (2019). RePower Humboldt. Accessed May 5, 2024, from https://redwoodenergy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/06/RePower-2019-Update-FINAL-.pdf 16 Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) (2023). Humboldt County Transit Development Plan 2023-2028. Accessed May 10, 2024, from https://www.hcaog.net/sites/default/files/humboldt_county_transit_development_plan_ - _final_report_no_appendices_compressed_0.pdf
17 Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). Regional Transportation Plan, VROOM 2022-2042. Accessed May 10, 2024, from https://www.hcaog.net/sites/default/files/vroom_2022-2042_full_report_0.pdf 18 Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) (2023). North Coast Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty ZEV Blueprint Plan. Provided by the County via SharePoint on March 15, 2023.

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Figure 1 RCAP Development Process
Developing a comprehensive strategy to tackle climate change requires collaboration among various interested parties, community members, decision-makers, County and incorporated City staff. By working together, a plan that is representative of the needs of the community at large was developed.

Jurisdictional Collaboration
The RCAP was developed to encompass the geographical region of Humboldt County and will be implemented across all the incorporated Cities and County. Success with implementation and achievement of the GHG reduction targets will require coordination and cooperation between different jurisdictions and commitment and effort from all levels of the Cities and County administration. The RCAP was developed through collaboration among the County, all incorporated Cities, RCEA, HTA, HCAOG, and HWMA. The goals and measures presented in the RCAP were developed in close collaboration with department heads and regional partners. This approach 12 County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
supported the development of measures and actions that were feasible and provided a clear roadmap to address potential barriers to implementation. By incorporating insights from across the region, the RCAP struck a balance between Humboldt’s operational capabilities and what needs to occur to reach the 2030 GHG reduction target. While the RCAP is regional in scope, each individual jurisdiction will need to adopt the RCAP through their City Councils or the County Board of Supervisors for the County.

Information Sharing with the Community
During the initial drafting of the RCAP that began in 2019, the County and incorporated Cities hosted numerous community outreach events and campaigns. As part of the initial work on the CAP presentations were made to each of the City Councils for Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Del and Trinidad, and to the Board of Supervisors. Other public presentations were held with the Farm Bureau, RCEA Board of Directors, a public forum at Cal Poly Humboldt and in McKinleyville, Redway and Willow Creek. To better address transportation related issues and Transportation Advisory Group was formed to provide input on the RCAP.

During the development of the RCAP, an interactive community survey was published on the public RCAP website to inform the community of the updates to the RCAP and gain an understanding of what measures and actions the community would like to see prioritized by the County and incorporated jurisdictions during implementation. The primary goal of the survey was to share information on 1) the Humboldt regions’ GHG emissions inventory, forecast, and targets; 2) how Measures and Actions are structured; and 3) the level of potential GHG emissions reduction based on the Measures. The survey was viewed over 1,000 times with a total of 160 submissions. Survey results indicated that the respondents prioritized efforts to reduce organic waste sent to landfills, increase zero-emission vehicle use, and increase public transit use the highest. Responses from public officials prioritized efforts to increase zero-emission vehicle use and establish a region-wide Climate Committee to implement the RCAP as the highest with reducing organic waste and increasing public transit use tied as the third highest priority. These responses indicated high alignment between what public officials felt should be prioritized compared with the community respondents.

Scientific Context for Climate Change
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2 Scientific Context for Climate Change
Climate change is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans along with other substantial changes in climate intensity (such as wind patterns, precipitation, and storms) over an extended period of time. The baseline against which these changes are measured originates in historical records identifying temperature changes that have occurred in the past, such as during previous ice ages. The global climate is continuously changing, as evidenced by repeated episodes of substantial warming and cooling documented in the geologic record. The rate of change has typically been incremental, with warming or cooling trends occurring over the course of thousands of years. However, scientists have observed acceleration in the rate of warming during the past 150 years. Per the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the understanding of anthropogenic warming and cooling influences on climate has led to a high confidence (95 percent or greater chance) that the global average net effect of human activities has been the dominant cause of warming since the mid-20th century.19

2.1 Background on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Gases that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases (GHGs). The accumulation of GHGs in the atmosphere regulates the Earth’s temperature is known as the “greenhouse gas effect”. The greenhouse effect, shown in Figure 2, is integral to sustaining life on Earth. However, human activities emit GHGs more than natural ambient concentrations, thereby contributing to the enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect. This enhanced greenhouse effect contributes to global warming, an accelerated rate of warming of earth’s average surface temperature. More specifically, by burning fossil fuels to power homes, businesses, and automobiles, we increase the amount of GHGs emitted into the atmosphere, which, in turn, leads to increased absorption of infrared radiation by the earth’s atmosphere and increasing temperatures near the surface.
19 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (1995). Climate Change 1995, The Science of Climate Change. Accessed May 1, 2024, from https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_sar_wg_I_full_report.pdf County of Humboldt
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14 Figure 2 Greenhouse Gas Effect
Scientific Context for Climate Change
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Types of GHGs
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) list of GHG emissions include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride, which are collectively called fluorinated gases. 20 Fluorinated gases are man-made gases that can stay in the atmosphere for centuries and contribute to the GHG effect. Ninety-seven percent of the annual GHG emissions generated in the United States consist of CO2, CH4, and N2O,21 while fluorinated gases22 result in the remaining three percent of emissions. Most fluorinated gases come from industrial sources, of which there are relatively few in Humboldt. Due to CO2, CH4, and N2O comprising the large majority of GHG emissions in Humboldt, the RCAP focuses on these three gases for its GHG emissions inventory, forecast, and reduction strategy, consistent with the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability’s U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Community Protocol).

Each type of GHG has a differing ability to trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere over a specified timescale (generally, 100 years), referred to as the gas’s global warming potential (GWP).23 The reference point to compare the potential impact of different GHGs is CO2, and therefore CO2 has a GWP of 1, whereas CH4 has a GWP of 28. This means that each metric ton (MT) of methane causes 28 times more warming than 1 MT of CO2. Even more potent, N2O has a GWP of 265, or 265 times the GWP of 1 MT of CO2.
24 Sources of GHGs
GHGs are emitted by both natural processes and human activities. Of these gases, CO2 and CH4 are emitted in the greatest quantities from human activities. Emissions of CO2 are largely by-products of fossil fuel combustion, whereas CH4 results from off-gassing associated with agricultural practices and decomposition of organic waste in landfills. These activities release GHGs into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. With the accelerated increase in fossil fuel combustion and deforestation since the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, concentrations of GHG emissions in the atmosphere have increased exponentially. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) tracks the country-wide emissions and publishes an annual report: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.25 The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks is a comprehensive account of total GHG emissions for all man-made sources in the U.S. including CO2 removal from the atmosphere by “sinks,” (e.g., through the uptake of carbon and storage in forests, vegetation, and soils) from management of lands in their current use, or as lands are converted to other uses. In 2020, the most recent year in which GHG emissions have been calculated nationally, emissions in the U.S. totaled 5,222 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2e after accounting for sequestration from the land sector. Emissions decreased from 2019 to 2020 by 11 20 Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (2019). Main Greenhouse Gases. Accessed June 12, 2024, from https://www.c2es.org/content/main-greenhouse-gases/
21 World Resources Institute (WRI) (2020). 4 Charts Explain Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Countries and Sectors. Accessed June 12, 2024, from https://www.wri.org/insights/4-charts-explain-greenhouse-gas-emissions-countries-and-sectors 22 Fluorinated gases, which includes four main types: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), are man-made gases that can stay in the atmosphere for centuries and contribute to the GHG effect. 23 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2014). Climate Change 2014, Synthesis Report. Accessed May 12, 2024, from https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/05/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full_wcover.pdf 24 ibid.
25 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2024). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks. Accessed May 12, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks County of Humboldt
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16 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, preliminary estimates show that emissions rebounded in 2021 after the height of the pandemic.26
Effects of Climate Change
In California, the impacts of climate change are already being felt, and will continue to become more severe throughout the twenty-first 21st century. Higher temperatures, more extreme heat events and wildfires, and rising sea levels are all effects of climate change experienced in California. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment reported in 2018 that despite annual variations in weather patterns, California has seen a trend of increased average temperatures, more extreme heat days, higher acidity in the Pacific Ocean, earlier snowmelt, and lesser rainwater runoff.27 From 1895 to 2011, average temperatures have increased by about 1.7 ͦF statewide, and a smaller proportion of annual precipitation is falling as snow instead of rain. During 1972-2018, California experienced a fivefold increase in the annual area burned, largely attributable to climate change-induced atmospheric temperature rises.

Humboldt and its residents have not been immune from the impacts of climate change. In the last five years the County has experienced the highest rate of sea level rise on the west coast.28 This has led to coastal erosion and flooding events along coastal communities. Elevated temperatures can harm agriculture, strain water resources, and heighten the risk of heat-related illnesses. Similar to other regions in California, Humboldt is also vulnerable to more frequent and severe wildfires due to climate change where dry and hot conditions contribute to the spread of wildfires, posing risks to communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure. The risk of wildfires is even greater in Humboldt due to the abundant stock of vegetation, which over the last decades have increased in density as vegetative clearing and prescribed burning have reduced.29 The forested land in Humboldt provides a natural sink to GHG emissions for the region and the state; a loss of this natural sink would be devasting. These climate hazards are expected to intensify if GHG emissions continue to increase.

Likewise, Humboldt is likely to face direct impacts from climate change.

While everyone will be impacted, the effects of these environmental hazards will vary depending on factors such as age, health, and socioeconomic status. The most vulnerable individuals will bear the greatest burden from the potential impacts of climate change. It is crucial that the development of this RCAP benefits all community members and does not disproportionately burden or harm vulnerable populations.
26United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2024). Climate Change Indicators: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Accessed June 1, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions 27 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency (2018). Indicators of Climate Change in California. Accessed May 21, 2024, from https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/climatechange/report/2018caindicatorsreportmay2018.pdf 28 California Sea Level Rise Science Task Force, California Ocean Protection Council, California Ocean Science Trust (2024). California Sea Level Rise Guidance: 2024 Science and Policy Update. Accessed July 10, 2024, from https://opc.ca.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2024/05/Item-4-Exhibit-A-Final-Draft-Sea-Level-Rise-Guidance-Update-2024-508.pdf 29 Humboldt Planning & Building (n.d). Wildfire Hazard. Accessed June 10, 2024, from https://humboldtgov.org/3407/Wildfire-Hazard Scientific Context for Climate Change
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2.2 Public Policy Context
California Climate Policy
California is recognized globally as a leader on climate change, having established a variety of ambitious GHG reduction targets and associated strategies. The primary policies that have driven statewide GHG emissions reductions are Executive Order (EO) S-3-05, Assembly Bill (AB) 32, Senate Bill (SB) 32, EO B-55-18, and most recently AB 1279. Signed in 2005, EO S-3-05 established statewide GHG emission reduction targets to achieve long-term climate stabilization as follows: by 2020, reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels and by 2050, reduce GHG emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels. In 2016, SB 32 set a target for achieving a 40 percent reduction in GHG emissions below 1990 levels by 2030. In 2018, EO S-3-05 was accelerated by EO B-55-18, which established a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and was codified by AB 1279. Carbon neutrality refers to emitting net zero carbon emissions, which can be achieved by either eliminating all GHG emissions, or balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal (which can be achieved through carbon sequestration or carbon neutral technologies). AB 1279 requires the direct reduction in GHG emissions by 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2045. The remaining 15 percent of emissions would be removed via carbon removal technology or natural working lands.

To meet the state’s 2045 goal of carbon neutrality, CARB recommends that local agencies long-term targets align with AB 1279. Specifically, CARB guidance is for jurisdictions to first strive to meet the SB 32 targets of reducing GHG emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, while establishing a policy framework to achieve the long-term target of carbon neutrality by 2045.

Other Key California Climate Policies
California’s GHG-emissions-reduction strategies that will help achieve these reduction targets are developed through its Scoping Plan updates and various Sustainable Communities Strategies passed by local Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Other important climate legislation that will help California achieve its GHG-reduction targets include the state’s green building code (Title 24), SB 1383, which set targets for reducing organic waste to landfills, and SB 100, which mandated 100 percent renewable and carbon-free electricity by 2045.

Regional and Local Goals
In the transportation sector, the HCAOG released a County Transit Development Plan for the years 2023-2028 that includes targeted sustainability goals for each jurisdiction. These include integrating solar power PV systems in the Arcata Intermodal Transit Facility and securing funding for the Sustainable Communities Program to fund green capital improvement projects. HCAOG 2022 RTP has set ambitious goals to increase public and active transit mode share by a combined 30 percent by 2030, and 40 percent by 2050. 30 Additionally, HTA is committed to fully transitioning their fleet to zero emission in compliance with the Innovative Clean Transit regulation. These efforts will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, vehicle miles traveled, and congestion.

RCEA, the local Community Choice Energy provider, has set several goals focused on energy procurement and reducing emissionsin the region as they are related to energy consumption. RCEA 30 Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). Regional Transportation Plan, VROOM 2022-2042. Accessed May 10, 2024, from https://www.hcaog.net/sites/default/files/vroom_2022-2042_full_report_0.pdf County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
18 goals include: expand existing energy efficiency, conservation and electrification programs to reduce GHG emissions from fossil fuel use in buildings by 20 percent by 2030 and maintain a trajectory to reduce emissions from natural gas by 90 percent by 2050; accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, with a target of over 6,000 electric vehicles on the road in Humboldt County by 2025 and 22,000 vehicles by 2030; by 2025 100 percent of RCEA’s power mix will be from a combination of state-designated renewable energy sources; and by 2030 Humboldt County will be a net exporter of renewable electricity and RCEA’s power mix will consist of 100 percent local, net-zero-carbonemission renewable sources.31 Cal Poly Humboldt launched an initiative called the Redwood Region RISE (Resilient Inclusive Sustainable Economy) that includes Tribal Lands, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. This is an effort to increase the number of green jobs in the region to align with sustainable economic growth and California’s goals to achieve carbon neutrality. With a focus on equity, RISE aims to bring together different stakeholders to understand the needs for each region and develop projects in various sectors. County of Humboldt’s Economic Development Department (GoHumCo) has developed a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that is updated every five years to provide an implementation plan for policies, programs and investments that will strengthen the economy in the Humboldt region. The 2018 – 2023 CEDS initiatives included attracting and growing industry and local workforce development.32 31 Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) (2019). RePower Humboldt. Accessed May 5, 2024, from https://redwoodenergy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/06/RePower-2019-Update-FINAL-.pdf 32 Humboldt County (2018). Prosperity! 2018, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2018 -2013. Accessed May 11, 2024, from https://www.gohumco.com/DocumentCenter/View/137/2018-to-2023-Comprehensive-Development-Strategy-PDF GHG Emissions Levels
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3 GHG Emissions Levels
An important part of the RCAP process is the development of a GHG inventory. A GHG emissions inventory identifies the major sources and quantities of GHG emissions produced by community wide activities within a defined geographic area for a given year. Estimating GHG emissions enables local governments to establish an emissions baseline, track emissions trends, identify the greatest sources of GHG emissions within a defined geographic area, and set targets for future reductions.

For this RCAP a 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG emissions Inventory was developed to comprehensively cover the entire county excluding those territories beyond local government jurisdiction, incorporating emissions data from both the incorporated cities and the unincorporated regions of Humboldt. The 2022 GHG emissions inventory was used to identify the greatest sources of GHG emissions within Humboldt and establish a GHG emissions baseline for the RCAP from which a forecast and reduction targets were established. The 2022 GHG emissions inventory identifies the major sources and quantities of GHG emissions produced by communitywide activities within the Humboldt region defined by the county geographical limits.

Emissions estimates were calculated using the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) methodologies, specifically, the United States Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Version 1.2 (Community Protocol) is used for communitywide emissions. To allow for comparison among GHG emissions sources, all emissions are translated to the equivalent of one metric ton of carbon dioxide, or MT CO2e. One MT CO2e is the equivalent of using 113 gallons of gasoline or driving 2,558 miles in a standard combustion vehicle.33

3.1 Humboldt GHG Emissions Inventory
The 2022 GHG emissions inventory covers the relevant emissions sources within the boundary of Humboldt County, including all incorporated and unincorporated areas. The inventory thereby reflects emissions sectors resulting from Humboldt community activities over which the local governments (i.e., County and partnering jurisdictions) have jurisdictional control and influence.

Sectors where the local government has limited influence are excluded from the 2022 GHG emissions inventory as the local governments do not have jurisdictional control to develop measures to impact associated emissions. In alignment with Community Protocol, the 2022 GHG emission inventory includes emissions from the five basic reporting activities that must be reported:
residential and commercial energy usage, on-road transportation, off-road transportation, landfilled waste, and water and wastewater.

As part of the energy sector, electricity34 and natural gas consumption from industrial operations are included as most industrial facilities in the area are not subject to regulations under the State’s Cap and Trade program which typically governs industrial emissions. Further, local jurisdictions are considered to have some influence over the energy use at industrial land uses through zoning and building codes and therefore are included in the inventory. Emissions from industrial point source 33United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2024). Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. Accessed June 20, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator 34 Electricity is supplied to the region by PG&E and RCEA. GHG emissions associated with electricity use is based on the emission factor (i.e., MT CO2e/kwh) determined by the energy portfolio for each utility provider and quantity of electricity provided to the region by each provider.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
20 discharge have been excluded due to lack of local jurisdictional control over this emissions source and because industrial point sources are regulated by the state under the Cap-and-Trade program and by the local air district. Water sector emissions, arising from electricity use in water delivery and treatment, are accounted for under electricity sector emissions as the entirety of water supplied to Humboldt community members occurs within Humboldt geographic and jurisdictional boundaries.35 Emissions associated with agricultural land use practices (e.g., land management, livestock emissions) are excluded from the inventory because the County and local jurisdictional governments have limited control over these type of agricultural emissions. Further, the state has not yet issued guidance on methodology for quantifying GHG emission impacts associated with natural working lands. Therefore, GHG emission impacts and carbon sequestration of natural working lands are not included in the inventory.

Humboldt’s total GHG emissions for 2022 were estimated to be 1,531,167 MT CO2e, as depicted in Figure 3. For more information on the data and methodologies used, refer to Appendix B. According to the results of the 2022 GHG inventory, the largest source of GHG emissions in Humboldt was from on-road transportation, which accounted for 73 percent of the inventoried emissions. The second largest source of GHG emissions was from natural gas usage in buildings, which accounted for 13 percent of total emissions. Natural gas is used to heat water, homes, and businesses and to power gas-powered appliances. Off-road equipment accounted for the third largest source of emissions, for a total of 8 percent of total emissions in Humboldt as seen in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3 Humboldt GHG Emissions 2022 Inventory
35 Water sector operation information is based on feedback provided by the County and water districts which supply water to the Humboldt community.

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3.2 GHG Emissions Forecast
While GHG inventories provide data on Humboldt’s current emissions, GHG-emissions forecasts (forecast) estimate the community’s projected GHG emissions into the future. Forecasts are developed from the most recent GHG inventory and provide an estimate of how Humboldt’s emissions might change over time due to factors such as population and job growth as well as new technologies and policies. A GHG emissions forecast estimates future GHG emission changes by accounting for projected community growth and changes. Calculating the difference between the GHG emissions forecast and GHG emissions reduction targets determines the gap in GHG emissions that needs to be closed through the implementation of local GHG reduction policies.

The 2022 GHG emission inventory was selected to serve as the baseline for the forecast as it is considered the most recent emission inventory representative of typical conditions in the community. To provide a comprehensive, forward-looking projection of demographic trends in the Humboldt community, the GHG emissions forecast utilized the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) 6th cycle data and the U.S. Census data to estimate anticipated household growth in the region per year. RHNA data accounts for housing needs across the region based on demographic trends. Projected household estimates were used to project population and employment growth in Humboldt. These projections align with the anticipated growth reflected in the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) Regional Transportation Plan (RPT) which projects a 1 percent population growth rate per year in the region in consideration of local project developments, growth analysis from local jurisdictions, climate trends, and State-wide population movement trends.36
Two scenarios were forecastto estimate the future emissions for Humboldt in the years 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045. This includes a business-as-usualscenario (BAU) forecast that estimates how future GHG emissions would change if consumption trends continued as they did in 2022 without consideration of any local or state regulations. Additionally, a legislative adjusted scenario (adjusted) forecast was developed that accounts for how currently adopted state legislation, such as the California Renewable Portfolio Standards, Title 24 building energy efficiency standards, and transportation legislation, would reduce GHG emissions from the business-as-usual scenario. More information on these regulations and how they were accounted for in the forecast can be found in Appendix B.

Humboldt’s adjusted forecast projects the community’s GHG emissions will decrease through 2040 and then increase slightly in 2045. This is due to State legislation, including Title 24 and California’s GHG vehicle emission standards, being fully phased in and then being offset by population, job growth, and levels of vehicles miles traveled. A summary of Humboldt’s adjusted GHG forecast through 2045 is shown in Figure 4.
36 Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). Regional Transportation Plan, VROOM 2022-2042. Accessed May 10, 2024, from https://www.hcaog.net/sites/default/files/vroom_2022-2042_full_report_0.pdf County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
22 Figure 4 Humboldt GHG Emissions Adjusted Forecast, 2022- 2045

3.3 Humboldt GHG Emissions Targets
GHG reduction targets are used to establish measurable metrics intended to guide the community’s commitment to achieve GHG emissions reduction and help gauge progress with reducing emissions over time. GHG targets are developed relative to a baseline emissions level. California has established Statewide GHG reduction goals for 2030 and 2045. The State has encouraged communities to adopt their own plans consistent with these goals in the CARB 2022 Scoping Plan. 37 Thus, local agencies are recommended to establish at a minimum, equivalent reduction targets at the local level by establishing community wide GHG reduction goals for climate action that will help California achieve its 2030 and 2045 GHG emissions goals.

Due to lack of available and accurate 1990 activity data, Humboldt does not have a 1990 GHG emissions inventory from which to develop GHG reduction targets consistent with SB 32, however, 1990 GHG emissions can be estimated for the community relative to Humboldt’s updated 2022 inventory using a state-level emissions change metric. The calculation is developed using the published Statewide emissions results from CARB38, after removing emissions from sectors not included in Humboldt’s inventory (e.g., non-specified, industrial point sources, agricultural land management practices). This approach assumes that Humboldt’s community activities and associated GHG emissions have generally tracked with the State’s activity trends and associated GHG emissions. However, since 1990, electricity and natural gas consumption and associated GHG emissions in Humboldt have declined at a much more rapid rate than the Statewide trend reflected 37 California Air Resources Board (CARB) (2022). 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality. Access February 19th, 2024, from https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/2022-sp.pdf 38 California Air Resources Board (CARB) (2024). Current California GHG Emission Inventory Data. Accessed May 2, 2024, from https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-inventory-data
0 200,000
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in the Statewide inventory. This is because Humboldt has experienced a significant decline in industrial operations leading to a significant decrease in electricity and natural gas consumption.

Further, RCEA has emerged as the main alternative electricity provider in the region offering since 2017 an alternative to PG&E, the sole utility provider to the Humboldt region in 1990. Because RCEA has a more renewable and carbon-free energy profile than PG&E, GHG emissions associated with building electricity use in the region have declined to a greater extent than Statewide trends reflect.

Since these trends are specific to the Humboldt region and do not track with Statewide trends reflected in the Statewide inventory, electricity and natural gas emissions were also removed from the Statewide emissions to back-cast Humboldt’s 1990 emissions associated with the following included inventory sectors: transportation (on and off-road), solid waste, wastewater, and heating fuel. GHG emissions from electricity and natural gas consumption in Humboldt in 1990 was quantified using 1990 county-wide activity data obtained from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and PG&E 1990 electricity emissions factor provided in the PG&E Community Report. This approach for developing a 1990 back-cast for Humboldt assumes that Humboldt’s community GHG emissions associated with transportation, solid waste, wastewater, and heating fuel consumption have generally tracked with Statewide trends, while taking into consideration the more regionally applicable changes in electricity and natural gas consumption in the county.

The purpose of target setting is to develop the trajectory toward achieving the State’s 2030 goal (SB 32) and prepare for the deep decarbonization needed by 2045 in a cost-effective manner by setting an incremental path toward achieving AB 1279 targets. CARB guidance is for jurisdictions to first strive to exceed the SB 32 targets of reducing GHG emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels, while establishing a policy framework to achieve the long-term target of carbon neutrality by 2045. This RCAP establishes a mass emissions target of 40 percent reduction in GHG emissions below 1990 levels by 2030 in alignment with SB 32. Additionally, the RCAP establishes strategies to make substantial progress towards carbon neutrality by 2045 in alignment with AB 1279. The pathway to achieve Humboldt targets in alignment with the state’s targets is shown in Figure 5.

The emissions gap between the forecast and the target pathway represents the amount of GHG emissions that Humboldt is committed to reducing through local GHG reduction strategies and projects. As shown in Table 2, to achieve the RCAPs’ 2030 goal, Humboldt emissions will need to be reduced by approximately 218,000 MT CO2e by 2030.

Emission reductions will be achieved by implementing specific policies and programs at the local level. These activities are referred to as “measures” and “actions” and they should be clear, attainable, measurable, and equitable to help achieve the desired emission reductions. The GHG emissions reductions associated with the measures in the RCAP are sufficient to meet the state-level target established by SB 32 and meet Humboldt’s 2030 climate action target. The RCAP also makes substantial progress towards Humboldt’s 2045 target, which aligns with the state-level carbon neutrality target established by AB 1279.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
24 Figure 5 Humboldt GHG Emission Reduction Goals
Table 2 Humboldt Region GHG Emissions Reduction Pathway Emissions Forecast or Pathway 2030 2035 2040 2045
Adjusted Forecast 1,459,598 1,408,160 1,386,924 1,387,943 SB 32 Mass Emissions Target
Pathway1
1,241,589 827,726 413,863 0
Remaining Emissions Gap 218,008 580,434 973,061 1,387,943 Notes: All values are presented in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e) Emissions have been rounded to the nearest whole number and therefore sums may not match.

1. The target pathway is calculated by reducing 1990 mass emissions by 40 percent in 2030 and to 0 in 2045. This target pathway is consistent with both SB 32 and a trajectory set forth to achieve AB 1279. 2045 Emissions
Gap, (1,387,943)
MT CO2e
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Adjusted Forecast
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1,241,589 MT
Target Pathway
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2,069,316 MT CO2e
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4 GHG Emission Reduction Strategy

4.1 Strategy Development
The RCAP sets forth a roadmap for how Humboldt will reduce GHG emissions in the near term to meet the established 2030 goals and make progress towards carbon neutrality in 2045. This RCAP builds upon Humboldt’s previous efforts with actions that are equitable, achievable, and implementable. The measures and actions in the RCAP were developed through a collaborative process between County staff, incorporated jurisdictions, key stakeholders, and interested parties.

The following sections detail Humboldt’s mitigation strategies and the considerations made to develop them. The Measures are organized around a set of eleven Strategies to reduce GHG emissions. Each Measure is then supported by a set of Actions. The structure of the mitigation Strategies, Measures, and Actions are as follows:
▪ Strategies: Strategies describe an overall approach for reducing GHG emissions within a given sector
▪ Measures: Measures are long-range policies that the Humboldt region has established to ultimately reduce GHG emissions in line with the State. Some Measures may be further disaggregated to set goals for “urban” or “rural” regions, defined as follows:
▪ Urban: Urban areas in Humboldt are more densely developed areas in the region with greater access to energy and transportation infrastructure. ▪ Rural: Rural areas in Humboldt represent the dispersed communities in the region with limited access to energy and transportation infrastructure. This includes the unincorporated County as well as some incorporated cities that have similar constraints. ▪ Actions: Actions identify the programs, policies, funding pathways, and other specific commitments that will be implemented within the region. Each measure contains a suite of actions, which together have been designed to accomplish the measure goal and metrics.

4.2 Type of GHG Reduction Measures
The Measures and Actions can be either quantitative or supportive, defined as follows:
▪ Quantitative: Quantitative Measures result in direct and measurable GHG emissions reductions when their Actions, backed by substantial evidence, are implemented. GHG emissions reductions from these Measures and Actions are justified by case studies, scientific articles, calculations, and other third-party substantial evidence that establish the effectiveness of the reduction actions. Quantitative Measures can be summed to quantify how the region will meet its 2030 GHG emission reduction target and demonstrate progress towards the 2045 target. ▪ Supportive: Supportive Measures may also be quantifiable and have substantial evidence to support their overall contribution to GHG emission reductions. However, due to one of several factors – including a low GHG emission reduction benefit, indirect GHG emission reduction benefit, or potential for double-counting– they have not been quantified and do not contribute directly to achieving and making progress towards the region’s GHG emission reduction targets.

Despite not being quantified, supportive Measures are nevertheless critical to the overall County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
26 success of the RCAP and provide support so that the quantitative Measures will be successfully implemented.

4.3 Key Strategy Attributes
Successful implementation of climate action requires behavioral changes and community buy-in which means balancing various factors beyond reducing GHG emissions. To best position the RCAP to achieve the Humboldt region’s targets, measures are designed to embody six key attributes crucial for effective climate policy. Each key attribute emphasizes specific criteria that play an essential role in the implementation of climate action. The key attributes are:
▪ Structural Change: Establishing a program/policy/ordinance that will allow the Humboldt region to reach the target established by the Measure (e.g., ordinance or code) ▪ Engagement: Development of promotional materials to inform the community and interested parties, gain buy-in, and raise awareness of new and existing programs and opportunities. ▪ Equity: Actions that engage and consider vulnerable communities (low-income families, fixedincome seniors, agricultural workers, etc.) that may experience secondary impacts or not benefit directly from the Measure’s objective (e.g., actions that ensure the overall community benefit).
▪ Feasibility Study: Used to understand more about the details/obstacles/feasibility or implementation of a program (e.g., analysis necessary to identify the best path or the feasibility of implementing a specific measure).
▪ Funding: The financial backing to get a program going such as general funds, local income generation, bonds as well as pursuing external sources including grant funding or financing opportunities (e.g., grants or rebates that help pay for the implementation of a measure, funding to adequately staff the program).
▪ Partnerships: Looking at outside non-profits or agencies that can help with implementation of a measure's actions (e.g., community organizations that are best positioned to move a measure forward consistently or sustainably)
The Cornerstone Strategy and Measure (C-1) illustrates how these key attributes integrate into a cohesive strategy designed for long-term implementation. The other Strategies and Measures within this RCAP follow the same structure as the Cornerstone Measure, embodying the key attributes that are essential to successful implementation of the Measure and achieving GHG emissions reductions.

4.4 Co-Benefits of GHG Reduction Measures
The Humboldt region’s commitment to reduce GHG emissions means the community will benefit from various co-benefits that will have lasting positive impacts on the community residents and help the Humboldt region reach its goals. The co-benefits identified for each Measure include:

Natural Resource Enhancement: Protects and enhances regional natural resources, safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services like cleaner air and water. Healthy ecosystems mitigate pollution, sequester carbon, provide species habitat, and offer recreational spaces for the community. They also help manage extreme weather effects by absorbing rainwater and reducing strain on infrastructure.

GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Resource Efficiency: Many GHG reduction strategies improve resource use efficiency while minimizing waste. Efficient resource use reduces environmental impact and often results in economic savings, freeing up funds for other community needs.

Public Health and Equity: Vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by climate change. Implementing GHG reduction strategies reduces emissions, leads to cleaner air, promotes healthier lifestyles, and mitigates climate hazards like extreme heat.

Ensuring equitable access to these benefits supports the health, safety, and resilience of all community members, particularly those most at risk.

Increased Resilience: Certain GHG reduction strategies enhance community resilience to climate change, and vice versa. These initiatives increase the community's ability to prepare for, mitigate, and recover from climate hazards such as extreme heat, sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, landslides, and drought.

Green Jobs: Creates or advances employment opportunities in sectors contributing to sustainability or improving environmental quality. Initiatives aimed at clean energy adoption and sustainable business practices foster well-compensated and inclusive employment opportunities. These efforts support Humboldt region's climate targets and sustained economic well-being, contributing to financial stability.

4.5 Measures
The Strategies and Measures are organized by sector (e.g., Cornerstone, Building Energy, Transportation, Waste, Water & Wastewater, Carbon Sequestration). Each topic identifies the measures and goals the region will strive to meet by 2030 and make substantial progress toward 2045 targets. The RCAP's overarching approach emphasizes leveraging a formal coalition to implement region-wide measures for impactful reduction of GHG emissions. The Cornerstone Measure exemplifies the importance of integrating key attributes outlined in the previous section, demonstrating how each attribute contributes to comprehensive measures. All measures within the RCAP adhere to the framework established by the Cornerstone Measure.

The following sections including background information on the Strategy, a description of the Measure, a summary table that includes the specific actions that make up the measure as well as several additional details such as GHG reduction potential, co-benefits, and key performance indicators (KPI) to measure progress of implementation. Figure 6 provides an overview of how to read this section.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
28 Figure 6 How to Read this Section
GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Cornerstone
A cornerstone strategy in a CAP refers to a foundational approach or key initiative that is essential for achieving the plan's overall goals. It serves as a primary focus and supports the implementation of other strategies by providing a solid framework, significant impact, or critical support.

Cornerstone strategies are typically characterized by their broad scope, potential for high impact, and their role in facilitating or enabling other actions within the climate action plan.

The Humboldt Regional Cornerstone Strategy focuses on the establishment of a coalition between jurisdictions and key organizations to guide a regional approach to climate-related challenges through coordinated efforts. Given the rural nature of the region and its dispersed population, individual municipalities and even the larger incorporated cities face significant constraints in their efforts to reduce GHG emissions due to limited resources (e.g. staffing and funding). These constraints can be overcome through a coordinated and collaborative approach to RCAP implementation. Through a collaborative approach the region can more effectively identify and build efficiencies, attract and share resources (e.g., funding, staff time), and undertake regional infrastructure initiatives needed to enhance capacity and interconnectivity in sectors such as solid waste and transportation, thereby reducing GHG emissions as outlined in the RCAP Measures.

Strategy 1: Development of a regional climate coalition Collaboration between jurisdictions in rural areas is crucial for leveraging limited resources and accessing state and federal funding earmarked for climate-related projects. Humboldt recognizes that a regional approach to implementing the RCAP is essential to achieving the significant GHG reductions needed to meet both regional and individual municipality goals. This Strategy is considered the cornerstone of the RCAP and will be the first to be implemented. As the region's first RCAP, establishing a collaborative approach to expanding and improving shared infrastructure, such as an interconnected energy and transportation system and regional waste management solutions, is necessary to successfully achieve GHG reductions in each sector.

Measure C-1: Establish a Regional Climate Committee comprised of representatives from each jurisdiction, HTA, HCAOG, HWMA, and RCEA.

Measure C-1 commits the region to establishing a Regional Climate Committee and governance to serve as a regional coalition. This committee would include representatives from municipalities across Humboldt County as well as representatives from regional agencies such as the HTA, HCAOG, HWMA, and RCEA, and other partner organizations. The purpose of this coalition is to foster collaboration and coordination among the region to address climate-related challenges and implement effective climate action strategies. By bringing together key parties from various sectors and jurisdictions, Measure C-1 leverages collective expertise, resources, and efficiencies to tackle climate change at a regional level. The committee would support RCAP implementation through information sharing, coordination of RCAP efforts, development of joint initiatives to reduce GHG emissions, support and pursue funding, and promote sustainable development practices. The Regional Climate Committee is integral to the implementation of all RCAP Measures detailed in the following sections. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure C-1 are included in Table 3.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
30 Table 3 Measure C-1 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
C-1a Structural Pursue and obtain funding to create a Climate Program Manager position to lead the coordination efforts of the Regional Climate Committee. The Regional Climate Committee will be responsible for implementing RCAP measures and actions. The Climate Program Manager will facilitate the work of the Regional Climate Committee made up of responsible parties from each of the region’s jurisdictions and agencies. The Manager will work with the Committee to utilize the RCAP as a strategic plan outlining the goals of the Coalition. The Manager will coordinate with staff of the participating jurisdictions and agencies to undertake the work directed by the Committee. Finally, the Manager will develop an annual progress report on RCAP implementation annually to City Councils and County Supervisors to measure progress and establish accountability in achieving RCAP emissions reduction goals.

C-1b Structural The Regional Climate Committee will develop and provide models, pilot programs, and template policies or ordinances that enable each jurisdiction in the region to implement uniform changes and facilitating local communities in making the necessary structural adjustments to reduce GHG emissions. This will reduce inefficiencies and duplication of effort while ensuring a coordinated regional approach.

C-1c Engagement Develop and distribute promotional materials and programs across the region to inform the community, gain buy-in, and promote awareness of new and existing programs and opportunities. Leveraging the Regional Climate Committee to prepare such materials will allow for limited resources in the region to be pooled on such efforts thereby reducing strain on jurisdictional staff.

C-1d Equity Leverage regional programs to engage and support frontline communities that may experience secondary impacts or not benefit directly from the measures' objectives. Ensure these communities can access regional resources or funding opportunities to mitigate identified impacts and benefit the entire community. The Regional Climate Committee will be charged with engaging with regional programs and identifying appropriate community-based organizations to lead and guide such engagement efforts to ensure voices of vulnerable communities are involved in RCAP implementation and planning.

C-1d Feasibility
Study
Utilize regional resources to conduct efficient regional studies, avoiding redundancy, that provide a clear understanding of the details, obstacles, and feasibility of proposed programs. This includes necessary analyses to identify the best path forward or the feasibility of implementing specific measures.

The Regional Climate Committee will aid in identifying the regional expertise and coordinating studies across the region to limit duplication of efforts.

C-1e Funding Collaborate regionally to identify and pursue relevant and impactful grants and financial backing to facilitate RCAP implementation across the region.

Ensure resources and efforts are directed towards securing funds that can be distributed across the region, such as grants or rebates to support measure implementation and adequate program staffing. Direct the Regional Climate Committee to pursue 3-5 grants for regional efforts to meet RCAP goals per year.

C-1f Partnership Use the collaborative network of local jurisdictions, agencies, and communitybased organizations (CBOs) to attract additional internal and external support GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
and expertise. This includes engaging community organizations that are wellpositioned to consistently and sustainably advance specific measures.

Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to identify and provide assistance to local jurisdictions’ high priority project pursuits which support the RCAP. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive/Critical
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive/Critical
Co-Benefits: Public Health & Equity, Increased Resilience, Green Jobs KPI: Establishment of Committee; Progress reports
Building Energy
RCAP measures for the building energy sector focus on transitioning to renewable energy sources, carbon-free electricity, and building decarbonization. California is transitioning to 100 percent renewable and zero-carbon electricity by 2045, thus, when all-electric buildings are fully electrified, they will be powered by carbon-free electricity, and their operating energy footprint becomes carbon-free. Building energy makes up approximately 14 percent of Humboldt’s GHG profile. Of that, approximately 13 percent of building energy emissions are due to the use of natural gas and 1 percent due to indirect emissions associated with electricity use. In California, two of the primary strategies for reducing building energy GHG emissions are decarbonization of the electricity grid and electrification of buildings. The State has implemented several regulations to decarbonize energy including Senate Bill (SB) 100 and SB 1020 aimed towards shifting the electricity grid to 100 percent renewable and zero-carbon power sources by 2045 and the Title 24 building code that is regularly updated to increase energy efficiency and accelerate the electrification of buildings.

Strategy 2: Increase carbon-free electricity
GHG emissions associated with electricity consumption are related to the source used to generate the electricity (i.e., combustion of natural gas, solar, geothermal). Currently, retail electricity providers, like PG&E and RCEA, are required by SB 100 to procure at least 60 percent of the electricity from eligible renewable energy sources (i.e., solar, wind, geothermal, small hydroelectric, and biomass) by 2030 and 100 percent eligible renewable resources and zero-carbon resources by 2045. PG&E offers several rate plans that ranged from consisting of 38 percent eligible renewables in the base rate to 100 percent solar in the Green Saver rate in 2022. In 2022, RCEA’s RePower electricity option sourced 50 percent of its supply from eligible renewable sources, while the RePower+ option supplied 100 percent from solar, wind, and eligible hydroelectric at a GHG emissions rate of zero.39 RCEA is currently on track to provide all customers with electricity that is sourced from 100 percent net-zero-carbon emission renewable sources by 2030, exceeding the state requirements by 15 years.40 GHG emission reductions related to this strategy would result from exceeding state requirements for and removing the use of fossil-fuel powered electricity from the electricity mix. Switching an electricity grid to renewable and zero-carbon sources has significant GHG reduction potential; however, it does include significant investment and some supply and technological limitations. For example, certain renewable electricity sources such as solar and wind 39 California Energy Commission (CEC) (2022). 2022 Power Content Label: Redwood Coast Energy Authority. Accessed May 12, 2024, from https://www.energy.ca.gov/filebrowser/download/6060.
40 Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) (2019). RePower Humboldt. Accessed May 5, 2024, from https://redwoodenergy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/06/RePower-2019-Update-FINAL-.pdf County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
32 are zero-carbon and can be supplied in abundance, however, they are not consistently supplied throughout the day and the supply is often mis-matched with the demand, straining the electricity grid. However, recently California exceeded 100 percent of energy demand with renewables for a record 30 days.
41 Renewable electricity sources such as geothermal and biomass are reliable and consistent sources of power, however, these sources generate a small amount of GHG emissions and there are capacity limitations in terms of maximum output of power supplied. Some solutions include diversifying the electricity grid to ensure electricity can be always provided when needed at a reasonable cost and installation or use of energy storage systems (e.g., battery banks). As technologies continue to improve and more infrastructure is developed, an increasing and more consistent supply of renewable energy will be available.

Measure BE-1: By 2030, source 90% of grid-supplied electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources.

Measure BE-1 aims to increase the share of electricity-supplied to the region that is sourced from renewable and carbon-free sources such that 90 percent of all electricity consumed in the Humboldt region is carbon-free. Currently, electricity customers in the Humboldt region are automatically enrolled in RCEA’s RePower electricity option that is 50 percent eligible renewable but may choose to 1) opt-up to the RePower+ option that is 100 percent eligible renewable, 2) opt-out to receive electricity directly from PG&E at the standard rate which is 38 percent eligible renewable, or 3) optout to procure electricity at wholesale directly from electricity generators (i.e., direct access which range in the emission factor depending on the energy profile). Direct access is only available to a limited number of utility customers. Based on electricity data provided by RCEA and region wide electricity use from the CEC, RCEA currently supplies 77 percent of all electricity consumed in the region. RCEA currently offers electricity options with a GHG emission rate lower than the standard electricity options offered in the region. As RCEA is on track to provide 100 percent renewable electricity to all customers by 2030, this Measure would significantly aid in decarbonizing the region’s building energy sector. Increasing the percentage of community electricity supplied by RCEA or a comparable 100 percent renewable program in the region would reduce GHG emissions associated with electricity consumption. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-1 are included in Table 4.

Table 4 Measure BE-1 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-1a Feasibility Coordinate and support Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) in developing an effective energy strategy. Strategy should include conducting an assessment to identify the potential obstacles and detail the steps to providing renewable and carbon-free power and decarbonization programs outlined in the RePower Humboldt plan such as:

1. Future Capacity constraints

2. Customer solar installations

3. Customer electrification support

4. EV charging infrastructure buildout

5. Building electrification
42 By 2045, all electricity providers are expected to be entirely carbon-free and use eligible renewable sources, thus no further emissions reduction are attributed to increasing the procurement of carbon-free electricity in 2045.

GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action

6. Advanced biofuel infrastructure

7. Evaluate enrollment rates in RCEA programs annually to understand why residents and businesses opt out or opt to procure standard grid electricity. Use results to adjust strategy for increasing enrollment accordingly
BE-1b Structural Through the Regional Climate Committee develop a template policy or ordinance for regional jurisdictions to use to require new commercial and industrial developments to acquire electricity from renewable and carbonfree energy sources such as enrolling with RCEA, incorporating on-site renewable generation, or enrolling in PG&E’s 100 percent renewable rate. For each jurisdiction, adapt the templated policy or ordinance as necessary and adopt by 2026.

BE-1c Partnership Collaborate across the region with interested parties including tribes, labor unions, workforce development boards, State agencies, colleges, universities, industries, and community organizations to increase local energy workforce development. Partner with RCEA, Humboldt State University, and College of the Redwoods to actively develop education and certifications for electrical and construction trades by 2027 to ensure develop a skilled workforce ready to meet the region's energy needs.

BE-1d Engagement Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to work with RCEA to reduce optout rate for new customers to no more than 2 percent. Develop promotional educational materials to inform community members on available incentives and benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency.

BE-1e Equity Engage with the community and partner with community organizations to facilitate increased communication, technical assistance, and access to energy incentives through the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE), Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA), and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) programs for low/moderate income households.

BE-1f Funding Work with RCEA to expand and advertise regional energy funding programs as described in the RePower Humboldt plan. Facilitate Humboldt residents and businesses in utilizing energy finance programs such as the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. Conduct targeted outreach to public entities, such as public schools, that are eligible for the California Energy Commission Energy Conservation Assistance Act (ECAA) Program loans.

BE-1g Funding Coordinate through the Regional Climate Committee to establish and administer a multi-jurisdictional staff position dedicated to identifying and pursuing funding opportunities to support County-wide educational programs, assisting in equitable energy workforce expansion outreach, and providing RCEA with additional funds to expand incentives or subsidies for the community to increase community enrollment. If establishing a dedicated staff position is not feasible, work with the Regional Climate Committee and regional partners to identify resource sharing opportunities for pursuing funding opportunities such as rotating the responsibility across designated agency employees.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 15,403 MT CO2e
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
34 Action ID Attribute Action
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 0 MT CO2e
42 Co-Benefits: Public Health and Equity
KPI: Change in Humboldt Electric emission factor (%)
Measure BE-2: Increase the development of micro-grids and energy storage across the region to support RCEA’s RePower Humboldt goals of
enhancing grid capacity and facilitating the electrification of buildings and transportation.

A primary energy challenge faced in the region is having sufficient infrastructure capacity to support initiatives such as electrification. This limitation is exacerbated by slow PG&E response and the inability to meet requested capacity upgrades throughout the county. In spite of these challenges, RCEA has made significant strides to increase electricity generation, connectivity, and capacity in the region through development of nano-grids, micro-grids, and battery storage space. Micro-grids can operate independently from the traditional grid, combined with energy storage, improve grid reliability and resilience by storing excess energy during low demand and supplying it during peak periods. Measure BE-2 calls for the regional enhancement of energy grid capacity by developing micro-grids and energy storage systems, supporting RCEA’s goals established in the RePower Humboldt Plan. Micro-grids, which can operate independently from the traditional grid, combined with energy storage, improve grid reliability and resilience by storing excess energy during low demand and supplying it during peak periods. This measure provides increased support to RCEA’s goals to facilitate greater energy flexibility, resilience, and allow for future electrification initiatives.

Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-2 are included in Table 5.

Table 5 Measure BE-2 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-2a Structural/
Engagement
Develop permit streamlining programs that can be adopted by local jurisdictions to facilitate the streamlined implementation of renewable energy projects as identified in regional energy feasibility study and RCEA RePower Humboldt goals such as energy storage projects, residential and commercial solar installation, and microgrid development.

BE-2b Partnership Direct the Regional Climate Committee to work with RCEA to develop a plan for leveraging CPUC’s recently passed Limited Generation Profile option to maximize solar installation developments in alignment with RCEA’s RePower Humboldt goals throughout the region.

BE-2c Engagement Engage with the local community, key interested parties, and local-based community organizations representing disadvantaged and vulnerable communities to raise awareness about alternative renewable energy and nano-grid opportunities available through RCEA. Emphasize the increased accessibility to electrification as well as the economic and environmental advantages of electrification while addressing concerns related to emergency 42 By 2045, all electricity providers are expected to be entirely carbon-free and use eligible renewable sources, thus no further emissions reduction are attributed to increasing the procurement of carbon-free electricity in 2045.

GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
response to minimize exceptions. Publicize the connection between RCEA nano-grid efforts and the increased ability to electrify leading to cost savings, funding opportunities, environmental benefits, and flexibility of electrification through jurisdiction websites and permit counters.

BE-2d Partnerships As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, engage with RCEA to track progress toward targets set in RCEA’s RePower Humboldt plan and identify additional opportunities for local jurisdictions to alleviate barriers to goals set in RCEA’s RePower Humboldt plan.

BE-2f Feasibility
Study
As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities work with RCEA and the Schatz Energy Research Center to identify locations throughout the county that are priority for utility-scale, nano-grid, and micro-grid solar, hydropower, and/or wind energy generation based on aspects such as land availability and suitability, infrastructure needs, resilience, and energy access equity.

Coordinate with PG&E on interconnection needs and identify strategies with PG&E of how to best support capacity building on the grid related to microgrid projects.

BE-2g Equity Conduct an equity assessment across the region that includes the identification of potential cost barriers to residential solar development, particularly for low income and rural communities at the end of PG&E distribution infrastructure and identify feasible sites for solar and battery installation and potential funding sources.

BE-2h Partnership/
Equity
Identify facilities that are suitable to operate as regional resilience hubs to protect people from climate related issues. Create a priority list of these facilities with particular focus on servicing disadvantaged and vulnerable communities and work with RCEA to prioritize implementation of on-site microgrid and energy storage on identified.

BE-2i Funding Regional Climate Committee will work with RCEA to pursue regional funding opportunities that can be used to develop resilient microgrids and incentivize new housing developers to install solar and on-site batteries, particularly for affordable housing developments. Aim to pursue 3 grant or funding opportunities annually focused on microgrids and/or energy storage expansion.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Increased Resilience KPI: Micro-grid project completion (#)
Measure BE-8: Advocate for Off-shore Wind developers and PG&E to build electrical infrastructure to supply Humboldt with energy produced by the future off-shore wind project which will increase regional supply and resilience.

While the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind project is expected to provide economic growth benefits to the region, there is concern that energy generated by the project will not be accessible by the region due to infrastructure limitations. Measure BE-8 focuses on advocating for the development of appropriate electrical infrastructure by offshore wind developers and PG&E so that the community can benefit from the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind project. Receiving access to this County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
36 electricity would increase the region’s energy resilience and increase capacity to meet the RCAP electrification goals. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-8 are included in Table 6.

Table 6 Measure BE-8 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-8a Partnership Dedicate Regional Climate Committee staff time to work with local organizations (e.g. 350Humboldt, Redwood Region Climate & Community Resilience Hub, COREHub) to petition the CEC and Humboldt Bay Off-shore Wind developers to include electricity transmission and distribution to the Humboldt region as a legally enforceable community benefit as stipulated in the Community Benefit Program to be completed as part of the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) grant program.

BE-8b Equity Have the Regional Climate Committee advocate to the CEC and State to allow for an equitable rate tiering law to provide affordable rates for LIDAC communities in Humboldt County.

BE-8c Partnership Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to work with California Independent System Operator (ISO), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind project and PG&E to identify pathways to establish equitable regional access to electricity produced by the off-shore wind project. This may include supporting permitting and development processes necessary for the proposed new Humboldt 500 kV substation as well as advocating to include distribution capacities at the substation for Humboldt County.

BE-8d Funding Direct the Regional Climate Committee to evaluate and pursue opportunities for the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant through the Inflation Reduction Act to advance clean energy from the wind-farm projects.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Public Health and Equity, Increased Resilience, Green Jobs KPI: Obtaining funding, development plans including interconnection GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
Public Draft 37
Strategy 3: Decarbonization of existing construction
Approximately 92 percent of GHG emissions from building energy usage are related to natural gas consumption. Electrifying existing buildings requires the replacement of natural gas appliances with electric equipment. The GHG reduction potential of this strategy is dependent on the degree to which the existing building stock can be electrified or otherwise decarbonized. Actions that rely on voluntary replacement of natural gas equipment or ordinances requiring decarbonization at end-oflife replacements have been shown to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 10-30 percent, whereas the adoption of an end of natural gas flow date that requires all existing buildings to convert to electric equipment would eliminate all emissions associated with natural gas consumption in buildings. Since electric appliances are approximately three to four times more efficient than similar natural gas burning equipment and appliances, the use of electric equipment instead of natural gas would result in improved energy efficiency. RCEA currently promotes energy efficiency and efficient electrification with rebates and informational resources.

Measure BE-3 Urban: Reduce existing residential building natural gas consumption by 4% by 2030 and 74% by 2045.

Humboldt currently experiences limitations with electrification initiatives due to electric grid constraints, limited development access, and old housing stock. Moreover, not all residential properties in Humboldt are connected to the natural gas infrastructure or electrical infrastructure.

Those residents that are tied into the electrical grid have an opportunity for decarbonization due to grid available renewable electricity. Therefore, Measure BE-3 aims to assess and implement currently viable opportunities for electrification in the region’s urban areas (i.e. all incorporated cities with natural gas infrastructure). This measure charts the path to reduce existing residential natural gas consumption by approximately 4 percent by 2030 and 74 percent by 2045 to reduce GHG emissionsin urban areas. The measure also focuses on setting a pathway for success for future electrification initiatives through household weatherization upgrades, particularly in low-income households. Weatherization will aid in decreasing energy consumption, reducing utility costs, and increasing future cost benefits of electrification. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE3 Urban are included in Table 7.

Table 7 Measure BE-3 Urban Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-3a
Urban
Feasibility
Study/
Equity
Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to lead the development of a decarbonization plan for urban areas that assesses the feasibility and cost for electrification retrofitting for residential buildings as well as identifies potential equity concerns/impacts. The plan should identify strategies and/or specific projects to decarbonize 4 percent of existing residential and multifamily buildings by 2030 and strategies for increasing infrastructure readiness to electrify through 2045. The plan should give consideration for increased electricity capacity needs and RCEA’s RePower Humboldt goals to meet increased capacity need. The plan should also identify a variety of equitable decarbonization solutions and potential projects such as partial electrification and increased energy efficiency options for mixed-fuel residences that face barriers to full electrification. The study should also identify the funding and financing requirements necessary to support the community in this transition.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
38 Action ID Attribute Action
BE-3b
Urban
Engagement As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, petition PG&E to help identify priority areas for electric grid expansion projects to increase regional electric grid capacity and islanding capabilities to allow for increased building electrification capacity.

BE-3c
Urban
Structural Develop a home energy advisory service administered by the Regional Climate Committee that assists existing homeowners to better understand the cost of building decarbonization options including partial and full home electrification, identifies service providers, and provides support for homeowners to access electrification incentives from the Energy Smart Homes program.

BE-3d
Urban
Funding Work with the Regional Climate Committee to identify and pursue funds through CARB, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act including:

1. DOE block grants

2. On Bill financing through PG&E

3. Green bonds

4. Grant Anticipation Notes or Short-Term Loans

5. Tax exempt lease purchases

6. Energy as a service

7. Energy Performance Contracting from Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)
BE-3e
Urban
Engagement Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop and manage educational/promotional materials that each jurisdiction can use to educate the community on ways to finance home decarbonization. Materials should include information and links to existing available rebates for Heat Pumps, Weatherization, Smart Thermostats, Appliances, and Pool Pumps as well as other rebates offered through RCEA of the local jurisdiction if applicable.

BE-3f
Urban
Partnership Work with the local contractors, realtors, homeowner associations, landlords, and labor unions to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings discussing the benefits and technical requirements of electrification as well as addressing interested party concerns regarding electrification.

BE-3g
Urban
Equity Develop a fund for low income and affordable housing electrification pilot projects in collaboration with affordable housing owners, utilities, and the community. Work with RCEA to develop a program to offset cost for occupants using financing and through the sourcing of grant funds to subsidize cost.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 2,603 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 55,866 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity KPI: Reduction in natural gas consumption
GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
Public Draft 39
Measure BE-3 Rural:Reduce existing residential fossil-fuel consumption in households not connected to natural gas infrastructure by 2% by 2030 Much of rural Humboldt lies at the edge of natural gas infrastructure, and experiences reduced electric grid capacity compared to other areas in the county. These households typically rely on other fossil fuels such as propane or diesel, in place of natural gas. Measure BE-3 Rural aims to reduce fossil fuel usage in residential households not connected to natural gas infrastructure by 2 percent by 2030. Reducing fossil-fuel use in rural areas not only helps decrease GHG emissions but also encourages the adoption of alternative energy sources such as electricity or renewable fuels.

Off grid solar is legal and the technology is improving. However, there are complications associated with permitting related to building, health and environmental codes. The decarbonization transition in rural communities supports the overall decarbonization efforts and aligns with other measures aimed at decarbonizing the regional energy supply. This measure also provides rural areas with weatherization assistance that will help reduce consumption rates and provide community benefits such as decreased utility costs. By focusing on these rural households, this measure seeks to make the benefits of a low-carbon transition accessible to all segments of the community. Actions, cobenefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-3 Rural are included in Table 8.

Table 8 Measure BE-3 Rural Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-3a
Rural
Feasibility
Study
Regional Climate Committee to conduct a feasibility study to establish local low-carbon fuel alternative, such as renewable propane, sourced from local resources such as forest biomass which can be used as direct substitutes for propane or diesel building fuel. The feasibility study should consider procurement and cost considerations with a focus on equity for low-income households, and map communities with significant propane and wood fuel use to identify accessibility strategy for acquiring alternative fuels (e.g. renewable propane, sustainably harvested wood products, renewable diesel) and/or undergoing home electrification.

BE-3b
Rural
Structural As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, petition PG&E to help identify priority areas for rural electric grid expansion projects to increase regional electric grid capacity and islanding capabilities to allow for increased building electrification capacity.

BE-3c
Rural
Engagement Promote existing available rebates to rural communities for Heat Pumps, Weatherization, Smart Thermostats, Appliances, and Pool Pumps to educate the community on ways to finance electrification or otherwise decarbonize their residences. Provide assistance to rural homeowners in assessing the viability and permitting of installing off-grid solar and battery alternative energy sources on their homes and finance options.

BE-3d
Rural
Structural For viable alternative fuel sources identified in a feasibility study, establish procurement and distribution supply centers within easy access of rural communities.

BE-3e
Rural
Funding The Regional Climate Committee will lead the effort to identify, access, and provide funding assistance for the procurement of alternative fuels, such as biomethane, in alignment with SB 1383 procurement requirements. Advocate to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for inclusion of alternative County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
40 Action ID Attribute Action
low-carbon fuels substitution, such as renewable propane, to be allowed in ratepayer funded programs including energy efficiency programs. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive43
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Total GHG Emission Reductions from Measure: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity KPI: Reduction in fossil fuel use for residences
Measure BE-4: Reduce existing nonresidential building natural gas consumption by 5% by 2030 and 79% by 2045.

In the region there is an opportunity to reduce natural gas consumption in the nonresidential sector through building code or permitting requirements. To achieve greater reductions in natural gas consumption, this measure aims to require electrification of feasible equipment in association with major renovations, as defined by local jurisdictions. Measure BE-4 puts the Humboldt region on a path to reduce commercial and mixed-use natural gas consumption by 5 percent by 2030 and 79 percent by 2045 to reduce GHG emissions. This is in alignment with RCEA initiatives and experience in building out alternative electricity sources which can aid in electrification of commercial businesses. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-4 are included in Table 9 Table 9 Measure BE-4 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-4a Feasibility
Study
As part of the development of the decarbonization plan led by the Regional Climate Committee referenced in Measure BE-3 Urban, identify nonresidential building electrification barriers and develop a nonresidential building decarbonization strategy with analysis supporting future adoption of a nonresidential building decarbonization ordinance. The plan should give consideration for increased electricity capacity needs and for other decarbonization strategies that would be needed to reduce nonresidential natural gas consumption by at least 5 percent. As part of strategy development, conduct outreach to small businesses to understand potential equity impacts of a decarbonization policy. The plan should also assess ordinance parameters for including large scale renovation as part of the new commercial building ordinance requirements established for each organization (Measure BE-6).

BE-4b Structural Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop a template Commercial Energy Performance Assessment and Disclosure Ordinance for commercial and multi-family buildings to be adopted within each jurisdiction by 2027. The ordinance should require energy use disclosure consistent with State law (AB 1103) and the use of the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool. nclude regulatory mechanism (e.g., permitting and 43 Emissions reductions associated with this measure were conservatively not quantified due to data limitations. See Appendix C for further details.

GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
Public Draft 41
Action ID Attribute Action
approval requirements, building codes and standards modification) that limits expansion of natural gas infrastructure and incentivizes appliance replacement.

BE-4c Structural Establish streamlined permitting in each jurisdiction for energy efficiency technologies, onsite renewable energy, and battery storage in buildings and critical facilities that require power during emergencies or power outages.

Incorporate equity considerations into permitting process for all other building battery storage including prioritization, rebates, and outreach.

BE-4d Engagement/
Funding
As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, develop an outreach campaign to promote building decarbonization and include items in the program such as:

1. Conduct engagement efforts for the commercial and industrial sector to identify ways jurisdictions and the Regional Climate Committee can support commercial energy storage installations and neighborhood scale microgrid opportunities

2. Facilitate funding opportunities for commercial business electrification by identifying and supporting grant opportunities available to the community, prioritizing small and frontline community owned businesses

3. Use feedback provided during the community outreach process for small businesses to mitigate potential equity impacts of a future building performance program

4. Distribute utility bill inserts to advertise the incentive programs or grants available and the cost benefits of electric appliances

5. Target outreach to businesses, builders, developers, local contractors, and property managers with information describing the financial benefits of replacing natural gas appliances with all electric appliance when they apply for permits

6. Provide informational webinars and an updated website to advertise and promote All-Electric Building Initiative rebates and incentives

7. Promote the use of the Energy Star Portfolio Manager program and energy benchmarking training programs for nonresidential building owners
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 3,821 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 42,887 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity KPI: Reduction in natural gas consumption in nonresidential buildings Measure BE-7: Decarbonize 30% municipal buildings and facilities by 2030.

Measure BE-5 commits the jurisdictions within the region to lead by example through decarbonizing municipal buildings and facilities. Local government leadership in building electrification plays a crucial role by setting a standard for the community, developing a clear understanding of hurdles and opportunities, demonstrating the feasibility of reducing fossil fuel reliance, and building trust among residents and businesses. These initiatives also provide practical insights for policymaking, drive technological advancements, and can serve as educational tools. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-7 are included in Table 10.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
42 Table 10 Measure BE-7 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-7a Structural Regional Climate Committee to develop a template resolution for each jurisdiction to decarbonize 30 percent of municipal buildings and facilities by 2030 and 100 percent by 2045 by retrofitting natural gas appliances with electric alternatives and install on-site electricity generation and storage capacity. Include in the resolution an ‘electric first’ purchasing policy for any equipment or appliances in need of replacement.

BE-7b Feasibility
Study
Coordinate with the Regional Climate Committee and RCEA to conduct energy audits of municipal buildings to establish a baselines of current energy consumption and identify the largest energy users or municipal buildings with the greatest natural gas consumption. Utilize audit results to prioritize municipal buildings to decarbonize. Conduct follow-up energy audits every 3 years to track progress. Leverage data from buildings reporting to the Building Energy Benchmarking Program established under AB 80244 where possible to reduce labor.

BE-7c Feasibility
Study
Develop a study through the Regional Climate Committee which estimates renewable energy generation on County and local jurisdiction facilities, identifies a priority list of sites which may serve as regional resilience hubs, and a proposed schedule for implementing the prioritized energy projects.

The study should also seek to understand barriers to installing additional distributed energy resources such as solar and battery storage, or other renewable energy generation infrastructure, at municipal facilities.

BE-7d Partnership/
Funding
Identify and pursue funding sources and partnerships needed for successful implementation as well as plan for directing resources through each jurisdiction for funding.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive45
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Total GHG Emission Reductions from Measure: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity KPI: Reduction in natural gas consumption in municipal buildings 44 Assembly Bill (AB) 802 became effective in 2016 and established California’s energy benchmarking program requiring that both commercial and multi-family buildings over 50,000 square feet submit an energy benchmark report to the California Energy Commissions annually by June 1st.
45 Emissions from municipal building energy are included as a subset of the nonresidential building energy sector and therefore associated GHG emission reductions are included within the community mitigation Measures for nonresidential building energy.

Therefore, emissions reduction from this measure is not quantified to avoid double counting of reductions.

GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
Public Draft 43
Strategy 4: Decarbonization of new construction
The adjusted forecast projects that natural gas usage in the community related to new buildings would increase by approximately 5 percent by 2030 and 15 percent by 2045 in residential and nonresidential buildings. Additional GHG emissions from new buildings are best combated by implementing some form of ordinance, such energy design ratings (EDR), which promote implementation of electric equipment and avoiding new natural gas connections where feasible. As such, evaluating and establishing an appropriate ordinance has the potential to avoid an increase of approximately15 percent of GHG emissions from new buildings. RCEA also currently promotes energy efficiency and efficient electrification with rebates and informational resources.

Measure BE-5: Decarbonize 95% of new residential building construction by 2027.

Electrification poses a challenge in the residential sector due to grid capacity limitations. However, electric buildings are cheaper to build than those which require natural gas and can be significantly more efficient. This measure seeks to require new construction to decarbonize and encourage developers of new residential construction to install more efficient electric equipment along with solar to meet increased EDR requirements and avoid installing natural gas meters and connections.

Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-5 are included in Table 11.

Table 11 Measure BE-5 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-5a Structural Regional Climate Committee to develop an energy performance ordinance, EDR, reach code, or zero NOx threshold for new residential construction that can be modified by each jurisdiction as necessary to conserve staff resources.

Adopt the ordinances within each jurisdiction to decarbonize 95 percent of new residential buildings by 2027 and update every 3 years thereafter if not included within State building codes. As part of building decarbonization ordinance development and subsequent updates, consider the following:

1. Minimize the exemptions associated with the ordinance, while allowing for health and safety exemptions as necessary and exploring potential exemptions for specific use cases determined to have substantial economic development or business impacts

2. Require the submittal of an infeasibility waiver to review specific end uses where electrification is technologically infeasible

3. Require that any end-use deemed infeasible for electrification exceeds existing Title 24 energy efficiency standards and be electric ready for future electrification

4. Specify that affordable housing developments will be all-electric to ensure no stranded assets

5. Establish substantial remodel and improvement definitions to be included in the ordinance

6. Track and enforce requirement compliance through a permitting compliance program managed by each jurisdiction

7. Revise ordinance during update cycle as necessary to meet 95 percent goal
BE-5b Feasibility Conduct feasibility study(s) to identify local decarbonization barriers for new residential developments and develop a residential building decarbonization strategy with analysis. The feasibility study should include developing a new County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
44 Action ID Attribute Action
residential building decarbonization plan that assesses the grid feasibility and cost for electrification at certain legislative threshold requirements in consideration of leveraging RCEA residential nano-grid and battery storage options. The feasibility study should assess the potential cost impacts to multifamily and affordable housing new developments and identify potential strategies for mitigating negative impacts for equitable electrification.

BE-5c Funding/
Equity
Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to lead engagement efforts with affordable housing developers to leverage incentives for new all-electric and efficient low-income residential buildings through the California Energy Commission Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, and the California Electric Homes Program (CalEHP). Regularly investigate and leverage other incentive programs available for electrification of new buildings.

BE-5d Engagement Through the Regional Climate Committee, work with local contractors, realtors, homeowner associations, landlords, and labor unions to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings discussing the benefits and technical requirements of local municipality building decarbonization legislation and the most effective pathways to achieving requirements. Include information on load calculations to avoid service upgrade requirements.

BE-5e Partnership Partner with RCEA and PG&E to circumvent or mitigate electric utility infrastructure capacity constraints. Collaborate RCEA to develop and fund locally implemented programs to help customers in accessing financing options for energy projects and rebates for cleaner, energy efficient technology.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 2,252 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 13,907 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Increased Resilience, Green Jobs KPI: Change in number of residential buildings; reduction in natural gas consumption in residential buildings
Measure BE-6: Decarbonize 95% of new nonresidential building construction by 2027.

More opportunities exist to electrify new nonresidential buildings than existing due to greater opportunities to establish on-site energy sources and to build for electrification at the onset of development. This measure seeks to establish EDR requirements to require new buildings to be decarbonized and encourage developers of new nonresidential construction to install more efficient electric equipment and avoid installing natural gas meters and connections. This measure also includes workforce training to highlight the benefits, applicability, and cost-effectiveness of building electrification. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure BE-6 are included in Table 12.

GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Table 12 Measure BE-6 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
BE-6a Structural Adopt within each jurisdiction an energy performance ordinance, energy design rating (EDR), reach code, or zero NOx threshold to decarbonize 95 percent of new nonresidential buildings by 2027 and update every 3 years thereafter if not included within State building codes. As part of building decarbonization legislation development and subsequent updates, consider the following:

1. Direct the Regional Climate Committee to develop a template ordinance that can be modified by each jurisdiction as necessary to conserve staff resources

2. Minimize the exemptions associated with the ordinance, while allowing for health and safety exemptions as necessary and exploring potential exemptions for specific use cases determined to have substantial economic development or business impacts

3. Require the submittal of an infeasibility waiver to review specific end uses where electrification is technologically infeasible

4. Require that any end-use deemed infeasible for electrification exceeds existing Title 24 energy efficiency standards and be electric ready for future electrification

5. Establish substantial remodel and improvement definitions to be included in the ordinance

6. Enforce requirement compliance through the same permitting compliance program as for residential building decarbonization

7. Establish EDR requirements for new non-residential buildings that incentivize electrification and, in a case, where electrification is infeasible, requires higher energy efficient and low emissions equipment to meet the EDR

8. Track effectiveness of ordinance through permitting compliance program and revise ordinance during update cycle as necessary to meet 95 percent goal
BE-6b Feasibility Conduct feasibility study(s) to identify decarbonization barriers for commercial buildings and develop a commercial building decarbonization strategy with analysis supporting future adoption of commercial decarbonization legislation. The feasibility study should include a comprehensive nonresidential building electrification plan that assesses the grid feasibility and cost for electrification and opportunities to mitigate grid and cost barriers by leveraging RCEA microgrid and battery storage options.

The feasibility study should assess potential decarbonization legislation exemptions for commercial and industrial operations that are significantly restricted by available technology for electrification.

BE-6c Funding Connect developers with RCEA to identify applicable incentive programs in line with RCEA RePower goals that could benefit new building developments such as microgrids which can aid businesses in overcoming restrictions to electrification or decarbonization of processes.

BE-6d Engagement Through the Regional Climate Committee, work with local contractors, realtors, homeowner associations, landlords, and labor unions to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings to discuss the benefits and technical requirements of decarbonization.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
46 Action ID Attribute Action
BE-6e Partnership Partner with RCEA and PG&E to establish a clear path for electrification of new nonresidential buildings which meet EDR requirements and circumvent or mitigate electric utility infrastructure capacity.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 1,374 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 8,492 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Green Jobs KPI: Change in number of nonresidential buildings; reduction in natural gas consumption in nonresidential buildings
Transportation
On- and off-road transportation makes up approximately 81 percent of Humboldt’s regional GHG profile. Of that, approximately 90 percent of transportation GHG emissions are due to on-road transportation. The primary strategies to reduce transportation involve mode shift away from single-occupancy vehicles to reduce VMT and decarbonizing the remaining vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Reducing VMT consists of transitioning residents and visitors out of single-occupancy vehicles and into active transportation mode options (i.e., walking and biking) and public and shared transit options (e.g., public buses, rail, carpools) by improving these mode options and safety and adopting policies to discourage single-occupancy vehicle commutes. Additionally, land use changes such as promoting jobs and amenities to be located near residents can help reduce the region’s average trip length as well as encourage mode shifts to active or public transit. Working with local businesses and governments to develop flexible work policies that promote working from home in conjunction with improved telecommunication to accommodate remote work can also reduce VMT.

VMT reduction is further supported by the use of VMT thresholds consistent with the achievement of the state’s climate goals. The remaining VMT will then be decarbonized by increasing the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). When combined with renewable and carbon-free electricity, electric vehicles(EVs) eliminate GHG emissions from fossil fuel combustion and transition commutes to a zero-emission operational footprint.

Strategy 5: Shift driving to walking and biking
The region currently supports active transportation through emphasis of complete streets to continue increasing bicycle and pedestrian routes and maintenance of existing routes. Increasing the mode shift from single-occupancy vehicles to active transportation options is largely dependent on safe routes and a behavior shift within the region. Increasing the available safe bicycle and pedestrian routes, the connectivity of such routes to locations of interest, and increasing the benefit of using such options can initiate change. Bicycle and walking trips primarily replace short vehicle trip types, not long distances. Studies have shown that a mode shift to active transportation can be increased up to 15 percent, though this level of change requires extensive change in infrastructure and behavior. Behavior change is commonly driven by education, or incentives and disincentives, such as implementing paid parking, which promote a change.

Measure TR-1 Urban: Implement programs, such as those identified in HCAOG’s RTP, to increase the mode share of active transportation in urbanized GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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areas from 9% to 12% by 2030 thereby achieving a regional active transportation mode share of 8%.

Community members’ use of active transportation differ in urban areas that are more densely populated and near city centers or amenities compared with rural areas that are more dispersed.

Though a large part of the region is considered rural, the community and local jurisdictions generally have a higher density of people and high interest in improved infrastructure for walking and biking, particularly for greater infrastructure interconnectivity between jurisdictions. Additionally, tourism in the community also uses the active transportation infrastructure. Measure TR-1 Urban focuses on strategies and targets designed for the economic and city center hubs in the region which includes the incorporated cities such as Arcata, Fortuna, and Eureka. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-1 are included in Table 13.

Table 13 Measure TR-1 Urban Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-1a
Urban
Funding/
Partnerships
Regional Climate Committee to aid the urbanized areas of Humboldt by partnering with HCAOG and HTA to identify and pursue grant opportunities such as the Active Transportation Program, AARP Community Challenge, CalEPA’s Environmental Justice Action Grants, and Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants, etc., to fund active transportation projects identified in the Regional Transportation Plan. Aim to apply for at least 3 grants annually.

T-1b
Urban
Engagement In urbanized areas with high alternative transit expansion potential work with the Regional Climate Committee to facilitate community outreach on transportation alternatives and promote infrastructure improvements and expansion identified in HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan. Continually improve methods for engaging the community, gathering input, and utilizing it to prioritize projects.

T-1c
Urban
Engagement Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to pursue and access funding to develop and maintain regional webpage and app showing pedestrian and bike trails, bike lanes and bus times and routes. Distribute active transportation maps and promotional materials to hotels and tourism centers to increase visitor use of active transportation. Advertise and promote Humboldt Bikeshare program managed by the City of Arcata, Cal Poly Humboldt, and Tandem Mobility.

T-1d
Urban
Feasibility
Study/ Equity
Identify equity barriers to safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure through community outreach and use of big data driven analysis as well as targeted community outreach to better understand nuanced barriers. Include prompts in outreach around ways to improve social and modal equity the active transportation systems and programs. Develop a priority list of active transportation projects from HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan based on level of impact, expansion of inter-jurisdictional connectivity, and historically under-invested communities.

T-1e
Urban
Structural Increase inter-connectivity across the region working with HCAOG and the Regional Climate Committee representatives to:

1. Evaluate and prioritize land use projects and active transportation projects for their impact on increased regional connectivity County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
48 Action ID Attribute Action

2. Identify hurdles limiting connectivity and use, such as last-mile commute limitations

3. Facilitate coordination across jurisdictions and rural and urban areas to plan development in a coordinated and most strategic manner

4. Apply for regional funding opportunities focused on increased interconnection and VMT reduction

5. Implement the VMT mitigation measures associated with VMT thresholds
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 1,147 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 2,594 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Public Health and Equity
KPI: Change in active transportation mode share and VMT in urbanized areas Measure TR-1 Rural: Implement programs, such as those identified in HCAOG’s RTP, that increase access to safe active transportation, to increase the mode share of active transportation in rural areas from 5% to 6% by 2030 thereby achieving a regional active transportation mode share of 9%.

There are more constraints for community members in rural dispersed regions to switch to active transportation in place of vehicle trips as they are often further from amenities and job centers and have less access to safe infrastructure (i.e., bikeways). Safe infrastructure that connects rural communities to economic hubs and amenities is crucial to facilitate a switch and encourage active transportation mode share. Measure TR-1 Rural focuses on strategies and targets designed for rural areas within the County and small incorporated cities such as Blue Lake, Ferndale, Rio Dell, and Trinidad. Actions primarily focus interconnectivity of active transportation networks across the region and obtaining funding for infrastructure build out. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-1 Rural are included in Table 14.

Table 14 Measure TR-1 Rural Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-1a
Rural
Structural/
Partnerships
Regional Climate Committee to conduct a feasibility study evaluating existing bike parking facilities in rural areas and what improvements can be made to increase supply, reduce theft, and increase rider attraction. Include in the study an analysis of current and future land use trends and identify active transportation facility development which would result in high interconnectivity impact. The study should focus on needs to better connect rural communities to city centers, job centers, and amenities.

T-1b
Rural
Equity Develop a priority list of active transportation projects from HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan based on level of impact, expansion of inter-connectivity, and historically under-invested communities where there is currently no, or limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure as informed by feasibility study.

T-1c
Rural
Funding The Regional Climate Committee will work with the regions jurisdictions, HCAOG, and CalTrans to obtain funding for the construction of bikeway and GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
pedestrian systems to improve interconnection within Humboldt County.

Focus areas will be projects that connect rural communities to high employment areas such as City of Eureka, Arcata, and Fortuna as well as nearby counties, State, and federal infrastructure through integration of bicycle facilities as part of other roadway construction projects (e.g. CalTrans mobility hub and highway projects).

T-1d
Rural
Partnership Partner with California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) District 1 Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC) to track progress on implementation of bicycle and pedestrian projects in the region, ensure that projects being planned are consistent with the District Active Transportation Plan, and to represent the regions rural jurisdictions needs to the PBAC.

T-1e
Rural
Structural Regional Climate Committee to work with jurisdictions in rural regions that have planned land use development to establish standards for when and how new residential subdivisions, multi-family, and mixed-use developments shall provide inter- connected bicycle and pedestrian facilities and amend local codes accordingly.

T-1f
Rural
Engagement Increase community awareness of active transportation infrastructure projects occurring and those completed. Work with HCAOG to continue to fund, develop, and maintain regional webpages and apps showing pedestrian and bike trails, bike lanes, and bus times and routes. Distribute active transportation maps and promotional materials to hotels and tourism centers to increase visitor use of active transportation.

T-1g
Rural
Partnerships Partner with the tourism and business sectors of larger tourism and employment regions of the county to identify pathways to increase active transportation from tourists and employees.

T-1h
Rural
Funding Regional Climate Committee to identify and apply for grant opportunities such as the Active Transportation Program, AARP Community Challenge, CalEPA’s Environmental Justice Action Grants, and Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants, etc., to fund rural active transportation projects identified in the Regional Transportation Plan.

T-1i Rural Funding/
Equity
Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to fund the development of local subsidies for low-income residents across the region for bicycles, helmets, pumps, and other bicycle equipment. Continue to offer e-bike rebates with increased rebate opportunities for low-income customers. Implement an income-qualified coupon for the e-bike share program, in addition to the available 50 percent discounted e-bike share rate.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 1,080 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 4,405 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Public Health and Equity
KPI: Change in active transportation mode share and VMT in rural areas County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
50 Strategy 6: Shift driving to public transit or car-share To increase the mode shift from single-occupancy vehicles to using public transit or other car-share options is largely a behavior shift that relies on the initiative of community members. Increasing the access and convenience of such transportation options or increasing the benefit of using such options can initiate change. Due to the rural nature of communities in Humboldt, public transit options are currently limited and require different considerations in urbanized centers vs rural areas. The low population density and vast geographic spread of communities in rural areas of the region lead to limitations in frequency of service and have limited route options that may not serve the needs of the rural residents. Consequently, residents in rural areas rely more heavily on personal vehicles as they are more convenient and reliable. On the other hand, urban centers in the region have a more robust public transit system that has greater accessibility, connects riders to urban centers and runs at a greater frequency. However, the transit system’s current frequency even in urban centers is not at a level that allows riders to view transit as more convenient than a personal vehicle. Increasing bus headway decreases the average wait time for passengers and has been shown to increase ridership.46 Greater connectivity across rural and urbanized centers as well as offering other transit options or services to make transit in rural regions more convenient and reliable will be key to increasing public transit use in the region. Studies have shown that public transit use can be increased up to approximately 25 percent, though this level of change requires extensive change in infrastructure and offered services that meet the needs of the riders (e.g., commuting, local travel, travel for regional visitors). At this time, HCAOG and HTA have set goals to increase public and active transit to 30 percent of trips by 2030 and are seeking funding sources to expand access and frequency to attain a 10-minute headway to promote help achieve this goal through ease of community access.

Measure TR-2 Urban: Expand the public transit network in support of HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan to increase public transit mode share from 2% to 20% public transit mode share in urbanized areas to achieve a regional 13% public transit mode share by 2030 Urbanized areas offer greater opportunities for increasing public transit use due to higher population densities, more developed infrastructure, shorter trips and concentrated economic activities. Public transit can more efficiently serve urban centers where there are more people that live closer together and there is a higher demand for transportation options. Urban centers are ideal for public transit expansion because they can provide a high return on investment, with each improvement potentially benefiting a large number of residents and reducing overall VMT more effectively. Measure TR-2Urban aligns with HCAOG’s VROOM 2022-2042 plan and supports aggressive mode share shift projects by focusing on expanding transit services and increasing reliability in the urbanized areas of Humboldt, such as Arcata, Eureka, and Fortuna, where most job centers are located. Actions include collaborating with HCAOG and Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) to achieve a 10-minute headway and secure funding and improving access, particularly in lowincome communities. The introduction of 11 zero-emissions buses by HTA further enhances the GHG reduction potential of public transit. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-2 Urban are included in Table 15.
46 Advancing Public Transport (UTIP) (Last updated March 3, 2024.). “What is bus headway? (And how it impacts public transport quality”. Accessed May 20th, from https://www.uitp.org/news/what-is-bus-headway-and-how-it-impacts-public-transport-quality/ GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Table 15 Measure TR-2 Urban Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-2a
Urban
Structural/
Partnership
Regional Climate Committee to work with Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) and HCAOG to support implementation of measures to increase use of public transportation services in the region as specified in HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan, and work toward a 10-minute headway in urban areas.

This should include, but is not limited to:

1. Improving passenger transfer among local routes and between local and intercity routes (e.g., Greyhound and Amtrak)

2. Improving shelters at bus stops

3. Electronic signage and/or real-time updates of wait time until next bus
T-2b
Urban
Feasibility
Study
For areas with significant tourism industry, conduct a feasibility study to inform the development of a tourism-based mobility plan aimed at decreasing tourism-based single passenger vehicle use. In this study:

1. Identify community boundary locations for tourism designated parking and optimal route connectivity

2. Identify opportunities for town shuttle services and park-and-ride locations for residents and tourists

3. Gauge potential of partnerships with big tourism destinations and local businesses to implement direct public transit routes between park and ride and the relevant tourist destinations

4. Identify opportunities for dogs to be included in a shuttle service to locations that allow dogs
T-2c
Urban
Engagement Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to conduct local transportation surveys to better understand the community’s needs and motivation for traveling by car versus other alternatives such as the bus. Use survey results to inform policy development and outreach campaigns that are transit focused. Develop marketing materials and provide them to the local jurisdictions to publicize public transportation improvements as they are planned and implemented in a variety of methods (social media, newspaper, radio, etc.) and languages to help facilitate use and success of improvement.

T-2d
Urban
Equity/
Partnership
Work with HTA to plan facility upgrades that include design improvements of seating and weather protection at bus stops and along transportation routes.

Implementation should also include consideration of climate change impacts and increasing micro-transit access to the improved public transit network facility. Incorporate design changes throughout infrastructure modifications, including real-time updates of bus arrival.

T-2e
Urban
Equity Work with HTA to prioritize public transportation access and improvements in low-income areas of the region and at major destinations. This could include surveying existing transportation routes, schedules, and facilities throughout each jurisdiction as part of HCAOG’s Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program and improving public transportation facilities and expand access to transit (i.e., first and last-mile access).

T-2f
Urban
Funding Regional Climate Committee to collaborate with HTA and HCAOG in obtaining grant funding for service expansion and improvements particularly in underserved and marginalized areas. Also include assistance for working with the appropriate State agencies to petition for updates to the farebox ratio to allow HTA greater access to using funds for self- advertisement.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
52 Action ID Attribute Action
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 18,055 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 26,482 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Increased Resilience KPI: Change in transit mode share and VMT reduction
Measure TR-2 Rural: Develop a robust public transit network in support of HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan to increase public transit mode share from 1% to 10% in rural areas and achieve a regional 13% public transit mode share by 2030
Expanding public transit use in rural communities is challenging due to lower population densities, greater travel distances, and limited infrastructure. However, improving connectivity between rural and urban centers can facilitate access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services without relying on personal vehicles. Increasing the frequency and reliability of public transit makes it a more viable and convenient option for rural residents. Establishing park-and-ride facilities can make it more convenient to use public transit for parts of trips, and enhancing access to micromobility options like bike shares or car shares can provide a solution for the “first” and “last” mile.

Measure TR-2 Rural focuses on enhancing connectivity between rural incorporated and unincorporated regions of Humboldt County, such as Blue Lake, Ferndale, Rio Dell, Trinidad, and Unincorporated Humboldt County and economic centers by pursuing funding to expand transit network services and establishing policies and programs to better connect rural residents to public transit. These efforts align with the with HCAOG’s RTP program, VROOM 2022-2042, to achieve significant increased public transit mode share across the region. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-2 Rural are included in Table 16.

Table 16 Measure TR-2 Rural Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-2a
Rural
Structural/
Partnership
Regional Climate Committee to work with HTA and HCAOG to support implementation of measures to increase use of public transportation services in the region as specified in HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan and work toward a 30-minute headway in rural areas. This should include, but is not limited to:

1. Improving passenger transfer among local routes and between local and intercity routes (e.g., Greyhound and Amtrak)

2. Improving shelters at bus stops

3. Prioritizing infrastructure improvements in existing communities that enable people better access and use of public transit

4. Electronic signage and/or real-time updates of wait time until next bus
T-2b
Rural
Feasibility
Study
For areas with significant tourism industry, conduct a feasibility study to inform the development of a tourism-based mobility plan aimed at decreasing tourism-based single passenger vehicle use. In this study:

1. Identify community boundary locations for tourism designated parking and optimal route connectivity
GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action

2. Identify opportunities for town shuttle services and park-and-ride locations for residents and tourists

3. Gauge potential of private partnerships with big tourism destinations and local businesses to implement direct public transit routes between park and ride and the relevant tourist destinations T-2c
Rural
Feasibility
Study
Work with HCAOG and HTA to conduct a feasibility study to explore alternative forms of public transit, such as micro transit including on-demand shuttles, car share programs, bike share programs, and scooter share programs. Micro transit is a type of on-demand, shared transportation service that typically operates with smaller vehicles, such as vans or mini-buses, and offers flexible routes and schedules. The analysis should include identification of potential funding sources (e.g., grants, local taxes, local business sponsorship, discretionary funds, etc.) and identification of barriers and opportunities for how such a micro-mobility program may enhance active transportation or public transit use. Evaluate the effectiveness of the micro transit pilot program in McKinleyville to determine opportunities for implementing a similar program in other rural locations of the county.

T-2d
Rural
Structural Based on the findings of the feasibility study, work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop a template micro-mobility policy that establishes a deployment protocol and permitting process, identifies any restrictions for use for safety reasons, and promotes equitable access through requirements for consistent placement of micro-mobility devices (e-scooters, e-bikes, etc.) in underserved areas or reductions in usage fees for lower-income users.

T-2e
Rural
Structural Require large nonresidential and mixed-use developments to participate in Transportation Demand Management strategies, including providing shuttle services between employment centers and key transit centers, offering telecommuting, and encouraging use of pre-tax commute benefits.

T-2f
Rural
Engagement Market and publicize public transportation improvements as they are planned and implemented in a variety of methods (social media, newspaper, radio, etc.) and languages to help facilitate use.

T-2g
Rural
Equity/
Partnership
Work with HTA in the implementation of facility improvements to rural transportation stops to include design improvements of seating and weather protection. Implementation should also include consideration of increasing access to the improved public transit network facility. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 20,180 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 29,703 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Increased Resilience KPI: Change in transit mode share and VMT reduction
Measure TR-4: Develop and implement regional mobility hubs and ZEV car-share programs to support mode shift from single occupancy vehicles Measure TR-4focuses on creating regional mobility hubs and implementing ZEV car-share programs to promote a shift away from single-occupancy vehicle use. This measure aims to expand transportation options across urban and rural communities, facilitating residents' adoption of zero emissions and efficient travel modes. Regional mobility hubs consolidate various transportation services, including public transit, bike-sharing, and car-sharing, at centralized locations to improve County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
54 convenience and connectivity between different modes of transport. Introducing ZEV car-share programs enhances this initiative by offering clean transportation alternatives and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, Caltrans is currently developing mobility hubs along the State highway that traverses the county, which can enhance residents' access to these services and facilitate the transition to active or public transportation for last-mile commutes. Actions, cobenefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-4 are included in Table 17.

Table 17 Measure TR-4 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-4a Feasibility
Study
Regional Climate Committee to work with HCAOG on the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program efforts to assess regional transportation characteristics and work with regional agencies to identify multimodal land use opportunities throughout the county. As part of this program, conduct a background review of options for purchasing, operating, and maintaining shared mobility assets such as ZEVs, electric bikes, and electric scooters. The program should include identification of potential funding sources (e.g., grants, local taxes, local business sponsorship, discretionary funds, etc.) and identification of barriers and opportunities for how expanding mobility hub facilities beyond state highways access may enhance active transportation or public transit use. Also include in the feasibility study an assessment of alternative powering options in partnership with RCEA (e.g. microgrids) to support ZEV car-share infrastructure with the mobility hubs.

T-4b Structural/
Partnership
In areas where Caltrans plans to implement mobility hubs along the state highway, local jurisdictions with support from the Regional Climate Committee will work with Caltrans to facilitate successful implementation and use the project to inform decisions on expanding mobility hub options throughout the region that will expand jurisdictional interconnectivity and provide public EV charging to the communities.

T-4c Structural/
Equity
Regional Climate Committee will develop guidance for jurisdictions to implement mobility hub policies that establishes a deployment protocol and permitting process, identifies any restrictions for use for safety reasons, and promotes equitable access through requirements for consistent placement of mobility hub facilities in underserved areas or reductions in usage fees for lower income users. The guidance is to be developed based on the regional feasibility study above.

T-4d Partnership The Regional Climate Committee will coordinate with the City of Arcata in their efforts to bring in commercial autonomous EVs for car-share programs in association with regional mobility hubs.

T-4e Funding Dedicate staff time or leverage the Regional Climate Committee to work with work with HCAOG on the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program and Caltrans in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities identified in the feasibility study with focus on linking mobility hub programs with the current Caltrans project to facilitate greater community interconnectivity and adoption of mobility services provided.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Green Jobs KPI: Reduction in VMT and change in mode shift
Strategy 7: Shift land use to reduce VMT
Land-use patterns are highly correlated with VMT where higher sprawl outside of urban areas is known to increase more travel. In recognition of that, the State passed the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375) which supports the State’s climate goals by helping to reduce GHG emission through coordinated transportation, housing, and land use planning. While the communities in the County are largely dispersed and well established, there are still opportunities to implement land-use strategies in areas where development is expected to occur. By concentrating on new residential development near job and amenity centers and enhancing connectivity across the region, VMT can be reduced. Further, improving land-use patterns makes measures focused on mode shift even more effective.

Measure TR-3: Reduce regional VMT by increasing mixed-use development in infill priority areas in alignment with HCAOG’s baseline connectivity score included in the RTP.

Population density presents challenges for public transit and active transportation across the region, as dispersed populations have limited access to transit and decreased public transit ridership.

Measure TR-3 addresses this issue by emphasizing mixed-use development in designated infill priority areas within incorporated cities, in alignment with HCAOG’s VROOM 2022-2042 connectivity goals. Encouraging mixed-use development optimizes land use by integrating residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, which can alleviate traffic congestion, lower transportation emissions, and discourage urban sprawl. Urban areas within the region have already begun increasing mixed-use developments, with ongoing zoning updates offering further opportunities for infill expansion. This measure enhances community livability by fostering walkable neighborhoods that provide easy access to essential services and amenities. By aligning with regional transportation priorities outlined in the RTP, these infill projects are strategically planned to improve connectivity and accessibility. Increased population density through infill development supports transit networks, aids in meeting RHNA requirements, and reduces VMT by single-passenger vehicles.

Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-3 are included in Table 18.

Table 18 Measure TR-3 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-3a Structural Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop template land use and development policy to enable and encourage infill development and streamline zoning changes that allow for higher density housing development.

Work with urban areas to rezone for higher residential density and mixed use, reduced parking requirements, and expedited planning and permitting processes in the downtown core, along transit corridors, and within future planned development areas that is compact, pedestrian friendly, and transit oriented where applicable.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
56 Action ID Attribute Action
T-3b Feasibility/
Equity
Leverage feasibility studies conducted by HCAOG to identify opportunities for mixed-use and infill development, map current and future planned transit networks, and establish a priority list of development that encourages regional growth to be in alignment with HCAOG and HTA transit goals. If not already included in previously conducted HCAOG studies, assess equity considerations with regards to location and distribution of developments, and potential transit access equity impacts.

T-3c Partnership Work with HCAOG, HTA, RCEA and CBOs to plan prospective mixed-use and infill projects so that they include design considerations with regards to alternative energy access/generation, EV charging infrastructure, and local public transit facilities. Promote development that increases walkability and is bikeable in neighborhoods.

T-3d Engagement Direct the Regional Climate Committees to develop promotional materials and manage a central webpage on local jurisdiction’s websites for planned projects detailing the benefits of mixed-use and/or infill developments.

T-3e Funding Dedicate staff time or create multi-jurisdictional staff position to be administered by the Regional Climate Committee to identify and pursue funding opportunities to support mixed-use and infill developments. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Increased Resilience KPI: Reduction in VMT
Measure TR-5: Require commercial and industrial employers with 25 employees or more to develop a Transportation Demand Management Plan Measure TR-5 commits jurisdictions, particularly high employment areas, to require that commercial and industrial employers with 25 or more employees create a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan. This measure aims to lower GHG emissions and better accommodate employees living far from their place of work by further incentivizing alternative commuting options through employer-based subsidies for alternative modes of travel, which can also reduce their commuting costs. TDM plans can include strategies such as promoting carpooling, offering public transit incentives, supporting telecommuting, and providing facilities for cycling and walking.

Employer-based TDM plans with these types of strategies which combine incentives with improved commute alternatives can lead to a 25 percent reduction in employee trips. By requiring these plans, Measure TR-5 encourages employers to actively participate in reducing their transportation footprint, improving air quality, and enhancing the overall efficiency of the transportation network.

Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-5 are included in Table 19.

Table 19 Measure TR-5 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-5a Structural Across all jurisdictions, and particularly in high employment cities, require employers to develop a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan through a new ordinance and/or as a requirement to obtain a business GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
Public Draft 57
Action ID Attribute Action
license. TDM plans should include money-based incentives for employees to bike, walk, carpool, take the bus to work, or remote work where suitable.

Require large employers (more than 25 employees) to subsidize biking, walking, or bus travel. The TDM should also include a ride-sharing program and membership within a transportation management association. The ridesharing program will consist of designated parking spaces for ridesharing vehicles, passenger loading, unloading, and waiting zones; and a website, message board, or app for coordinating ridesharing. The program will include a provision to allow employees to work remotely 2 days per week when feasible and should include consideration for increasing broadband internet access to provide adequate service for those working remote.

T-5b Feasibility
Study
Leverage the Regional Climate Committee and partnership with HCAOG to conduct local transportation surveys within each jurisdiction to better understand the community’s needs and motivation for traveling by car versus other alternatives such as the bus. Use survey results to inform policy development and outreach campaigns that are transit focused.

T-5c Engagement Have the Regional Climate Committee prepare marketing materials that each jurisdiction may modify and use to market and publicize public and active transportation improvements to local businesses as they are planned and implemented in a variety of methods (social media, newspaper, radio, etc.) and languages to help facilitate use and success of improvement.

T-5e Partnership/
Engagement
Work with local businesses to understand employee engagement with alternative transportation methods and barriers to entry and provide workshops to local businesses to address questions or concerns in developing TDM plans.

T-5f Funding Through the Regional Climate Committee, employ a multi-jurisdictional representative to support HTA and local jurisdictions in pursuing grants such as the Sustainable Communities Competitive, Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program, State Transportation Improvement Program, etc., to expand public and active transit services and infrastructure. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity KPI: Implementation of TDM plans and reduction in VMT
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
58 Strategy 8: Increase zero-emission vehicle adoption
The state has adopted Executive Order N-79-20 requiring that 100 percent of new sales of passenger vehicles be zero-emissions by 2035. Additionally, the state has as invested billions of dollars into programs developed to support the expansion of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure throughout the state and increase access to ZEVs for all Californians including low- or moderate-incomeconsumers. There are several rules accelerating the penetration of commercial ZEVs as well, including the Innovative Clean Transit regulation, the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation, and the Advanced Clean Fleet rule. Based on consumer choice models and regulatory drivers, California’s Motor Vehicle Emission Factor model has conservatively estimated that by 2030 there will be about a 6 percent and 5 percent penetration of passenger and commercial EVs, respectively. Accelerating this rate is primarily driven by increasing access to EVs and charging infrastructure and developing a connective network. The State has also established the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by spurring more investment in alternative fuels such as biodiesel and biomethane made from waste as well as green hydrogen. The use of alternative fuels provides an opportunity to decarbonize vehicles that do not yet have the technology to be electric as well as provides an opportunity for decarbonization for regions that have limited access to adequate electricity infrastructure for electric vehicles, like the Humboldt region.

Measure TR-6: Decarbonize 15% of passenger vehicle miles traveled by 2030 and 100% by 2045 through increased adoption of low and zero-emission vehicles and development of a regional electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling network.

Measure TR-6 aims to decarbonize VMT across the region through increased ZEV adoption and implementation of hydrogen hubs as an alternative to electric ZEVs. Though jurisdictions in Humboldt are expected to aid in aligning regional ZEV adoption with state goals, Humboldt’s electricity infrastructure, and rural nature poses challenges with matching the State’s goals or anticipated ZEV market rate. In recognition of these challenges as well as the pressing need to decarbonize the transportation sector this measure establishes a conservative target focused on ZEV adoption and increased electric utility capacity, which is consistent with RCEA efforts.

Additionally, the measures includes promoting and informing residents of opportunities to offset cost of ZEVs and EV charging equipment installation such as those provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit opportunities for consumers. The IRA offers several tax credit opportunities for residents, businesses, and fleets to accelerate the electrification of the transportation sector. This includes tax credits for new clean vehicles (section 30D), used clean vehicles (section 25E), commercial clean vehicles (section 45W), alternative fuel vehicle refueling (section 30C), and an allocation of $1 billion to states, municipalities, Indian tribes and non-profit transportation associations to replace class 6 and 7 heavy-duty vehicles and school buses.47Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-6 are included in Table 20. 47 Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, H.R.5376, 117th Congress (2021-2022).

GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
Public Draft 59
Table 20 Measure TR-6 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-6a Engagement Through the Regional Climate Committee partner with local organizations and community groups throughout the county to distribute outreach and promotional materials to residents and local businesses on the financial, environmental, and health and safety benefits of ZEVs and alternative fueling options. Provide information on available funding opportunities.

T-6b Structural Regional Climate Committee will identify jurisdictions or land-use zones, such as the Coastal Zone, that may benefit from a streamlined public and private EV infrastructure permitting process or Categorical Exemption and draft an ordinance in accordance with AB 1236. The Regional Climate Committee will develop the program as a template to be distributed to applicable jurisdictions for a coordinated approach and relieve individual jurisdiction workload on program development.

T-6c Structural The Regional Climate Committee with work with local jurisdictions to amend the Municipal Code to promote EV chargers in new development, redevelopment, and existing parking spaces. This may include requiring:
▪ Multifamily – CalGreen Tier 2 provisions
▪ Non-Residential – CalGreen Tier 2 provisions
▪ Designate 10 percent of parking spaces in urbanized areas as EV charging spaces
▪ Require that employers with over 25 employees designate preferred parking spaces for zero emission vehicles or hybrids only ▪ Require that new private parking lots grant ZEVs access to preferred parking spaces.
▪ Require larger residential rental building owners (more than 15 tenants) and large commercial building owners (more than 10,000 square feet) to install working electric vehicle chargers in 10 percent of parking spaces for new and existing buildings at time of renovation if projects are valued at $1,000,000 or greater
T-6d Equity Support ZEV car share companies in coming to the region. In jurisdictions with prevalent or planned development of multifamily housing, identify private sector partnerships and develop affordable, zero-emission vehicle car share programs with a priority to target vulnerable communities across all jurisdictions, promoting an accessible ZEV network.

T-6e Partnership For high employment areas, work with RCEA to develop new public access charging stations. Work with RCEA to develop partnerships with other charging companies (e.g. Go Station) as needed to accommodate charging station needs. Apply for Federal Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant to install electric vehicle chargers at community centers and in high employment areas.

T-6f Funding Partner with RCEA to provide an EV Monthly Bill Discount Program with increased discount opportunities for low-income customers in each jurisdiction. Promote affordable EV charging rates at jurisdiction-owned EV charging stations and adjust rates as necessary to cover program costs.

Explore methods for charging different rates for different user groups or other programs to offset charging costs at public stations for low-income residents.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
60 Action ID Attribute Action
T-6g Structural Regional Climate Committee will work with interested parties and RCEA to expand home and public fueling/charging station ZEV infrastructure in alignment with RCEA RePower Plan goals and address barriers to ZEV adoption which are not related to electric grid capacity limitations as outlined in the “North Coast and Upstate FCEV Readiness Plan.” Evaluate opportunities for curbside street level II chargers in urbanized residential areas where offstreet parking is limited to provide equitable access to at home chargers.

T-6h Feasibility
Study/
Funding
Regional Climate Committee, in partnership HCAOG, to lead the development of a Hydrogen Vehicle Infrastructure Implementation Plan for public access hydrogen facilities by 2030 which includes the following:

1. Evaluate a list of prioritized locations for hydrogen fueling stations across the county

2. Consideration of procurement needs and potential sourcing from the Redding Rancheria perspective green hydrogen facility

3. Identifies grant funding opportunities (e.g. LCFS)
T-6i Structural Based on the results of the Hydrogen Vehicle Implementation Plan, applicable jurisdictions with opportunities identified as high priority hydrogen fueling station locations will evaluate and promote public access hydrogen fuel station development. Leverage the Regional Climate Committee and other regional partnerships to explore funding opportunities for hydrogen fueling infrastructure through the LCFS or PG&E EV Fast Charge Program as well as develop public-private partnerships to attract private developers to the region to build out ZEV infrastructure.

T-6j Funding Identify and promote incentives and financing options for residential EV charger installations such as applying for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 55,726 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 590,124 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity KPI: Increase in passenger vehicle ZEV adoption
Measure TR-7: Increase commercial zero-emission vehicle use and adoption to 10% by 2030 and 100% by 2045 through a regional charging network and development of hydrogen hubs
Measure TR-7 aims to boost commercial ZEV adoption across Humboldt County, focusing on EVs and hydrogen hubs for medium- and heavy-duty (MDHD) vehicles and trucks. Key actions under this measure include refining and implementing the North Coast MDHD ZEV Readiness Blueprint in collaboration with RCEA and SERC, engaging employers and fleet owners on Advanced Clean Fleet requirements and funding opportunities, and securing state and federal funding to expand ZEV procurement and charging infrastructure. These efforts align with California's mandates for achieving 100 percent ZEV populations in commercial fleets by 2045, as set forth in Executive Order N-79-20 and regulations like the Advanced Clean Trucks and Fleets. The region also plans to leverage infrastructure funding through state and federal programs to enhance electric and hydrogen fueling along Highway 101. By also investing in hydrogen refueling infrastructure, the region is able to better diversify the fleets and continue to move towards fleet ZEV transition even with electricity infrastructure barriers. Similar to Measure TR-6, this measure directs the Regional Climate Committee to pursue funding for commercial vehicle electrification through state and GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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federal programs such as the IRA described in the previous section. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-7 are included in 9.

Table 21 Measure TR-7 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-7a Structural Through the Regional Climate Committee work with RCEA and the Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) to refine and implement the North Coast Medium-Duty/Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Readiness Blueprint for Humboldt County. As part of the refinement:

1. Conduct in depth study of physical siting opportunities and prioritize locations and a schedule to follow

2. Identify opportunities for local jurisdiction-supported accelerated fleet ZEV adoption and establish a strategy to promote ZEV/EV adoption within business fleets

3. For high priority fleets, establish a strategy and protocol to collaborate with PG&E

4. For high priority fleets, conduct a grid planning study to identify necessary infrastructure upgrades to support a fully built-out fleet and coordinate with PG&E regarding needs
T-7b Funding Work with the Regional Climate Committee and RCEA to secure funding from state and utility programs (such as the California Air Resources Board's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, the Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program, LCFS, and the PG&E EV Fast Charge Program) and federal sources to increase procurement of EV or ZEV cars, trucks, and other vehicles and installation of EV/ZEV charging/fueling infrastructure. Additionally, provide information to businesses on state and federal programs to help businesses pursue conversion of fleets to ZEVs.

T-7c Feasibility
study
Conduct an inventory of business vehicle fleets in each jurisdiction and identify and engage with employers and businesses subject to the Advanced Clean Fleets rule as well as those to target for accelerating ZEV/EV adoption.

As part of the study, identify private trucking company or manufacturer partnership opportunities for piloting new ZEV technology in the region.

T-7d Engagement Direct the Regional Climate Committee to partner with RCEA and SERC to work with local fleet operators, vehicle operators, and fleet maintenance staff to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings to discussing the benefits and technical requirements of ZEV fleets and supporting infrastructure. In addition to retraining the existing workforce, advertise and promote opportunities in the area to attract additional workforce support such as ZEV technicians and mechanics, and charging and fueling technicians.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 17,441 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 279,775 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Public Health and Equity, Increased Resilience, Green Jobs KPI: Increase in commercial vehicle ZEV adoption
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
62 Measure TR-8: Electrify or otherwise decarbonize 12% of applicable small off-road engines (SOREs) off-road equipment by 2030 and 100% by 2045 and replace fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel in 55% of applicable large diesel in alignment with EO N-79-20 by 2030.

The State is regularly updating mandates for off-road equipment. CARB's regulations specifically impact the sale and use of SOREs powered by gasoline or diesel, affecting equipment such as lawn mowers, generators, and pressure washers by 2024. State initiatives are focused on limiting sales of these engines and providing resources to replace current models. Additionally, amendments to CARB's Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation require the majority of large, in-use off-road diesel equipment to use renewable diesel. Measure TR-8 aims to achieve significant emissions reductions from off-road equipment by electrifying where feasible and increasing access to renewable diesel, aligning with CARB's off-road equipment mandates. These efforts target reductions in local fossil fuel use and aim to decarbonize the off-road sector through regulatory measures, incentives, and community outreach. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-8 are included in Table 22.

Table 22 Measure TR-8 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-8a Engagement Align with AB 1346 and develop and circulate educational materials regarding CARB’s Small-Off Road Engines regulations requiring most newly manufactured small off-road engines such as those found in leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and other equipment to be zero emission starting in Model Year 2024. Phase 2 of the regulations will be implemented in Model Year 2028, when the emission standards for generators and large pressure washers will be zero. In addition, work with Humboldt Chamber of Commerce to disseminate information regarding the regulation to impacted businesses (e.g., lawn equipment dealers, commercial landscapers, construction companies) and promote transition of equipment sales and equipment use to electric alternatives.

T-8b Structural Regional Climate Committee to identify pathways to enforce CARB’s In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation and the Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation requiring that diesel vehicles over 25 horsepower to procure and only use R99 or R100 renewable diesel. This should include establishing a means to track compliance and developing partnerships with fuel suppliers in the region to promote and support the increased procurement of renewable diesel in the region.

T-8c Structural Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop and implement a plan to replace all jurisdiction owned end-of-life off-road equipment with zeroemission equipment as feasible. Procure renewable diesel for applicable jurisdiction owned diesel equipment that doesn’t have available replacement equipment. Plan should include evaluation of current jurisdiction-owned equipment, alternative low or zero-emission options, prioritize equipment to replace first (e.g., largest GHG emission reduction potential), and a timeline for replacements that align with goals and feasibility of replacement.

T-8d Engagement The Regional Climate Committee will develop and manage an Off-road Equipment Replacement Program and Outreach Campaign that provides information to contractors, residents, and fleet operators in the region regarding alternatives to fossil-fueled off-road equipment, local fuel suppliers GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
with renewable diesel for sale, public health and safety benefits of alternative equipment technology, and funding opportunities available (i.e., Clean OffRoad Equipment Voucher Incentive Program), Zero-Emission Landscaping Equipment Incentive Programs).

T-8e Funding/
Partnership
Through the Regional Climate Committee, Partner with North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District to identify funding opportunities to encourage residents to replace gas-powered landscaping equipment and offroad engines with zero emission equipment. This could include a rebate and incentive program for upgrading off-road equipment and switching to renewable diesel, or the development of an off-road zero emission landscaping equipment rental share program for county residents and businesses.

T-8f Funding Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to source State funding to decarbonize off-road equipment as a result of Executive Order N-79-20 and State Climate Funding Package.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 49,143 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 139,645 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Natural Resource Enhancement, Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Green Jobs
KPI: Reduction of fossil fuel consumption in off-road vehicles Measure TR-9: Establish Humboldt as a pilot program for the decarbonization of the transportation sector to help drive State and philanthropic investment throughout Humboldt.

Measure TR-9 aims to establish the region as a pilot program for decarbonizing rural transportation emissions by developing a comprehensive vision that integrates relevant measures outlined in this plan and by attracting State and philanthropic investments. Decarbonizing rural transportation faces unique challenges such as longer travel distances, higher individual vehicle use, and lower average incomes, exacerbated by historical underinvestment in rural areas. By positioning Humboldt as a pioneer in rural decarbonization, this initiative seeks to foster county-wide collaboration for integrated transportation solutions. This pilot program not only aims to attract investments to enhance local infrastructure but also positions the region as a leader in rural sustainability, driving climate mitigation efforts at both local and regional levels. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-9 are included in Table 23.

Table 23 Measure TR-9 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-9a Feasibility The Regional Climate Committee will develop and promote a vision and strategy for the regional community foundation to serve as a first mover/pilot in the State in the decarbonization of America's rural transportation systems.

T-9b Funding As a first mover in rural America, the Regional Climate Committee will pursue investment on behalf of the jurisdictions from philanthropy, the State, private businesses, etc. to fund the development of a Humboldt decarbonized rural transportation system.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
64 Action ID Attribute Action
T-9c Equity/
Engagement
With the support of the Regional Climate Committee, jurisdictions will directly engage members of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in the development of the vision and strategy that aims to benefit all members of rural communities.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Natural Resource Enhancement, Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity, Green Jobs
KPI: Funding received through philanthropies
Measure TR-10: Work with the State and renewable fuel industry to establish a renewable fuel network within Humboldt thereby funding new green industry and job growth to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector
Measure TR-10 aims to establish a biofuel network in Humboldt by collaborating with the State and the renewable fuel industry, focusing on green hydrogen, renewable diesel, and renewable natural gas (RNG) production. This network supports the decarbonization of transportation fuels and promotes economic development in the region. Due to challenges with electric infrastructure, biofuels serve as a transitional solution, enabling Humboldt to progress towards decarbonization goals. Hydrogen is particularly beneficial in rural areas like Humboldt, providing extended travel range compared to EVs and contributing to California's goal of establishing 200 hydrogen fueling stations by 2025. Bringing renewable diesel to the region is crucial for implementing Measure TR-8 and complying with CARB regulations. Renewable fuel production has the potential to help address wildfire risks by using existing forest biomass resulting from forest thinning projects that could otherwise fuel fires. Biofuels reduce emissions by substituting fossil fuels with renewable organic materials, which absorb CO2 during growth. When combusted, biofuels release biogenic CO2, minimizing net atmospheric carbon emissions compared to traditional fuels. This measure promotes alternative energy solutions and economic growth. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR10 are included in Table 24.

Table 24 Measure TR-10 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-10a Feasibility The Regional Climate Committee will lead establishing a memorandum of understanding with RCEA, PG&E, CARB, CAL FIRE, the California Department of Agriculture, forest owners, and waste management companies to establish a plan to manage biomass and organic waste through the development of biofuel infrastructure in the region to position Humboldt as a first mover in active forest management to support a carbon-free future for California.

T-10b Structural The Regional Climate Committee will work jurisdiction to identify and help zone and entitle opportunity locations and specific areas throughout the region for streamlined development of renewable generation facilities where applicable. As part of effort, develop guidelines for evaluating renewable opportunities that meet sustainability criteria such as those set in the Natural GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
Resources Defense Council's "Biofuel Sustainability Performance Guidelines" to limit environmental impacts related to renewable production.

T-10c Partnerships The Regional Climate Committee will work with RCEA, PG&E, and State agencies to explore funding opportunities including grants and green bonds to help fund the development of renewable fuel infrastructure in the region and explore revenue options through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

T-10d Structural Establish Humboldt as a hydrogen hub by:

1. Promoting the pending The U.S. Department of Energy funded HTA hydrogen fueling station to attract additional hydrogen fueling station developers to the region

2. Partner with RCEA, SERC, and CalTrans, where applicable, to identify sites for hydrogen fueling stations that build off the North Coast and Upstate Regional Hydrogen Infrastructure Plan

3. Pursue partnerships with private developers to develop additional hydrogen fueling stations in the region

4. Pursue funding opportunities for hydrogen fueling infrastructure, such as through LCSF, AB 8 program, and the CEC Clean
Transportation Program
T-10e Funding The Regional Climate Committee, in partnership with applicable incorporated cities will work with local utilities and State agencies to pursue grants earmarked for biofuel infrastructure from the Inflation Reduction Act.

T-10f Partnerships The Regional Climate Committee will establish partnerships with organic waste haulers to establish a consistent feedstock of biomass from forests and biowaste from residential and agricultural sources and forest service businesses/property owners.

T-10g Engagement Partner with the forestry services and waste haulers to host an Outreach Campaign informing the community on the economic and wildfire risk benefits of active forest management for bioenergy. Establish a working group/committee to involve local community members and businesses in the planning processes related to biomass and biowaste management locally.

T-10h Equity/
Engagement
Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to create a region-wide workforce development programs to train the local workforce for biofuel jobs.

Specifically target training towards members of disadvantaged communities and establish criteria in the planning process that prioritizes/requires the employment of local residents and businesses in the industry. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Green Jobs, Increased Resilience KPI: Increased biofuel infrastructure and access in the region County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
66 Measure TR-11: Lead by example and electrify or otherwise decarbonize 50% of municipal fleets by 2030 in alignment with the State’s Advanced Clean Fleet Rule.

Measure TR-11 commits each jurisdiction to lead by example by electrifying or otherwise decarbonizing its municipal fleet in line with the State’s Advanced Clean Fleet Rule. Under the rule 50 percent of vehicles added to fleets subject to the regulation from 2024- 2026 must be ZEVs with 100 percent of vehicles added to the fleet after2026 must be ZEV. Alternatively, fleets may opt-in to the Milestones Option. If the Milestone Option is selected, fleet owners must continuously meet or exceed the ZEV Fleet Milestone percentage as defined by the regulation. Compliance reporting would be required annually and within 30 days of adding vehicles to the fleet. This Measure aims to exceed State requirements by decarbonizing 50 percent of the municipal fleets by 2030. This measure will reduce GHG emissions from municipal operations and demonstrate to the community the feasibility and benefits of transitioning to clean transportation technologies. Actions, cobenefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure TR-11 are included in Table 25.

Table 25 Measure TR-11 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
T-11a Structural Regional Climate Committee will develop a Zero-emission Fleet Conversion and Purchase Policy to be adopted by each jurisdiction that requires new, and replacement of, municipal fleet vehicle purchases to be EVs or ZEVs. The policy will also include a schedule for replacement of fleet vehicles to comply with the State’s Advanced Clean Fleet rule requiring 50 percent of medium and heavy-duty vehicle purchases be zero-emissions beginning in 2024 and 100 percent beginning in 2027. Report annually to CARB on fleet status as required per the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation.

T-11b Feasibility Leverage the Regional Climate Committee conduct a feasibility and cost assessment to determine the number of EV/ZEV chargers and funds needed to support the fleet transition to 50 percent EV/ZEV by 2030.

T-11c Funding The Regional Climate Committee will secure funding from programs such as the California Air Resources Board's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program to increase procurement of EV or ZEV cars, trucks, and other vehicles and installation of EV/ZEV charging/fueling infrastructure at municipal facilities. Evaluate credit generation opportunities within the LCFS program for ZEV/EV fueling and charging stations for the municipal fleet to offset cost of infrastructure development needed to support transition.

T-11d Structural Install additional ZEV chargers/fueling stations in municipal parking lots for fleet, employees, and public use to meet projected demand in alignment with feasibility study.

T-11e Structural Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to develop a resolution in alignment with Measure T-8a, to replace jurisdiction-owned end-of-life small off-road equipment with electric equipment (e.g., lawn equipment and leaf blowers) at time of replacement and to procure renewable diesel for all applicable jurisdiction owned equipment. Each jurisdiction will need to adopt GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
the resolution while the Regional Climate Committee will support implementation.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Public Health and Equity KPI: Reduction in fossil fuel consumption by municipal fleets Waste
GHG emissions associated with solid waste generated by the community make up approximately 2 percent of Humboldt’s regional GHG profile. A majority of emissions associated with waste generation are associated with the decomposition or organic material in the landfill. Therefore, the primary strategy for reducing emissions associated with solid waste generation is the diversion from the landfill and reuse of materials.

Strategy 8: Reduce organic waste
Senate Bill 1383 that took effect in 2022, requires all persons and entities to divert generated organic materials (e.g., food waste, green waste, etc.) from the garbage sent to the landfill. Entities that provide food are also required to donate excess food. Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA) is the primary waste service provider in the region and is responsible for transferring solid and organic waste to processing facilities outside of the County. HWMA partners with waste haulers such as Recology to provide solid waste, recycling, and compost services to residents and business in the region in accordance with the solid waste recycle and diversion legislation. It is the responsibility of businesses and residents to comply with the requirements of Senate Bill 1383 through proper sorting and disposal of waste materials. Currently, waste produced in the region is sorted and trucked long distances to processing facilities which are outside of county boundaries. This not only limits the community’s influence over waste management, but also contributes to regional transportation emissions to haul waste outside of the county. The Strategy for Humboldt solid waste focuses on bolstering regional infrastructure to allow for expanded organic and inorganic materials collection and separation services and providing local organic processing.

Measure SW-1: Establish a local waste separation facility and organics management to be able to reduce waste sent to landfills by 75% by 2030. Reduce GHG emissions by limiting truck trips required to ship waste out of the county and import compost from out of the county HWMA is highly invested in reducing organic waste sent to landfill, though there are significant challenges in the local infrastructure that require monetary support and land use access necessary to achieve State goals. This measure primarily seeks to achieve SB 1383 requirements by providing support to HWMA through partnerships and funding and establishing a regional organic waste processing facility to better handle capacity and eliminate shipping costs. In the landfill, organic waste decays without access to light or oxygen and produces methane (CH4) gas. Diverting organic waste from the landfill reduces the occurrence of this anaerobic decomposition, providing the region with an important opportunity to reduce solid waste GHG emissions. Diverted organic waste can be further processed and repurposed into an array of different types of products, such as compost or renewable natural gas, which can serve to sequester or offset carbon emissions. Thus, County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
68 managing organic waste provides an important opportunity to employ circular economy methods to reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure SW-1 are included Table 26.

Table 26 Measure SW-1 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
SW-1a Feasibility Regional Climate Committee to work with Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA) and Recology to develop a SB 1383 waste management plan which assesses county-wide waste diversion needs, current capacity, and landuse opportunities for developing organic waste processing facilities within Humboldt County that will meet regional requirements. The assessment should also include an analysis of green bond funding opportunities, applicable green bond programs, and a strategic plan for pursuing funding through green bond programs.

SW-1b Structural/Fun
ding
The Regional Climate Committee will work with HWMA and an underwriter at a desired green bond program identified in the feasibility study to develop a green bond focused on providing funding for HWMA to construct a regional organics processing facility that will be used to meet SB 1383 diversion and procurement requirements.

SW-1c Funding Through the Regional Climate Committee, partner with Recology and/or HWMA to pursue funding, such as the Organics Grant Program from CalRecycle or for projects through California Climate Investment, to reduce generated organic waste from multi-family homes and expand waste diversions programs within the county.

SW-1d Structural Meet the requirements of SB 1383 to reduce organics in the waste stream by 75 percent below 2014 levels by 2030 and work towards 90 percent solid waste diversion by 2040 in applicable jurisdictions by leveraging the Regional Climate Committee to provide implementation support. Include activities such as:

1. Implement enforcement and fee for incorrectly sorted materials with sensitivity to shared collection. Utilize funding to implement programs and efforts to increase communitywide organic waste diversion

2. Assure adequate bin signage across commercial and residential areas of acceptable landfill, recyclable, and compostable materials

3. Identify public areas for adding organics collection and recycling bins where needed

4. Work with Recology and HWMA to conduct free food scrap collection pail giveaways and promote curbside organics collection service offered in applicable communities

5. Evaluate opportunities to have community compost hubs throughout the county that is easily accessible for community members. Partner with regional community gardens to increase community wide access to local compost bins

6. Identify long-term and alternate solutions for the community’s wastewater bio-solids to avoid long hauling distances and develop local, beneficial reuse
SW-1e Structural Leverage Regional Climate Committee to draft a templated edible food recovery ordinance for individual jurisdictions to modify and adopt as needed.

Alternatively utilize the County’s adopted ordinance, HCC 521-13 as a template GHG Emission Reduction Strategy
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Action ID Attribute Action
or guide for drafting ordinances in individual jurisdictions that do not currently have such an ordinance. The ordinance will target edible food generators, food recovery services, or organizations that are required to comply with SB 1383.

Ordinance requires all residential and commercial customers to subscribe to an organic waste collection program and/or report self-hauling or backhauling of organics. To support implementation of the ordinance, include the following activities:

1. Work with community food pantries, food suppliers, HWMA, and Recology to identify infrastructure needs to ensure edible food reuse infrastructure in Humboldt is sufficient to accept capacity needed to recover 20 percent of edible food disposed of within Humboldt

2. Regional Climate Committee to work with jurisdictions to establish an edible food recovery program where they are not currently present to minimize food waste

3. Leverage CalRecycle funding opportunities to support projects that prevent food waste or rescue edible food

4. Partner with existing food pantries that are locally appropriate for each jurisdiction to identify and advertise locations for surplus food to be taken in the community
SW-1f Partnership The Regional Climate Committee will work with HWMA, Recology and individual jurisdictions to implement structural changes listed above and increase service to jurisdictions without organics collection. This is applicable to both jurisdictions subject to SB 1383 and SB 1383 exempt jurisdictions to prepare for future needs to comply with SB 1383.

SW-1g Feasibility
Study
The Regional Climate Committee will coordinate between HWMA and regional wastewater treatment facilities to evaluate the opportunities to process/codigest food waste at the wastewater treatment plants. Study should include evaluating existing infrastructure and ability to process food waste, an evaluation of necessary infrastructure upgrades needed to process food waste that would comply with SB 1383 standards for recovered organic products, and a return-on-investment evaluation. Study should also include recommendations of viable opportunities and identification of funding opportunities to support implementation and facility upgrades as necessary.

SW-1h Engagement The Regional Climate Committee in partnership with Recology and HWMA, will develop and conduct a conduct a Bring Your Own (BYO) education and outreach training for each jurisdiction community on reusables and implementing more sustainable packaging into daily use. The Regional Climate Committee will develop and provide information resources on HWMA and jurisdiction’s websites. Partner with libraries and other existing facilities to market campaigns about waste reductions, reuse and repair.

SW-1i Equity Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to provide technical and outreach support to jurisdictions with organics and/or recycling services, by establishing relationships with multi-family property owners/managers to develop signage for their properties and to go door-to-door at each multi-family unit yearly to provide supplies and promote proper sorting.

SW-1j Equity HWMA to add extra bulky-item pick up service in all jurisdictions to low- and medium-income residents at a subsided cost to help minimize illegal dumping.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
70 Action ID Attribute Action
SW-1k Feasibility
Study
The Regional Climate Committee will facilitate conducting waste characterization studies every 3 years to inform programs and policies. Leverage study to understand the waste stream and create a plan to increase diversion and reduce contamination. Work with contracted waste haulers and HWMA to develop and implement a comprehensive monitoring and quality control program with a focus on consumer behavior change. This should include tracking of weight or volume of waste produced; consider including information on billing to inform customers of their waste production and including incentives for reduction. Explore reducing frequency of service for residential and commercial waste to least often possible pick up to reduce truck miles/trips.

SW-1l Equity/
Engagement
Through the Regional Climate Committee create a multi-lingual training/outreach program that can be used in all jurisdictions that is free and accessible to all residents and employees to learn about circular economy practices and diversion strategies and effects of overconsumption. Conduct targeted, multi-lingual, culturally appropriate, and geographically diverse circular economy educational and technical assistance campaigns based on outcomes of waste characterization studies and comprehensive monitoring and quality control program. Topics could include reuse, prolonging the life of common materials and items, and sustainable purchasing. Focus outreach campaign on food waste not going to landfill.

SW-1m Partnership Utilize the Regional Climate Committee to partner with schools, retirement communities, and other large institutions throughout the county to create waste diversion and prevention program/procedure/plan.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 29,689 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 32,568 MT CO2e
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency
KPI(s): Change in total tonnage of landfilled waste (%) Change in landfilled organic waste compared with 2014 baseline levels using waste characterization studies (%)
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Water & Wastewater
Emissions associated with water are due to indirect emissions from the electricity consumption for water conveyance, treatment, and delivery to consumers. As such, the GHG emissions from water consumption are included in building electricity GHG emissions in Humboldt’s regional inventory .

GHG emissions associated with wastewater make up 1 percent of Humboldt’s regional GHG profile.

Emissions associated with wastewater are due to the direct fugitive emissions from wastewater treatment.

Strategy 9: Conserve water and reduce wastewater emissions Water and wastewater infrastructure can be managed to reduce the energy needed to transport water and wastewater, and associated GHG emissions. Residential and commercial buildings use water both indoors for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and toilet flushing, and outdoors to irrigate landscaping and maintain pools and fountains. Water efficiency measures not only reduce the amount of water used but also reduce the amount of energy needed to convey, treat, and distribute water. Additionally, water consumption and wastewater generation are interconnected, therefore water conservation efforts will lead to decreases in wastewater generated, as less water is treated through the wastewater system. Primary strategies for reducing emissions associated with wastewater generation are to reduce water consumption and wastewater generation and implement less GHG intensive processing technologies.

Measure WW-1:Expand regional opportunities for implementation of wastewater decarbonization technologies such as anaerobic digesters to reduce GHG and produce renewable fuel sources.

The community relies on several wastewater facilities and septic systems throughout the county, of which a couple utilize anaerobic digester systems for the capture and utilization of biogas.

Additionally, one anaerobic digester in the region is not able to operate 100 percent of the time.

Measure WW-1 focuses on expanding regional opportunities for the implementation of wastewater decarbonization technologies, including anaerobic digesters, throughout the Humboldt region. This measure aims to reduce GHG emissions from wastewater treatment processes and generate renewable fuel sources that can be used to decarbonize wastewater facility building energy or provide a supply of decarbonized energy to the community. It also investigates opportunities for expanding wastewater treatment capabilities to process organic waste that would otherwise go to landfill, supporting solid waste diversion and GHG reduction efforts. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure WW-1 are included Table 27.

Table 27 Measure WW-1 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
WW-1a Feasibility
Study
Regional Climate Committee to conduct a feasibility study(s) in jurisdictions with wastewater processing facilities or community primary reliance on septic systems identifying improved wastewater technologies which could be used to mitigate wastewater processing emissions and generate renewable fuel such as RNG or offset on-site process energy use via electricity generated with an anaerobic digester, particularly in relation to septic system improvements. The study should include an in-depth analysis of the current wastewater treatment methods utilized throughout the region, identification of upgrade opportunities County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
72 Action ID Attribute Action
and potential co-benefits to the community, and technological restrictions based on regional water quality and discharge requirements. The study should also specifically consider expanding wastewater treatment capabilities to process food waste that would otherwise go to landfill.

WW-1b Partnership The Regional Climate Committee will partner with regional wastewater service providers to understand current methods, areas for improvement, and whether there is interest in upgrading their wastewater treatment processes.

WW-1c Funding The Regional Climate Committee, with input from the wastewater treatment providers, will research and pursue grants to wastewater facility upgrades or home septic system improvements (where applicable), such as applying to the California State Water Board for Clean Water State Revolving Fund grants, or the Community Development Block Grant Program.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Natural Resource Enhancement, Resource Efficiency KPI: Reduction in wastewater generation and wastewater emissions Measure WW-2 Reduce per capita potable water consumption by 15% by 2030.

Emissions associated with water are due to electricity usage. Because all water providers for the Humboldt region are located within the County boundaries, the energy use associated with water treatment is captured in the building sector and would be addressed with improvements in energy efficiency and acquiring carbon-free energy. However, water conservation efforts also have the added benefit of putting less pressure on water resources across California during times of drought and ensuring more long-term resilience of this vital resource. Measure WW-2 focuses on promoting water conservation by reducing per capita potable water consumption and increasing access to and use of recycled water. The State is currently finalizing the Making Water Conservation a Way of Life regulation, which will set water conservation standards and objectives for certain categories with targets set for each urban water retailer. This measure’s primary focus is providing support to water retail provides in the region to align with the regulation as well as providing educational and outreach materials to promote water conservation in the community and from large water users.

Additionally, the Measure encourages local water providers and wastewater services to work together to identify opportunities for expanding the recycled water network in the region. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure WW-2 are included Table 28.

Table 28 Measure WW-2 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
WW-2a Structural The Regional Climate Committee will work with regional water providers to update their Urban Water Management Plan every 5 years, as required by the State, and implement the identified demand reduction actions to ensure compliance with the State’s Making Water Conservation a Way of Life regulations. Include new actions in the UWMPs as needed to achieve State regulations, which may include:

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Action ID Attribute Action

1. Develop or amend Water Shortage Contingency Plans in the region to develop water waste restrictions for households, businesses, industries, and public infrastructure

2. Work with large water users and other stakeholders to develop an On-Site Water Reuse Plan to maximize utilization of local water supplies decreasing energy intensity of distribution

3. Revisit and update the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as needed. Engage, through regional partnerships, with builders and developers to provide information on the requirements for development projects

4. Develop an ordinance for installation of dual-plumbing water systems that utilize greywater or recycled water for irrigation at new residential and commercial construction

5. Increase engagement with the community, specifically low-tomoderate income residents, to understand available incentives or rebates, options, and programs to reduce per capita water use.

Leverage regional programs and partnerships with local organizations to expand water conservation outreach

6. Revise water and wastewater rates as necessary to ensure cost of service is covered
WW-2b Engagement Through the Regional Climate Committee work with the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD) to develop water conservation promotional materials, programs and outreach efforts are in multiple languages and accessible for low-income or disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. Continue to offer and expand water conservation programs to the community including educational programs like water education program for schools and water wise landscape classes as well as incentives like free water conserving deceives, and rebates for rainwater collection systems and turf replacement.

WW-2c Feasibility
Study
The Regional Climate Committee will work with the local water and wastewater providers in the region to develop a Recycled Water Master Plan to assess the feasibility of expanding the recycled water system in the region and establish a roadmap for a recycled water expansion program. The plan will identify locations available for recycled water use and establish a schedule for potable water replacement with recycled water in appropriate applications residentially, commercially, and municipally, and determine recycled water user fees.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Natural Resource Enhancement, Resource Efficiency KPI: Reduction in per capita water consumption
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
74 Carbon Sequestration
While the region will reduce GHG emissions across all sectors to achieve as close to zero GHG emissions as possible, some GHG emissions are expected to remain under each jurisdiction’s control in 2045. These GHG emissions are expected to be from hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as longhaul transportation, which have technological limitations or are costly to decarbonize. They can also be expected from sectors that require significant behavior change to decarbonize, such as VMT reduction, because it takes time to normalize new behaviors. Carbon sequestration will offset these remaining GHG emissions to help Humboldt achieve carbon neutrality.

Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon from the atmosphere using technology and natural solutions. Carbon can be removed from the atmosphere both naturally by trees and the carbon cycle as well as industrially via carbon capture equipment. The State recognizes that while on-the-ground action for local carbon sequestration and Natural Working Lands (NWL) management will largely be executed and managed by the local government, State agencies must support these communities to implement such actions which includes providing resources, developing implementation frameworks, and providing the increased capacity and technical assistance to the local and regional partners. The State plans to support local governments and partners through various initiatives, including the development of funding programs.

Strategy 10: Increase Carbon Sequestration
The State goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045 relies on up to 15 percent of total emissions being removed via carbon sequestration. At this time, the technology is not available to achieve this level of carbon removal and further analysis would need to be conducted to determine the possibility of achieving this through improved natural land management in Humboldt’s forests and wetlands. This Strategy emphasizes the identification and funding of both industrial and nature based physical removal of carbon from the atmosphere to store it in long-term forms, playing a crucial role in achieving regional carbon neutrality by 2045. It focuses on obtaining resource support from the State to obtain NWL objectives and developing private partnerships to explore alternative solutions for carbon sequestration, such as direct air carbon capture and sequestration.

Measure CS-1: Research and implement feasible carbon sequestration technology opportunities to support growth and expansion of green jobs industry within the region
Measure CS-1 focuses on research needed to understand the viability of carbon sequestration technologies for future regional development to aid in the reduction of GHG emissions and stimulate the growth of the green jobs industry in the area. Artificial (i.e. non-biological processes) carbon capture and sequestration technologies typically capture CO2 from the atmosphere, or from point source emissions, and store the captured CO2 in the natural environment. However, with advancing need for solutions, other methods of carbon capture have begun to emerge, such as CO2 capture from seawater. By assessing the feasibility of the carbon capture technologies available, the region will set the groundwork for later implementation of technologies which suit the areas and the community’s needs. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure CS-1 are included Table 29.

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Table 29 Measure CS-1 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
CS-1a Feasibility
Study
Conduct a carbon sequestration feasibility study facilitated by the Regional Climate Committee to identify emergent technology for carbon sequestration and regional viability of implementation, including consideration of identified carbon sequestration technology facilities (e.g. ocean carbon capture, agriculture methane capture, forest biomass to biochar soil amendment, biochar wastewater filtration, forest biomass as green hydrogen fuel, etc .).

CS-1b Partnerships/
Engagement
As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities established in Measure C-1, work with RCEA, HWMA, wastewater facilities, local tribes, businesses, and other applicable interested parties as appropriate to address potential carbon sequestration technologies available to the region, understand limitations and barriers, and develop solution pathways to implementation.

CS-1c Partnerships/
Structural
Based on feasibility study, leverage the Regional Climate Committee to explore partnerships with technology providers and regional research laboratories (e.g. Cal Poly) for viable carbon sequestration technologies to deploy carbon sequestration pilot projects in the region.

CS-1d Funding The Regional Climate Committee shall dedicate staff time or a representative for researching emergent carbon sequestration technologies and potential grant funding sources.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Resource Efficiency, Increase Resilience, Green Jobs KPI: Identification of viable technologies
Measure CS-2: Offset fossil-based emissions and increase carbon sequestration in the community by achieving SB 1383 procurement requirements (0.08 tons recovered organic waste per person) by 2030.

SB 1383 requires each jurisdiction in California to procure recovered organics waste products to meet annual procurement targets developed by CalRecycle. Recovered organic waste products include compost, mulch, renewable energy generated from anaerobic digestion (e.g., transportation fuel, electricity, and gas for heating), and electricity generated from biomass conversion. While a jurisdiction has the option to procure any combination of recovered organic waste products to fulfill 100 percent of its procurement target, jurisdictions in Humboldt currently aim to meet their procurement targets primarily through sourcing of compost to leverage the carbon sequestration benefits it provides when applied to community lands. Measure CS-2 puts the region on a path to meeting the SB 1383 procurement targets by 2030 and maintain it thereafter. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure CS-2 are included Table 30.

Table 30 Measure CS-2 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
CS-2a Structural
Change
Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to support jurisdictions in enforcing compliance with SB 1383 and aim to exceed the baseline requirement by establishing a minimum level of compost application per year on County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
76 Action ID Attribute Action
applicable/appropriate land throughout the region. Maintain procurement policies to comply with SB 1383 requirements for jurisdictions to purchase recovered organic waste products.

CS-2b Structural
Change
Regional Climate Committee to facilitate the establishment of a compost broker program primarily in rural jurisdictions central to agricultural industries which provides agricultural communities with incentives such as subsidies or community shared compost application equipment to aid in the procurement and distribution of high-quality compost.

CS-2c Engagement The Regional Climate Committee will work with Recology to provide residents, businesses, and developers with promotional material on where compost can be taken and how it can be used (i.e., landscaping).

CS-2d Equity The Regional Climate Committee will work with Recology, HWMA, and community-based organizations to provide free compost procurement services to low-income households and small businesses in all jurisdictions.

CS-2e Feasibility
Study
The Regional Climate Committee will facilitate a soil assessment study to identify applicable locations and quantity of compost that can be applied within each jurisdiction to help meet the procurement requirements of SB 1383 and provide household incentives for small-scale implementation. As part of study, evaluate other carbon sequestration opportunities associated with soil amendments such as biochar.48
CS-2f Feasibility
Study
Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to identify viable alternative opportunities for achieving SB 1383 compliance based on activities which are already occurring within the region (e.g. diversion of wastewater biosolids from landfill for agricultural application), or activities which provide cobenefits to the community (e.g. sourcing RNG to replace natural gas consumption, diversion of lumber or yard waste from landfill to be used to produce green hydrogen).

CS-2g Funding The Regional Climate Committee with dedicate staff time for researching alternative pathways for achieving SB 1383 compliance and obtaining grant funding for procurement and distribution incentive programs across all jurisdictions.

CS-2h Partnerships Through the Regional Climate Committee collaborate with local schools, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation to identify opportunities to apply compost to landscaping, potentially in addition to open space land conservation efforts.

CS-2i Partnerships In jurisdictions currently subject to SB 1383 requirements, utilize the Regional Climate Committee to work with regional organic waste haulers (Recology) and local small-scale commercial composters (e.g. The Local Worm Guy) to identify opportunities for a regional compost procurement program to help meet and exceed the organics procurement provisions of SB 1383 as well as streamline hauler routes through regional collaboration. 2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: 1,532 MT CO2e
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: 1,681 MT CO2e
48 Note that biochar is not considered SB 1383 recovered waste product; however, biochar is a known soil amendment opportunity with enhanced carbon sequestration which is why it should also be considered as part of the soil amendment study.

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Action ID Attribute Action
Co-Benefits: Natural Resource Enhancement, Resource Efficiency, Increase Resilience, Green Jobs KPI: Procurement of SB 1383 compliant recovered organic products Measure CS-3: Develop a County-wide Natural and Working Lands GHG Inventory baseline by 2027 to better understand the existing and future GHG sequestration and help obtain resources to protect and increase natural carbon sequestration occurring in the region as well as promote biodiverse forests and wetlands resistant to wildfire The region is anticipated to contribute significantly to the State’s carbon sequestration efforts and may even serve as a larger sink than contributor, but this cannot be verified without a comprehensive inventory of carbon stocks in the region. Establishing a baseline will aid the county in pursuing State funding to protect the county’s forestland assets and receive credit for aiding in State goals to protect natural working lands. Measure CS-3 directs the County to build off of North Coast Resource Partnership’s 2017 Northern California regional natural working lands study to establish an updated County-wide Natural and Working Lands GHG Inventory baseline by 2027. This initiative seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of current and future potential GHG sequestration within the county’s natural and working lands. The Natural and Working Lands inventory baseline will be folded into future RCAP updates and used to establish GHG sequestration tracking metrics and monitor resiliency efforts. Developing this Natural and Working Lands inventory will identify key areas where natural carbon sequestration is occurring and highlight opportunities to protect and expand these areas. By promoting biodiverse forests and wetlands that are resilient to wildfire, Measure CS-3 supports the dual goals of enhancing carbon sequestration and mitigating climate risks. This measure will help the region obtain funding and resources necessary for conservation and restoration projects, ultimately contributing to long-term climate resilience, biodiversity, and the health of natural ecosystems. Actions, co-benefits, key performance indicator, and specific quantitative GHG emissions reductions associated with implementation of Measure CS-3 are included Table 31.

Table 31 Measure CS-3 Actions
Action ID Attribute Action
CS-3a Feasibility
Study
The County will partner with the North Coast Resource Partnership and other interested parties to develop an updated, Humboldt specific natural and working lands GHG Inventory which builds off of the 2017 northern California regional study conducted by the North Coast Resource Partnership.

Development of the GHG Inventory should include consideration of requirements specified by prospective grant programs the region would like to pursue.

CS-3b Funding The Regional Climate Committee will apply for at least one grant (e.g.

Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program) every three years for obtaining grant funding for restoration and preservation activities with a focus on projects that have been unable to be fully completed due to funding constraints.

CS-3c Equity/
Partnership
The Regional Climate Committee will work with interested parties, local tribes, and agricultural communities to identify opportunities for expanding wetland County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
78 Action ID Attribute Action
conservation areas in a manner that equitably addresses tribal and agricultural interests.

CS-3d Structural The Regional Climate Committee and County will work with CalFire and Humboldt County Resource Conservation District to increase necessary equipment and infrastructure resources to better maintain public and private forested area with focus on understory clearing to prevent wildfire.

CS-3e Partnership The Regional Climate Committee and the County will work with Humboldt County Resource Conservation District and interested parties to identify challenges and barriers for private sector landowners to implement forest best management practices as identified by CalFire and the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District.

CS-3f Engagement The Regional Climate Committee will support rural communities with the development of a community-based volunteer program supporting restoration project activity to create a maintained restoration process. This may involve partnering with local community organizations to communicate sequestration opportunities and facilitate volunteer maintenance projects.

CS-3g Feasibility
Study
Through County efforts, facilitate annual reporting as part of the restoration plan mapping the existing restoration projects and open space lands to gauge progress in restoration activities over time as well as identify any gaps in maintenance activities related to ongoing projects. Incorporate GHG calculations into this monitoring plan to report on the region’s contribution as a GHG source or sink.

CS-3h Structural/
Funding
Engage with third-party to audit the Natural and Working Lands inventory and monitoring reports. Update County-wide inventory to include GHG emissions and sinks from Natural and Working lands in the region. Leverage this data to pursue State funding to protect the region’s resource as a GHG sink for the State.
2030 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
2045 GHG Emissions Reduction: Supportive
Co-Benefits: Natural Resource Enhancement, Resource Efficiency, Increase Resilience, Green Jobs KPI: NWL Baseline Inventory
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5 Implementation
Based on substantial evidence and RCAP specific data, the measures and actions detailed in the previous section have been developed to be capable of reducing a specific quantity of GHG emissions within a reasonable period of time, considering economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors. Humboldt will continue to engage the community, provide informative progress updates, and create ongoing opportunities to solicit and incorporate community feedback as policies and programs are developed and infrastructure is constructed. See Appendix C for details on the substantial evidence used to quantify the emissions reduction attributable to each measure.

The following section establishes an implementation plan that has been developed based on feasibility given budget and staff capacity.

5.1 CEQA Streamlining
As discussed at the beginning of this document, the CEQA Guidelines provide an option for new projects to streamline the CEQA analysis of GHG emissions by tiering off of a “qualified” GHG reduction plan. The RCAP is a long-term programmatic plan consistent with CEQA Guidelines (See Table 1) that will be implemented through regular monitoring and updates to meet the State’s SB 32 GHG emission reduction goals and demonstrate substantial progress towards the State’s AB 1279 carbon-neutrality goals. Because the RCAP meets these requirements, if projects and plans within the Humboldt region in jurisdictions that have adopted the RCAP are consistent with the RCAP, CEQA analysis can be streamlined by presuming the project’s GHG emissions are not significant.

These projects and plans can utilize a CEQA GHG Emissions Analysis Compliance Checklist to demonstrate consistency in a streamlined process. Projects and plans within the Humboldt region that are not consistent with the RCAP, must complete a different assessment utilizing quantitative thresholds of significance to evaluate GHG emissions impacts.

5.2 Tracking, Monitoring, and Reporting
A key to successful implementation is monitoring progress and tracking implementation over time.

Therefore, this RCAP should be viewed as a strategic framework that will be reevaluated on a biannual basis. As part of the RCAP, Measures will be implemented using a phased approach with progress reports prepared on a bi-annual basis starting in 2026. The bi-annual progress reports will include the preparation of a regional community-wide GHG emissions inventory, as well as status update on implementation of RCAP Measures and Actions. Tracking implementation of the plan in conjunction with the inventory updates will demonstrate the progress the region is making in reducing GHG emissions and achieving its 2030 goal.

Successful implementation of a long-range planning document, like this RCAP, requires detailed tracking that will be completed by the lead responsible party indicated in the Implementation Plan provided in Table 32. This approach relies on individual expertise with collective vigilance instead of placing the onus on one person or department. This approach is essential to successful implementation because it gives everyone a seat at the table and demonstrates that climate action requires collective participation to result in real change. The Regional Climate Committee will oversee the progress monitoring and facilitate progress report preparation with each responsible party indicated. Each responsible party will be responsible for tracking implementation and sharing County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
80 data with the Regional Climate Committee. The progress report will include an evaluation of the prepared regional inventory against the regionals 2030 and 2045 targets to assess if the region is on track to achieve the 2030 GHG emissions reduction goal.

5.3 Implementation Plan
In order to achieve the 2030 GHG emissions reductions goals discussed in Chapter 4 and make substantial progress to the 2045 goals, Humboldt will begin implementing the measures and actions as soon as possible to make real progress over the next few years. The RCAP takes a phased approach to implementation beginning with Phase 1, which will occur in the short-term over the next two years (2024-2026). Phase 2 would include implementation of mid-term measures that should begin no later than 2026, while Phase 3 would include implementation of longer-term measuresthat should begin no later than 2028, that are anticipated to occur after feasibility studies are complete and initial measures are implemented. The RCAP identifies the Phase in which to begin implementation of a specific action. Additionally, actions already in progress are denoted as such and actions that will be ongoing, such as an education program, will have a start date and indicate that the action is ongoing.

Some Measures, such as establishment of the Regional Climate Committee to facilitate the implementation of the RCAP is critical to implement first and quickly. Additionally, some actions such as adopting ordinances to decarbonize building stock, preparing educational materials, or conducting the initial feasibility studies can be accomplished on a short timetable; while others, such as implementation of strategies to increase infrastructure for active transportation or ZEVs may require longer timelines to conduct a feasibility assessment, obtain funding, and rollout any required infrastructure change.

If the actions identified in the RCAP to meet the 2030 GHG emissions reduction milestone goal are not implemented or if the bi-annual inventory and progress report indicates that the region is offtrack from achieving the 2030 goal, additional actions may need to be developed to meet the 2030 goals. The longer taking action is delayed, the more significant actions need to be taken to achieve the longer-term GHG emissions reduction targets. Table 32 outlines the implementation timeframe of each RCAP action and the responsible party for leading the implementation and monitoring.

Implementation Team
Humboldt recognizes that to reduce the impacts of climate change and meet the State goals and regional GHG reduction targets, it will take collaboration for successful implementation. The establishment of a Regional Climate Committee will provide significant support in facilitating implementation of the RCAP and in reporting out progress, however it is imperative that there is participation at the jurisdictional and regional partner level. The Implementation Plan shown in Table 32 designates responsible parties for each Action, ensuring that those with relevant expertise are involved in implementation. As the RCAP includes efforts from all jurisdictions within the Humboldt County area, titles and responsibilities of municipal departments by jurisdiction may vary.

To provide a common understanding of the types of jurisdictional departments and department responsibilities intended to oversee implementation of a particular action, the following definitions have been established:
▪ Municipal Public Works: city and county departments, as applicable, which oversee infrastructure and utilities management
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▪ Municipal Community Development: city and county departments, as applicable, which is responsible for community engagement
▪ Municipal Facility Management: city and county departments, as applicable, which oversees municipal fleets and the operation and management of municipal buildings ▪ Municipal Planning/Building: city and county departments, as applicable, which oversees permitting, permit compliance, and building codes
In addition to governmental staff, there are Joint Powers Agencies (e.g., HWMA, HCAOG), regional partners (e.g., RCEA, HTA), and community-based organizations that also play a role in implementation of RCAP Actions and Measures and will be indicated as a responsible party in the Implementation Plan.

5.4 Looking Forward
Humboldt will conduct ongoing implementation and monitoring of the RCAP GHG emissions reduction measures and report on this progress to jurisdictions City Councils, the County Board of Supervisors, and the public on a bi-annual basis beginning in 2026. A comprehensive RCAP update for GHG emissions reduction targets beyond 2030 will be required. In 2029, it is expected that Humboldt will commence the process to review and update the RCAP to augment or develop new measures and actions to meet the 2045 GHG emissions reduction target. As new technologies and State guidelines are made available and State regulations are adopted, Humboldt will need to augment the RCAP to facilitate further GHG emissions reduction and meet the 2045 carbon neutrality goal.

If, prior to 2029, Humboldt is not making satisfactory advancements toward its 2030 GHG emissions reduction targets, it may be necessary to revise the RCAP. This update would set new or stronger goals for emissions reduction, aiming to increase the reduction efforts and maintain its status as a CEQA-qualified GHG emissions reduction plan. Updating the RCAP could require additional implementation of the existing actions and/or additional actions such as shifting incentive and educational programs to mandatory requirements for the latter Phases of Implementation.

County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
82 Table 32 Implementation Work Plan
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
Measure C-1: Establish a Regional Climate Committee comprised of elected officials from each jurisdiction, HTA, HCAOG, HWMA, and RCEA t o be administered by the County.

C-1a Pursue and obtain funding to create a Climate Program Manager position to lead the coordination efforts of the Regional Climate Committee. The Regional Climate Committee will be responsible for implementing RCAP measures and actions. The Climate Program Manager will facilitate the work of the Regional Climate Committee made up of responsible parties from each of the region’s jurisdictions and agencies. The Manager will work with the Committee to utilize the RCAP as a strategic plan outlining the goals of the Coalition. The Manager will coordinate with staff of the participating jurisdictions and agencies to undertake the work directed by the Committee. Finally, the Manager will develop an annual progress report on RCAP implementation annually to City Councils and County Supervisors to measure progress and establish accountability in achieving RCAP emissions reduction goals.

Municipal
Planning/Building
(County)
Phase 1 -
ongoing
C-1b The Regional Climate Committee will develop and provide models, pilot programs, and template policies or ordinances that enable each jurisdiction in the region to implement uniform changes and facilitating local communities in making the necessary structural adjustments to reduce GHG emissions. This will reduce inefficiencies and duplication of effort while ensuring a coordinated regional approach.

Climate Committee Phase 1 -
ongoing
C-1c Develop and distribute promotional materials and programs across the region to inform the community, gain buy-in, and promote awareness of new and existing programs and opportunities. Leveraging the Regional Climate Committee to prepare such materials will allow for limited resources in the region to be pooled on such efforts thereby reducing strain on jurisdictional staff.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Implementation
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Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
C-1d Leverage regional programs to engage and support frontline communities that may experience secondary impacts or not benefit directly from the measures' objectives.

Ensure these communities can access regional resources or funding opportunities to mitigate identified impacts and benefit the entire community. The Regional Climate Committee will be charged with engaging with regional programs and identifying appropriate community-based organizations to lead and guide such engagement efforts to ensure voices of vulnerable communities are involved in RCAP implementation and planning.

Climate Committee Phase 1 -
ongoing
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
84 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
C-1d Utilize regional resources to conduct efficient regional studies, avoiding redundancy, that provide a clear understanding of the details, obstacles, and feasibility of proposed programs. This includes necessary analyses to identify the best path forward or the feasibility of implementing specific measures. The Regional Climate Committee will aid in identifying the regional expertise and coordinating studies across the region to limit duplication of efforts.

Climate Committee Phase 1 -
ongoing
C-1e Collaborate regionally to identify and pursue relevant and impactful grants and financial backing to facilitate RCAP implementation across the region. Ensure resources and efforts are directed towards securing funds that can be distributed across the region, such as grants or rebates to support measure implementation and adequate program staffing.

Direct the Regional Climate Committee to pursue 3-5 grants for regional efforts to meet RCAP goals per year.

Climate Committee Phase 1 -
ongoing
C-1f Use the collaborative network of local jurisdictions, agencies, and community-based organizations (CBOs) to attract additional internal and external support and expertise.

This includes engaging community organizations that are well-positioned to consistently and sustainably advance specific measures. Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to identify and provide assistance to local jurisdictions’ high priority project pursuits which support the RCAP.

Climate Committee Phase 1 -
ongoing
Measure BE-1: By 2030, source 90% of grid-supplied electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources.

Implementation
Public Draft 85
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-1a Coordinate and support Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) in developing an effective energy strategy. Strategy should include conducting an assessment to identify the potential obstacles and detail the steps to providing provide renewable and carbonfree power and decarbonization programs outlined in the RePower Humboldt plan such as:

1. Future Capacity constraints

2. Customer solar installations

3. Customer electrification support

4. EV charging infrastructure buildout

5. Building Electrification

6. Advanced biofuel infrastructure

7. Evaluate enrollment rates in RCEA programs annually to understand why residents and businesses opt out or opt to procure standard grid electricity. Use results to adjust strategy for increasing enrollment accordingly Municipal Public Works
RCEA
Phase 1
BE-1b Through the Regional Climate Committee develop a template policy or ordinance for regional jurisdictions to use to require new commercial and industrial developments to acquire electricity from renewable and carbon-free energy sources such as enrolling with RCEA, incorporating on-site renewable generation, or enrolling in PG&E’s 100 percent renewable rate. For each jurisdiction, adapt the templated policy or ordinance as necessary and adopt by 2026.

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Phase 1
BE-1c Collaborate across the region with interested parties including tribes, labor unions, workforce development boards, State agencies, colleges, universities, industries, and community organizations to increase local energy workforce development. Partner with RCEA, Humboldt State University, and College of the Redwoods to actively develop education and certifications for electrical and construction trades by 2027 to ensure develop a skilled workforce ready to meet the region's energy needs.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
Phase 1 – 2
BE-1d Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to work with RCEA to reduce opt-out rate for new customers to no more than 2 percent. Develop promotional educational materials to inform community members on available incentives and benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency.

Municipal Public Works
RCEA
Climate Committee
Phase 1 -
ongoing
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
86 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-1e Engage with the community and partner with community organizations to facilitate increased communication, technical assistance, and access to energy incentives through the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE), Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA), and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) programs for low/moderate income households.

Municipal Public Works
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-1f Work with RCEA to expand and advertise regional energy funding programs as described in the RePower Humboldt plan. Facilitate Humboldt residents and businesses in utilizing energy finance programs such as the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.

Conduct targeted outreach to public entities, such as public schools, that are eligible for the California Energy Commission Energy Conservation Assistance Act (ECAA) Program loans.

Municipal Public Works
RCEA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-1g Coordinate through the Regional Climate Committee to establish and administer a multijurisdictional staff position dedicated to identifying and pursuing funding opportunities to support County-wide educational programs, assisting in equitable energy workforce expansion outreach, and providing RCEA with additional funds to expand incentives or subsidies for the community to increase community enrollment. If establishing a dedicated staff position is not feasible, work with the Regional Climate Committee and regional partners to identify resource sharing opportunities for pursuing funding opportunities such as rotating the responsibility across designated agency employees.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 1
Measure BE-2: Increase the development of micro-grids and energy storage across the region to support RCEA’s RePower Humboldt goals of enhancing grid capacity and facilitating the electrification of buildings and transportation.

BE-2a Develop permit streamlining programs that can be adopted by local jurisdictions to facilitate the streamlined implementation of renewable energy projects as identified in regional energy feasibility study and RCEA RePower Humboldt goals such as energy storage projects, residential and commercial solar installation, and microgrid development.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-2b Direct the Regional Climate Committee to work with RCEA to develop a plan for leveraging CPUC’s recently passed Limited Generation Profile option to maximize solar installation developments in alignment with RCEA’s RePower Humboldt goals throughout the region.

Climate Committee
RCEA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Implementation
Public Draft 87
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-2c Engage with the local community, key interested parties, and local-based community organizations representing disadvantaged and vulnerable communities to raise awareness about alternative renewable energy and nano-grid opportunities available through RCEA. Emphasize the increased accessibility to electrification as well as the economic and environmental advantages of electrification while addressing concerns related to emergency response to minimize exceptions. Publicize the connection between RCEA nano-grid efforts and the increased ability to electrify leading to cost savings, funding opportunities, environmental benefits, and flexibility of electrification through jurisdiction websites and permit counters.

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 2
BE-2d As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, engage with RCEA to track progress toward targets set in RCEA’s RePower Humboldt plan and identify additional opportunities for local jurisdictions to alleviate barriers to goals set in RCEA’s RePower Humboldt plan.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-2f As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities work with RCEA and the Schatz Energy Research Center to identify locations throughout the county that are priority for utility-scale, nano-grid, and micro-grid solar, hydropower, and/or wind energy generation based on aspects such as land availability and suitability, infrastructure needs, resilience, and energy access equity. Coordinate with PG&E on interconnection needs and identify strategies with PG&E of how to best support capacity building on the grid related to micro-grid projects.

Climate Committee
RCEA
Phase 2-
ongoing
BE-2g Conduct an equity assessment across the region that includes the identification of potential cost barriers to residential solar development, particularly for low income and rural communities at the end of PG&E distribution infrastructure, and identify feasible sites for solar and battery installation and potential funding sources.

Climate Committee
RCEA
Phase 1
BE-2h Identify facilities that are suitable to operate as regional resilience hubs to protect people from climate related issues. Create a priority list of these facilities with particular focus on servicing disadvantaged communities and work with RCEA to prioritize implementation of on-site microgrid and energy storage on identified.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
Phase 1
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
88 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-2i Regional Climate Committee will work with RCEA to pursue regional funding opportunities that can be used to develop resilient microgrids and incentivize new housing developers to install solar and on-site batteries, particularly for affordable housing developments. Aim to pursue 3 grant or funding opportunities annually focused on microgrids and/or energy storage expansion.

Municipal Public Works Phase 1
Measure BE-3 Urban: Reduce existing residential building natural gas consumption by 4% by 2030 and 74% by 2045.

BE-3a Urban Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to lead the development of a decarbonization plan for urban areas that assesses the feasibility and cost for electrification retrofitting for residential buildings as well as identifies potential equity concerns/impacts. The plan should identify strategies and/or specific projects to decarbonize 4 percent of existing residential and multi-family buildings by 2030 and strategies for increasing infrastructure readiness to electrify through 2045. The plan should give consideration for increased electricity capacity needs and RCEA’s RePower Humboldt goals to meet increased capacity need. The plan should also identify a variety of equitable decarbonization solutions and potential projects such as partial electrification and increased energy efficiency options for mixed-fuel residences that face barriers to full electrification. The study should also identify the funding and financing requirements necessary to support the community in this transition.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(cities)
Phase 1
BE-3b Urban As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, petition PG&E to help identify priority areas for electric grid expansion projects to increase regional electric grid capacity and islanding capabilities to allow for increased building electrification capacity.

Climate Committee Phase 1 - 3
BE-3c Urban Develop a home energy advisory service administered by the Regional Climate Committee that assists existing homeowners to better understand the cost of building decarbonization options including partial and full home electrification, identifies service providers, and provides support for homeowners to access electrification incentives from the Energy Smart Homes program.

Climate Committee Phase 2 -
ongoing
Implementation
Public Draft 89
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-3d Urban Work with the Regional Climate Committee to identify and pursue funds through CARB, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act including:

1. DOE block grants

2. On Bill financing through PG&E

3. Green bonds

4. Grant Anticipation Notes or Short-Term Loans

5. Tax exempt lease purchases

6. Energy as a service

7. Energy Performance Contracting from Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(cities)
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-3e Urban Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop and manage educational/promotional materials that each jurisdiction can use to educate the community on ways to finance home decarbonization. Materials should include information and links to existing available rebates for Heat Pumps, Weatherization, Smart Thermostats, Appliances, and Pool Pumps as well as other rebates offered through RCEA of the local jurisdiction if applicable.

Climate Committee Phase 1
BE-3f Urban Work with the local contractors, realtors, homeowner associations, landlords, and labor unions to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings discussing the benefits and technical requirements of electrification as well as addressing interested party concerns regarding electrification.

Municipal Public Works
(cities)
Municipal Community
Development (cities)
Phase 2 -
ongoing
BE-3g Urban Develop a fund for low income and affordable housing electrification pilot projects in collaboration with affordable housing owners, utilities, and the community. Work with RCEA to develop a program to offset cost for occupants using financing and through the sourcing of grant funds to subsidize cost.

Municipal Public Works
(cities)
RCEA
Phase 2 -
ongoing
Measure BE-3 Rural: Reduce existing residential fossil-fuel consumption in households not connected to natural gas infrastructure by 2% by 2030 County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
90 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-3a Rural Regional Climate Committee to conduct a feasibility study to establish local low-carbon fuel alternative, such as renewable propane, sourced from local resources such as forest biomass which can be used as direct substitutes for propane or diesel building fuel. The feasibility study should consider procurement and cost considerations with a focus on equity for low-income households, and map communities with significant propane and wood fuel use to identify accessibility strategy for acquiring alternative fuels (e.g. renewable propane, sustainably harvested wood products, renewable diesel) and/or undergoing home electrification.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(county)
Phase 1
BE-3b Rural As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, petition PG&E to help identify priority areas for rural electric grid expansion projects to increase regional electric grid capacity and islanding capabilities to allow for increased building electrification capacity.

Climate Committee Phase 1- 3
BE-3c Rural Promote existing available rebates to rural communities for Heat Pumps, Weatherization, Smart Thermostats, Appliances, and Pool Pumps to educate the community on ways to finance electrification or otherwise decarbonize their residences. Provide assistance to rural homeowners in assessing the viability and permitting of installing off-grid solar and battery alternative energy sources on their homes and finance options.

Municipal Public Works
(county)
RCEA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-3d Rural For viable alternative fuel sources identified in a feasibility study, establish procurement and distribution supply centers within easy access of rural communities.

Municipal Public Works
(county)
Municipal
Planning/Building
(county)
Phase 2
BE-3e Rural The Regional Climate Committee will lead the effort to identify, access, and provide funding assistance for the procurement of alternative fuels, such as biomethane, in alignment with SB 1383 procurement requirements. Advocate to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for inclusion of alternative low-carbon fuels substitution, such as renewable propane, to be allowed in ratepayer funded programs including energy efficiency programs.

Climate Committee Phase 2 - 3
Measure BE-4: Reduce existing nonresidential building natural gas consumption by 5% by 2030 and 79% by 2045.

Implementation
Public Draft 91
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-4a As part of the development of the decarbonization plan led by the Regional Climate Committee referenced in Measure BE-3 Urban, identify nonresidential building electrification barriers and develop a nonresidential building decarbonization strategy with analysis supporting future adoption of a nonresidential building decarbonization ordinance. The plan should give consideration for increased electricity capacity needs and for other decarbonization strategies that would be needed to reduce nonresidential natural gas consumption by at least 5 percent. As part of strategy development, conduct outreach to small businesses to understand potential equity impacts of a decarbonization policy. The plan should also assess ordinance parameters for including large scale renovation as part of the new commercial building ordinance requirements established for each organization (Measure BE-6).

Climate Committee
RCEA
Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 1
BE-4b Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop a template Commercial Energy Performance Assessment and Disclosure Ordinance for commercial and multi-family buildings to be adopted within each jurisdiction by 2027. The ordinance should require energy use disclosure consistent with State law (AB 1103) and the use of the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool. Include regulatory mechanism (e.g., permitting and approval requirements, building codes and standards modification) that limits expansion of natural gas infrastructure and incentivizes appliance replacement.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Climate Committee
Phase 2
BE-4c Establish streamlined permitting in each jurisdiction for energy efficiency technologies, onsite renewable energy, and battery storage in buildings and critical facilities that require power during emergencies or power outages. Incorporate equity considerations into permitting process for all other building battery storage including prioritization, rebates, and outreach.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
92 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-4d As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities identified in Measure C-1, develop an outreach campaign to promote building decarbonization and include items in the program such as:

1. Conduct engagement efforts for the commercial and industrial sector to identify ways jurisdictions and the Regional Climate Committee can support commercial energy storage installations and neighborhood scale microgrid opportunities

2. Facilitate funding opportunities for commercial business electrification by identifying and supporting grant opportunities available to the community, prioritizing small and frontline community owned businesses

3. Use feedback provided during the community outreach process for small businesses to mitigate potential equity impacts of a future building performance program

4. Distribute utility bill inserts to advertise the incentive programs or grants available and the cost benefits of electric appliances

5. Target outreach to businesses, builders, developers, local contractors, and property managers with information describing the financial benefits of replacing natural gas appliances with all electric appliance when they apply for permits

6. Provide informational webinars and an updated website to advertise and promote All-Electric Building Initiative rebates and incentives

7. Promote the use of the Energy Star Portfolio Manager program and energy benchmarking training programs for nonresidential building owners Climate Committee Phase 2 -
ongoing
Measure BE-5: Decarbonize 95% of new residential building construction by 2027 Implementation
Public Draft 93
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-5a Regional Climate Committee to develop an energy performance ordinance, EDR, reach code, or zero NOx threshold for new residential construction that can be modified by each jurisdiction as necessary to conserve staff resources. Adopt the ordinances within each jurisdiction to decarbonize 95 percent of new residential buildings by 2027 and update every 3 years thereafter if not included within State building codes. As part of building decarbonization ordinance development and subsequent updates, consider the following:

1. Minimize the exemptions associated with the ordinance, while allowing for health and safety exemptions as necessary and exploring potential exemptions for specific use cases determined to have substantial economic development or business impacts

2. Require the submittal of an infeasibility waiver to review specific end uses where electrification is technologically infeasible

3. Require that any end-use deemed infeasible for electrification exceeds existing Title 24 energy efficiency standards and be electric ready for future electrification

4. Specify that affordable housing developments will be all-electric to ensure no stranded assets

5. Establish substantial remodel and improvement definitions to be included in the ordinance

6. Track and enforce requirement compliance through a permitting compliance program managed by each jurisdiction

7. Revise ordinance during update cycle as necessary to meet 95 percent goal.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Climate Committee
Phase 2
BE-5b Conduct feasibility study(s) to identify local decarbonization barriers for new residential developments and develop a residential building decarbonization strategy with analysis.

The feasibility study should include developing a new residential building decarbonization plan that assesses the grid feasibility and cost for electrification at certain legislative threshold requirements in consideration of leveraging RCEA residential nano-grid and battery storage options. The feasibility study should assess the potential cost impacts to multifamily and affordable housing new developments and identify potential strategies for mitigating negative impacts for equitable electrification.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
RCEA
Phase 1
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
94 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-5c Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to lead engagement efforts with affordable housing developers to leverage incentives for new all-electric and efficient low-income residential buildings through the California Energy Commission Building Initiative for LowEmissions Development (BUILD) Program, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, and the California Electric Homes Program (CalEHP).

Regularly investigate and leverage other incentive programs available for electrification of new buildings.

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 2 -
ongoing
BE-5d Through the Regional Climate Committee, work with local contractors, realtors, homeowner associations, landlords, and labor unions to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings discussing the benefits and technical requirements of local municipality building decarbonization legislation and the most effective pathways to achieving requirements. Include information on load calculations to avoid service upgrade requirements Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 2 -
ongoing
BE-5e Partner with RCEA and PG&E to circumvent or mitigates electric utility infrastructure capacity constraints. Collaborate with RCEA to develop and fund locally implemented programs to help customers in accessing financing options for energy projects and rebates for cleaner, energy efficient technology
Municipal
Planning/Building
RCEA
Phase 2 -
ongoing
Measure BE-6: Decarbonize 95% of new nonresidential building construction by 2027 Implementation
Public Draft 95
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-6a Adopt within each jurisdiction an energy performance ordinance, energy design rating (EDR), reach code, or zero NOx threshold to decarbonize 95 percent of new nonresidential buildings by 2027 and update every 3 years thereafter if not included within State building codes. As part of building decarbonization legislation development and subsequent updates, consider the following:

1. Direct the Regional Climate Committee to develop a template ordinance that can be modified by each jurisdiction as necessary to conserve staff resources.

2. Minimize the exemptions associated with the ordinance, while allowing for health and safety exemptions as necessary and exploring potential exemptions for specific use cases determined to have substantial economic development or business impacts.

3. Require the submittal of an infeasibility waiver to review specific end uses where electrification is technologically infeasible.

4. Require that any end-use deemed infeasible for electrification exceed existing Title 24 energy efficiency standards and be electric ready for future electrification.

5. Establish substantial remodel and improvement definitions to be included in the ordinance.

6. Enforce requirement compliance through the same permitting compliance program as for residential building decarbonization.

7. Establish EDR requirements for new non-residential buildings that incentivize electrification and ina case where electrification is infeasible, requires higher energy efficient and low emissions equipment to meet the EDR.

8. Track effectiveness of ordinance through permitting compliance program and revise ordinance during update cycle as necessary to meet 95 percent goal.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Climate Committee
Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
96 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-6b Conduct feasibility study(s) to identify decarbonization barriers for commercial buildings and develop a commercial building decarbonization strategy with analysis supporting future adoption of commercial decarbonization legislation. The feasibility study should include a comprehensive nonresidential building electrification plan that assesses the grid feasibility and cost for electrification and opportunities to mitigate grid and cost barriers by leveraging RCEA microgrid and battery storage options. The feasibility study should assess potential decarbonization legislation exemptions for commercial and industrial operations that are significantly restricted by available technology for electrification.

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
RCEA
Phase 1
BE-6c Connect developers with RCEA to identify applicable incentive programs in line with RCEA RePower goals that could benefit new building developments such as microgrids which can aid businesses in overcoming restrictions to electrification or decarbonization of processes.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-6d Through the Regional Climate Committee, work with local contractors, realtors, homeowner associations, landlords, and labor unions to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings to discuss the benefits and technical requirements of decarbonization. .

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 2
BE-6e Partner with RCEA and PG&E to establish a clear path for electrification of new nonresidential buildings which meet EDR requirements and circumvent or mitigate electric utility infrastructure capacity.

Municipal
Planning/Building
RCEA
Phase 2
Measure BE-7: Decarbonize 30% municipal buildings and facilities by 2030 BE-7a Regional Climate Committee to develop a template resolution for each jurisdiction to decarbonize 30 percent of municipal buildings and facilities by 2030 and 100 percent by 2045 by retrofitting natural gas appliances with electric alternatives and install on-site electricity generation and storage capacity. Include in the resolution an ‘electric first’ purchasing policy for any equipment or appliances in need of replacement.

Municipal Facility
Management
Board of Supervisors
Phase 1
Implementation
Public Draft 97
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-7b Coordinate with the Regional Climate Committee and RCEA to conduct energy audits of municipal buildings to establish a baselines of current energy consumption and identify the largest energy users or municipal buildings with the greatest natural gas consumption. Utilize audit results to prioritize municipal buildings to decarbonize.

Conduct follow-up energy audits every 3 years to track progress. Leverage data from buildings reporting to the Building Energy Benchmarking Program established under AB 802 where possible to reduce labor.

Municipal Facility
Management
RCEA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
BE-7c Develop a study through the Regional Climate Committee which estimates renewable energy generation on County and local jurisdiction facilities, identifies a priority list of sites which may serve as regional resilience hubs, and a proposed schedule for implementing the prioritized energy projects. The study should also seek to understand barriers to installing additional distributed energy resources such as solar and battery storage, or other renewable energy generation infrastructure, at municipal facilities.

Municipal Facility
Management
RCEA
Phase 2
BE-7d Identify and pursue funding sources and partnerships needed for successful implementation as well as plan for directing resources through each jurisdiction for funding.

Municipal Facility
Management
Climate Committee
Phase 1
Measure BE-8: Advocate for Off-shore Wind developers and PG&E to build electrical infrastructure to supply Humboldt with energy produced by the future off-shore wind project which will increase regional supply and resilience BE-8a Dedicate Regional Climate Committee staff time to work with local organizations (e.g. 350Humboldt, Redwood Region Climate & Community Resilience Hub, COREHub) to petition the CEC and Humboldt Bay Off-shore Wind developers to include electricity transmission and distribution to the Humboldt region as a legally enforceable community benefit as stipulated in the Community Benefit Program to be completed as part of the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) grant program.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 2
BE-8b Have the Regional Climate Committee advocate to the CEC and State to allow for an equitable rate tiering law to provide affordable rates for LIDAC communities in Humboldt County.

Climate Committee
RCEA
Phase 2 - 3
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
98 Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
BE-8c Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to work with California Independent System Operator (ISO), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC),the off Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind project and PG&E to identify pathways to establish equitable regional access to electricity produced by the off-shore wind project. This may include supporting permitting and development processes necessary for the proposed new Humboldt 500 kV substation as well as advocating to include distribution capacities at the substation for Humboldt County.

Climate Committee Phase 2 - 3
BE-8d Direct the Regional Climate Committee to evaluate and pursue opportunities for the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant through the Inflation Reduction Act to advance clean energy from the wind-farm projects.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
Phase 2
Measure TR-1 Urban: Implement programs, such as those identified in HCAOG’s RTP, to increase the mode share of active transportation in urbanized areas from 9% to 12% by 2030 thereby achieving a regional active transportation mode share of 8% T-1a Urban Regional Climate Committee to aid the urbanized areas of Humboldt by partnering with HCAOG and HTA to identify and pursue grant opportunities such as the Active Transportation Program, AARP Community Challenge, CalEPA’s Environmental Justice Action Grants, and Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants, etc., to fund active transportation projects identified in the Regional Transportation Plan. Aim to apply for at least 3 grants annually.

Climate Committee
HCAOG
HTA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-1b Urban In urbanized areas with high alternative transit expansion potential work with the Regional Climate Committee to facilitate community outreach on transportation alternatives and promote infrastructure improvements and expansion identified in HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan. Continually improve methods for engaging the community, gathering input, and utilizing it to prioritize projects.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development (urban)
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-1c Urban Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to pursue and access funding to develop and maintain regional webpage and app showing pedestrian and bike trails, bike lanes and bus times and routes. Distribute active transportation maps and promotional materials to hotels and tourism centers to increase visitor use of active transportation. Advertise and promote Humboldt Bikeshare program managed by the City of Arcata, Cal Poly Humboldt, and Tandem Mobility.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development (urban)
HCAOG
Phase 2 -
ongoing
Implementation
Public Draft 99
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-1d Urban Identify equity barriers to safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure through community outreach and use of big data driven analysis w as well as targeted community outreach to better understand nuanced barriers. Include prompts in outreach around ways to improve social and modal equity the active transportation systems and programs.

Develop a priority list of active transportation projects from HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan based on level of impact, expansion of inter-jurisdictional connectivity, and historically under-invested communities.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(urban)
HCOAG
Phase 1
T-1e Urban Increase inter-connectivity across the region working with HCAOG and the Regional Climate Committee representatives to:

1. Evaluate and prioritize land use projects and active transportation projects for their impact on increased regional connectivity

2. Identify hurdles limiting connectivity and use, such as last-mile commute limitations

3. Facilitate coordination across jurisdictions and rural and urban areas to plan development in a coordinated and most strategic manner

4. Apply for regional funding opportunities focused on increased inter-connection and VMT reduction

5. Implement the VMT mitigation measures associated with VMT thresholds Climate Committee
HCAOG
Phase 2 – Phase
3 Measure TR-1 Rural: Implement programs, such as those identified in HCAOG’s RTP, that increase access to safe active transportation, to increase the mode share of active transportation in rural areas from 5% to 6% by 2030 thereby achieving a regional active transportation mode share of 9% T-1a Rural Regional Climate Committee to conduct a feasibility study evaluating existing bike parking facilities in rural areas and what improvements can be made to increase supply, reduce theft, and increase rider attraction. Include in the study an analysis of current and future land use trends and identify active transportation facility development which would result in high inter- connectivity impact. The study should focus on needs to better connect rural communities to city centers, job centers, and amenities.

Climate Committee Phase 1
T-1b Rural Develop a priority list of active transportation projects from HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan based on level of impact, expansion of inter-connectivity, and historically under-invested communities where there is currently no or limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure as informed by feasibility study.

Municipal Public Works
(rural)
HCAOG
Phase 1
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
100
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-1c Rural The Regional Climate Committee will work with the regions jurisdictions, HCAOG, and CalTrans to obtain funding for the construction of bikeway and pedestrian systems to improve interconnection within Humboldt County. Focus areas will be projects that connect rural communities to high employment areas such as City of Eureka, Arcata, and Fortuna as well as nearby counties, State, and federal infrastructure through integration of bicycle facilities as part of other roadway construction projects (e.g. CalTrans mobility hub and highway projects).

Regional Climate
Committee
HCAOG
Phase 2 -
ongoing
T-1d Rural Partner with California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) District 1 Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC) to track progress on implementation of bicycle and pedestrian projects in the region, ensure that projects being planned are consistent with the District Active Transportation Plan, and to represent the regions rural jurisdictions needs to the PBAC.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Phase 2 -
ongoing
T-1e Rural Regional Climate Committee to work with jurisdictions in rural regions that have planned land use development to establish standards for when and how new residential subdivisions, multi-family, and mixed-use developments shall provide inter- connected bicycle and pedestrian facilities and amend local codes accordingly.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Phase 2 - 3
T-1f Rural Increase community awareness of active transportation infrastructure projects occurring and those completed. Work with HCAOG to continue to fund, develop, and maintain regional webpages and apps showing pedestrian and bike trails, bike lanes, and bus times and routes. Distribute active transportation maps and promotional materials to hotels and tourism centers to increase visitor use of active transportation.

Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Climate Committee
HCOAG
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-1g Rural Partner with the tourism and business sectors of larger tourism and employment regions of the county to identify pathways to increase active transportation from tourists and employees.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development (rural)
Phase 2
T-1h Rural Regional Climate Committee to identify and apply for grant opportunities such as the Active Transportation Program, AARP Community Challenge, CalEPA’s Environmental Justice Action Grants, and Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants, etc., to fund rural active transportation projects identified in the Regional Transportation Plan.

Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Climate Committee
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Implementation
Public Draft 101
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-1i Rural Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to fund the development of local subsidy for low-income residents across the region for bicycles, helmets, pumps, and other bicycle equipment. Continue to offer e-bike rebates with increased rebate opportunities for lowincome customers. Implement an income-qualified coupon for the e-bike share program, in addition to the available 50 percent discounted e-bike share rate.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development (rural)
Phase 2
Measure TR-2 Urban: Expand the public transit network in support of HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan to increase public transit mod e share from 2% to 20% public transit mode share in urbanized areas to achieve a regional 13% public transit mode share by 2030 T-2a Urban Regional Climate Committee to work with Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) and HCAOG to support implementation of measures to increase use of public transportation services in the region as specified in HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan, and work toward a 10-minute headway in urban areas. This should include, but is not limited to:

1. Improving passenger transfer among local routes and between local and intercity routes (e.g., Greyhound and Amtrak)

2. Improving shelters at bus stops

3. Electronic signage and/or real-time updates of wait time until next bus Climate Committee
HTA
Municipal Public Works
(urban)
Phase 2
T-2b Urban For areas with significant tourism industry, conduct a feasibility study to inform the development of a tourism-based mobility plan aimed at decreasing tourism-based single passenger vehicle use. In this study:

1. Identify community boundary locations for tourism designated parking and optimal route connectivity

2. Identify opportunities for town shuttle services and park-and-ride locations for residents and tourists

3. Gauge potential of partnerships with big tourism destinations and local businesses to implement direct public transit routes between park and ride and the relevant tourist destinations

4. Identify opportunities for dogs to be included in a shuttle service to locations that allow dogs
Municipal Public Works
(urban)
HCAOG
Phase 1
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
102
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-2c Urban Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to conduct local transportation surveys to better understand the community’s needs and motivation for traveling by car versus other alternatives such as the bus. Use survey results to inform policy development and outreach campaigns that are transit focused. Develop marketing materials and provide them to the local jurisdictions to publicize public transportation improvements as they are planned and implemented in a variety of methods (social media, newspaper, radio, etc.) and languages to help facilitate use and success of improvement Climate Committee Phase 1
T-2d Urban Work with HTA to plan facility upgrades that include design improvements of seating and weather protection at bus stops and along transportation routes. Implementation should also include consideration of climate change impacts and increasing micro-transit access to the improved public transit network facility. Incorporate design changes throughout infrastructure modifications, including real-time updates of bus arrival.

Municipal Public Works
(urban)
HTA
Phase 1 – Phase
2 T-2e Urban Work with HTA to prioritize public transportation access and improvements in lowincome areas of the region and at major destinations. This could include surveying existing transportation routes, schedules, and facilities throughout each jurisdiction as part of HCAOG’s Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program and improving public transportation facilities and expand access to transit (i.e., first and last-mile access).

Municipal Public Works
(urban)
HTA
Phase 2
T-2f Urban Regional Climate Committee to collaborate HTA and HCAOG in obtaining grant funding for service expansion and improvements particularly in underserved and marginalized areas. Also include assistance for working with the appropriate State agencies to petition for updates to the farebox ratio to allow HTA greater access to using funds for self-- advertisement.

Municipal Public Works
(urban)
HTA
Climate Committee
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Measure TR-2 Rural: Develop a robust public transit network in support of HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan to increase public transit mode share from 1% to 10% in rural areas and achieve a regional 13% public transit mode share by 2030 Implementation
Public Draft 103
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-2a Rural Regional Climate Committee to work with HTA and HCAOG to support implementation of measures to increase use of public transportation services in the region as specified in HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan and work toward a 30-minute headway in rural areas. This should include, but is not limited to:

1. Improving passenger transfer among local routes and between local and intercity routes (e.g., Greyhound and Amtrak)

2. Improving shelters at bus stops

3. Prioritizing infrastructure improvements in existing communities that enable people better access and use of public transit

4. Electronic signage and/or real-time updates of wait time until next bus Climate Committee
HTA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-2b Rural For areas with significant tourism industry, conduct a feasibility study to inform the development of a tourism-based mobility plan aimed at decreasing tourism-based single passenger vehicle use. In this study:

1. Identify community boundary locations for tourism designated parking and optimal route connectivity.

2. Identify opportunities for town shuttle services and park-and-ride locations for residents and tourists.

3. Gauge potential of partnerships with big tourism destinations and local businesses to implement direct public transit routes between park and ride and the relevant tourist destinations.

Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Climate Committee
HCAOG
Phase 1
T-2c Rural Work with HCAOG and HTA to conduct a feasibility study to explore alternative forms of public transit, such as micro transit including on-demand shuttles, car share programs, bike share programs, and scooter share programs. Micro transit is a type of on-demand, shared transportation service that typically operates with smaller vehicles, such as vans or mini-buses, and offers flexible routes and schedules. The analysis should include identification of potential funding sources (e.g., grants, local taxes, local business sponsorship, discretionary funds, etc.) and identification of barriers and opportunities for how such a micro-mobility program may enhance active transportation or public transit use. Evaluate the effectiveness of the micro transit pilot program in McKinleyville to determine opportunities for implementing a similar program in other rural locations of the county.

Climate Committee
HCAOG
Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Phase 1
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
104
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-2d Rural Based on the findings of the feasibility study, work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop a template micro-mobility policy that establishes a deployment protocol and permitting process, identifies any restrictions for use for safety reasons, and promotes equitable access through requirements for consistent placement of micro-mobility devices (e-scooters, e-bikes, etc.) in underserved areas or reductions in usage fees for lower-income users.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Board of Supervisors
(rural)
Phase 2
T-2e Rural Require large nonresidential and mixed-use developments to participate in Transportation Demand Management strategies, including providing shuttle services between employment centers and key transit centers, offering telecommuting, and encouraging use of pre-tax commute benefits.

Municipal
Planning/Building (rural)
Phase 2
T-2f Rural Market and publicize public transportation improvements as they are planned and implemented in a variety of methods (social media, newspaper, radio, etc.) and languages to help facilitate use.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development (rural)
HTA
Phase 2 -
ongoing
T-2g Rural Work with HTA in the implementation of facility improvements to rural transportation stops to include design improvements of seating and weather protection.

Implementation should also include consideration of increasing access to the improved public transit network facility.

Municipal Public Works
(rural)
Climate Committee
HTA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Measure TR-3: Reduce regional VMT by increasing mixed-use development in infill priority areas in alignment with HCAOG’s baseline connectivity score included in the RTP.

T-3a Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop template land use and development policy to enable and encourage infill development and streamline zoning changes that allow for higher density housing development. Work with urban areas to rezone for higher residential density and mixed use, reduced parking requirements, and expedited planning and permitting processes in the downtown core, along transit corridors, and within future planned development areas that is compact, pedestrian friendly, and transit oriented where applicable.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Phase 1 – Phase
2 Implementation
Public Draft 105
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-3b Leverage feasibility studies conducted by HCAOG to identify opportunities for mixed-use and infill development, map current and future planned transit networks, and establish a priority list of development that encourages regional growth to be in alignment with HCAOG and HTA transit goals. If not already included in previously conducted HCAOG studies, assess equity considerations with regards to location and distribution of developments, and potential transit access equity impacts.

Climate Committee
HCAOG
HTA
Phase 1
T-3c Work with HCAOG, HTA, RCEA and CBO’s to plan prospective mixed-use and infill projects so that they include design considerations with regards to alternative energy access/generation, EV charging infrastructure, and local public transit facilities. Promote development that increases walkability and is bikeable in neighborhoods.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 2 - 3
T-3d Direct the Regional Climate Committees to develop promotional materials and manage a central webpage on local jurisdiction’s websites for planned projects detailing the benefits of mixed-use and/or infill developments.

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 1-
ongoing
T-3e Dedicate staff time or create multi-jurisdictional staff position to be administered by the Regional Climate Committee to identify and pursue funding opportunities to support mixed-use and infill developments.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Climate Committee
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Measure TR-4: Develop and implement regional mobility hubs and ZEV car-share programs to support mode shift from single occupancy vehicles T-4a Regional Climate Committee to work with HCAOG on the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program efforts to assess regional transportation characteristics and work with regional agencies to identify multimodal land use opportunities throughout the county. As part of this program, conduct a background review of options for purchasing, operating, and maintaining shared mobility assets such as ZEVs, electric bikes, and electric scooters. The program should include identification of potential funding sour ces (e.g., grants, local taxes, local business sponsorship, discretionary funds, etc.) and identification of barriers and opportunities for how expanding mobility hub facilities beyond state highways access may enhance active transportation or public transit use.

Also include in the feasibility study an assessment of alternative powering options in partnership with RCEA (e.g. microgrids) to support ZEV car-share infrastructure with the mobility hubs.

Climate Committee
HCAOG
Phase 1
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
106
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-4b In areas where Caltrans plans to implement mobility hubs along the state highway, local jurisdictions with support from the Regional Climate Committee will work with Caltrans to facilitate successful implementation and use the project to inform decisions on expanding mobility hub options throughout the region that will expand jurisdictional interconnectivity and provide public EV charging to the communities.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Municipal Public Works
Phase 1 – Phase
2 T-4c Regional Climate Committee will develop guidance for jurisdictions to implement mobility hub policies that establishes a deployment protocol and permitting process, identifies any restrictions for use for safety reasons, and promotes equitable access through requirements for consistent placement of mobility hub facilities in underserved areas or reductions in usage fees for lower income users. The guidance is to be developed based on the regional feasibility study above.

Climate Committee
HCAOG
Phase 1
T-4d the Regional Climate Committee will coordinate with the City of Arcata in their efforts to bring in commercial autonomous EVs for car-share programs in association with regional mobility hubs.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
Phase 1 – Phase
2 T-4e Dedicate staff time or leverage the Regional Climate Committee to work with work with HCAOG on the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program and Caltrans in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities identified in the feasibility study with focus on linking mobility hub programs with the current Caltrans project to facilitate greater community interconnectivity and adoption of mobility services provided.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
Phase 2 -
ongoing
Measure TR-5: Require commercial and industrial employers with 25 employees or more to develop a Transportation Demand Management Plan T-5a Across all jurisdictions, and particularly in high employment cities, require employers to develop a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan through a new ordinance and/or as a requirement to obtain a business license. TDM plans should include moneybased incentives for employees to bike, walk, carpool, take the bus to work, or remote work where suitable. Require large employers (more than 25 employees) to subsidize biking, walking, or bus travel. The TDM should also include a ride-sharing program and membership within a transportation management association. The ride-sharing program will consist of designated parking spaces for ridesharing vehicles, passenger loading, unloading, and waiting zones; and a website, message board, or app for coordinating ridesharing. The program will include a provision to allow employees to work remotely 2 days per week when feasible and should include consideration for increasing broadband internet access to provide adequate service for those working remote.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Climate Committee
Phase 2
Implementation
Public Draft 107
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-5b Leverage the Regional Climate Committee and partnership with HCAOG to conduct local transportation surveys within each jurisdiction to better understand the community’s needs and motivation for traveling by car versus other alternatives such as the bus. Use survey results to inform policy development and outreach campaigns that are transit focused.

Climate Committee
HCAOG
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 1
T-5c Have the Regional Climate Committee prepare marketing materials that each jurisdiction may modify and use to market and publicize public and active transportation improvements to local businesses as they are planned and implemented in a variety of methods (social media, newspaper, radio, etc.) and languages to help facilitate use and success of improvement.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-5e Work with local businesses to understand employee engagement with alternative transportation methods and barriers to entry and provide workshops to local businesses to address questions or concerns in developing TDM plans.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
HCAOG
Phase 2
T-5f Through the Regional Climate Committee, employ a multi-jurisdictional representative to support HTA and local jurisdictions in pursuing grants such as the Sustainable Communities Competitive, Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program, State Transportation Improvement Program, etc., to expand public and active transit services and infrastructure.

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 2
Measure TR-6: Decarbonize 15% of passenger vehicle miles traveled by 2030 and 100% by 2045 through increased adoption of low and zero-emission vehicles and development of a regional electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling network.

T-6a Through the Regional Climate Committee partner with local organizations and community groups throughout the county to distribute outreach and promotional materials to residents and local businesses on the financial, environmental, and health and safety benefits of ZEVs and alternative fueling options. Provide information on available funding opportunities.

Climate Committee
Municipal Community
Development
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-6b Regional Climate Committee will identify jurisdictions or land-use zones, such as the Coastal Zone, that may benefit from a streamlined public and private EV infrastructure permitting process or Categorical Exemption and draft an ordinance in accordance with AB 1236. The Regional Climate Committee will develop the program as a template to be distributed to applicable jurisdictions for a coordinated approach and relieve individual jurisdiction workload on program development.

Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
108
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-6c The Regional Climate Committee with work with local jurisdictions to amend the Municipal Code to promote EV chargers in new development, redevelopment, and existing parking spaces. This may include requiring:
▪ Multifamily – CalGreen Tier 2 provisions
▪ Non-Residential – CalGreen Tier 2 provisions
▪ Designate 10 percent of parking spaces in urbanized areas as EV charging spaces ▪ Require that employers with over 25 employees designate preferred parking spaces for zero emission vehicles or hybrids only
▪ Require that new private parking lots grant ZEVs access to preferred parking spaces. ▪ Require larger residential rental building owners (more than 15 tenants) and large commercial building owners (more than 10,000 square feet) to install working electric vehicle chargers in 10 percent of parking spaces for new and existing buildings at time of renovation if projects are valued at $1,000,000 or greater Climate Committee
Municipal
Planning/Building
Board of Supervisors
Phase 2
T-6d Support ZEV car share companies in coming to the region. In jurisdictions with prevalent or planned development of multifamily housing, identify private sector partnerships and develop affordable, zero-emission vehicle car share programs with a priority to target vulnerable communities across all jurisdictions, promoting an accessible ZEV network.

Municipal
Planning/Building
Municipal Public Works
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-6e For high employment areas, work with RCEA to develop new public access charging stations. Work with RCEA to develop partnerships with other charging companies (e.g. Go Station) as needed to accommodate charging station needs. Apply for Federal Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant to install electric vehicle chargers at community centers and in high employment areas.

Municipal
Planning/Building
RCEA
Phase 2
T-6f Partner with RCEA to provide an EV Monthly Bill Discount Program with increased discount opportunities for low-income customers in each jurisdiction. Promote affordable EV charging rates at jurisdiction-owned EV charging stations and adjust rates as necessary to cover program costs. Explore methods for charging different rates for different user groups or other programs to offset charging costs at public stations for low-income residents.

Municipal Public Works
RCEA
Phase 2
Implementation
Public Draft 109
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-6g Regional Climate Committee will work with interested parties and RCEA to expand home and public fueling/charging station ZEV infrastructure in alignment with RCEA RePower Plan goals and address barriers to ZEV adoption which are not related to electric grid capacity limitations as outlined in the “North Coast and Upstate FCEV Readiness Plan.” Evaluate opportunities for curbside street level II chargers in urbanized residential areas where off-street parking is limited to provide equitable access to at home chargers.

Climate Committee
RCEA
Phase 2 - 3
T-6h Regional Climate Committee, in partnership HCAOG, to lead the development of a Hydrogen Vehicle Infrastructure Implementation Plan for public access hydrogen facilities by 2030 which includes the following:

1. Evaluate a list of prioritized locations for hydrogen fueling stations across the county

2. Consideration of procurement needs and potential sourcing from the Redding Rancheria perspective green hydrogen facility

3. Identifies grant funding opportunities (e.g. LCFS)
Climate Committee
HCAOG
Phase 1 - 2
T-6i Based on the results of the Hydrogen Vehicle Implementation Plan, applicable jurisdictions with opportunities identified as high priority hydrogen fueling station locations will evaluate and promote public access hydrogen fuel station development.

Leverage the Regional Climate Committee and other regional partnerships to explore funding opportunities for hydrogen fueling infrastructure through the LCFS or PG&E EV Fast Charge Program as well as develop public-private partnerships to attract private developers to the region to build out ZEV infrastructure.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 2 - 3
T-6j Identify and promote incentives and financing options for residential EV charger installations such as applying for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding.

Climate Committee
RCEA
Municipal
Planning/Building
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Measure TR-7: Increase commercial zero-emission vehicle use and adoption to 10% by 2030 and 100% by 2045 through a regional charging network and development of hydrogen hubs
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
110
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-7a Through the Regional Climate Committee work with RCEA and the Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) to refine and implement the North Coast Medium-Duty/HeavyDuty Zero Emission Vehicle Readiness Blueprint for Humboldt County. As part of the refinement:

1. Conduct in depth study of physical siting opportunities and prioritize locations and a schedule to follow

2. Identify opportunities for local jurisdiction-supported accelerated fleet ZEV adoption and establish a strategy to promote ZEV/EV adoption within business fleets

3. For high priority fleets, establish a strategy and protocol to collaborate with PG&E

4. For high priority fleets, conduct a grid planning study to identify necessary infrastructure upgrades to support a fully built-out fleet and coordinate with PG&E regarding needs
Climate Committee
RCEA
Phase 1 – Phase
3 T-7b Work with the Regional Climate Committee and RCEA to secure funding from state and utility programs (such as the California Air Resources Board's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, the Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program, LCFS, and the PG&E EV Fast Charge Program) and federal sources to increase procurement of EV or ZEV cars, trucks, and other vehicles and installation of EV/ZEV charging/fueling infrastructure.

Additionally, provide information to businesses on state and federal programs to help businesses pursue conversion of fleets to ZEVs.

Municipal Public Works
RCEA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-7c Conduct an inventory of business vehicle fleets in each jurisdiction and identify and engage with employers and businesses subject to the Advanced Clean Fleets rule as well as those to target for accelerating ZEV/EV adoption. As part of the study, identify private trucking company or manufacturer partnership opportunities for piloting new ZEV technology in the region.

Climate Committee
Municipal Facility
Management
Phase 1 - 2
Implementation
Public Draft 111
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-7d Direct the Regional Climate Committee to partner with RCEA and SERC to work with local fleet operators, vehicle operators, and fleet maintenance staff to develop a comprehensive training program, including hosting workforce development trainings to discussing the benefits and technical requirements of ZEV fleets and supporting infrastructure. In addition to retraining the existing workforce, advertise and promote opportunities in the area to attract additional workforce support such as ZEV technicians and mechanics, and charging and fueling technicians.

Climate Committee
RCEA
SERC
Phase 2
Measure TR-8: Electrify or otherwise decarbonize 12% of applicable small off-road engines (SOREs) off-road equipment by 2030 and 100% by 2045 and replace fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel in 55% of applicable large diesel in alignment with EO N-79-20 by 2030.

T-8a Align with AB 1346 and develop and circulate educational materials regarding CARB’s Small-Off Road Engines regulations requiring most newly manufactured small off-road engines such as those found in leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and other equipment to be zero emission starting in Model Year 2024. Phase 2 of the regulations will be implemented in Model Year 2028, when the emission standards for generators and large pressure washers will be zero. In addition, work with Humboldt Chamber of Commerce to disseminate information regarding the regulation to impacted businesses (e.g., lawn equipment dealers, commercial landscapers, construction companies) and promote transition of equipment sales and equipment use to electric alternatives.

Municipal Public Works
Municipal Facility
Management
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-8b Regional Climate Committee to identify pathways to enforce CARB’s In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation and the Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation requiring that diesel vehicles over 25 horsepower to procure and only use R99 or R100 renewable diesel. This should include establishing a means to track compliance and developing partnerships with fuel suppliers in the region to promote and support the increased procurement of renewable diesel in the region.

Climate Committee Phase 1
T-8c Work with the Regional Climate Committee to develop and implement a plan to replace all jurisdiction owned end-of-life off-road equipment with zero-emission equipment as feasible. Procure renewable diesel for applicable jurisdiction owned diesel equipment that doesn’t have available replacement equipment. Plan should include evaluation of current jurisdiction-owned equipment, alternative low or zero-emission options, prioritize equipment to replace first (e.g., largest GHG emission reduction potential), and a timeline for replacements that align with goals and feasibility of replacement.

Municipal Public Works Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
112
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-8d The Regional Climate Committee will develop and manage an Off-road Equipment Replacement Program and Outreach Campaign that provides information to contractors, residents, and fleet operators in the region regarding alternatives to fossil-fueled off-road equipment, local fuel suppliers with renewable diesel for sale, public health and safety benefits of alternative equipment technology, and funding opportunities available (i.e., Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Program), Zero-Emission Landscaping Equipment Incentive Programs).

Climate Committee Phase 1 – 2
T-8e Through the Regional Climate Committee, Partner with North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District to identify funding opportunities to encourage residents to replace gas-powered landscaping equipment and off-road engines with zero emission equipment.

This could include a rebate and incentive program for upgrading off-road equipment and switching to renewable diesel, or the development of an off-road zero emission landscaping equipment rental share program for county residents and businesses.

Climate Committee Phase 1
T-8f Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to source State funding to decarbonize offroad equipment as a result of Executive Order N-79-20 and State Climate Funding Package.

Climate Committee Phase 2
Measure TR-9: Establish Humboldt as a pilot program for the decarbonization of the transportation sector to help drive State and philanthro pic investment throughout Humboldt.

T-9a The Regional Climate Committee will develop and promote a vision and strategy for the regional community foundation to serve as a first-mover/pilot in the State in the decarbonization of America's rural transportation systems.

Climate Committee
HCOAG
HTA
Phase 2
T-9b As a first-mover in rural America, the Regional Climate Committee will pursue investment on behalf of the jurisdictions from philanthropy, the State, private businesses, etc. to fund the development of a Humboldt decarbonized rural transportation system.

Climate Committee
HCOAG
Phase 2 - 3
T-9c With the support of the Regional Climate Committee, jurisdictions will directly engage members of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in the development of the vision and strategy that aims to benefit all members of rural communities.

Municipal Community
Development
Climate Committee
Phase 2
Measure TR-10: Work with the State and renewable fuel industry to establish a renewable fuel network within Humboldt thereby funding new green industry and job growth to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector Implementation
Public Draft 113
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-10a The Regional Climate Committee will lead establishing a memorandum of understanding with RCEA, PG&E, CARB, CAL FIRE, the California Department of Agriculture, forest owners, and waste management companies to establish a plan to manage biomass and organic waste through the development of biofuel infrastructure in the region to position Humboldt as a first mover in active forest management to support a carbon-free future for California.

Municipal Public Works
(county)
RCEA
Phase 1
T-10b The Regional Climate Committee will work jurisdiction to identify and help zone and entitle opportunity locations and specific areas throughout the region for streamlined development of renewable generation facilities where applicable. As part of effort, develop guidelines for evaluating renewable opportunities that meet sustainability criteria such as those set in the Natural Resources Defense Council's "Biofuel Sustainability Performance Guidelines" to limit environmental impacts related to renewable production.

Municipal Public Works Phase 1
T-10c The Regional Climate Committee will work with RCEA, PG&E, and State agencies to explore funding opportunities including grants and green bonds to help fund the development of renewable fuel infrastructure in the region and explore revenue options through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

Municipal Public Works
(county)
RCEA
Phase 1
T-10d Establish Humboldt as a hydrogen hub by:

1. Promoting the pending The U.S. Department of Energy funded HTA hydrogen fueling station to attract additional hydrogen fueling station developers to the region

2. Partner with RCEA, SERC, and CalTrans, where applicable, to identify sites for hydrogen fueling stations that build off the North Coast and Upstate Regional Hydrogen Infrastructure Plan

3. Pursue partnerships with private developers to develop additional hydrogen fueling stations in the region

4. Pursue funding opportunities for hydrogen fueling infrastructure, such as through LCSF, AB 8 program, and the CEC Clean Transportation Program Municipal Public Works
(county)
RCEA
Phase 2 - 3
T-10e The Regional Climate Committee, in partnership with applicable incorporated cities will work with local utilities and State agencies to pursue grants earmarked for biofuel infrastructure from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Municipal Public Works Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
114
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-10f The Regional Climate Committee will establish partnerships with organic waste haulers to establish a consistent feedstock of biomass from forests and biowaste from residential and agricultural sources and forest service businesses/property owners.

Climate Committee
Fire Department
Phase 2 - 3
T-10g Partner with the forestry services and waste haulers to host an Outreach Campaign informing the community on the economic and wildfire risk benefits of active forest management for bioenergy. Establish a working group/committee to involve local community members and businesses in the planning processes related to biomass and biowaste management locally.

Climate Committee
Fire Department
(county)
Forestry Service (county)
Phase 1
T-10h Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to create a region-wide workforce development programs to train the local workforce for biofuel jobs. Specifically target training towards members of disadvantaged communities and establish criteria in the planning process that prioritizes/requires the employment of local residents and businesses in the industry.

Climate Committee Phase 2 - 3
Measure TR-11: Lead by example and electrify or otherwise decarbonize 50% municipal fleets by 2030 in alignment with the State’s Advanced Clean Fleet Rule.

T-11a Regional Climate Committee will develop a Zero-emission Fleet Conversion and Purchase Policy to be adopted by each jurisdiction that requires new, and replacement of, municipal fleet vehicle purchases to be EVs or ZEVs. The policy will also include a schedule for replacement of fleet vehicles to comply with the State’s Advanced Clean Fleet rule requiring 50 percent of medium and heavy-duty vehicle purchases be zeroemissions beginning in 2024 and 100 percent beginning in 2027. Report annually to CARB on fleet status as required per the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation.

Municipal Facility
Management
Climate Committee
Phase 1
T-11b Leverage the Regional Climate Committee conduct a feasibility and cost assessment to determine the number of EV/ZEV chargers and funds needed to support the fleet transition to 50 percent EV/ZEV by 2030.

Municipal Facility
Management
Climate Committee
Phase 1
Implementation
Public Draft 115
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
T-11c The Regional Climate Committee will secure funding from programs such as the California Air Resources Board's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program to increase procurement of EV or ZEV cars, trucks, and other vehicles and installation of EV/ZEV charging/fueling infrastructure at municipal facilities. Evaluate credit generation opportunities within the LCFS program for ZEV/EV fueling and charging stations for the municipal fleet to offset cost of infrastructure development needed to support transition.

Municipal Facility
Management
Climate Committee
Phase 1 -
ongoing
T-11d Install additional ZEV chargers/fueling stations in municipal parking lots for fleet, employees, and public use to meet projected demand in alignment with feasibility study.

Municipal Facility
Management
Municipal Public Works
Phase 1 - 2
T-11e Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to develop a resolution in alignment with Measure T-8a, to replace jurisdiction-owned end-of-life small off-road equipment with electric equipment (e.g., lawn equipment and leaf blowers) at time of replacement and to procure renewable diesel for all applicable jurisdiction owned equipment. Each jurisdiction will need to adopt the resolution while the Regional Climate Committee will support implementation.

Municipal Facility
Management
Phase 1
Measure SW-1: Establish a local waste separation facility and organics management to be able to reduce waste sent to landfills by 75% by 20 30. Reduce GHG emissions by limiting truck trips required to ship waste out of the county and import compost from out of the county SW-1a Regional Climate Committee to work with Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA) and Recology to develop a SB 1383 waste management plan which assesses county-wide waste diversion needs, current capacity, and land-use opportunities for developing organic waste processing facilities within Humboldt County that will meet regional requirements. The assessment should also include an analysis of green bond funding opportunities, applicable green bond programs, and a strategic plan for pursuing funding through green bond programs.

Climate Committee
HWMA
Recology
Phase 1
SW-1b The Regional Climate Committee will work with HWMA and an underwriter at a desired green bond program identified in the feasibility study to develop a green bond focused on providing funding for HWMA to construct a regional organics processing facility that will be used to meet SB 1383 diversion and procurement requirements.

Climate Committee
HWMA
Phase 1 - 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
116
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
SW-1c Through the Regional Climate Committee, partner with Recology and/or HWMA to pursue funding, such as the Organics Grant Program from CalRecycle or for projects through California Climate Investment, to reduce generated organic waste from multifamily homes and expand waste diversions programs within the county.

Climate Committee
HWMA
Recology
Phase 1
SW-1d Meet the requirements of SB 1383 to reduce organics in the waste stream by 75 percent below 2014 levels by 2030 and work towards 90 percent solid waste diversion by 2040 in applicable jurisdictions by leveraging the Regional Climate Committee to provide implementation support. Include activities such as:

1. Implement enforcement and fee for incorrectly sorted materials with sensitivity to shared collection. Utilize funding to implement programs and efforts to increase communitywide organic waste diversion

2. Assure adequate bin signage across commercial and residential areas of acceptable landfill, recyclable, and compostable materials

3. Identify public areas for adding organics collection and recycling bins where needed

4. Work with Recology and HWMA to conduct free food scrap collection pail giveaways and promote curbside organics collection service offered in applicable communities

5. Evaluate opportunities to have community compost hubs throughout the county that is easily accessible for community members. Partner with regional community gardens to increase community wide access to local compost bins

6. Identify long-term and alternate solutions for the community’s wastewater biosolids to avoid long hauling distances and develop local, beneficial reuse.

Municipal Public Works
HWMA
Phase 1 -
ongoing
Implementation
Public Draft 117
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
SW-1e Leverage Regional Climate Committee to draft a templated edible food recovery ordinance for individual jurisdictions to modify and adopt as needed. Alternatively utilize the County’s adopted ordinance, HCC 521-13 as a template or guide for drafting ordinances in individual jurisdictions that do not currently have such an ordinance. The ordinance will target edible food generators, food recovery services, or organizations that are required to comply with SB 1383. Ordinance requires all residential and commercial customers to subscribe to an organic waste collection program and/or report self-hauling or backhauling of organics. To support implementation of the ordinance, include the following activities:

1. Work with community food pantries, food suppliers, HWMA, and Recology to identify infrastructure needs to ensure edible food reuse infrastructure in Humboldt is sufficient to accept capacity needed to recover 20 percent of edible food disposed of within Humboldt

2. Regional Climate Committee to work with jurisdictions to establish an edible food recovery program where they are not currently present to minimize food waste

3. Leverage CalRecycle funding opportunities to support projects that prevent food waste or rescue edible food

4. Partner with existing food pantries that are locally appropriate for each jurisdiction to identify and advertise locations for surplus food to be taken in the community
Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
Board of Supervisors
Phase 2
SW-1f The Regional Climate Committee will work with HWMA, Recology and individual jurisdictions to implement structural changes listed above and increase service to jurisdictions without organics collection. This is applicable to both jurisdictions subject to SB 1383 and SB 1383 exempt jurisdictions to prepare for future needs to comply with SB 1383.

Municipal Public Works
HWMA
Recology
Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
118
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
SW-1g Regional Climate Committee will coordinate between HWMA and regional wastewater treatment facilities to evaluate the opportunities to process/ co-digest food waste at the wastewater treatment plants. Study should include evaluating existing infrastructure and ability to process food waste, an evaluation of necessary infrastructure upgrades needed to process food waste that would comply with SB 1383 standards for recovered organic products, and a return-on-investment evaluation. Study should also include recommendations of viable opportunities and identification of funding opportunities to support implementation and facility upgrades as necessary.

Municipal Public Works
HWMA
Phase 2 - 3
SW-1h The Regional Climate Committee in partnership with Recology and HWMA, will develop and conduct a conduct a Bring Your Own (BYO) education and outreach training for each jurisdiction community on reusables and implementing more sustainable packaging into daily use. The Regional Climate Committee will develop and provide information resources on HWMA and jurisdiction’s websites. Partner with libraries and other existing facilities to market campaigns about waste reductions, reuse and repair.

Municipal Public Works
HWMA
Recology
Phase 1
SW-1i Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to provide technical and outreach support to jurisdictions with organics and/or recycling services, by establishing relationships with multi-family property owners/managers to develop signage for their properties and to go door-to-door at each multi-family unit yearly to provide supplies and promote proper sorting.

Municipal Public Works
HWMA
Phase 1 - 3
SW-1j HWMA to add extra bulky-item pick up service in all jurisdictions to low- and mediumincome residents at a subsided cost to help minimize illegal dumping.Municipal Public Works HWMA
Phase 2
SW-1k The Regional Climate Committee will facilitate conducting waste characterization studies every 3 years to inform programs and policies. Leverage study to understand the waste stream and create a plan to increase diversion and reduce contamination. Work with contracted waste haulers and HWMA to develop and implement a comprehensive monitoring and quality control program with a focus on consumer behavior change. This should include tracking of weight or volume of waste produced; consider including information on billing to inform customer of their waste production and including incentives for reduction. Explore reducing frequency of service for residential and commercial waste to least often possible pick up to reduce truck miles/trips.

Municipal Public Works
HWMA
Phase 1 - 3
Implementation
Public Draft 119
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
SW-1l Through the Regional Climate Committee create a multi-lingual training/outreach program that can be used in all jurisdictions that is free and accessible to all residents and employees to learn about circular economy practices and diversion strategies and effects of overconsumption. Conduct targeted, multi-lingual, culturally appropriate, and geographically diverse circular economy educational and technical assistance campaigns based on outcomes of waste characterization studies and comprehensive monitoring and quality control program. Topics could include reuse, prolonging the life of common materials and items, and sustainable purchasing. Focus outreach campaign on food waste not going to landfill.

Climate Committee Phase 1
SW-1m Utilize the Regional Climate Committee to partner with schools, retirement communities, and other large institutions throughout the county to create waste diversion and prevention program/procedure/plan.

Climate Committee
HWMA
Phase 2 - 3
Measure WW-1: Expand regional opportunities for implementation of wastewater decarbonization technologies such as anaerobic digesters to reduce GHG and produce renewable fuel sources
WW-1a Regional Climate Committee to conduct a feasibility study(s) in jurisdictions with wastewater processing facilities or community primary reliance on septic systems identifying improved wastewater technologies which could be used to mitigate wastewater processing emissions and generate renewable fuel such as RNG or offset onsite process energy use via electricity generated with an anaerobic digester, particularly in relation to septic system improvements. The study should include an in-depth analysis of the current wastewater treatment methods utilized throughout the region, identification of upgrade opportunities and potential co-benefits to the community, and technological restrictions based on regional water quality and discharge requirements.

The study should also specifically consider expanding wastewater treatment capabilities to process food waste that would otherwise go to landfill.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 2
WW-1b The Regional Climate Committee will partner with regional wastewater service providers to understand current methods, areas for improvement, and whether there is interest in upgrading their wastewater treatment processes.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
120
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
WW-1c The Regional Climate Committee, with input from the wastewater treatment providers, will research and pursue grants to wastewater facility upgrades or home septic system improvements (where applicable), such as applying to the California State Water Board for Clean Water State Revolving Fund grants, or the Community Development Block Grant Program.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 3
Measure WW-2 Reduce per capita potable water consumption by 15% by 2030.

WW-2a The Regional Climate Committee will work with regional water providers to update their Urban Water Management Plan every 5 years, as required by the State, and implement the identified demand reduction actions to ensure compliance with the State’s Making Water Conservation a Way of Life regulations. Include new actions in the UWMPs as needed to achieve State regulations, which may include:

1. Develop or amend Water Shortage Contingency Plans in the region to develop water waste restrictions for households, businesses, industries, and public infrastructure

2. Work with large water users, and other stakeholders to develop an On-Site Water Reuse Plan to maximize utilization of local water supplies decreasing energy intensity of distribution

3. Revisit and update the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as needed.

Engage, through regional partnerships, with builders and developers to provide information on the requirements for development projects

4. Develop an ordinance for installation of dual-plumbing water systems that utilize greywater or recycled water for irrigation at new residential and commercial construction

5. Increase engagement with the community, specifically low-to-moderate income residents, to understand available incentives or rebates, options, and programs to reduce per capita water use. Leverage regional programs and partnerships with local organizations to expand water conservation outreach

6. Revise water and wastewater rates as necessary to ensure cost of service is covered
Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 1 - 2
Implementation
Public Draft 121
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
WW-2b Through the Regional Climate Committee work with the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD) to develop water conservation promotional materials, programs and outreach efforts are in multiple languages and accessible for low-income or disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. Continue to offer and expand water conservation programs to the community including educational programs like water education program for schools and water wise landscape classes as well as incentives like free water conserving deceives, and rebates for rain water collection systems and turf replacement.

Climate Committee Phase 1
WW-2c The Regional Climate Committee will work with the local water and wastewater providers in the region to develop a Recycled Water Master Plan to assess the feasibility of expanding the recycled water system in the region and establish a roadmap for a recycled water expansion program. The plan will identify locations available for recycled water use and establish a schedule for potable water replacement with recycled water in appropriate applications residentially, commercially, and municipally, and determine recycled water user fees.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 2 - 3
Measure CS-1: Research and implement feasible carbon sequestration technology opportunities to support growth and expansion of green jobs industry within the region
CS-1a Conduct a carbon sequestration feasibility study facilitated by the Regional Climate Committee to identify emergent technology for carbon sequestration and regional viability of implementation, including consideration of identified carbon sequestration technology facilities (e.g. ocean carbon capture, agriculture methane capture, forest biomass to biochar soil amendment, biochar wastewater filtration, forest biomass as green hydrogen fuel, etc).

Climate Committee Phase 2
CS-1b As part of Regional Climate Committee responsibilities established in Measure C-1, work with RCEA, HWMA, wastewater facilities, local tribes, businesses, and other applicable interested parties as appropriate to address potential carbon sequestration technologies available to the region, understand limitations and barriers, and develop solution pathways to implementation.

Climate Committee
RCEA
HWMA
Phase 2
CS-1c Based on feasibility study, leverage the Regional Climate Committee to explore partnerships with technology providers and regional research laboratories (e.g. Cal Poly) for viable carbon sequestration technologies to deploy carbon sequestration pilot projects in the region.

Climate Committee Phase 3
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
122
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
CS-1d The Regional Climate Committee shall dedicate staff time or a representative for researching emergent carbon sequestration technologies.

Climate Committee Phase 2
Measure CS-2: Offset fossil-based emissions and increase carbon sequestration in the community by achieving SB 1383 procurement requirements (0.08 tons recovered organic waste per person) by 2030.

CS-2a Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to support jurisdictions in enforcing compliance with SB 1383 and aim to exceed the baseline requirement by establishing a minimum level of compost application per year on applicable/appropriate land throughout the region. Maintain procurement policies to comply with SB 1383 requirements for jurisdictions to purchase recovered organic waste products.

Municipal Public Works Phase 1 -
ongoing
CS-2b Regional Climate Committee to facilitate the establishment of a compost broker program primarily in rural jurisdictions central to agricultural industries which provides agricultural communities with incentives such as subsidies or community shared compost application equipment to aid in the procurement and distribution of high-quality compost.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 1
CS-2c The Regional Climate Committee will work with Recology to provide residents, businesses, and developers with promotional material on where compost can be taken and how it can be used (i.e., landscaping).

Climate Committee
Recology
Phase 1
CS-2d The Regional Climate Committee will work with Recology, HWMA, and community-based organizations to provide free compost procurement services to low-income households and small businesses in all jurisdictions.

Municipal Public Works Phase 2
CS-2e The Regional Climate Committee will facilitate a soil assessment study to identify applicable locations and quantity of compost that can be applied within each jurisdiction to help meet the procurement requirements of SB 1383 and provide household incentives for small-scale implementation. As part of study, evaluate other carbon sequestration opportunities associated with soil amendments such as biochar.

Climate Committee Phase 1- 2
CS-2f Leverage the Regional Climate Committee to identify viable alternative opportunities for achieving SB 1383 compliance based on activities which are already occurring within the region (e.g. diversion of wastewater biosolids from landfill for agricultural application), or activities which provide co-benefits to the community (e.g. sourcing RNG to replace natural gas consumption, diversion of lumber or yard waste from landfill to be used to produce green hydrogen).

Climate Committee Phase 2
Implementation
Public Draft 123
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
CS-2g The Regional Climate Committee with dedicate staff time for researching alternative pathways for achieving SB 1383 compliance and obtaining grant funding for procurement and distribution incentive programs across all jurisdictions.

Climate Committee Phase 2
CS-2h Through the Regional Climate Committee collaborate with local schools, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation to identify opportunities to apply compost to landscaping, potentially in addition to open space land conservation efforts.

Municipal Public Works
Climate Committee
Phase 2
CS-2i In jurisdictions currently subject to SB 1383 requirements, utilize the Regional Climate Committee to work with regional organic waste haulers (Recology) and local small-scale commercial composters (e.g. The Local Worm Guy) to identify opportunities for a regional compost procurement program to help meet and exceed the organics procurement provisions of SB 1383 as well as streamline hauler routes through regional collaboration.

Municipal Public Works
Recology
Phase 1 - 2
Measure CS-3: Develop a County-wide Natural and Working Lands GHG Inventory baseline by 2027 to better understand the existing and future GHG sequestration and help obtain resources to protect and increase natural carbon sequestration occurring in the region as well as promote biodiverse forests and wetlands resistant to wildfire
CS-3a The County will partner with the North Coast Resource Partnership and other interested parties to develop an updated, Humboldt specific natural and working lands GHG Inventory which builds off of the 2017 northern California regional study conducted by the North Coast Resource Partnership. Development of the GHG Inventory should include consideration of requirements specified by prospective grant programs the region would like to pursue.

Municipal Public Works
(county)
Phase 1
CS-3b The Regional Climate Committee will apply for at least one grant (e.g. Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program) every three years for obtaining grant funding for restoration and preservation activities with a focus on projects that have been unable to be fully completed due to funding constraints.

Climate Committee Phase 1 - 3
CS-3c The Regional Climate Committee will work with interested parties, local tribes, and agricultural communities to identify opportunities for expanding wetland conservation areas in a manner that equitably addresses tribal and agricultural interests.

Climate Committee Phase 2
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
124
Action ID Action Responsible Parties Timeframe
CS-3d The Regional Climate Committee and County will work with CalFire and Humboldt County Resource Conservation District to increase necessary equipment and infrastructure resources to better maintain public and private forested area with focus on understory clearing to prevent wildfire.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(county)
Fire Department
Phase 2
CS-3e The Regional Climate Committee and the County will work with Humboldt County Resource Conservation District and interested parties to identify challenges and barriers for private sector landowners to implement forest best management practices as identified by CalFire and the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District.

Climate Committee
Municipal Public Works
(county)
Phase 1 - 2
CS-3f The Regional Climate Committee will support rural communities with the development of a community-based volunteer program supporting restoration project activity to create a maintained restoration process. This may involve partnering with local community organizations to communicate sequestration opportunities and facilitate volunteer maintenance projects.

Climate Committee Phase 2 - 3
CS-3g Through County efforts, facilitate annual reporting as part of the restoration plan mapping the existing restoration projects and open space lands to gauge progress in restoration activities over time as well as identify any gaps in maintenance activities related to ongoing projects. Incorporate GHG calculations into this monitoring plan to report on the region’s contribution as a GHG source or sink.

Municipal Public Works
(county)
Phase 2 - 3
CS-3h Engage with third-party to audit the Natural and Working Lands inventory and monitoring reports. Update County-wide inventory to include GHG emissions and sinks from Natural and Working lands in the region. Leverage this data to pursue State funding to protect the regions resource as a GHG sink for the State.

Municipal Public Works
(county)
Phase 2
Appendix A
Climate Regulatory Context
1 Climate Regulatory Context
As the impacts of climate change are being recognized, many strategies that address climate change have emerged at several differentlevels of government. This appendix provides an overview of the regulatory context at the international, State, and local levels relative to Humboldt’s actions toward reducing its communitywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

International Climate Action Guidance
1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change The primary international regulatory framework for GHG reduction is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC is an international treaty adopted in 1992 with the objective of stabilizing atmospheric GHG concentrations to prevent disruptive anthropogenic climate change. The framework established non-binding limits on global GHG emissions and specified a process for negotiating future international climate-related agreements.1
1997 Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in 1997 to extend and operationalize the UNFCCC. The protocol commits industrialized nations to reduce GHG emissions per county-specific targets, recognizing that they hold responsibility for existing atmospheric GHG levels. The Kyoto Protocol involves two commitment periods during which emissions reductions are to occur, the first of which took place between 2008-2012 and the second of which has not entered into force.2
2015 The Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate agreement that was adopted in 2015 and has been ratified by 189 countries worldwide.3 The Paris Agreement establishes a roadmap to keep the world under 2° C of warming with a goal of limiting an increase of temperature to 1.5° C. The agreement does not dictate one specific reduction target, instead relying on individual countries to set nationally determined contributions (NDCs) or reductions based on GDP and other factors. According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) limiting global warming to 1.5° C will require global emissions to reduce through 2030 and hit carbon neutrality by mid-century.4
1 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/conveng.pdf 2 UNFCCC. What is the Kyoto Protocol? https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol 3 UNFCCC. Paris Agreement - Status of Ratification. https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/status-of-ratification 4 IPCC. Global Warming of 1.5 C. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/ 2 California Regulations and State GHG Targets
California remains a global leader in the effort to reduce GHG emissions and combat climate change through mitigation and adaptation strategies. With the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 32 in 2006, California became the first state in the United States to mandate GHG emission reductions across its entire economy. To support AB 32, California has enacted legislation, regulations, and executive orders (EOs) that put it on course to achieve robust emission reductions and address climate change impacts. Following is a summary of executive and legislative actions relevant to this CAP Update. 2002 Senate Bill 1078
In 2002, SB 1078, established the California Renewables Portfolio Standards (RPS) Program and was accelerated in 2006 by SB 107, requiring that 20 percent of retail electricity sales be composed of renewable energy sources by 2010. EO S-14-08 was signed in 2008 to further streamline California's renewable energy project approval process and increase the State's RPS to the most aggressive in the nation at 33 percent renewable power by 2020.
2002 Assembly Bill 1493
In 2002, AB 1493, also known as Pavley Regulations, directed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to establish regulations to reduce GHG emissions from passenger vehicles to the maximum and most cost-effective extent feasible. CARB approved the first set of regulations to reduce GHG emissions from passenger vehicles in 2004, initially taking effect with the 2009 model year. 2005 Executive Order S-3-05
EO S-3-05 was signed in 2005, establishing Statewide GHG emissions reduction targets for the years 2020 and 2050. The EO calls for the reduction of GHG emissions in California to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The 2050 emission reductions target would put the State’s emissions in line with the worldwide reductions needed to reach longterm climate stabilization as concluded by the IPCC 2007 Fourth Assessment Report. 2006 Assembly Bill 32
California’s major initiative for reducing GHG emissions is outlined in AB 32, the “California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006,” that was signed into law in 2006. AB 32 codifies the Statewide goal of reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and requires CARB to prepare a Scoping Plan that outlines the main State strategies for reducing GHG emissions to meet the 2020 deadline. AB 32 also requires CARB to adopt regulations requiring reporting and verification of Statewide GHG emissions.

Based on this guidance, CARB approved a 1990 Statewide GHG baseline and 2020 emissions limit of 427 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MMT CO2e). The Scoping Plan was approved by CARB on December 11, 2008, and included measures to address GHG emission reduction strategies related to energy efficiency, water use, and recycling and solid waste, among other measures. Many of the GHG reduction measures included in the Scoping Plan (e.g., Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Advanced Clean Car standards, and Cap-and-Trade) have been adopted since approval of the Scoping Plan. In May 2014, CARB approved an updated Scoping Plan that defined CARB’s climate change priorities for the next five years and set the groundwork to reach post-2020 Statewide goals. The update highlighted State progress toward meeting the 2020 GHG emission reduction goals defined in the original Scoping Plan. It evaluated how to align State longer-term GHG reduction strategies with other State policies for water, waste, natural resources, clean energy, transportation, and land use. 3 2007 Executive Order S-1-07
Also known as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, EO S-1-07, issued in 2007, established a Statewide goal that requires transportation fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of California’s transportation fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020. EO S-1-07 was readopted and amended in 2015 to require a 20 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, the most stringent requirement in the nation. The new requirement aligns with California’s overall 2030 target of reducing climate changing emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, which was set by Senate Bill 32 and signed by the governor in 2016.
2007 Senate Bill 97
Signed in August 2007, SB 97 acknowledges that climate change is an environmental issue that requires analysis in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents. In March 2010, the California Natural Resources Agency adopted amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines for the feasible mitigation of GHG emissions or the effects of GHG emissions. The adopted guidelines give lead agencies the discretion to set quantitative or qualitative thresholds for the assessment and mitigation of GHG and climate change impacts.
2008 Senate Bill 375
SB 375, signed in August 2008, enhances the State’s ability to reach AB 32 goals by directing CARB to develop regional GHG emission reduction targets to be achieved from passenger vehicles by 2020 and 2035. In addition, SB 375 directs each of the State’s 18 major Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), to prepare a “sustainable communities’ strategy” (SCS) that contains a growth strategy to meet these emission targets for inclusion in the MPO’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). On March 22, 2018, CARB adopted updated regional targets for reducing GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 and 2035. 2009 California Green Building Code
The California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) is Part 11 of the California Building Standards Code or Title 24 and is the first Statewide “green” building code in the nation. The purpose of CALGreen is to improve public health, safety, and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings. Enhancements include reduced negative impact designs, positive environmental impact designs, and encouragement of sustainable construction practices.

The first CALGreen Code was adopted in 2009 and has been updated in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022.

The CALGreen Code will have subsequent, and continually more stringent, updates every three years.
2009 Senate Bill X7-7
In 2009, SB X7-7, also known as the Water Conservation Act, was signed, requiring all water suppliers to increase water use efficiency. This legislation sets an overall goal of reducing per capita urban water use by 20 percent by 2020.
2011 Senate Bill 2X
In 2011, SB 2X was signed, requiring California energy providers to buy (or generate) 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. 4 2012 Assembly Bill 341
AB 341 directed the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to develop and adopt regulations for mandatory commercial recycling. As of July 2012, businesses are required to recycle, and jurisdictions must implement a program that includes education, outreach, and monitoring. AB 341 also set a Statewide goal of 75 percent waste diversion by the year 2020. 2014 Assembly Bill 32 Scoping Plan Update
In 2014, CARB approved the first update to the Scoping Plan. This update defines CARB’s climate change priorities and sets the groundwork to reach the post-2020 targets set forth in EO S-3-05. The update highlights California’s progress toward meeting the near-term 2020 GHG emissions reduction target, defined in the original Scoping Plan. It also evaluates how to align California’s longer-term GHG reduction strategies with other Statewide policy priorities, such as water, waste, natural resources, clean energy, transportation, and land use. 2014 Assembly Bill 1826
AB 1826 was signed in 2014 to increase the recycling of organic material. GHG emissions produced by the decomposition of these materials in landfills were identified as a significant source of emissions contributing to climate change. Therefore, reducing organic waste and increasing composting and mulching are goals set out by the AB 32 Scoping Plan. AB 1826 specifically requires jurisdictions to establish organic waste recycling programs by 2016, and phases in mandatory commercial organic waste recycling over time.
2015 Senate Bill 350
SB 350, the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015, has two objectives: to increase the procurement of electricity from renewable sources from 33 percent to 50 percent by 2030 and to double the energy efficiency of electricity and natural gas end users through energy efficiency and conservation.
2015 Executive Order B-30-15
In 2015, EO B-30-15 was signed, establishing an interim GHG emissions reduction target to reduce emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The EO also calls for another update to the CARB Scoping Plan.
2016 Senate Bill 32
On September 8, 2016, the governor signed SB 32 into law, extending AB 32 by requiring the State to further reduce GHGs to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 (the other provisions of AB 32 remain unchanged). The bill charges CARB to adopt the regulation so that the maximum technologically feasible emissions reductions are achieved in the most cost-effective way. 2016 Senate Bill 1383
Adopted in September 2016, SB 1383 requires CARB to approve and begin implementing a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants. The bill requires the strategy to achieve the following reduction targets by 2030:
▪ Methane – 40 percent below 2013 levels
5 ▪ Hydrofluorocarbons – 40 percent below 2013 levels
▪ Anthropogenic black carbon – 50 percent below 2013 levels SB 1383 also requires CalRecycle, in consultation with CARB, to adopt regulations that achieve specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills. The bill further requires 20% of edible food disposed of at the time to be recovered by 2025.
2017 Scoping Plan Update
On December 14, 2017, CARB adopted the 2017 Scoping Plan, which provides a framework for achieving the 2030 goalset by SB 32. The 2017 Scoping Plan relies on the continuation and expansion of existing policies and regulations, such as the Cap-and-Trade Program, as well as implementation of recently adopted policies, such as SB 350 and SB 1383. The 2017 Scoping Plan also puts an increased emphasis on innovation, adoption of existing technology, and strategic investment to support its strategies. As with the 2014 Scoping Plan Update, the 2017 Scoping Plan does not provide project-level thresholds for land use development. Instead, it recommends that local governments adopt policies and locally appropriate quantitative thresholds consistent with Statewide per capita goals of six metric tons (MT) CO2e by 2030 and two MT CO2e by 2050. As stated in the 2017 Scoping Plan, these goals may be appropriate for plan-level analyses (city, county, subregional, or regional level), but not for specific individual projects because they include all emissions sectors in the State.
2018 Senate Bill 100
Adopted on September 10, 2018, SB 100 supports the reduction of GHG emissions from the electricity sector by accelerating the State’s Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, which was last updated by SB 350 in 2015. SB 100 requires electricity providers to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 33 percent of total retail sales by 2020, 60 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2045.
2018 Executive Order B-55-18
Also, on September 10, 2018, the governor issued Executive Order B-55-18, which established a new Statewide goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and maintaining net negative emissions thereafter. This goal is in addition to the existing Statewide GHG reduction targets established by SB 375, SB 32, SB 1383, and SB 100.
2020 Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation
The Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation was approved on June 25, 2020. The regulation establishes a zero-emissions vehicle sales requirement for trucks or on-road vehicles over 8,500 lbs gross vehicle weight and set a one-time reporting requirement for large entities and fleets. Under the regulation, manufacturers who certify Class 2b-8 chassis or complete vehicles with combustion engines are required to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of their annual California sales from 2024 to 2035. By 2035, zero-emission truck/chassis sales need to be 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4 – 8 straight truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales. Additionally, the regulation established a one-time reporting requirement for large entities and fleets where fleet owners, with 50 or more trucks, are required to report about their existing fleet operations by March 15, 2021.
6 2022 Scoping Plan Update
In November 2022, CARB adopted the 2022 Scoping Plan, which provides a framework for achieving the 2045 carbon neutrality goal set forth by AB 1279. The 2022 Scoping Plan relies on the continuation and expansion of existing policies and regulations, such as the Cap-and-Trade Program, as well as implementation of recently approved legislation, such as AB 1279. The 2022 Scoping Plan includes discussion of the Natural and Working Lands sector as both an emissions source and carbon sink. The Plan centers equity in terms of State climate investments and climate mitigation strategies. 2022 Senate Bill 1020
Adopted in September 2022, SB 1020 advances the State’s trajectory to 100 percent clean energy procurement by 2045 by creating clean energy targets of 90 percent by 2035 and 95 percent by 2040. SB 1020 builds upon SB 100, which accelerated the State’s RPS and requires electricity providers to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 60 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2045.
2022 Assembly Bill 1279
Adopted in September 2022, AB 1279, codifies the Statewide carbon neutrality goal into a legally binding requirement for California to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2045 and ensure 85 percent GHG emissions reduction under that goal. AB 1279 builds upon EO B-55-18 that originally established California’s 2045 goal of carbon neutrality. 2022 Advanced Clean Cars II
The Advanced Clean Cars II regulation was adopted in August 2022. The regulation amends the Zero-emission Vehicle Regulation to require an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles, and relies on advanced vehicle technologies, including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electric and plug-in hybrid electric-vehicles, to meet air quality, climate change emissions standards, and Executive Order N-79-20, which requires that all new passenger vehicles sold in California be zero emissions by 2035. The regulation also amends standards for gasoline cars and heavier passenger trucks to continue to reduce smog-forming emissions.
2023 Advanced Clean Fleet
Approved by CARB on April 28, 2023, the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation requires fleets, businesses, and public entities that own or direct the operation of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in California to transition to 100 percent zero-emission capable utility fleets by 2045. Under the regulation, fleet operators may choose to purchase only ZEVs beginning in 2024 and remove internal combustion engine vehicles at the end of their useful life or fleet operators may elect to meet the State’s ZEV milestone targets as a percentage of the total fleet starting with vehicle types that are most suitable for electrification.

Appendix B
GHG Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report
prepared by
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Planning and Building Department
3015 H Street
Eureka, California 95501
Contact: John Ford, Director of Planning and Building
prepared with the assistance of
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
4825 J Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, California 95819
March 2024

Table of Contents
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report i Table of Contents
1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 4 2 Background.......................................................................................................................... 6

2.1 Legislative Context..................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Climate Science Context............................................................................................. 7

2.3 Regional Context....................................................................................................... 8 3 Regional GHG Emissions Inventory.......................................................................................10

3.1 Methodology............................................................................................................10

3.2 2022 Community GHG Emissions Inventory................................................................12

3.2.1 Energy ......................................................................................................12

3.2.2 Transportation ..........................................................................................21

3.2.3 Solid Waste...............................................................................................29

3.2.4 Wastewater..............................................................................................31

3.3 2022 Community GHG Emissions Inventory Results....................................................38 4 GHG Emissions Forecast.......................................................................................................43

4.1 Business-as-usual Scenario GHG Emissions Forecast...................................................43

4.2 Legislative Adjusted Scenario GHG Emissions Forecast................................................46

4.2.1 Legislative Reduction Programs..................................................................47

4.2.2 Legislative Adjusted Scenario Forecast Results............................................50

4.2.3 Legislative GHG Emission Reduction Contribution........................................51 5 Provisional GHG Emissions Targets.......................................................................................52

5.1 1990 Level GHG Emissions Back-cast..........................................................................52

5.2 GHG Emissions Reduction Target Setting....................................................................53 Tables
Table 1 2022 Inventory GHGs and GWPs................................................................................. 7 Table 2 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Electricity Use..........................13 Table 3 15/15 Rule Failure Electricity Use Adjustment............................................................14 Table 4 Community Residential and Nonresidential Electricity Activity Data Adjustment ..........15 Table 5 Community Residential and Nonresidential Electricity GHG Emissions Calculations ......15 Table 6 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Electricity T&D Loss .................16 Table 7 Community Electricity T&D Loss GHG Emissions Calculations......................................16 Table 8 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Natural Gas Use.......................17 Table 9 Community Residential and Nonresidential Natural Gas GHG Emissions Calculations ...18 Table 10 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Natural Gas Leaks....................19 Table 11 Community Natural Gas Methane Leaks GHG Emissions Calculations ..........................20 Table 12 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Fuel Use..................................20 Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
ii
Table 13 Community Building Fuel Use GHG Emissions Calculations..........................................21 Table 14 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Passenger On-road Transportation .............22 Table 15 Passenger VMT Annualization Calculations.................................................................23 Table 16 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Other On-road Transportation....................24 Table 17 Commercial and Bus Activity Data Calculations...........................................................25 Table 18 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community On-road Transportation EV ......25 Table 19 Community On-road EV Activity Data Calculations......................................................26 Table 20 Community On-road Transportation GHG Emissions Calculations................................27 Table 21 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Off-Road Equipment................28 Table 22 Community Off-road Equipment Sector Attributions...................................................28 Table 23 Community Off-road GHG Emissions Calculations.......................................................29 Table 24 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Solid Waste Fugitive Emissions.30 Table 25 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Solid Waste Process Emissions.30 Table 26 Wastewater Facility Processes and Population Served................................................31 Table 27 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Stationary Combustion (CH4)................................................................................................................33 Table 28 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Stationary Combustion (N2O) ...............................................................................................................33 Table 29 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Lagoons...............34 Table 30 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater With Nit/Denit......35 Table 31 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Without Nit/Denit 36 Table 32 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Septic...................36 Table 33 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Effluent................37 Table 34 Wastewater Effluent GHG Emissions..........................................................................38 Table 35 Humboldt Wastewater Management GHG Emissions by Process.................................38 Table 36 2022 Humboldt Community GHG Emissions Inventory................................................41 Table 37 BAU Forecast Demographic and Projection Metrics by Forecast Year..........................44 Table 38 GHG Emission Sources and Growth Factors for BAU Scenario Forecast........................45 Table 39 BAU Forecast Results Summary by Emission Sector....................................................46 Table 40 Forecasted RPS and Weighted Electricity Emission Factor ..........................................49 Table 41 Legislative Adjusted Scenario Forecast Results...........................................................50 Table 42 Summary of Legislative GHG Emission Reductions.....................................................51 Table 43 1990 Back-cast Calculations......................................................................................53 Table 44 GHG Emissions Reduction Targets and Gap Analysis...................................................54 Table of Contents
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report iii Figures
Figure 1 Updated 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory by Sector............................39 Figure 2 Updated 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory by Sub-Sector.....................40 Figure 3 GHG Emissions Forecast and Provisional Target Pathways (Mass Emissions) ................55 Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
4 1 Introduction
To guide the development of the Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan, the County of Humboldt (Humboldt) developed a 2022 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory from regional community-wide activities within the incorporated and unincorporated jurisdictions within the County (Humboldt County RegionalGHG Inventory). The Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory estimates GHG emissions from residents and businesses within the region, including GHG emissions from municipal buildings and operations.

This document presents the data, methods, and results for the 2022 GHG emissions inventory, forecast, and targets for the County of Humboldt. The county, situated in the northern part of California, is a diverse and geographically varied region that offers a blend of natural landscapes including coastal areas, mountainous terrain, forests, rangeland, and agricultural crops. Humboldt is predominantly rural, characterized by a dispersed population. The incorporated city areas within Humboldt exhibit a considerable range, hosting populations varying from approximately 450 to 26,000 residents. The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory comprehensively covers the entire county, incorporating emissions data from both the incorporated cities and the unincorporated regions of Humboldt.

California (the State) has established statewide GHG emissions reduction goals to mitigate negative climate change impacts and transition the State to a low-carbon economy. In particular, the State has established goals to reduce statewide GHG emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, as established by Senate Bill (SB) 32 and achieve net zero GHG emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, as established by Assembly Bill (AB) 1279.1The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the agency responsible for addressing these goals and developing strategies to achieve them. Many local jurisdictions are completing their own GHG inventories, forecasts, and CAPs to align with SB 32 and AB 1279.

Local governments play a fundamental role in reducing local GHG emissions and preparing for a more resilient future. Local government policies can influence high-emissions behavior and mitigate climate change effects.2 To this end, Humboldtis developing a regional CAP for its incorporated and unincorporated communities to align with SB 32 and AB 1279 goals, increase resilience and climate change preparedness, maintain healthy air and water resources, and improve community health and the local economy across the county.

To support the development of regionally specific GHG reduction targets, the County has developed a back-cast of Humboldt’s GHG emissions to 1990 to set emissions targets in alignment with the State’s goals as well as a forecasted emission levels in 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045. The emissions forecast provides an up-to-date projection of how GHG emissions are expected to change within the region in the future based on changes in population and employment, as well as existing State and federal legislation aimed at reducing GHG emissions through 2045. This document also presents provisional GHG targets and a gap analysis, which identifies the level of GHG emissions reduction 1 AB 1279 defines net zero GHG emissions as reducing GHG emissions at least 85 percent below 1990 levels. California also set a goal to reach 1990 levels by 2020, as established by AB 32, The 2020 goal set by AB 32 was achieved by the State in 2016. CARB. Frequently Asked Questions – California’s 2022 Climate Scoping Plan. Accessed November 14, 2022 at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022- 06/2022_Scoping_Plan_FAQ_6.21.22.pdf
2 CARB. California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan. Accessed November 14, 2022 at:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic/cc/scopingplan/scoping_plan_2017.pdf Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 5 that will need to be achieved through local action to meet the GHG emissions reduction targets. The analysis in this document relies on the best available data and calculation methodologies currently available.

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
6 2 Background

2.1 Legislative Context
The State has developed statewide legislative goals and programs to reduce GHG emissions. CARB has issued guidance concerning the establishment of GHG emissions reduction targets for local CAPs so communities can contribute their fair share towards the State’s achievement of the GHG emissions reduction goals. In the first Climate Change Scoping Plan (referred to as the 2008 Scoping Plan), CARB encouraged local governments to adopt a reduction target for their own community emissions that parallels the State commitment to reduce GHG emissions.3 In 2017, CARB published the 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan (referred to as the 2017 Scoping Plan Update) outlining the strategies the State will employ to reach the additional State targets set by SB 32.4 On December 15, 2022, the 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality (2022 Scoping Plan Update) was published and includes recommendations for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, which was codified by AB 1279.5
The most relevant climate-related legislation is summarized below. ▪ Executive Order S-3-05, signed in 2005, establishes statewide GHG emissions reduction goals to achieve long-term climate stabilization as follows: by 2020, reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels and by 2050, reduce GHG emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels. The 2050 goal was accelerated by the 2045 carbon neutral goal established by EO B-55-18 and AB 1279, as discussed below.
▪ Assembly Bill 32, known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires California’s GHG emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by the year 2020 (approximately a 15 percent reduction from 2005 to 2008 levels). The 2008 Scoping Plan identifies mandatory and voluntary measures to achieve the statewide 2020 GHG emissions limit.
▪ Senate Bill 32, signed in 2016, establishes a statewide mid-term GHG emissions reduction goal of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. CARB formally adopted the 2017 Scoping Plan Update in December 2017, laying the roadmap to achieve 2030 goals and giving guidance to achieve substantial progress toward the 2050 State goals. The 2022 Scoping Plan Update provides further guidance for reaching the State’s SB 32 goal.
▪ Executive Order B-55-18, signed in 2018, expanded upon EO S-3-05 by creating a statewide GHG emissions goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. EO S-55-18 identifies CARB as the lead agency to develop a framework for implementation and progress tracking toward this goal in the 2022 Scoping Plan Update.
▪ Assembly Bill 1279, known as the California Climate Crisis Act, signed by the governor in 2022, codifies the GHG emissions reduction goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and expands upon this goal to define carbon neutrality as reducing direct emissions 85 percent below 1990 3 CARB. 2008. Climate Change Scoping Plan: A Framework for Change. Available at:
ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic//cc/scopingplan/document/adopted_scoping_plan.pdf 4 CARB. 2017. California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan. Available at:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic/cc/scopingplan/scoping_plan_2017.pdf 5 CARB. 2022. 2022 Scoping Plan Documents. Available at:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/ab-32-climate-change-scoping-plan/2022-scoping-plan-documents Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 7 levels and removing the remaining 15 percent of emissions via other technologies and practices, like carbon sequestration. The 2022 Scoping Plan Update adopted in December 2022 provides the pathway for reaching the State’s AB 1279 goal.

2.2 Climate Science Context
Greenhouse Gases
GHGs are chemical compounds found in the earth’s atmosphere which affect climate conditions by trapping infrared radiation from sunlight which can serve to raise global temperatures. Emissions can occur from natural processes as well as human activities which release excess GHGs into the atmosphere. Table 1 presents the six internationally recognized GHGs commonly quantified in GHG inventories. The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory focuses on the three GHGs most relevant to Humboldt’s community: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

The other gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluorides) are emitted primarily in private sector manufacturing and electricity transmission and are therefore omitted from the inventory. This approach is consistent with typical community inventory approaches, as industrial emissions are typically outside of the communities’ control and influence. Table 1 also includes the global warming potentials (GWP) for each gas. The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory used 100-year GWPs for each gas that are consistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report,6 which were also used by the State in the latest State-wide GHG emissions inventory. The GWP refers to the ability of each gas to trap heat in the atmosphere. For example, one pound of methane gas has 25 times more heat capturing potential than one pound of carbon dioxide gas. GHG emissions are reported in metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MT CO2e).

Table 1 2022 Inventory GHGs and GWPs
Greenhouse Gas Primary Source
100-year
GWP
Carbon dioxide (CO2) Combustion 1
Methane (CH4) Combustion, anaerobic decomposition of organic waste (e.g., in landfills, wastewater treatment plants)
25 Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Leaking refrigerants and fire suppressants 298 Hydrofluorocarbons Leaking refrigerants and fire suppressants 4 - 12,400 Perfluorocarbons Aluminum production, semiconductor manufacturing, HVAC equipment manufacturing
6,630 -
11,100
Sulfur Hexafluoride
(SH6)
Transmission and distribution of power 23,500
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2007. AR4 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2007. Available at:
https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar4/
6 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2014. AR5 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2014. Accessed January 5, 2023, at:
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
8 2.3 Regional Context
Humboldt’s landscape is predominantly rural, contributing to a unique demographic distribution. A significant portion of the population (53 percent) resides in unincorporated areas, emphasizing the county's expansive and varied geography. Incorporated city areas within Humboldt include Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, and Trinidad. At roughly 26,500 residents, Eureka is the largest urban area in Humboldt County followed by Arcata and Fortuna. Due to their smaller population size, the incorporated cities of Ferndale, Blue Lake, Rio Dell, and Trinidad are considered rural and share more characteristics with the unincorporated county.

Incorporated Humboldt cities occupy approximately 1 percent of the total land area of the county.

The primary land uses in the Humboldt region include public ownership (e.g. national parks), tribal land, timberland, and agriculture, with timberland and agriculture accounting for the majority of rural land use.7 The region has witnessed a significant downturn in industries like logging resulting in a shrinking job market, population sizes, and reduced economic capacity. With the decline of the once-dominant industrial sector, the major sources of employment shifted to commercial urban centers such as Eureka, Arcata, and Fortuna. However, the region is anticipated to experience an economic shift on the horizon with the shift in focus to building out green job industries , and other major developments such as the California Polytechnic State University student housing expansion in Arcata,
8 the Nordic Aquafarms project,9 and the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Multipurpose Marine Terminal project,10 scheduled to occur in the foreseeable future.

The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG inventory serves as a reflection of emissions from land uses and activities which occur across the incorporated and unincorporated regions of the county.

The region is characterized by a population that is largely dispersed with a few city centers, which is reflected in the emission trends observed in the transportation, waste, and energy sectors. Due to the dispersed nature of the communities, there are limited options for public and active transportation to accommodate the travel needs of the community, resulting in a high rate of single occupancy vehicle miles traveled regionally. With no open landfills in Humboldt County, all solid waste generated by the community must be transported far outside the region, further contributing to transportation related emissions. Additionally, Humboldt County is at the end of the utilities energy distribution line resulting in limited electricity capacity and resulting in many areas having no access to natural gas lines. Communities without access to natural gas rely on other non-utility fuels such as propane or wood to supply energy to their homes and businesses. Such characteristics of the region are reflected in the trends observed in the GHG inventory.

Sectors such as natural and working land uses pose significant opportunities for Humboldt County communities. The region boasts significant forests with great sequestration potential, contributing to the county's ability to offset carbon emissions. The dairy industry is also prominent, presenting both economic opportunities and environmental considerations. However, because the County and local jurisdictional governments have limited control of agricultural emissions and the state has not yet issued guidance on methodology for quantifying mitigation of emissions from natural working 7 https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/1351/Chapter-4-Building-Communities-PDF 8 https://facilitymgmt.humboldt.edu/sites/default/files/web_cal_poly_humboldt_feir_student_housing_project_0.pdf 9 https://humboldtgov.org/3218/Nordic-Aquafarms-Project 10 Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District. 2024. Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project.

Available at: https://humboldtbay.org/humboldt-bay-offshore-wind-heavy-lift-marine-terminal-project-3 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 9 lands or agricultural lands, agricultural emissions and carbon sequestration of natural working lands are not included in the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG inventory.

The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG inventory framework aligns with the broader CAP and supporting measures being developed by the County, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration for collective action to achieve GHG emissions reductions. Addressing the identified challenges in transportation, energy distribution, and waste management as well as leveraging the regions natural lands potential to mitigate carbon emissions will likely play a crucial role in achieving the community’s sustainability goals.

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
10 3 Regional GHG Emissions Inventory
Conducting a GHG emissions inventory provides a comprehensive understanding of a communities’ GHG emissions, and may be developed to serve the following purposes:
▪ Establishes perspective of GHG emissions conditions in the applicable inventory year. ▪ Provide an understanding of where the highest sources of GHG emissions in the community originate and where the greatest opportunities for emissions reduction exist. ▪ Create a GHG emissions baseline from which the community can establish a forecast, reduction targets, and track progress over time.

GHG inventories are developed by identifying the sources and sinks (sectors) for GHGs within the geographic or system boundary of interest (e.g., county), collecting activity data for each sector, and applying an emissions factor to determine the carbon dioxide equivalence (CO2e). There are often many potential sectors contributing to the communities’ GHG emissions. However, only a select few sectors are typically considered the major contributors to a community GHG inventory. The GHG emissions sectors used for the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory are identified in Section 3.1 below.

3.1 Methodology
Protocol
The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory was developed in alignment with accounting protocols provided by the Local Governments for Sustainability International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) as recommended by the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) and the California Office of Planning and Research (OPR). 11 ICLEI protocols are designed for
local-scale accounting of GHG emissions that contribute to climate change and provide authoritative guidance to account for GHG emissions accurately and consistently. The ICLEI U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Version 1.2 (Community Protocol) serves to guide the measurement and reporting of GHG emissions in a standardized way and is used by other jurisdictions to support their own inventory, forecast, and climate action planning efforts.

The Community Protocol also includes steps to evaluate the relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, and accuracy of data used in the GHG inventory.

GHG emissions were calculated by multiplying the activity data in each GHG emissions sector (e.g., transportation, energy, waste, water, and wastewater) by an associated emission factor. Activity data refer to the relevant measured or estimated level of GHG-generating activity (e.g., energy consumption, miles traveled). Emission factors are observation-based conversion factors used to equate activity data to generated GHG emissions. The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory leverages the latest available models and best available data in accordance with the Community Protocol. The inventory serves to provide a comprehensive understanding of the 11 Association of Environmental Professionals(AEP). 2013. AEP Climate Change Committee’s “The California Supplement to the United States Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Protocol”. Available at:
https://califaep.org/docs/California_Supplement_to_the_National_Protocol.pdf Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 11 community’s current GHG emissions. The following sections contain further information on the inventory approach, calculation methodologies, data used, and results.

Emissions Boundary
The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory covers the relevant emissions sources within the boundary of Humboldt County, including all incorporated and unincorporated areas. The inventory thereby reflects emissions sectors resulting from Humboldt community activities over which the local governments (i.e., County and partnering jurisdictions) have jurisdictional control and influence. Sectors where the local government has limited influence are generally excluded from the 2022 GHG Community Inventory as the local government does not have the power to develop measures to impact associated emissions. The emissions boundary set forth in the analysis herein aligns with general GHG inventory accounting principles as well as methods set forth by the Community Protocol.

Scope
The Community Protocol recommends reporting GHG emissions from five basic reporting activities in a community inventory, which include:
▪ Use of electricity by the community
▪ Use of fuel in residential and commercial buildings
▪ On-road passenger and freight motor vehicle travel
▪ Use of energy in potable water and wastewater treatment and distribution ▪ Generation of solid waste by the community
The Community Protocol also provides recommendations for additional GHG emissions source reporting for activities that can be influenced by the accounting agency.12 Based on reporting practices in California, it is recommended that GHG emissions from off-road equipment fuel combustion and wastewater treatment processes are also included in community GHG emissions inventories. GHG emissions sources can be categorized more generally into the following five activity sectors:
▪ Electricity
▪ Natural Gas
▪ Transportation
▪ Water and Wastewater
▪ Solid Waste
The 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory assesses regional community generated GHG emissions in these five sectors, forming the foundation for emissions forecasts and targets. This includes electricity and natural gas consumption from industrial operations as most industrial facilities in the area are not subject to regulations under the State's Cap and Trade program which typically governs industrial emissions. While there are some industrial facilities which are subject to Cap and Trade, disaggregated data was not available to remove State regulated industrial facilities energy use from activity data. Furthermore, local jurisdictions are considered to have some influence over the energy use at industrial land uses through zoning and building codes and 12 i.e. local governments
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
12 therefore are included in the inventory. Emissions from industrial point source discharge have been excluded due to lack of local jurisdictional control over this emissions source.

Notably, water sector emissions, arising from electricity use in water delivery and treatment, are accounted for under electricity sector emissions as the entirety of water supplied to Humboldt community members occurs within Humboldt geographic and jurisdictional boundaries.13 Given that all community water is supplied from within the Humboldt community, these emissions are accounted under electricity sector emissions to prevent double counting (see Section 3.2.1).

There are opportunities to analyze the GHG emissions impacts of other sectors such as natural and working lands. However, the state has not yet issued guidance on methodology for quantifying GHG emission impacts associated with natural working lands or agricultural lands and the available methodology for accounting of emissions activities in this sector can be difficult and resource intensive to quantify. Due to the lack of specific state guidance and methodology for inclusion of natural working lands GHG emission impact in a communitywide inventory, this sector has been excluded from the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory. More information regarding inclusions or exclusions particular to the five mandatory sectors is provided in Section 3.2 below.

3.2 2022 Community GHG Emissions Inventory

3.2.1 Energy
Energy: Residential and Nonresidential Electricity
Emissions from residential and nonresidential electricity were calculated using Community Protocol Equation BE.2.1. Nonresidential electricity includes consumption from commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources. Commercial electricity use is expected to comprise the majority of nonresidential consumption due to the decline in regional industrial operations.

To account for only electricity consumed in the built environment, equation 3.1 subtracts electricity consumed by electric vehicles (EVs) from total purchased electricity by removing passenger car EV electricity use from residential electricity consumption and commercial and bus EV electricity consumption from nonresidential consumption. Electricity use from passenger, commercial, and bus EVs are instead accounted for under the transportation sector of the inventory to provide a more thorough differentiation between building and transportation sector emissions. More information regarding EV energy use can be found in Section 3.2.2. Equation 3.1 and Table 2 provide the equation, associated parameters, and data sources used to quantify GHG emissions associated with community electricity consumption.

EQUATION 3.1
BE.2.1 RESIDENTIAL/NONRESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY SECTOR EMISSIONS 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝑗 = ∑(𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑖,𝑗 − 𝐸𝑉𝑖,𝑗
) × 𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐,𝑖,𝑗
𝑖

3.1 13 Water sector operation information is based on feedback provided by the County and water districts which supply water to the Humboldt community.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 13 Table 2 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Electricity Use Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual GHG emissions from
electricity consumption per
building type
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦,𝑗See Table 5 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Electricity consumption per
building type per energy
provider
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑖,𝑗
See Table 4 kWh/year i. PG&E Community
Inventory Reports1
ii. RCEA2
iii. CEC3
Attributed electric vehicle
electricity consumption
𝐸𝑉𝑖,𝑗
See Table 4 kWh/year EMFAC20214
Electricity emission factor
based on energy provider
𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐,𝑖,𝑗
See Table 5 MT CO2e/kWh i. PG&E Community
Inventory Reports
ii. EPA eGRID5
iii. RCEA Power Content Label6
Energy Providers 𝑖 PG&E
RCEA
Categorical –
Building type 𝑗 Residential
Nonresidential7
Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; kWh = kilowatt hour

1. Pacific Gas and Electricity (PG&E) CommunityInventory Reports provided by each jurisdiction in Humboldt County via SharePoint on December 21, 2023. Information regarding PG&E Community Inventory Reports is available at: https://pge-energydatarequest.com/

2. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) county-wide electricity consumption data provided by RCEA via email on March 21, 2024.

3. California Energy Commission (CEC). 2023. California Energy Consumption Database. Available at:
https://ecdms.energy.ca.gov/Default.aspx

4. California Air and Resources Board (CARB). 2023. Emission FACtor (EMFAC2021 v1.0.1) Model. Available at:
https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/emissions-inventory/5e0cb7d6006cc10661f4b3ffb9c120a486d46ea6

5. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2024. Frequently Asked Questions about eGRID. Available at:
https://www.epa.gov/energy/emissions-generation-resource-integrated-database-egrid-questions-and-answers

6. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA). 2024. Power Resources, 2022 Power Content Label. Available at:
https://redwoodenergy.org/power-resources/

7. Nonresidential includes kWh consumption includes commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources.

Electricity consumed by residents and businesses in Humboldt County is supplied by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA), and direct access (e.g., primarily rooftop solar panels). According to RCEA, in 2022 there was 19.4 MW of customer rooftop solar in the region, supplying an estimated 31,150 MWh of electricity generation onsite. RCEA provided countywide electricity sales data broken out by residential and nonresidential uses. RCEA provided data excluded direct access on-site solar generation. PG&E electricity consumption data was received from each jurisdiction within Humboldt County boundaries via the PG&E Community Inventory Reports which differentiates between residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and direct access use categories. To determine the quantity of county-wide electricity received from PG&E,the consumption data by use category was summed across all jurisdictions within Humboldt County boundaries. The direct access category reported by PG&E includes electricity provided by commuinty choice aggregations, such as RCEA, and does not differentiate by customer type (i.e., residential or nonresidential).

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
14 Utility data reported by PG&E is subject to 15/15 Rule14 reporting restrictions which can result in utility data being either fail-dropped from the report (i.e. excluded) or aggregated into another sector (e.g. combining commercial and industrial consumption). Agricultural and industrial electricity use did not pass the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) 15/15 Rule reporting restrictions and were excluded from the PG&E Community Inventory Report. PG&E provided commercial electricity 2022 data for Rio Dell, as well as 2022 residential and commercial electricity consumption data for for Blue Lake, Ferndale, and Trinidad, all failed 15/15 Rule reporting restrictions and were also exluded. Due to 15/15 rule failures for PG&E data, the RCEA supplied electricity data appears to exceed the kWh of direct access reported by PG&E that encompasses RCEA supplied electricity. The significant number of fail-dropped sectors within the PG&E Community Inventory Reportresults in an under reporting of regional utility consumption data from PG&E
To establish a more accurate estimate of county-wide electricity use, PG&E provided electricity to these communites was estimated using California Energy Commission (CEC) county-wide data as the basis for total Humboldt electricity usage. CEC county-wide data is reported based on residential and nonresidential consumption, and includes all electricity end-uses which includes PG&E supplied electricity, RCEA supplied electricity, and direct access. To estimate PG&E total provided electricity, known RCEA residential and nonresidential electricity was deducted from CEC electricity data. This approach assumes that all remaining residential and nonresidential kWh consumption is sourced from PG&E. Though RCEA is expanding direct access solar options in the area, direct access was not disaggregated from the remaining residential and nonresidential data due to data limitations. This method provides a replicable, conservative estimation of GHG emissions assocaited with electiricyt use county-wide as well as a more complete accounting of regional electricity consumption, though is limited in reporting sector-based emissions as it cannot establish differentiation between commercial, industrial, and agricultural utility consumption in the nonresidential sector. Table 3 provides a summary of calculation methods and results of this estimation.

Table 3 15/15 Rule Failure Electricity Use Adjustment
Sector CEC [kWh] RCEA [kWh]
PG&E 15/15 Adjustment1
[kWh]
Residential 355,284,200 300,405,000 54,879,200
Nonresidential 419,005,700 297,940,000 121,065,700
Notes: kWh = kilowatt hour;

1. PG&E residential kWh is estimated by deducting RCEA residential kWh from CEC residential electricity data. PG&E nonresidential electricity use is determined by deducting RCEA nonresidential kWh from CEC nonresidential data.

Table 4 below provides resulting electricity activity data by utility provider, allocated EV electricity use data, and subsequent building activity data used to determine GHG emissions for the community’s electricity consumption in the built environment. 14 The 15/15 Rule is a policy put in place by the California Public Utilities Commission which protects the privacy of energy users.

Aggregated energy information must have more than 15 customers, with no one customer representing 15 percent of the aggregate d energy consumption.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 15 Table 4 Community Residential and Nonresidential Electricity Activity Data Adjustment Sector Provider
Provided Activity Data
[kWh]
Attributed EV1
[kWh]
Building Activity Data
[kWh]
Residential PG&E 54,879,200 2,579,824 52,299,376
RCEA 300,405,000 14,121,779 286,283,221
Nonresidential2 PG&E 121,065,700 2,649 121,063,051
RCEA 297,940,000 6,519 297,933,481
Notes: kWh = kilowatt hour; MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; EV = electric vehicles

1. Attributed EV allocates electric vehicle kWh consumption to each provider based on the vehicle type, electricity sector, and proportion of electricity provided by each provider per sector. EV kWh usage from passenger vehicles is removed from residential electricity, while commercial and bus EV kWh usage is removed from nonresidential electricity.

2. Nonresidential includes kWh consumption from commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources.

Resulting activity data, emissions factors, and GHG emissions per building type and provider is summarized in Table 5.

Table 5 Community Residential and Nonresidential Electricity GHG Emissions Calculations
Sector Provider
Building Activity Data
[kWh]
Emission Factor
[MT CO2e/kWh]
GHG Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Residential PG&E1 52,299,376 0.0000263 1,376
RCEA 286,283,221 0.0000220 6,293
Nonresidential PG&E1 121,063,051 0.0000263 3,186
RCEA 297,933,481 0.0000220 6,549
Notes: kWh = kilowatt hour; MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

1. PG&E emissions factor only reports carbon dioxide emissions associated with production. To estimate CO2e emissions, average CAMX grid CH4 and N2O emissions reported by eGRID were incorporated into the PG&E CO2 emissions factor (See Table 2).

Energy: Electricity Transmission and Distribution Losses Electricity Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses arise from electricity lost during delivery to the buildings and associated end-uses in the community. Electricity T&D losses occur in the electricity transmission and distribution system and are therefore upstream of the delivery endpoints located within the communities’ geographical boundary. This means this electricity is lost before it is counted. However, T&D losses are estimated and included in the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory as they are associated with energy usage by communities in Humboldt County and thereby directly impacted by the community’s electricity consumption. Additionally, emissions from T&D losses are recommended for inclusions in community GHG inventories by the Community Protocol. Equation 3.2 and Table 6 provide the calculation method, associated parameters, and data sources used to quantify GHG emissions associated with community T&D losses from electricity consumption. T&D losses associated with EV electricity use are considered negligible and therefore are included in the quantification of residential and nonresidential building electricity T&D.

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
16 EQUATION 3.2
BE.4 ELECTRICITY T&D LOSS SECTOR EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑇&𝐷,𝑗 = ∑𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑖,𝑗 × 𝐿𝑇&𝐷 × 𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐,𝑖,𝑗
𝑖

3.2 Table 6 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Electricity T&D Loss Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual GHG emissions from
transmission and distribution
losses per building type
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑇&𝐷,𝑖See Table 7 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Electricity consumption per
energy provider and building
type
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑖,𝑗
See Table 7 kWh/year i. PG&E Community Inventory
Reports1
ii. RCEA2
iii. CEC3
Electricity emissions factor per
energy provider and building
type
𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐,𝑖,𝑗
See Table 7 MT CO2e/kWh i. PG&E Community Inventory
Reports
ii. EPA eGRID4
iii. RCEA Power Content Label5
Electricity loss factor 𝐿𝑇&𝐷5.10% Percent EPA eGRID
Energy Providers 𝑖 PG&E
RCEA
Categorical –
Building type 𝑗 Residential
Nonresidential6
Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; kWh = kilowatt hour

1. Pacific Gas and Electricity (PG&E) Community Inventory Reports provided by the County via SharePoint on December 21, 2023.

Information regarding PG&E Community Inventory Reports is available at: https://PG&E-energydatarequest.com/

2. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) county-wide electricity consumption data provided by the County via SharePoint on January 3, 2024.

3. California Energy Commission (CEC). 2023. California Energy Consumption Database. Available at:
https://ecdms.energy.ca.gov/Default.aspx

4. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2022. Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) Data Explorer.

Available at: https://www.epa.gov/egrid/data-explorer

5. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA). 2024. Power Resources, 2022 Power Content Label. Available at:
https://redwoodenergy.org/power-resources/

6. Nonresidential includes kWh consumption from commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources.

The activity data, emissions factors, and GHG emissions associated with electricity T&D losses is summarized in Table 5 per building type and provider.

Table 7 Community Electricity T&D Loss GHG Emissions Calculations Sector Provider
Activity Data
[kWh]
T&D Losses
[kWh]1
Emission Factor
[MT CO2e/kWh]
GHG
Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Residential PG&E 54,879,200 2,798,839 0.0000263 74
RCEA 300,405,000 15,320,655 0.0000220 337
Nonresidential PG&E 121,065,700 6,174,351 0.0000263 162 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 17 Sector Provider
Activity Data
[kWh]
T&D Losses
[kWh]1
Emission Factor
[MT CO2e/kWh]
GHG
Emissions
[MT CO2e]
RCEA 297,940,000 15,194,940 0.0000220 334
Notes: kWh = kilowatt hour; MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

1. T&D losses include the kWh consumption associated with EV charging.

Energy: Residential and Nonresidential Natural Gas
GHG emissions from natural gas result from the stationary combustion of natural gas in both the residential and nonresidential building sectors. In alignment with building electricity emissions, nonresidential natural gas includes commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources of consumption, though the majority of consumption is attributable to commercial operations due to limited industrial presence in the Humboldt community. PG&E reported natural gas consumption for the community’s industrial and agricultural sources were excluded due to 15/15 rule reporting restrictions. Therefore, CEC reported county-wide natural gas data was utilized to adequately account for regional natural gas emissions from the Humboldt community. This methodology does not allow for differentiation between commercial, agricultural, and industrial utility consumption as CEC regional utility data only reports aggregated residential and nonresidential sources.

Emissions from residential and nonresidential natural gas use were calculated using Community Protocol Equation BE.1.1. Though the majority of GHG emissions result from the combustion of natural gas, not all the natural gas purchased is combusted. Natural gas that leaks from pipes and processing plants has a larger GHG impact compared to combusted natural gas due to the higher global warming potential of methane. Some natural gas also leaks from fittings and appliances within a building, after the natural gas meter which is used to quantify total gas usage. Therefore, Community Protocol has been adjusted to remove this small percentage of metered natural gas from the combustion calculation, and instead count it as leakage. More information regarding emissions associated with natural gas leaks can be found under “Energy: Natural Gas Methane Leaks” subsection below. Equation 3.3 and Table 8 provide the equation used, associated parameters, and data sources used to quantify GHG emissions associated with community natural gas consumption in residential and nonresidential buildings.

EQUATION 3.3
BE.1.1 RESIDENTIAL/NONRESIDENTIAL NATURAL GAS SECTOR EMISSIONS 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑁𝑎𝑡𝐺𝑎𝑠,𝑖 = (𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑁𝐺,𝑖 − [1 − 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑒])
× [(𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺,𝐶𝑂2 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝑂2
) + (𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺,𝐶𝐻4 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4)
+ (𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺,𝑁2𝑂 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂
)] × 10−1 × 10−3

3.3 Table 8 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Natural Gas Use Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual GHG emissions from
stationary combustion of
natural gas per building type
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑁𝑎𝑡𝐺𝑎𝑠,𝑖See Table 9 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Natural gas consumed per
building type
𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑁𝐺,𝑖
See Table 9 therms/year CEC1
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
18 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Percent natural gas lost during
consumer end-use
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑒 0.50% Percent Environmental Defense Fund2
Carbon dioxide emission
factor for natural gas
combustion
𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺,𝐶𝑂2

53.06 kg CO2/mmBTU
natural gas
EPA Emission Factors Hub3
Methane emission factor for
natural gas combustion
𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺,𝐶𝐻4

0.001 kg CH4/mmBTU
natural gas
EPA Emission Factors Hub
Nitrous oxide emission factor
for natural gas combustion
𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺,𝑁2𝑂

0.0001 kg
N2O/mmBTU
natural gas
EPA Emission Factors Hub
Global warming potential of
carbon dioxide
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝑂2
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report4
Global warming potential of
methane
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Global warming potential of
nitrous oxide
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Conversion factor 10−1 0.1 mmBTU/therm –
Conversion factor 10−3 0.001 MT/kg –
Building type (i.e. residential
or nonresidential)
𝑖 Residential
Nonresidential5
Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; therms = thermal unit; mmBTU = metric million British thermal unit; kg = kilograms

1. California Energy Commission (CEC). 2023. California Energy Consumption Database. Available at:
https://ecdms.energy.ca.gov/Default.aspx

2. Environmental Defense Fund USER GUIDE FOR NATURAL GAS LEAKAGE RATE MODELING TOOL. Available at:
https://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/US-Natural-Gas-Leakage-Model-User-Guide.pdf

3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2022. GHG Emission Factors Hub (April, 2022). Available at:
https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/ghg-emission-factors-hub

4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2007. AR4 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2007. Available at:
https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar4/

5. Nonresidential includes natural gas use from commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources.

The total natural gas consumption, combusted natural gas activity data, emissions factors, and GHG emissions associated with community natural gas use is summarized in Table 9 per building type and provider.

Table 9 Community Residential and Nonresidential Natural Gas GHG Emissions Calculations
Sector
Provided Activity
Data
[therms]
End-use
Leakage
[therms]
Combustion Activity
Data
[therms]
Emissions
Factor
[MT
CO2e/therm]
GHG
Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Residential 19,402,770 97,014 19,305,756 0.005311 102,542 Nonresidential 11,017,950 55,090 10,962,860 0.005311 58,229 Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 19 Energy: Natural Gas Methane Leaks
Natural gas methane leaks occur during delivery to the buildings and during associated end-uses in the community. Gas methane leaks from delivery occur in the pipeline distribution system and are therefore upstream of the delivery endpoints located in Humboldt and not reflected in the reported total natural gas purchased. While natural gas pipeline distribution leakage is technically outside of a local government’s jurisdictional boundaries, the leakage is directly impacted by natural gas consumption in the community. As such, it is more holistic to include leakage as an emissions sector and is therefore included in the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory.

The Community Protocol does not provide a specific calculation methodology for determining GHG emissions from natural gas leakage. Therefore, emissions from natural gas leaks were calculated using Equation 3.4 which estimates emissions in alignment with energy calculation principles set forth by the Community Protocol and the guidance provided under Community Protocol Section BE.5 Upstream Emissions from Energy Use. Table 10 shows the parameters and data sources associated with Equation 3.4 which were used to quantify GHG emissions from natural gas distribution and end-use leakage.

EQUATION 3.4

NATURAL GAS LEAKAGE SECTOR EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑘,𝑖 = 𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑁𝐺,𝑖 × 𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑘 × (𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑒 + 𝐿𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡) 3.4 Table 10 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Natural Gas Leaks Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual GHG emissions from
natural gas distribution
leakage per building type
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑘,𝑖See Table 11 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Natural gas consumed per
building type
𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑁𝐺,𝑖
See Table 11 therms/year CEC1
Emission factor for natural gas
leakage
𝐸𝐹𝑁𝐺 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑘 0.047381 MT
CO2e/therm
Calculated2
Percent natural gas lost during
distribution
𝐿𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡 2.3% Percent Alvarez, Ramón et al. (2018)3
Percent natural gas lost during
consumer end-use
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑒 0.5% Percent Environmental Defense Fund4
Building type (i.e. residential
or nonresidential)
𝑖 Residential
Nonresidential5
Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; therms = thermal unit

1. California Energy Commission (CEC). 2023. California Energy Consumption Database. Available at:
https://ecdms.energy.ca.gov/Default.aspx

2. Emission factor is calculated using the following equation:

2.85 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑚
∗ 95% 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 ∗ 0.7
𝑘𝑔
𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
∗ 25
𝐶𝑂2𝑒
𝐶𝐻4
∗ 0.001
𝑀𝑇
𝑘𝑔

3. Alvarez, Ramón et al. (2018). Assessment of methane emissions from the U.S. oil and gas supply chain. Science. 361. Accessed January 12, 2023 at: https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aar7204

4. Environmental Defense Fund USER GUIDE FOR NATURAL GAS LEAKAGE RATE MODELING TOOL. Accessed January 12,2023 at:
https://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/US-Natural-Gas-Leakage-Model-User-Guide.pdf

5. Nonresidential includes natural gas use from commercial, industrial, and agricultural sources.

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
20 The total natural gas use and resulting leakage activity data, emissions factors, and GHG emissions per building type is summarized in Table 11.

Table 11 Community Natural Gas Methane Leaks GHG Emissions Calculations Natural Gas Sector
Provided
Activity Data
[therms] Leakage Source
Methane
Leakage
[therms]
Emissions Factor
[MT
CO2e/therm]
GHG Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Residential 19,402,770
Distribution 446,264 0.047381
25,741
End-use 97,014 0.047381
Nonresidential 11,017,950
Distribution 253,413 0.047381
14,617
End-use 55,090 0.047381
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent Energy: Building Fuel Use
Though PG&E provides natural gas utility to the majority of Humboldt, capacity and infrastructure limitations prevent PG&E from supplying natural gas to the entirety of the community. Due to this limitation, many communities in Humboldt County, particularly the rural regions at the edge of PG&Eservice territory, rely on stationary fuel sources (e.g. propane, diesel, kerosene, wood, heating oil) instead of a central utility distribution system to supply or supplement building energy consumption. GHG emissions from these fuels result primarily from the stationary combustion in the residential building sector in Humboldt. Based on census data, a majority of homes relying on an alternative fuel source rather than natural gas, relied on propane and wood. Therefore, GHG emission calculations are based on propane and wood used in residential buildings. Emissions from residential fuel use were calculated using Community Protocol Equation BE.1.2. which uses estimated annual state-level fuel consumption and counts of household fuel use obtained from the U.S. Census to determine an average rate of fuel consumption per household in the given inventory year. The established rate is then applied to the number of households in the community which utilize a given fuel type (i.e. propane or wood) to determine regional consumption activity data.

Equation 3.3 and Table 8 provide the equation used, associated parameters, and data sources used to quantify GHG emissions associated with residential building fuel consumption.

EQUATION 3.5
BE.1.1 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FUEL USE EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙,𝑖 =
𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒,𝑖
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒,𝑖
× 𝐸𝐹𝑖 × 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑗𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛,𝑖

3.5 Table 12 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Fuel Use Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual GHG emissions from
stationary combustion of
building fuel
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙,𝑖See Table 13 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Fuel consumed per fuel type
in the State
𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒,𝑖
See Table 13 mmBtu/year EIA SEDS1
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 21 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Number of residences in the
State which use a given fuel
type
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒,𝑖
See Table 13 households EIA RECS Survey2
Emissions factor per fuel type 𝐸𝐹𝑖See Table 13 MT
CO2e/mmBtu
EPA Emission Factors Hub3
Number of residences in the
jurisdiction which use a given
fuel type
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑗𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛,𝑖
See Table 13 households U.S. Census Bureau4
Fuel type 𝑖 Propane
Wood
Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; mmBTU = metric million British thermal unit;

1. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2023. State Energy Data System (SEDS), State Energy Consumption Estimates Table C5 Residential Sector Energy Consumption Estimates, 2021. Available at: https://www.eia.gov/state/seds/archive/seds2021.pdf

2. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2023. 2020 RECS Survey Data, Highlights for fuels used in U.S. homes by state, 2020.

Available at: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2020/index.php?view=state

3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2022. GHG Emission Factors Hub (April, 2022). Available at:
https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/ghg-emission-factors-hub

4. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles, Table DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics. Available at: https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2022.DP04?q=DP04: SELECTED HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS&g=050XX00US06023_160XX00US0602476,0607162,0623042,0623910,0625296,0660900,0680448 The data used to quantify residential building stationary fuel emissions from non-utility sources primarily utilized in Humboldt are summarized in Table 13 below.

Table 13 Community Building Fuel Use GHG Emissions Calculations Fuel Type
State
Consumption
[mmBtu]
State
Households
[households]
Fuel Rate
[mmBtu/hous
ehold]
Emissions
Factor
[MT
CO2e/mmBtu]
Jurisdiction
Households
[households]
GHG Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Propane 24,200,000 630,000 38 0.0951 4,370 15,956
Wood 22,800,000 1,030,000 22 0.0631 9,104 12,721
Total 28,677
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; mmBTU = metric million British thermal unit

3.2.2 Transportation
Transportation: On-road
On-road vehicles in the community produce GHG emissions from the mobile combustion of fossil fuels (i.e., internal combustion engines) and up-stream from the production of electricity (i.e., electric vehicles). The Community Protocol recommends estimating GHG emissions from the onroad transportation sector using a regional travel demand model to acquire vehicle miles travelled (VMT) activity data for the community based on an origin-destination methodology, differentiated between passenger, commercial, and bus vehicle classes.However, the growth of big data15 sources related to VMT activities presents an opportunity for more precise and reliable data collection on 15 Big data refers to large and/or complex data sets which grow at increasing rates, and which cannot be handled by traditional dataprocessing software. These data sets typically provide greater statistical power in data processing.

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
22 VMT behaviors in the region. This inventory relies on county-wide 2022 VMT data provided by the traffic consultants Fehr & Peers. During Fehr & Peers review of the existing Humboldt County Travel Demand Model, it was deemed that the regional travel demand model was outdated and was not appropriate for establishing baseline VMT data for the region. Instead, Fehr & Peers developed 2022 baseline VMT data county-wide by leveraging data from StreetLight Data16. The VMT estimates were validated by Fehr & Peers using California Statewide Travel Demand Model data, and California Household Travel Survey data. StreetLight Data is a notable big data provider specializing in transportation information. StreetLight Data's Insight cloud-based software utilizes navigationGPS and other location-based data derived from vehicles and location apps to provide a variety of traffic metrics such as annual average daily traffic (AADT) counts, average travel distances, and top origin-destination locations.17 Therefore, the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory uses 2022 VMT baseline data sourced from Streetlight Data processed by Fehr & Peers to estimate transportation emissions. Equation 3.6 and Table 14 define the equations, parameters, and data sources used to estimate GHG emissions based on StreetLight Data passenger VMT activity data analyzed and validated by traffic consultant Fehr & Peers.18 EQUATION 3.6

PASSENGER ON-ROAD TRANSPORTATION COMBUSTION EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠
= ∑(𝑅𝐻,𝑖 + 𝑉𝑂𝐻,𝑖 + 𝑉𝐻𝑂,𝑖 + 𝑉𝑂𝑊,𝑖 + 𝑉𝑊𝑂,𝑖
) × 𝑁𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠,𝑖 × 301
𝑖
× 𝐸𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑜

3.6 Table 14 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Passenger On-road Transportation Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual community
passenger on-road GHG
emissions per jurisdiction
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑂𝑛𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠 See Table 20 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Resident-based average
daily trip VMT
𝑇𝐻,𝑖
See Table 15 miles/person/weekday StreetLight Data1
Visitor average daily trip
VMT from other location
within regional
boundaries to home
𝑉𝑂𝐻,𝑖See Table 15 miles/person/weekday StreetLight Data Visitor average daily trip
VMT from home to other
location within regional
boundaries
𝑉𝐻𝑂,𝑖See Table 15 miles/person/weekday StreetLight Data Visitor average daily trip
VMT from other location
to work, either of which
𝑉𝑂𝑊,𝑖See Table 15 miles/person/weekday StreetLight Data 16 https://www.streetlightdata.com/how-it-works/
17 https://www.streetlightdata.com/streetlight-data-privacy-principles/ 18 https://www.fehrandpeers.com/
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 23 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
may occur within regional
boundaries
Visitor average daily trip
VMT from work to other
location, either of which
may occur within regional
boundaries
𝑉𝑊𝑂,𝑖See Table 15 miles/person/weekday StreetLight Data Number of passenger
vehicles registered to
each jurisdiction
𝑁𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠
See Table 15 vehicles CEC2,3
Annualization factor 301 301 Annual VMT/weekday
VMT
Caltrans PeMS4
Emissions factor for onroad vehicles per vehicle
class
𝐸𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑜,𝑖
See Table 20 MT CO2e/mile EMFAC2021 v1.0.15
Jurisdiction 𝑖 Arcata
Blue Lake
Eureka
Ferndale
Fortuna
Rio Dell
Trinidad
Uninc.

Humboldt
Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; VMT = vehicle miles travelled

1. StreetLight Data VMT activity data provided by Fehr & Peers via email on December 11, 2023.

2. California Energy Commission (CEC). 2024. Light-Duty Vehicle Population in California, 2022, Humboldt County. Available at:
https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/zero-emission-vehicle-and-infrastructure-statistics/light-duty-vehicle

3. Number of vehicles rather than the number of residents in each jurisdiction was used to scale average daily VMT per person as a more realistic and conservative estimate of GHG emissions.

4. Caltrans PeMS provides online traffic volume measurements by which average weekday daily volume and total annual volume can be measured to determine annualization factors for scaling average weekday VMT. Fehr & Peers provided a range of Caltrans PeMS annualization factors ranging from 242-344 from which StreetLight Data could be scaled. The designated value (301) was chosen as a moderately conservative estimation of annual VMT in each jurisdiction.

5. California Air Resources Board (CARB). 2023. EMission FACtor (EMFAC2021 v1.0.1) Model. Available at:
https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/emissions-inventory/5e0cb7d6006cc10661f4b3ffb9c120a486d46ea6 A summary of total average daily VMT per person per day and the methodology to scale StreetLight Data passenger VMT provided by Fehr & Peers is provided in Table 15.

Table 15 Passenger VMT Annualization Calculations
Jurisdiction
AADT
[miles/person/weekday] Population PCT1 Vehicles2
Annual Passenger
VMT3 [miles]
Arcata 52 13.62% 14,843 232,279,893
Blue Lake 75 0.62% 673 15,255,444
Eureka 41 19.48% 21,235 261,431,302
Ferndale 80 1.15% 1,256 30,317,925
Fortuna 51 9.20% 10,031 154,212,684
Rio Dell 70 2.49% 2,711 57,491,252
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
24 Jurisdiction
AADT
[miles/person/weekday] Population PCT1 Vehicles2
Annual Passenger
VMT3 [miles]
Trinidad 98 0.33% 360 10,556,945
Uninc Humboldt Co 82 53.11% 57,898 1,427,445,820
County Total 109,008 2,188,991,265
Notes: AADT = annual average daily traffic; VMT = vehicle miles travelled

1. United States Census Bureau. 2022. ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, American Community Survey, ACS 5 -year Estimates Data Profiles, Table DP05. Available at:
https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2022.DP05?q=population&g=050XX00US06023_160XX00US0602476,0607162,0623042,062 3910,0625296,0660900,0680448

2. CEC reports light-duty vehicles registered on a county-wide basis and does not distinguish between jurisdictions. Total county-wide registered vehicles (109,008) are apportioned to each jurisdiction based on jurisdictional percent of total County population as determined based on U.S. Census Bureau data. For example, 109,008 county vehicles multiplied by 53.11 population percent results in 57,898 vehicles attributable to unincorporated Humboldt County.

3. Annual passenger VMT is quantified based on AADT, population proportion, number of registered vehicles in each jurisdiction, and an annualization factor of 301 as provided by Fehr & Peers. The annualization factor was derived from California's Caltrans PeMS online traffic volume database.

The Humboldt VMT assessment provided by Fehr & Peers did not include commercial or bus related activity data, therefore commerical and bus related data was estimated from Caltrans and National Transit Database data, respectively. Equation 3.7 and Table 16 define the equation, parameters, and data sources used to estimate GHG emissions in alignment with the Community Protocol and best available data which will allow the County to track regional progress over time.

EQUATION 3.7

OTHER ON-ROAD TRANSPORTATION COMBUSTION EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑖 = 𝑇𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙,𝑖 × 𝐸𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑜,𝑖 3.7
Table 16 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Other On-road Transportation Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual community
on-road GHG emissions
per jurisdiction and
vehicle class
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑂𝑛𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑖See Table
20 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Annual VMT per
jurisdiction and vehicle
class
𝑇𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙,𝑖See Table
15 miles i. Caltrans1
ii. NTD2
Emissions factor for onroad vehicles per vehicle
class
𝐸𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑜,𝑖
See Table
20 MT CO2e/mile EMFAC2021 v1.0.15
Vehicle Class 𝑖 Commercial
Bus
Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; VMT = vehicle miles travelled

1. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 2024. Traffic Census Program, Truck Traffic: Annual Average Daily Truck Traffic, 2021 AADT Truck. Available at: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/census

2. National Transit Database (NTD). 2022. 2022 Annual Agency Profile – Humboldt Transit Authority (NTD ID 91036). Available at:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/transit-agency-profiles

3. California Air Resources Board (CARB). 2023. EMission FACtor (EMFAC2021 v1.0.1) Model. Available at:
https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/emissions-inventory/5e0cb7d6006cc10661f4b3ffb9c120a486d46ea6 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 25 Bus VMT was determined based on data provided by the National Transit Database which reports activity data on a county-wide basis, while commercial VMT was estimated based on StreetLight Data passenger annual VMT results and the percent of commercial VMT activity as reported by the Caltrans Traffic Census Program. The quantification methodology and resulting annual VMT for commercial and bus activity data is summarized in Table 17 below.

Table 17 Commercial and Bus Activity Data Calculations
Jurisdiction
Annual Passenger
VMT [miles] Commercial PCT1
Annual Commercial
VMT2 [miles]
Annual Bus VMT3,4
[miles]
Arcata 232,279,893 11.42% 29,946,222 –
Blue Lake 15,255,444 11.42% 1,966,778 –
Eureka 261,431,302 11.42% 33,704,510 –
Ferndale 30,317,925 11.42% 3,908,678 –
Fortuna 154,212,684 11.42% 19,881,563 –
Rio Dell 57,491,252 11.42% 7,411,945 –
Trinidad 10,556,945 11.42% 1,361,033 –
Uninc. Humboldt Co 1,427,445,820 11.42% 184,030,608 –
County Total 2,188,991,265 11.42% 282,211,337 1,028,481 Notes: AADT = annual average daily traffic; VMT = vehicle miles travelled; PCT = percentage

1. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 2024. Traffic Census Program, Truck Traffic: Annual Average Daily Truck Traffic, 2021 AADT Truck. Available at: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/census

2. Annual commercial VMT is derived through a backward calculation process, utilizing the annual passenger VMT and the percentage of commercial VMT represented on Humboldt County roads as reported by Caltrans.

3. National Transit Database (NTD). 2022. 2022 Annual Agency Profile – Humboldt Transit Authority (NTD ID 91036). Available at:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/transit-agency-profiles

4. Includes vehicle revenue miles data from public transit entities over which local governments within Humboldt County have con trol, including Humboldt Transit Authority, City of Eureka, and City of Arcata In addition to mobile combustion emissions accounted under Community Protocol Equations TR.1.A and TR.2.B, GHG emissions from electric vehicles were included in the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory for more accurate accounting of on-road transportation trends. This was achieved through modifying Equation 3.6 to account for EV modeshare estimates obtained from EMFAC2021 based on total VMT. The equation, parameters, and data sources used to estimate GHG emissions attributable to on-road EV activity is provided in Equation 3.8 and Table 18 below.

EQUATION 3.8

ON-ROAD TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIC VEHICLE EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝐸𝑉,𝑖 = 𝑇𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙,𝑖 × 𝐸𝑉𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒,𝑖 × 𝐸𝑃𝑀𝑖 × 𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐,𝑗 3.8 Table 18 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community On-road Transportation EV
Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual community onroad EV GHG emissions per
vehicle class
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑂𝑛𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝐸𝑉,𝑖See Table 20 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
26 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual VMT per jurisdiction
and vehicle class
𝑇𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙,𝑖See Table 15
See Table 17
miles i. StreetLight Data1
ii. Caltrans2
iii. NTD3
Percent share of VMT
attributable to EVs
𝐸𝑉𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒,𝑖
See Table 19 % EMFAC2021 v1.0.14
Average rate of electricity
consumption per EV-mile per
vehicle class
𝐸𝑃𝑀𝑖
See Table 19 kWh/mile EMFAC2021 v1.0.1
Weighted average electricity
emissions factor per building
type
𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐,𝑗
See Table 19 MT CO2e/kWh i. PG&E Community
Inventory Reports5
ii. EPA eGRID6
iii. RCEA Power Content Label7
Vehicle class 𝑖 Passenger
Commercial
Bus
Categorical
Building type 𝑗 Residential
Nonresidential
Categorical
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; EV = electric vehicles; VMT = vehicle miles travelled; kWh = kilowatt hour

1. StreetLight Data VMT activity data provided by Fehr & Peers via email on December 11, 2023.

2. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 2024. Traffic Census Program, Truck Traffic: Annual Average Daily Truck Traffic, 2021 AADT Truck. Available at: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/census

3. National Transit Database (NTD). 2022. 2022 Annual Agency Profile. Available at: https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/transit-agencyprofiles

4. California Air Resources Board (CARB). 2023. EMission FACtor (EMFAC2021 v1.0.1) Model. Available at:
https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/emissions-inventory/5e0cb7d6006cc10661f4b3ffb9c120a486d46ea6. Percent of EV share validated with CEC data for County.

5. Pacific Gas and Electricity (PG&E) Community Inventory Reports provided by the County via SharePoint on December 21, 2023.

Information regarding PG&E Community Inventory Reports is available at: https://pge-energydatarequest.com/

6. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2024. Frequently Asked Questions about eGRID. Available at:
https://www.epa.gov/energy/emissions-generation-resource-integrated-database-egrid-questions-and-answers

7. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA). 2024. Power Resources, 2022 Power Content Label. Available at:
https://redwoodenergy.org/power-resources/
Table 19 shows the VMT activity data for community vehicles per vehicle class as well as the EV share of VMT and EVMT used to determine EV activity data expressed as electricity consumption.

Table 19 Community On-road EV Activity Data Calculations Vehicle Class
VMT Activity
Data [miles] EV Share [%] EVMT [miles] EPM [kWh/mile]
EV Activity Data
[kWh]
Passenger 2,188,991,265 2.09% 45,749,917 0.37 16,701,602 Commercial 282,211,337 0.00% 0 0.00 0
Bus 1,028,481 0.51% 5,245 1.75 9,168
Notes: VMT = vehicle miles travelled; EV = electric vehicle; EPM = electricity per mile; EVMT = electric vehicle miles traveled; kWh = kilowatt hour
The activity data, emissions factors, and resulting GHG emissions from on-road transportation quantified in accordance with Equation 3.6 and Equation 3.8 is summarized in Table 20 below. It is important to highlight that the VMT emissions factors provided by EMFAC2021 encompass all Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 27 vehicle types, including EV VMT. However, the GHG emissions for EV activity are considered zero in this emissions factor and does not take into account regional electricity grid emissions.

Consequently, applying the emission factor to total VMT data does not result in duplication of emissions associated with EVs.

Table 20 Community On-road Transportation GHG Emissions Calculations Sector Activity Data1 Emission Factor
GHG Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Passenger VMT 2,188,991,265 VMT 0.0003610 MT
CO2e/mile 790,226
Commercial VMT 282,211,337 VMT 0.0011290 MT
CO2e/mile 318,617
Bus VMT 1,028,481 VMT 0.0014930
MT
CO2e/mile 1,536
Passenger EVMT2 16,701,602 kWh 0.0000226 MT
CO2e/kWh 378
Commercial
EVMT3
0 kWh 0.0000226 MT
CO2e/kWh 0
Bus EVMT3 9,168 kWh 0.0000237
MT
CO2e/kWh <1
Total 1,110,756
Notes: VMT = vehicle miles traveled; EVMT = electric vehicle miles traveled; kWh = kilowatt hour; MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

1. EV activity data does not include kWh associated with T&D losses as these emissions are considered negligible and are included under energy sector emissions.

2. Emissions factor for on-road passenger EV electricity use is weighted according to the portion of electricity supplied per provider in the residential electricity sector (see Table 5)

3. Emissions factor for on-road commercial and bus EV electricity use is weighted according to the portion of electricity supplied per provider in the commercial electricity sector (see Table 5) Transportation: Off-road
Off-road equipment and vehicles in the community generate GHG emissions from the mobile combustion of fossil fuels. Off-road fuel usage results from equipment operation for sectors such as agricultural, construction, lawn and garden, or recreational equipment. Community Protocol Equation TR.8 was used to quantify GHG emissions from off-road equipment fuel consumption and is shown under Equation 3.9 below. Table 21 lists the parameters, values, and data sources used to quantify emissions in accordance with the Community Protocol.

EQUATION 3.9
TR.8 OFF-ROAD EQUIPMENT SECTOR EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑗 = 𝐸𝐹𝑗 × ∑𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑖,𝑗
𝑖
× 𝐴𝐹𝑖

3.9 Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
28 Table 21 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Off-Road Equipment Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual GHG emissions from
offroad equipment
𝐶𝑂2𝑒
𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑗
See Table 23 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Annual fuel consumption in
the jurisdiction per sector per
fuel type
𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑖,𝑗See Table 23 Gallons/year OFFROAD20211
Fuel attribution factor per
equipment type
𝐴𝐹𝑖See Table 22 Percent –
Emission factor per fuel type 𝐸𝐹𝑗See Table 23 MT CO2e/gallon EPA Emission Factors Hub2 Equipment Type 𝑖 See Table 22 Categorical OFFROAD2021
Fuel type 𝑗 Gasoline
Diesel
Natural Gas
Categorical OFFROAD2021
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

1. California Air Resource Board (CARB). 2023. Mobile Source Emissions Inventory Off-road (OFFROAD2021). Available at:
https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/emissions-inventory/5e0cb7d6006cc10661f4b3ffb9c120a486d46ea6

2. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2022. GHG Emission Factors Hub. Available at:
https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/ghg-emission-factors-hub The OFFROAD2021 model used to determine off-road sector activity data reports gallons of fuel consumption per off-road vehicle sector on a county-wide basis. However, fuel consumption from certain off-road vehicle sectors may be considered outside of the local governments jurisdictional control and therefore should not be included in the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory.

Identification of off-road vehicle sectors over which Humboldt’s incorporated and unincorporated jurisdictions have influence is identified in Table 22 below.

Table 22 Community Off-road Equipment Sector Attributions Equipment Type Attribution
Agricultural Complete Regional Control
Airport Ground Support Complete Regional Control
Cargo Handling Equipment Excluded – Not Under Jurisdictional Control Commercial Harbor Craft Complete Regional Control
Construction and Mining Complete Regional Control
Industrial Complete Regional Control
Lawn and Garden Complete Regional Control
Light Commercial Complete Regional Control
Locomotive Excluded – Other1
Ocean Going Vessel Excluded – Not Under Regional Control Oil Drilling Excluded – Other1
Outboard Marine Tanks Excluded – Other1
Pleasure Craft Complete Regional Control
Portable Equipment Complete Regional Control
Transport Refrigeration Unit Complete Regional Control
Recreational Complete Regional Control
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 29 Equipment Type Attribution
Military Tactical Support Excluded – Not Under Regional Control Forestry Complete Regional Control
Notes:

1. Outboard marine, oil drilling, and locomotive activities do not occur in Humboldt County according to OFFROAD2021 model The attributed and aggregated activity data by fuel type, emission factors, and emissions results for the inventory’s off-road equipment sector are provided in Table 23.

Table 23 Community Off-road GHG Emissions Calculations
Fuel Type
Activity Data
(gallons)
Emission Factor
(MT CO2e/gallon)1
GHG Emissions
(MT CO2e)
Diesel 9,101,978 0.0105021 95,590
Gasoline 2,975,135 0.0091151 27,119
Natural Gas 410,588 0.0058821 2,415
TOTAL 125,124
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; Values may not add due to rounding

1. Emission factors per fuel type represent a weighted average based on the emissions factor and fuel consumption per offroad equipment type as determined according to EPA’s Emissions Factor Hub available at: https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/ghgemission-factors-hub

3.2.3 Solid Waste
GHG emissions associated with the waste sector result from the decomposition of waste at a landfill as well as landfill operation processes. Emissions arising from the decomposition of solid waste can occur at both operational and closed landfills within the community as the waste material naturally degrades over time. However, the Community Protocol indicates to exclude closed landfill emissions as the methodology accounts for current and future decomposition emissions resulting from community generated solid waste. Therefore, the closed Cummings Road Landfill19 within the community’s boundaries is excluded from the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory to avoid double counting of emissions in alignment with the Community Protocol.

GHG emissions from community generated waste decomposition were calculated using Community Protocol Method SW.4. Equation 3.10 and Table 24 provide the calculation method, associated parameters, and data sources used to quantify GHG emissions in accordance with Community Protocol SW.4.

EQUATION 3.10
SW.4.1 SOLID WASTE FUGITIVE EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒,𝑓𝑢𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4 × (1 − 𝐶𝐸) × (1 − 𝑂𝑋) × 𝑀 × ∑𝑃𝑖 × 𝐸𝐹𝑖 𝑖

3.10 19 https://www.hwma.net/cummings-road-landfill
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
30 Table 24 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Solid Waste Fugitive Emissions
Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual community generated
waste GHG emissions
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒,𝑓𝑢𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 36,353 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Methane global warming
potential
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4
See Table 1 IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report1
Default LFG collection
efficiency
𝐶𝐸 0.75 Fraction ICLEI Community Protocol
Oxidation rate 𝑂𝑋 0.10 Fraction ICLEI Community Protocol Total mass of waste entering
landfill
𝑀 107,713 Wet short
tons
CalRecycle2,3
Proportion of total waste
material per material type
𝑃𝑖
1 Fraction –
Emission factor per material
type4 𝐸𝐹𝑖

0.060 MT CH4/wet
short ton
ICLEI Community Protocol
Material type 𝑖 Multiple Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2007. AR4 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2007. Available at:
https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar4/

2. California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). 2022. RDRS Report 1: Overall Jurisdiction Tons for Disposal and Disposal Related Uses. Available at:
https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/RecyclingDisposalReporting/Reports/OverallJurisdictionTonsForDisposal

3. Data pulled from CalRecycle includes waste ton information for the incorporated cities and unincorporated areas of Humboldt County.

4. For mixed municipal waste streams where the proportion of material type is unknown, ICLEI specifies a default value of 0.060 MT CH4 per wet short ton may be used.

Landfill process emissions were quantified according to Equation SW.5 of the Community Protocol.

Equation 3.11 and Table 25 provide the calculation method, associated parameters, and data sources used to quantify GHG emissions from landfill operations.

EQUATION 3.11
SW.5 SOLID WASTE PROCESS EMISSIONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒,𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 = 𝑀 × 𝐸𝐹𝑝 3.11
Table 25 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Solid Waste Process Emissions
Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Annual landfill process GHG
emissions
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒,𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 1,185 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Total mass of solid waste that
enters the landfill in the
inventory year
𝑀 107,713 Wet short
tons/year
CalRecycle1,2
Emissions factor for landfill
process emissions
𝐸𝐹𝑝

0.011 MT CO2e/wet
short ton
ICLEI Community Protocol
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 31 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source

1. California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). 2022. RDRS Report 1: Overall Jurisdiction Tons for Disposal and Disposal Related Uses. Available at:
https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/RecyclingDisposalReporting/Reports/OverallJurisdictionTonsForDisposal

2. Data pulled from CalRecycle includes waste ton information for the incorporated cities and unincorporated areas of Humboldt County.

3.2.4 Wastewater
Management of wastewater produces emissions through every stage of the process from collection to final use or discharge. Humboldtis serviced by several wastewater facilities which utilize a variety of processing methods to manage the community’s wastewater. Additionally, a large portion of the unincorporated County’s wastewater is processed using residential on-site septic tanks. Information regarding the population served by each wastewater facility was used to estimate GHG emissions in alignment with Community Protocol methodologies. Table 26 provides a summary of the wastewater facilities within Humboldt, the populations served by each wastewater facility, and the Community Protocol equations applied to estimate GHG emissions.

Table 26 Wastewater Facility Processes and Population Served Jurisdiction
Wastewater Treatment Plant
(WWTP)
Population
Served1 Community Protocol EQ’s2
Arcata Arcata WWTP 18,555 WW.1.(alt) - stationary combust WW.2.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit)
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Blue Lake City of Blue Lake Public
Works Department
1,100 WW.6.(alt) - Lagoon
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (anaerobic,
river)
Eureka Elk River WWTP 44,000 WW.1.(alt) - stationary combust WW.2.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit)
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic,
ocean)
Ferndale City of Ferndale Public
Works Department
638 WW.1.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.2.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit)
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Fortuna City of Fortuna WWTP 12,500 WW.1.(alt) - stationary combust WW.2.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit)
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Rio Dell City of Rio Dell WWTP 3,300 WW.7 - Process N2O (w/ nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Trinidad Residential 449 WW.11.(alt) - septic system
Uninc. Humboldt County Fieldbrook Glendale
CSD
1,204 WW.1.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.2.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit)
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
32 Jurisdiction
Wastewater Treatment Plant
(WWTP)
Population
Served1 Community Protocol EQ’s2
Uninc. Humboldt County Humboldt CSD 19,500 WW.1.(alt) - stationary combust WW.2.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit)
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County Loleta CSD 828 WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County Manila CSD 750 WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County Miranda CSD 360 WW.11.(alt) - septic system Uninc. Humboldt County Redway CSD 1,400 WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County RID 800 WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic,
ocean)
Uninc. Humboldt County Palmer Creek CSD 320 WW.1.(alt) - stationary combust WW.2.(alt) - stationary combust
WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit)
WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County Scotia CSD 875 WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County McKinleyville CSD 14,000 WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County Garberville CSD 1,400 WW.8 - Process N2O (w/o nit/denit) WW.12.(alt) - Effluent (aerobic, river)
Uninc. Humboldt County Weott CSD 364 WW.11.(alt) - septic system Uninc. Humboldt County Residential3 14,238 WW.11.(alt) - septic system Notes: EQ = equations; Uninc. = unincorporated

1. Population Served = the combined total number of employees and residents in Humboldt County

2. Population served and community protocol equations determined based on WWTP system descriptions provided to the County by each WWTP. The County provided the information via SharePoint between December 21, 2023 and January 29, 2024.

3. The population served by residential on-site septic tanks in the unincorporated county is estimated based on the differential of total population in Humboldt County and the total population served by an identified wastewater treatment process, including septic (e.g. Trinidad). This estimate assumes that the remaining population not included under a verified wastewater treatment process lies within the unincorporated County and is serviced by a septic system.

The set of methods used to quantify stationary combustion emissions is outlined in Equation 3.12 and Table 27 as well as Equation 3.13 and Table 28 below.

EQUATION 3.12
WW.1.(ALT) WASTEWATER DIGESTER GAS STATIONARY COMBUSTION EMISSIONS (CH4) 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡,𝐶𝐻4,𝑖
= (𝑃𝑖 × 𝐷𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐺𝑎𝑠 × 𝑓𝐶𝐻4 × 𝐵𝑇𝑈𝐶𝐻4 × 10−6 × 𝐸𝐹𝐶𝐻4
× 365.25 × 10−3)× 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4

3.12 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 33 Table 27 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Stationary Combustion (CH4)
Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual GHG emitted by
devices designed to combust
digester gas
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡,𝐶𝐻4
See Table 35 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Population served by WWTP
with stationary combustion
𝑃𝑖
78,598 People See Table 26
Rate of digester gas volume
production
𝐷𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐺𝑎𝑠 1.00 std
ft3/person/day
ICLEI Community Protocol
Fraction of methane in
digester gas
𝑓
𝐶𝐻4

0.65 Fraction ICLEI Community Protocol
Default higher heating value
of methane
𝐵𝑇𝑈𝐶𝐻4
1,028 BTU/ft3 ICLEI Community Protocol
Conversion factor 10−6 0.000001 mmBTU/BTU ICLEI Community Protocol Methane emissions factor 𝐸𝐹𝐶𝐻40.0032 kg CH4/mmBTU ICLEI Community Protocol Conversion factor 365.25 365.25 Days/year ICLEI Community Protocol Conversion factor 10−3 0.001 MT/kg ICLEI Community Protocol Global warming potential of
methane
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP)
𝑖 See Table 26 Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; std ft3 = standard cubic feet; BTU = British thermal unit; mmBTU = one million British thermal units; kg = kilograms
EQUATION 3.13
WW.2.(ALT) WASTEWATER DIGESTER GAS STATIONARY COMBUSTION EMISSIONS (N2O) 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡,𝑁2𝑂,𝑖
= (𝑃𝑖 × 𝐷𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐺𝑎𝑠 × 𝑓𝐶𝐻4 × 𝐵𝑇𝑈𝐶𝐻4 × 10−6 × 𝐸𝐹𝑁2𝑂
× 365.25 × 10−3)× 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂

3.13 Table 28 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Stationary Combustion (N2O)
Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual GHG emitted by
devices designed to combust
digester gas
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡,𝑁2𝑂
See Table 35 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Population served by WWTP
with stationary combustion
𝑃𝑖
78,598 People See Table 26
Rate of digester gas volume
production
𝐷𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐺𝑎𝑠 1.00 std
ft3/person/day
ICLEI Community Protocol
Fraction of methane in
digester gas
𝑓
𝐶𝐻4

0.65 Fraction ICLEI Community Protocol
Default higher heating value
of methane
𝐵𝑇𝑈𝐶𝐻4
1,028 BTU/ft3 ICLEI Community Protocol
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
34 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Conversion factor 10−6 0.000001 mmBTU/BTU
Nitrous Oxide emissions factor 𝐸𝐹𝑁2𝑂0.0006 kg
N2O/mmBTU
ICLEI Community Protocol
Conversion factor 365.25 365.25 Days/year ICLEI Community Protocol Conversion factor 10−3 0.001 MT/kg ICLEI Community Protocol Global warming potential of
nitrous oxide
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP)
𝑖 See Table 26 Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; std ft3 = standard cubic feet; BTU = British thermal unit; MMBtu = one million British thermal units; kg = kilograms;
Equation 3.14 shows the calculation method use to quantify emissions from wastewater treatment plants which utilize lagoon processing systems in accordance with Community Protocol WW.6.(alt).

Table 29 show the parameter definitions, default factors, and data sources used.

EQUATION 3.14
WW.6.(ALT) METHANE EMISSIONS FROM LAGOONS
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑛,𝑖
= 𝑃𝑖 × 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚 × 𝐵𝑂𝐷5 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 × (1 − 𝐹𝑝
) × 𝐵0 × 𝑀𝐶𝐹𝑎
× 365.25 × 10−3 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4

3.14 Table 29 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Lagoons Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual GHG emitted by
lagoon system
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑛,𝑖
See Table 35 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Population served by lagoon
system
𝑃𝑖
1,100 People See Table 26
Factor for insignificant
industrial or commercial
discharge
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚

1.00 – ICLEI Community Protocol
Amount of BOD5 treated per
day
𝐵𝑂𝐷5𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 0.09 kg
BOD5/person/day
ICLEI Community Protocol
Fraction of BOD5 removed in
primary treatment
𝐹𝑝

0.325 – ICLEI Community Protocol
Maximum CH4 producing
capacity for domestic
wastewater
𝐵0

0.60 kg CH4/kg BOD5 ICLEI Community Protocol
CH4 correction factor for
anaerobic systems
𝑀𝐶𝐹𝑎

0.80 – ICLEI Community Protocol
Conversion factor 365.25 365.25 Days/year ICLEI Community Protocol Conversion factor 10−3 0.001 MT/kg ICLEI Community Protocol Global warming potential of
CH4
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 35 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP)
𝑖 See Table 26 Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; BOD5 = five-day biochemical oxygen demand; kg = kilograms; Equation 3.15 shows the calculation method use to quantify process emissions with nitrification/denitrification in accordance with Community Protocol WW.7. Table 30 show the parameter definitions, default factors, and data sources used.

EQUATION 3.15
WW.7 CENTRALIZED WWTP W/ NITRIFICATION/DENITRIFICATION
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡,𝑖 = 𝑃𝑖 × 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚 × 𝐸𝐹𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡 × 10−6 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂 3.15 Table 30 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater With Nit/Denit
Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual GHG emitted by
WWTP processes
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡,𝑖
See Table 35 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Population served by the
wastewater treatment
process
𝑃𝑖
3,300 People See Table 26
Factor for insignificant
industrial or commercial
discharge
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚

1.00 – ICLEI Community Protocol
Emissions factor for a WWTP
without nitrification or
denitrification
𝐸𝐹𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡 7.00 g
N2O/person/year
ICLEI Community Protocol
Conversion factor 10−6 0.000001 mmBTU/BTU ICLEI Community Protocol Global warming potential of
nitrous oxide
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report
Wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP)
𝑖 See Table 26 Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; std ft3 = standard cubic feet; BTU = British thermal unit; mmBTU = one million British thermal units; kg = kilograms
Equation 3.16 shows the calculation method use to quantify process emissions without nitrification/denitrification in accordance with Community Protocol WW.8. Table 31 show the parameter definitions, default factors, and data sources used.

EQUATION 3.16
WW.8 CENTRALIZED WWTP W/O NITRIFICATION/DENITRIFICATION 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑤/𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡,𝑖 = 𝑃𝑖 × 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚 × 𝐸𝐹𝑤/𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡 × 10−6 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂 3.16 Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
36 Table 31 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Without Nit/Denit
Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual GHG emitted
by WWTP processes
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑤/𝑜 𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡,𝑖
See Table 35 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Population served by the
wastewater treatment
process
𝑃𝑖
100,163 People See Table 26
Factor for insignificant
industrial or commercial
discharge
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚

1.00 – ICLEI Community Protocol
Emissions factor for a
WWTP without nitrification
or denitrification
𝐸𝐹𝑤/𝑜 𝑛𝑖𝑡/𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡 3.20 g N2O/person/year ICLEI Community Protocol Conversion factor 10−6 0.000001 MMBtu/BTU ICLEI Community Protocol Global warming potential
of nitrous oxide
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report
Wastewater treatment
plant (WWTP)
𝑖 See Table 26 Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; std ft3 = standard cubic feet; BTU = British thermal unit; MMBtu = one million British thermal units; kg = kilograms;
Equation 3.17 shows the calculation method use to quantify emissions from septic tanks wastewater processing in accordance with Community Protocol WW.7. Table 32 show the parameter definitions, default factors, and data sources used.

EQUATION 3.17
WW.11.(ALT) FUGITIVE METHANE EMISSIONS FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑐,𝑖 = 𝑃𝑖 × 𝐵𝑂𝐷5 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 × 𝐵0 × 𝑀𝐶𝐹𝑠 × 365.25 × 10−3 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4 3.17 Table 32 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Septic Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual GHG emitted by
septic systems
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑐,𝑖
See Table 35 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Population served by the
septic system
𝑃𝑖
15,411 People See Table 26
Amount of BOD5 treated per
day
𝐵𝑂𝐷5𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 0.09 kg
BOD5/person/day
ICLEI Community Protocol
Maximum CH4 producing
capacity for domestic
wastewater
𝐵0 0.60 kg CH4/kg BOD5 ICLEI Community Protocol
CH4 correction factor for
septic tanks
𝑀𝐶𝐹𝑠 0.22 – ICLEI Community Protocol
Conversion factor 365.25 365.25 Days/year ICLEI Community Protocol Conversion factor 10−3 0.001 MT/kg ICLEI Community Protocol Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 37 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Global warming potential of
nitrous oxide
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝐶𝐻4
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report
Septic type 𝑖 WWTP
Residential
Categorical See Table 26
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; BOD5 = five-day biochemical oxygen demand ; kg = kilograms; MT = metric ton
Community Protocol Equation WW.12.(alt) was used to quantify GHG emissions associated with treated wastewater effluent discharge into natural water bodies. Equation 3.18 shows the calculation method used to quantify effluent emissions in accordance with the Community Protocol while Table 33 shows the parameter definitions, default factors, and data sources used.

EQUATION 3.18
WW.12.(ALT) NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS FROM EFFLUENT DISCHARGE 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡,𝑖
= 𝑃𝑖 × 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚
× (𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 − 𝑁 𝑈𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑖 × 𝐵𝑂𝐷5 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) × 𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡,𝑖 ×
44 28 × (1 − 𝐹𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡,𝑖
) × 365.25 × 10−3 × 𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂

3.18 Table 33 Emissions Parameters and Data Sources – Community Wastewater Effluent Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Total annual GHG emitted
by WWTP processes
𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑊𝑊,𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡,𝑖
See Table 34 MT CO2e/year Calculated
Population 𝑃𝑖See Table 34 People See Table 26
Factor for industrial or
commercial discharge
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑−𝑐𝑜𝑚

1.00 – ICLEI Community Protocol
Average total nitrogen per
day
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 0.026 kg N/person/day ICLEI Community Protocol Nitrogen uptake for cell
growth per system type
(aerobic vs anaerobic)
𝑁 𝑈𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑖
See Table 34 kg N/kg BOD5 ICLEI Community Protocol
Rate of BOD5 produced 𝐵𝑂𝐷5 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 0.09 kg
BOD5/person/day
ICLEI Community Protocol
Emissions factor of
discharge to water body
type (river or ocean)
𝐸𝐹𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡,𝑖
See Table 34 kg N2O-N/kg
sewage-N
discharged
ICLEI Community Protocol
Molecular weight ratio of
N2O to N2
44 28

1.57 Fraction ICLEI Community Protocol
Fraction of nitrogen
removed from the WWTP
per system type (w/ or w/o
nit/denit)
𝐹𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡,𝑖
See Table 34 Fraction ICLEI Community Protocol
Conversion factor 365.25 365.25 Days/year ICLEI Community Protocol Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
38 Definition Parameter Value Unit Data Source
Conversion factor 10−3 0.001 MT/kg ICLEI Community Protocol Global warming potential
of nitrous oxide
𝐺𝑊𝑃𝑁2𝑂
See Table 1 – IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report
Wastewater treatment
plant (WWTP)
𝑖 See Table 26 Categorical –
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; std ft3 = standard cubic feet; kg = kilograms; BOD5 = five-day biochemical oxygen demand
The different effluent discharge conditions exhibited within Humboldt and associated Community default factors are listed in Table 34 along with resulting GHG emissions.

Table 34 Wastewater Effluent GHG Emissions
Effluent
Conditions
WWTP N2O
Processing
Population
Served
Nitrogen
Uptake Discharge
Nitrogen
Removal MT N2O MT CO2e
Aerobic/river WW.8 72,844 0.0500 0.0050 0.0000 4.4946 1,339 Aerobic/ocean WW.8 27,319 0.0500 0.0025 0.0000 0.8428 251 Aerobic/river WW.7 3,300 0.0500 0.0050 0.7000 0.0611 18 Anaerobic/river WW.6 1,100 0.0050 0.0050 0.0000 0.0807 24 Total 1,631
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; values may not sum due to rounding

1. Population served (or service population) is the sum of population and employment The resulting GHG emissions from the various wastewater treatment processes present within Humboldt is summarized in Table 35 below.

Table 35 Humboldt Wastewater Management GHG Emissions by Process Process Equation Population Served MT CO2e
Stationary Combustion WW.1.(alt) 78,598 1.53
Stationary Combustion WW.2.(alt) 78,598 3.60
Process N2O Emissions WW.7 3,300 6.88
Process N2O Emissions WW.8 100,163 95.52
Effluent Discharge Fugitive N2O WW.12.(alt) 104,563 1,631.29 Lagoon System WW.11.(alt) 1,100 292.89
Septic System WW.6.(alt) 15,411 7,598.97
Total 9,630.69
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; values may not sum due to rounding

1. Population served (or service population) is the sum of population and employment

3.3 2022 Community GHG Emissions Inventory Results
The inventory provides Humboldt with current GHG emissions estimates that follow the Community Protocol and current best practices for GHG accounting. The results of the 2022 Humboldt County Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 39 Regional GHG inventory encompassed incorporated and unincorporated regional emissions resulting from community activities in the energy, transportation, solid waste, and wastewater sectors, including residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial subsectors. Of the total 1,531,167 MT CO2e emitted county-wide, on-road transportation contributed the vast majority of emissions (73 percent) followed by building natural gas consumption (13 percent). Off-road equipment contributed 8 percent of total regional emissions, while solid waste, building electricity, and building fuel use contributed a relatively equal 2 percent. At less than 1 percent, wastewater process emissions resulted in the least contribution to the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG inventory total emissions. A summary of the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG inventory results are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 2 summarized in detail in Table 36.

Figure 1 Updated 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory by Sector n ro r ns ort on

uil in tur l s

ro E ui m nt

oli st

n u l

uil in El ctricity

st t r

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
40 Figure 2 Updated 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory by Sub-Sector Regional GHG Emissions Inventory
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 41 Table 36 2022 Humboldt Community GHG Emissions Inventory GHG
Emissions
Sector
GHG Emissions
Subsector Activity Data Emission Factor
GHG Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Energy Residential
Electricity
338,582,598 kWh 0.0000227 MT
CO2e/kWh
7,669
Residential
Electricity T&D
18,119,494 kWh 0.0000227 MT
CO2e/kWh
410
Nonresidential
Electricity
418,996,532 kWh 0.0000232 MT
CO2e/kWh
9,735
Nonresidential
Electricity T&D
21,369,291 kWh 0.0000232 MT
CO2e/kWh
496
Residential
Natural Gas
19,305,756 therms 0.0053115 MT
CO2e/therm
102,542
Residential
Natural Gas
Leaks
543,278 therms 0.0473813 MT
CO2e/therm
25,741
Nonresidential
Natural Gas
10,962,860 therms 0.0053115 MT
CO2e/therm
58,229
Nonresidential
Natural Gas
Leaks
308,503 therms 0.0473813 MT
CO2e/therm
14,617
Fuel Use Residential
Propane
4,370 households 3.6512345 MT CO2e/
household
15,956
Residential
Wood
9,104 households 1.3973035 MT CO2e/
household
12,721
Transportati
on
Passenger VMT 2,188,991,265 VMT 0.0003610 MT CO2e/mile 790,226 Commercial
VMT
282,211,337 VMT 0.0011290 MT CO2e/mile 318,617
Bus VMT 1,028,481 VMT 0.0014930 MT CO2e/mile 1,536
Passenger
EVMT
16,701,602 kWh 0.0000224 MT
CO2e/kWh
378
Commercial
EVMT
0 kWh 0.0000224 MT
CO2e/kWh
0 Bus EVMT 9,168 kWh 0.0000222 MT
CO2e/kWh
<1
Off-road Diesel 9,101,978 Gallons 0.0105021 MT CO2e/gal 95,590 Off-road
Gasoline
2,975,135 Gallons 0.0091151 MT CO2e/gal 27,119
Off-road
Natural Gas
410,588 Gallons 0.0058821 MT CO2e/gal 2,415
Solid Waste Landfill
Methane
107,713 Wet short
tons

0.3375000 MT CO2e/ton 36,353
Process
Emissions
107,713 Wet short
tons

0.0110000 MT CO2e/ton 1,185
Water1 Local - kWh - MT
CO2e/kWh
-
Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
42 GHG
Emissions
Sector
GHG Emissions
Subsector Activity Data Emission Factor
GHG Emissions
[MT CO2e]
Imported - kWh - MT
CO2e/kWh
-
Wastewater Stationary
Combustion
78,598 people 0.0000653 MT
CO2e/person
5 Process N2O
Emissions
103,463 people 0.0009897 MT
CO2e/person
102
Effluent
Discharge
Fugitive N2O
104,563 people 0.0156010 MT
CO2e/person
1,631
Lagoon System 1,100 people 0.2662673 MT
CO2e/kWh
293
Septic System 15,411 people 0.4930875 MT
CO2e/kWh
7,599
Total 1,531,167
Notes: VMT = vehicle miles traveled; EVMT = electric vehicle miles traveled; kWh = kilowatt hour; MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; gal = gallons

1. Because all water provided to the community in Humboldt County comes from water providers within county-limits, water sector emission from electricity consumption to extract, treat, convey, and distribute water is included under building electricity sector emissions and therefore not accounted separately to avoid double counting.

GHG Emissions Forecast
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 43 4 GHG Emissions Forecast
A GHG emissions inventory sets a reference point for a single year; however, annual GHG emissions change over time due to factors such as population and job growth as well as new technologies and policies. A GHG emissions forecast estimates future GHG emission changes by accounting for projected community growth and changes. Calculating the difference between the GHG emissions forecast and GHG emissions reduction targets determines the gap in GHG emissions that needs to be closed through the implementation of local GHG reduction policies. This section includes an estimate of the future emissions for Humboldt County in the years 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045 in a business-as-usualscenario (BAU) forecast and a legislative adjusted scenario (adjusted) forecast, which are defined as follows:
• Business-as-usualscenario- Provides a forecast of how future GHG emissions would change if consumption trends continued as they did in 2022 and projected changesin population, housing, employment, and transportation activity over time consistent with planned projects within the Humboldt County boundaries. The BAU does not include any GHG reductions associated with local and state regulations.
• Legislative adjusted scenario-Provides a forecast of how currently adopted statelegislation would reduce GHG emissions from the business-as-usual scenario. The legislative adjusted scenario represents the State’s contribution to reducing local GHG emissions to meet state goals.

Because the adjusted forecast incorporates the impact of State regulations that provide GHG emission reduction potential, the legislative adjusted scenario offers a more accurate picture of future GHG emission growth and the responsibility of Humboldt for GHG reductions through regional actions.

4.1 Business-as-usual Scenario GHG Emissions Forecast
For the BAU forecast, future GHG emissions were calculated by multiplying projected activity data with the baseline emission factors utilized in the 2022 community GHG emissions inventory. Several indicator growth rates were developed from 2022 activity data and applied to demographic projections to project future activity data.

Over the past two decades, U.S. Census data and the Department of Finance has indicated a consistent decline in population, likely attributed to the departure of industrial operations.

However, evidence garnered from interviews with local jurisdictions and agencies present a contrasting narrative. Through the implementation of significant development projects such as the Cal Poly student housing expansion20, Nordic Aquafarms, 21 and the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind
Heavy Lift Multipurpose Marine Terminal project22 it is anticipated that there will be new job opportunities and increased housing that will serve as catalysts for population movement and 20 California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly). 2023. Final Environmental Impact Report, Student Housing Project. Availab le at:
https://facilitymgmt.humboldt.edu/sites/default/files/web_cal_poly_humboldt_feir_student_housing_project_0.pdf 21 County of Humboldt, Planning and Building Department. 2022. Final Environmental Impact Report, Samoa Peninsula Land -Based Aquaculture Project. Available at: https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/108020/Nordic -Aquafarms-Final-EIR 22 Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District. 2024. Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal Project.

Available at: https://humboldtbay.org/humboldt-bay-offshore-wind-heavy-lift-marine-terminal-project-3 Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
44 regional growth. This anticipation of growth is reflected in the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) Regional Transportation Plan (RPT) which projects a 1 percent population growth rate in the region in consideration of local project developments, climate trends, and Statewide population movement trends.23Additionally, the State has consistently provided mandates for increases in local housing availability, as specified by the State Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).24
Based on the housing increases required by the 5th and 6th RHNA cycles, the most recent available cycles for the region, it becomes apparent that Humboldt needs to elevate housing development efforts to meet the specified State housing needs. To provide a comprehensive, forward-looking projection of demographic trends in the Humboldt community, this report utilized 6 th cycle RHNA
data to establish a household baseline growth rate in the percent increase of additional households per year. The household growth rate was then applied to U.S. Census 2022 household data to estimate anticipated growth. Projected household estimates were then used to project population and employment growth according to the methodology described in Table 37. This demographic forecast approach aligns with HCAOG estimates of regional growth, serves as a reasonable reflection of current and future conditions within Humboldt’s community based on best available data, and recognizes the transformative forces shaping the region in the foreseeable future. A summary of the resulting demographics and projection metrics for each forecast year in the BAU forecast are provided in Table 37.

Table 37 BAU Forecast Demographic and Projection Metrics by Forecast Year Metric Data Source 2022 2030 2035 2040 2045
Population Multiple1 136,132 143,556 148,196 152,836 157,476 Employment Multiple2 66,837 70,482 72,760 75,038 77,316 Service
Population
Calculated3
202,969 214,038 220,956 227,874 234,792
Households Multiple4 54,495 57,467 59,324 61,182 63,039 Off-road gasoline
usage (gallons)
CARB
OFFROAD2021 2,975,135 3,202,801 3,338,686 3,475,420 3,625,989 Off-road diesel
usage (gallons)
CARB
OFFROAD2021
9,101,978 9,348,454 9,517,249 9,702,621 9,908,708
Off-road natural
gas usage
(gallons)
CARB
OFFROAD2021 410,588 418,808 425,309 430,298 430,298
Notes:

1. Population forecast estimated based on the 2022 proportion of people per household and the forecasted number of households from 2030-2045.

2. Employment forecast estimated based on the 2022 proportionof jobs per person and the forecasted population from 2030-2045.

3. Service population reflects the sum of population and employment in the region.

4. Household forecast estimated based on a 0.68% household growth rate compared to baseline year as determined by Humboldt’s 6th cycle RHNA and using U.S. Census 2022 household data as the baseline year. More information regarding Humboldt’s 6 th cycle RHNA is available at: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/housingelement/docs/Humboldt_County_Regional_Housing_Need_Determination_and_Plan_for_the_Sixth_Housing_Element_Update_1.p df
23 Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). 2022. Regional Transportation Plan, VROOM 2022 -2042. Available at:
https://www.hcaog.net/sites/default/files/vroom_2022-2042_full_report.pdf 24 California Department of Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). 2024. Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Available at:
https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-community-development/regional-housing-needs-allocation GHG Emissions Forecast
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 45 A description of the demographic metrics used to project activity data and associated growth factors for each forecasted GHG emission source in the 2022 community GHG emissions inventory are provided in Table 38.

Table 38 GHG Emission Sources and Growth Factors for BAU Scenario Forecast GHG Emissions Source
Demographic
Projection
Metric Growth Factor Value Units
Energy1
Residential Electricity
Consumption Households Electricity consumption per household 6,213.09 kWh Non-residential Electricity
Consumption Employment Electricity consumption per job 6,268.93 kWh Residential Natural Gas
Consumption Households Natural gas consumption per household 354.27 therms Residential Natural Gas
Leaks Households Natural gas leakage per household 9.97 therms Non-residential Natural
Gas Consumption Employment Natural gas consumption per job 164.02 therms Non-residential Natural
Gas Leaks Employment Natural gas leakage per job 4.62 therms Building Fuel Use2 – – – –
Transportation
On-Road Passenger
Vehicles Households Annual VMT per household 40,168.66 VMT On-Road Commercial
Vehicles Employment Annual VMT per job 4,222.38 VMT
On-Road Buses Service
Population
Annual bus service per service
population 5.07 VMT
Off-Road Equipment3 – – – –
Water & Wastewater4
Wastewater Process and
Fugitive Emissions
Service
Population
Wastewater process and fugitive
emissions per service population 0.05 MT CO2e
Solid Waste
Solid Waste Disposal Service
Population
Solid waste disposed per service
population 0.18 tons
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; kWh = kilowatt-hour; VMT = vehicle miles traveled; N/A = Not Applicable; SP = Service Population – the combined total number of employees and residents in Humboldt County

1. Electricity T&D growth factor is not included as GHG emissions from electricity T&D is calculated based on each forecasted year’s total electricity amount.

2. Building fuel use is held constant at 2022 rates of household consumption as a conservative estimation of projected emissions.

3. Fuel consumption for each forecasted year are obtained from the CARB OFFROAD2021 Model, available at:
https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/emissions-inventory/5e0cb7d6006cc10661f4b3ffb9c120a486d46ea6%206

4. Electricity emissions associated with water consumption and wastewater processing are captured within the energy sector, as previously described in the Community Inventory section of this technical report and therefore are projected under energy sec tor forecasted activity data.

Using the above demographic and projection metrics in Table 37, multiplied by the growth factors in Table 38 and the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG inventory emission factors, the BAU forecast Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
46 can be calculated. In the BAU forecast, GHG emissions are expected to increase through 2045 due to anticipated regional growth from regional projects and industry expansion. A summary of the BAU forecast results by GHG emission sector is provided in Table 39.

Table 39 BAU Forecast Results Summary by Emission Sector GHG Emissions Source 2022 2030 2035 2040 2045
Energy 248,118 260,085 267,564 275,044 282,524
Residential Electricity +
T&D
8,080 8,520 8,796 9,071 9,347
Nonresidential
Electricity + T&D
10,231 10,789 11,138 11,487 11,836
Residential Natural Gas 102,542 108,134 111,629 115,125 118,620 Residential Natural Gas
Leaks 25,741 27,145 28,022 28,900 29,777
Nonresidential Natural
Gas 58,229 61,405 63,389 65,374 67,359
Nonresidential Natural
Gas Leaks 14,617 15,414 15,913 16,411 16,909
Building Fuel 28,677 28,677 28,677 28,677 28,677
Transportation 1,235,880 1,301,168 1,342,077 1,383,159 1,424,556 On-road Passenger
Vehicles 790,604 833,720 860,667 887,615 914,562
On-road Commercial
Vehicles 318,617 335,992 346,852 357,712 368,572
On-road Buses 1,536 1,619 1,672 1,724 1,777
Off-road Equipment 125,124 129,836 132,885 136,108 139,645 Water and
Wastewater
9,631 10,156 10,484 10,812 11,141
Wastewater Process
and Fugitive Emissions 9,631 10,156 10,484 10,812 11,141 Solid Waste 37,538 39,585 40,865 42,144 43,424
Solid Waste Disposal 37,538 39,585 40,865 42,144 43,424 Total GHG Emissions 1,531,167 1,610,994 1,660,990 1,711,160 1,761,644 Notes: All values are presented in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e)

4.2 Legislative Adjusted Scenario GHG Emissions
Forecast
Several federal and state regulations have been enacted that would reduce Humboldt’s GHG emissions below the BAU forecasted levels in 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045. The impact of these regulations was quantified and incorporated into the adjusted forecast to provide a more realistic depiction of future emissions growth and the GHG emission reduction responsibility of the local governments. The state legislation included in the adjusted forecast reduce GHG emissions associated with transportation, building energy efficiency, and renewable electricity. A brief description of each regulation and the methodology used to calculate associated reductions is GHG Emissions Forecast
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 47 provided in the following, as well as a description of why specific legislation was excluded from the analysis.

4.2.1 Legislative Reduction Programs
Additional legislative programs are expected to reduce GHG emissions in specific sectors throughout California, as identified in the 2017 and 2022 Scoping Plan Updates. Many of these programs were incorporated into the forecast analysis and are summarized in the subsections below.

Transportation Legislation
Advanced Clean Cars Programs
Prior to 2012, mobile emissions regulations were implemented on a case-by-case basis for GHG and criteria pollutant emissions separately. In January 2012, CARB approved a new emissions-control program (the Advanced Clean Cars program) combining the control of smog, soot causing pollutants, and GHG emissions into a single coordinated package of requirements for passenger cars and light trucks model years 2017 through 2025. The Advanced Clean Cars program coordinates the goals of the Low Emissions Vehicles, Zero Emissions Vehicles, and Clean Fuels Outlet programs, and is more stringent than the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The new standards will reduce California’s GHG emissions by 34 percent in 2025 which is modeled under the CARB EMission FACtor (EMFAC) Model and included in the GHG forecast.25 Advanced Clean Cars II was approved by CARB in August 2022 and expands the program’s roadmap so that by 2035 all new cars and passenger trucks will be ZEV. This regulation effectively binds the State to EO N-79-20. The executive order was passed by the governor in 2020 and requires all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California be ZEV by 2035. While these legislations will lead to an expedited timeline for ZEV adoption in California, modeling data is not yet available in CARB’s EMFAC Model, and emissions reductions attributable to the Advanced Clean Cars II program were therefore, excluded from the GHG forecast.

Advanced Clean Trucks was approved by CARB in June 2020 and sets a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) percent-of-sales requirement on medium- and heavy- duty vehicle manufacturers to promote increased truck ZEV sales from 2024 to 2035. The standard is intended to reduce NOx pollution and GHG emissions, which are disproportionately high in medium- and heavy-duty vehicle classes compared to passenger vehicles, as well as promote first-wave ZEV truck technology penetration in the market.26 EMFAC models the effect of the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation on ZEV truck penetration and associated GHG emissions and is included in the forecast.

Assembly Bill 1493
Signed into law in 2002, AB 1493 (Pavley Standards) required vehicle manufacturers to reduce GHG emissions from new passenger vehicles and light trucks from 2009 through 2016. Regulations were adopted by CARB in 2004 and took effect in 2009 when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a waiver confirming California’s right to implement the bill. CARB anticipates that the Pavley I standard will reduce GHG emissions from new California passenger vehicles by 25 California Air and Resource Board (CARB). 2019. Advanced Clean Cars Summary. Available at:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-12/acc%20summary-final_ac.pdf 26 California Air and Resource Board (CARB). 2023. Advanced Clean Trucks. Available at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ourwork/programs/advanced-clean-trucks/about Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
48 about 30 percent in 2016, while simultaneously improving fuel efficiency and reducing motorists’ costs.27The impacts of the Pavley Standards on ZEV market penetration was incorporated into the EMFAC model starting in 2014 and is included in the forecast assessment.

Innovative Clean Transit
Public transit GHG emissions will be reduced in the future through the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation, which was adopted in December 2018. It requires all public transit agencies to gradually transition to a 100-percent zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. Under ICT, large transit agencies are expected to adopt Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plans to establish a roadmap towards zero emission public transit buses.28 The effects of the ICT regulation on GHG emissions are modeled in EMFAC2021 and is therefore included in the forecast.

Energy Legislation
Title 24
Although it was not originally intended to reduce GHG emissions, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 6: California’s Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings, was adopted in 1978 in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California’s energy consumption, which in turn reduces fossil fuel consumption and associated GHG emissions. The standards are updated triennially to allow consideration and possible incorporation of new energy - efficient technologies and methods. Starting in 2020, new residential developments had to include on-site solar generation and near-zero net energy use. For projects implemented after January 1, 2020, the California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates that the 2019 standards will reduce electricity consumption by 53 percent for residential buildings and 30 percent for non-residential buildings, relative to the 2016 standards. The CEC further estimates residential natural gas efficiency increases of 7 percent for residential end uses.29 No efficiency increases were estimated for commercial natural gas end uses, based on lack of requirements in this sector in the 2019 standards.

These percentage savings relate to heating, cooling, lighting, and water heating only and do not include other appliances, outdoor lighting not attached to buildings, plug loads, or other energy uses. In December 2022 the CEC published the new Title 24 2022 Building Efficiency Standards. 30 Due to the complexity of the new code, there is currently no available model establishing projected efficiency increase as a result of the standard. Therefore, the updated 2022 code was not included in the forecast. This provides a conservative estimate of forecasted GHG emission reductions resulting from efficiency increases.
27 CARB. Clean Car Standards – Pavley, Assembly Bill 1493. May 2013. Accessed November 14, 2022, at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ccms/ccms.htm
28 Innovative Clean Transit. Approved August 13, 2019. Accessed November 14, 2022 at:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-10/ictfro-Clean-Final_0.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 29 California Energy Commission. 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards Frequently Asked Questions. January 1, 2020. Accessed November 8, 2022 at: https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/Title_24_2019_Building_Standards_FAQ_ada.pdf 30 California Energy Commission (CEC). 2023. 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Available at:
https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/2022-building-energy-efficiency GHG Emissions Forecast
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 49 Renewables Portfolio Standard, Senate Bill 100, & Senate Bill 1020 Established in 2002 under SB 1078, enhanced in 2015 by SB 350, and accelerated for the first time in 2018 under SB 100, California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is one of the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the country. The RPS program requires investor-owned utilities, publicly owned utilities, electric service providers, and community choice aggregators to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 50 percent of total procurement by 2026 and 60 percent of total procurement by 2030. The RPS program further requires that by 2045 that 100 percent of total energy procured be a combination of eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources.

California’s RPS was further accelerated in 2022 by SB 1020 which established additional requirements that procurement from eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources increase to 90 percent of total procurement by 2035 and 95 percent of total procurement by 2040. The requirements of SB 1020 do not affect those previously set forth and are to be considered additional to the existing RPS requirements. The RPS program and SB 1020 were incorporated into the GHG forecast by adjusting the electricity emissions factors for future years, as discussed in Section 4.4.

PG&E as well as RCEA currently provide electricity to Humboldt and are subject to the RPS requirements. Weighted emission factors adjusted for RPS requirements were used to project emissions through 2045. Table 40 provides the estimated electricity emission factors that would result from SB 100.

Table 40 Forecasted RPS and Weighted Electricity Emission Factor Metric 2022 2030 2035 2040 2045
Renewables
Portfolio Standard
Percentage (PG&E)
50% 60% 90% 95% 100%
Renewables
Portfolio Standard
Percentage (RCEA)
51% 60% 90% 95% 100%
Residential
Weighted EF (MT
CO2e/kWh)

0.0000227 0.0000183 0.0000046 0.0000023 0.0000000
Nonresidential
Weighted EF (MT
CO2e/kWh)

0.0000232 0.0000187 0.0000047 0.0000023 0.0000000
Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; kWh = kilowatt-hour; EF = emissions factor Waste Legislation
Assembly Bill 939 & Assembly Bill 341
In 2011, AB 341 set the target of 75 percent recycling, composting, or source reduction of solid waste by 2020 calling for the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (also known as CalRecycle) to take a statewide approach to decreasing California’s reliance on landfills.

This target was an update to the former target of 50 percent waste diversion set by AB 939.

As actions under AB 341 are not assigned to specific local jurisdictions, potential future reductions from the bill were conservatively not included in the GHG forecast analysis.

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
50 Assembly Bill 1826
In 2014, AB 1826 set regulations in place requiring California businesses to recycle all of their organic waste starting in April 2016. The bill also required jurisdictions across the State to provide organic waste recycling programs to accommodate diverted waste from local businesses. As Humboldt has already implemented an organics collection program, implementation of AB 1826 compliance is reflected in the community’s inventory solid waste activity data and is thereby included in the BAU and adjusted forecast.

Senate Bill 1383
SB 1383 established a methane emission reduction target for short-lived climate pollutants in various sectors of the economy, including waste. Specifically, SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75 percent reduction by 2025.31 Additionally, SB 1383 requires a 20 percent reduction in “current”32 edible food disposal by 2025. Although SB 1383 has been signed into law, compliance with this Senate Bill must occur at the jurisdiction-level rather than the state-level. Due to current limitations in local jurisdiction’s ability to comply with organic waste targets set by SB 1383, as well as regional exemptions for some local governments within Humboldt County, anticipated emissions reductions attributable to the bill are conservatively excluded from the forecast. However, estimated impacts associated with SB 1383 will be included in the GHG reduction measures in the CAP.

4.2.2 Legislative Adjusted Scenario Forecast Results
In the adjusted emissions forecast, energy and transportation show a steady decline in GHG emissions, while wastewater, solid waste, are projected to slightly increase. Electricity shows a downward trend approaching zero in 2045 due to stringent RPS requirements from SB 100/1020.

This effect is counteracted by natural gas consumption growth which experiences minimal benefits from Title 24 code efficiency cycles. Transportation emissions are expected to decrease in the next 10 to 15 years due to existing fuel efficiency requirements, fleet turnover rates, and increased electric vehicle penetration. As most current regulations expire in 2025 or 2030, emissions standards will experience diminishing returns while VMT continues to increase, leading to lower rates of emissions reduction in the transportation sector as 2045 is approached. A detailed summary of Humboldt’s projected GHG emissions under the adjusted forecast by sector and year through 2045 can be found in Table 41.

Table 41 Legislative Adjusted Scenario Forecast Results GHG Emissions
Source 2022 2030 2035 2040 2045
Energy 248,118 255,592 250,748 255,384 259,934
Residential
Electricity + T&D 8,080 6,726 1,712 870 0
31 CalRecycle. California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/ 32 SB 1383 does not specify a baseline year for the 20 percent food recovery target; however, CalRecycle’s 2018 statewide waste characterization studies will be used to help measure the baseline for the State to meet its SB 1383 goals. See CalRecycle FAQ accessed November 14, 2022 for more
information:https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/faq/foodrecovery/#:~:text=SB%201383%20requires%20the%20state,for%20individua l%20jurisdictions%20to%20achieve.

GHG Emissions Forecast
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 51 GHG Emissions
Source
2022 2030 2035 2040 2045
Nonresidential
Electricity + T&D 10,231 8,580 2,202 1,129 0
Residential Natural
Gas 102,542 107,743 110,993 114,244 117,494
Residential Natural
Gas Leaks 25,741 27,047 27,863 28,679 29,495
Nonresidential
Natural Gas 58,229 61,405 63,389 65,374 67,359
Nonresidential
Natural Gas Leaks 14,617 15,414 15,913 16,411 16,909
Building Fuel 28,677 28,677 28,677 28,677 28,677
Transportation 1,235,880 1,154,265 1,106,063 1,078,584 1,073,445 On-road Passenger
Vehicles 790,604 698,109 665,176 651,449 653,308
On-road
Commercial
Vehicles
318,617 324,984 306,827 290,094 279,775
On-road Buses 1,536 1,336 1,175 932 717
Off-road Equipment 125,124 129,836 132,885 136,108 139,645 Water and
Wastewater 9,631 10,156 10,484 10,812 11,141
Wastewater
Process and
Fugitive Emissions
9,631 10,156 10,484 10,812 11,141
Solid Waste 37,538 39,585 40,865 42,144 43,424
Solid Waste
Disposal 37,538 39,585 40,865 42,144 43,424
Total GHG
Emissions
1,531,167 1,459,598 1,408,160 1,386,924 1,387,943
Notes: All values are presented in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e)

4.2.3 Legislative GHG Emission Reduction Contribution
A summary of the reductions from the BAU forecast that can be expected under the adjusted forecast are provided in Table 42.

Table 42 Summary of Legislative GHG Emission Reductions Metric 2030 2035 2040 2045
California Renewable Portfolio
Standards
3,955 17,540 20,999 24,483
Title 24 845 1,440 2,005 2,581
Transportation (Pavley,
Innovative Clean Transit, etc.)
146,596 233,850 301,232 346,636
Total 151,396 252,830 324,236 373,700
Notes: All values are presented in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e); negative values indicate Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
52 5 GHG Emissions Targets
GHG reduction targets are used in climate action planning to establish metrics that guide the community’s commitment to achieve GHG emissions reductions and help gauge progress reducing emissions over time. California has established statewide GHG reduction goals for 2030 and 2045, relative to a baseline emissions level. CARB’s 2022 Scoping Plan encourages local agencies to take ambitious, coordinated climate action that is consistent with and supportive of the state’s climate goals33. Thus, local agencies are recommended to establish equivalent reduction targets at the local level by establishing community wide GHG reduction goals for climate action that will help California achieve its 2030 and 2045 goals. CARB has issued several guidance documents concerning the establishment of GHG emission reduction targets for CAPs to comply with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines § 15183.5(b). Even if a plan is not CEQA-qualified, CARB has long recommended that local targets be a part of the process of developing, monitoring, and updating a CAP.

5.1 1990 Level GHG Emissions Back-cast
Humboldt County does not have a 1990 GHG emissions inventory from which to develop GHG reduction targets consistent with SB 32, however, 1990 GHG emissions can be estimated for the community relative to Humboldt’s updated 2022 inventory using a state-level emissions change metric.

As the State 2022 GHG emissions inventory has not yet been published, Humboldt’s 1990 GHG emissions have been calculated using the State’s 2021 GHG emissions inventory34 as compared to the State’s GHG emissions inventory in 1990 to calculate approximate percent reduction in the Humboldt community between 2022 and 1990. The calculation is developed using the published Statewide emissions results from CARB35, after removing emissions from sectors not included in Humboldt’s inventory (e.g., non-specified, industrial point sources, agricultural land management practices). This approach assumes that Humboldt’s community activities and associated GHG emissions have generally tracked with the State’s activity trends and associated GHG emissions.

However, since 1990, electricity and natural gas consumption and associated GHG emissions in Humboldt have declined at a much more rapid rate than the Statewide trend reflected in the Statewide inventory. This is because Humboldt has experienced a significant decline in industrial operations leading to a significant decrease in electricity and natural gas consumption. Further, RCEA has emerged as the main alternative electricity provider in the region opposed to PG&E, the sole utility provider to the Humboldt region in 1990. Because RCEA has a more renewable and carbon-free energy profile than PG&E, GHG emissions associated with building electricity use in the region have declined to a greater extent than Statewide trends reflect. 33 California Air Resources Board. 2022. California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan, p.268. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/2022-sp.pdf 34 The State’s 2020 GHG emissions inventory was used as this is the most recently available statewide inventory from CARB. It is assumed that the 1990-2020 Statewide GHG emissions change is similar to the 1990-2021 Statewide GHG emissions change, therefore it can be used to estimate 1990 level GHG emissions for Humboldt based on the 2022 Humboldt County Regional GHG Inventory. 35 California Air Resources Board. 2023. California GHG Emission Inventory Program. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2023- 04/2022-sp.pdf
GHG Emissions Targets
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 53 Since these trends are specific to the Humboldt region and do not track with Statewide trends reflected in the Statewide inventory, electricity and natural gas emissions were also removed from the Statewide emissions to back-cast Humboldt’s 1990 emissions associated with the following included inventory sectors: transportation (on and off-road), solid waste, wastewater, and heating fuel. GHG emissions from electricity and natural gas consumption in Humboldt in 1990 was quantified using 1990 county-wide activity data obtained from CEC and PG&E 1990 electricity emissions factor provided in the PG&E Community Report. This approach for developing a 1990 back-cast for Humboldt assumes that Humboldt’s community GHG emissions associated with transportation, solid waste, wastewater, and heating fuel consumption have generally tracked with Statewide trends, while taking into consideration the more regionally applicable changes in electricity and natural gas consumption in the county. The 1990 back-cast for Humboldt is shown in Table 43.

Table 43 1990 Back-cast Calculations
GHG Emissions Inventory/Emissions Category Emissions
2021 Statewide GHG Emissions w/o Building Energy (MMT CO2e)1 170.32 1990 Statewide GHG Emissions w/o Building Energy (MMT CO2e)1 188.98 2021 to 1990 Statewide GHG Emissions Change (%) 10.96%
2022 Humboldt GHG Emissions w/o Building Energy (MT CO2e)2 1,311,726 1990 Humboldt GHG Emissions w/o Building Energy (MT CO2e)3 1,455,496 1990 Humboldt Electricity Emissions (MT CO2e)4 259,675
1990 Humboldt Natural Gas Emissions (MT CO2e) 4 354,144 1990 Total Humboldt GHG Emissions (MT CO2e)5 2,069,316
Notes:

1. Includes transportation, solid waste, wastewater, and heating fuel emissions.

2. Excludes 2022 building energy emissions associated with electricity and natural gas consumption. As shown in Table 36, in 2022 electricity consumption accounted for X MT CO2e and natural gas consumption accounted for X MT CO2e.

3. Humboldt 1990 GHG emission associated with transportation, solid waste, wastewater, and heating fuel was back -cast from the Statewide GHG emissions inventory by multiplying the percent change that occurred at the Statewide level to the 2022 Humboldt GHG inventory less electricity and natural gas associated emissions. based on the percent change.

4. In 1990, Humboldt consumed a total of 1,007,867,146 kWh of electricity and 53,349,803 therms of natural gas. According to PG&E, the emissions factor in 1990 was 0.000258 MT CO2e/kWh. Emissions were calculated in accordance with methods outlined in Secti on

3.2.1. More information regarding CEC activity data is available at: https://ecdms.energy.ca.gov/Default.aspx

5. Calculated 1990 electricity and natural gas emissions were added to the “1990 Humboldt GHG Emissions w/o Building Energy” backcast to determine the total Humboldt 1990 GHG Emissions.

5.2 GHG Emissions Reduction Target Setting
The purpose of target setting is to develop the trajectory toward achieving the State’s 2030 goal (SB 32) and prepare for the deep decarbonization needed by 2045 in a cost-effective manner by setting an incremental path toward achieving AB 1279 targets. CARB guidance is for jurisdictions to first strive to exceed the SB 32 targets of reducing GHG emissions 40% below 1990 levels, while establishing a policy framework to achieve the long-term target of carbon neutrality by 2045.

Humboldt County
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
54 Target setting is an iterative process which must be informed by the reductions that can realistically be achieved through the development of feasible GHG reduction measures. As such, the targets identified herein should remain provisional until the quantification and analysis of potential GHG reduction measures has been completed.

Achieving the established target will require major shifts in how communities within California obtain and use energy, transport themselves and goods, and how the population lives and builds.

The CEQA Guidelines section 15183.5(b) requires qualified GHG reduction plans (which allow for CEQA streamlining) to “Establish a level, based on substantial evidence, below which the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions from activities covered by the plan would not be cumulatively considerable”.36 A defensible way (shown through litigation) to identify such levels is to demonstrate consistency with State targets.

To maintain consistency with State targets, Humboldt’s provisional GHG emissions reduction targets are:
• Reduce GHG emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 (SB 32 target year) • Make substantial progress towards carbon neutrality by 2045 (AB 1279 target year) With GHG emission reduction targets in place, the reduction gap that Humboldt will be responsible for through local action can be calculated. Humboldt’s GHG emissions reduction gap is based on the difference between the adjusted forecast, discussed previously, and the established GHG emission reduction targets. Table 44 provides a summary of the GHG emission reduction targets in mass emissions.

Table 44 GHG Emissions Reduction Targets and Gap Analysis Emissions Forecast or Pathway 2022 2030 2035 2040 2045
Mass Emissions Target Pathway Scenario (MT CO2e)
Adjusted Forecast 1,531,167 1,459,598 1,408,160 1,386,924 1,387,943 SB 32 Mass Emissions Target Pathway1 1,531,167 1,241,589 827,726 413,863 - Remaining Emissions Gap - 218,008 580,434 973,061 1,387,943 Notes: MT CO2e = Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent Emissions have been rounded to the nearest whole number and therefore sums may not match.

1. The target pathway is calculated by reducing 1990 mass emissions by 40% in 2030 and to 0 in 2045. This provisional target pathway is consistent with both SB 32 and a trajectory set forth to achieve AB 1279.

Figure 3 provides a visual representation of future GHG emissions, with the impacts of State legislation and the remaining gap the community will be responsible for to meet the GHG emission reduction targets set by the State.
36 https://casetext.com/regulation/california-code-of-regulations/title-14-natural-resources/division-6-resources-agency/chapter-3- guidelines-for-implementation-of-the-california-environmental-quality-act/article-12-special-situations/section-151835-tiering-andstreamlining-the-analysis-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions GHG Emissions Targets
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Forecast, and Targets Report 55 Figure 3 GHG Emissions Forecast and Provisional Target Pathways (Mass Emissions) Appendix C
GHG Reduction measures Quantification and Evidence
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure Reduction
Quantification and Substantial Evidence
prepared for
County of Humboldt
Humboldt County Planning and Building Department
3015 H Street
Eureka, California 95501
Contact: John Ford, Director of Planning and Building
prepared with the assistance of
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
4825 J Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, California 95819
June 2024

Table of Contents
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure Reduction Quantification and Substantial Evidence i Table of Contents
1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 GHG Emission Reduction Targets................................................................................ 1

1.2 Measures and Actions Organization............................................................................ 1

1.3 GHG Emissions Reductions......................................................................................... 2 2 Strategy C: Cornerstone........................................................................................................ 8 3 Strategy BE: Building Energy ................................................................................................12 4 Strategy TR: Transportation .................................................................................................42 5 Strategy SW: Solid Waste.....................................................................................................82 6 Strategy WW: Water and Wastewater..................................................................................86 7 Strategy CS: Carbon Sequestration .......................................................................................89 Figures
Figure 1 Humboldt Regional GHG Emissions Reductions Pathway.........................................7 Tables
Table 1 Regional RCAP GHG Emission Reduction Summary by Measure...............................3 Table 2 Humboldt Region GHG Emissions Reductions Pathway ...........................................6 Table 3 Strategy C: Cornerstone GHG Emissions Reduction Summary..................................8 Table 3 Strategy BE: Building Energy GHG Emission Reduction Summary ........................... 13 Table 4 RCEA Clean Energy Parameters and Data Sources................................................. 16 Table 5 RCEA Clean Energy GHG Emission Reduction Calculations..................................... 17 Table 6 Existing Building Voluntary Replacement Parameters and Data Sources................. 22 Table 7 Existing Residential Voluntary Replacement GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.................................................................................................................... 26 Table 8 Existing Commercial Voluntary Replacement GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.................................................................................................................... 29 Table 9 Humboldt’s Regional Housing Stock Age .............................................................. 30 Table 10 Electric-Preferred Nonresidential Major Renovation Parameters and Data Sources32
Table 11 Electric-Preferred Nonresidential Major Renovation GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.................................................................................................................... 33 Table 12 All-electric New Construction Parameters and Data Sources................................. 35 Table 13 All-electric New Residential Construction GHG Emission Reduction Calculations .... 37 Table 14 All-electric New Nonresidential Construction GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.................................................................................................................... 39 Humboldt Region
Regional Climate Action Plan
ii
Table 15 Strategy TR: Transportation GHG Emission Reduction Summary............................ 43 Table 16 Active Transportation Mode Share Parameters and Data Sources.......................... 47 Table 17 Active Transportation Mode Share GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.............. 48 Table 18 Rural Active Transportation Mode Share Parameters and Data Sources................. 51 Table 19 Rural Active Transportation Mode Share GHG Emission Reduction Calculations ..... 52 Table 20 Public Transit Mode Share Parameters and Data Sources...................................... 55 Table 21 Public Transit Mode Share GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.......................... 56 Table 22 Public Transit Mode Share Parameters and Data Sources...................................... 60 Table 23 Public Transit Mode Share GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.......................... 62 Table 24 Publicly Accessible Electric Vehicle Charger Parameters and Data Sources............. 68 Table 25 Publicly Accessible Electric Vehicle Charger Parameters and Data Sources............. 69 Table 26 Passenger Zero-emission Vehicle Adoption Parameters and Data Sources ............. 70 Table 27 Passenger Zero-emission Vehicle Adoption GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.................................................................................................................... 71 Table 28 Commercial Zero-emission Vehicle Adoption Parameters and Data Sources........... 73 Table 29 Commercial Zero-emission Vehicle Adoption GHG Emission Reduction Calculations.................................................................................................................... 74 Table 30 Off-road Decarbonization Parameters and Data Sources....................................... 77 Table 31 Off-road Decarbonization GHG Emission Reduction Calculations........................... 78 Table 32 Strategy SW: Solid Waste GHG Emission Reduction Summary ............................... 82 Table 33 Landfilled Organics Reduction Parameters and Data Sources................................. 84 Table 34 Landfilled Organics Reduction GHG Emission Reduction Calculations..................... 85 Table 35 Strategy WW: Water and Wastewater GHG Emissions Reduction Summary ........... 86 Table 36 Strategy CS: Carbon Sequestration GHG Emissions Reduction Summary ................ 90 Table 37 Compost Procurement Parameters and Data Sources........................................... 93 Table 38 Landfilled Organics Reduction GHG Emission Reduction Calculations..................... 94 Introduction
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure Reduction Quantification and Substantial Evidence 1 1 Introduction
This technical report presents the quantification and substantial evidence that supports the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential of Humboldt’s Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP). This report also supports the RCAP’s classification as a qualified GHG reduction plan. The RCAP is the region’s plan to reduce GHG emissions and address climate change. It includes Measureswith numeric targets to reduce GHG emissions and Actions under each Measure that the region will implement through 2045 to reduce GHG emissions.

Section 15183.5(b)(1) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines establishes several criteria which a plan must meet to be considered a qualified GHG reduction plan and allow for programmatic CEQA streamlining of project GHG emissions. This report details the evidence substantiating the GHG emissions reductions associated with the RCAP measures pursuant to Subsection (D) which requires measures or a group of measures, including performance standards, that substantial evidence demonstrates, if implemented on a project-by-project basis, would collectively achieve the specified GHG emissions level. This report demonstrates the Measures in the RCAP provide the GHG emission reductions necessary to meet the region’s 2030 GHG emission reduction target, which aligns with the State’s GHG emission reduction goal established by Senate Bill (SB) 32 and make substantial progress towards the region’s 2045 target which aligns with the State’s goal established Assembly Bill (AB) 1279.

Mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the RCAP and progress toward achieving the region’s GHG emission reduction targets are included in the RCAP, as required in CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b)(e). If, based on the tracking of community GHG emissions, the region is not on track to reach the 2030 GHG emission reductions specified in this report, the RCAP as a whole or specific Measures and Actions will be amended. Based on these amendments, a RCAP Update will be prepared that includes altered or additional Measures and Actions, with evidence that with implementation can achieve the region’s 2030 GHG emission reduction target and make substantial progress towards the region’s 2045 target.

1.1 GHG Emission Reduction Targets
The Humboldt Regional GHG emission reduction targets align with California’s goal to reduce GHG emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 (SB 32) and California’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 (AB 1279), defined as reducing GHG emissions at least 85 percent below 1990 levels and removing or sequestering the remaining GHG emissions.

Humboldt’s regionalshort- and long-term GHG emission reduction targets are:
▪ Reduce GHG emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; and ▪ Achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

1.2 Measures and Actions Organization
As part of the RCAP process, the Humbolt region (i.e., the County and all incorporated jurisdictions) has developed a comprehensive set of Measures and Actions to reduce communitywide GHG emissions to achieve the region’s 2030 GHG emission reduction target and make substantial progress towards the region’s 2045 target. The Measures are organized around a set of six Humboldt Region
Regional Climate Action Plan
2 mitigation Strategies to reduce GHG emissions. Each Measure is then supported by a set of Actions.