AGENDA
ENERGY & GREEN ISSUES STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
Goleta City Hall
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, California
Monday, September 22, 2025
1:00 - 2:30 PM
Conference Room # 1
Luz Reyes-Martín, Councilmember
James Kyriaco, Councilmember
Robert Nisbet, City Manager
Peter Imhof, Planning and Environmental Review Director Dana Murray, Sustainability Manager
Angeline Foshay, Sustainability Analyst
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA
I. Public Comment
II. Building Decarbonization & Reach Codes
a. Update
b. Recommendation Request
III. City Facilities Update
IV. Zonal Electrification Pilots
V. Committee Discussion on New & Emerging Topics
Note: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, (including assisted listening devices), please contact Deborah Lopez, City Clerk, at (805) 961-7505 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Notification helps to ensure that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the meeting.
DATE: September 17, 2025
TO: Energy & Green Issues Standing Committee
FROM: Peter Imhof, Planning and Environmental Review Director CONTACT: Dana Murray, Sustainability Manager
Angeline Foshay, Sustainability Analyst
SUBJECT: Background Information for the September 22, 2025 Energy & Green Issues Standing Committee (“Green Committee”) Meeting (please see attached agenda)
ITEM I: PUBLIC COMMENT
ITEM II: BUILDING DECARBONIZATION & REACH CODES
The purpose of this item is to provide an update on the state of building decarbonization policy in California, including recent state legislative actions affecting Building Codes.
Staff recommends that the Green Committee consider recommending that the City Council re-adopt the City’s Reach Codes (EV Reach Code and Energy Performance Reach Code), in conjunction with the state’s 2025 Building Code adoption.
As discussed below, Assembly Bill (AB) 130 created new limitations on the ability of cities and counties to enact local modifications to building codes applicable to residential units.
Staff’s understanding is that AB 130 will not prevent the City from re-adopting our two Reach Codes (EV Reach Code and Energy Performance Reach Code), provided that the re-adopted Reach Codes are “substantially equivalent” to versions that were in effect as of September 30, 2025 (California Code, HSC 17958., California Code, HSC 17958.5., California Code, HSC 17958.7., and California Code, HSC 18941.5.) With limited exceptions, AB 130 otherwise imposes a moratorium on amending local residential building standards until June 1, 2031.
Background:
Definitive climate data has revealed the urgent need for regulatory action. In 2016, California responded to this demand by adopting comprehensive goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and support local governments in carrying out community-level emissions reductions strategies. With the passage of Senate Bill 32 in 2016, California set targets to reduce statewide GHG emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. To reach these state emissions targets, decarbonizing the building sector is essential. The primary method for the decarbonization of buildings is electrification, as escalating renewable portfolio standards have been and will continue to reduce the emissions content of our electricity.
Following the initial CRA v. City of Berkeley decision in 2023 that impacted jurisdictions’ abilities to require all electric new construction, many cities in California evaluated alternative policy approaches to support new construction electrification. Staff has monitored new policy developments and collaborated with the Green Cities Network to find alternative pathways to incentivize electrification for new construction while waiting for updates on the Berkeley case. With the support of utility partners, Green Cities California, and the Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative, staff developed and Council adopted two policies: 1) an Electric Vehicle (EV) Reach Code amending CALGreen (Ord. 24-04, Fall 2024 and Ord. 25-01, Winter 2025), and 2) an Energy Performance Reach Code amending the California Energy Code (Ord. 25-02, Spring 2025).
Given that the 2025 California Building Code is set to be adopted and in effect starting January 1, 2026, the City has the opportunity to re-adopt its Reach Codes for the new Code cycle.
Current Energy Performance Reach Code (Adopted 2025)
The City’s current, adopted Energy Performance Reach Code requires increased performance requirements for new buildings, resulting in higher efficiency and lower operational GHGs. The purpose and structure of the Reach Code incentivize new buildings to select electric appliances/mechanical systems, while also allowing mixed-fuel buildings that include additional energy efficiency measures, solar, and/or a battery.
Table 1. Energy Performance Reach Code Energy Performance Standards Building Type Performance Requirement
Single-Family Residential EDR1 compliance margin of at least 5 points
Buildings <1,500 sq. ft .– EDR1
compliance margin of at least 2 points
Multi-Family Residential (Low) Source Energy compliance margin of at least 7%
Non-Residential Source Energy compliance margin of at
least the following:
Hotel – 7%
Small Restaurants – 2%
Office – 14%
All Other Building Types – 7%
The California Energy Code establishes whole-building efficiency requirements, which account for a building’s water heater, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system, solar generating system, and insulation, among other things. However, it does not account for cooking equipment, laundry dryers, or other unregulated energy uses, and as such the Reach Code does not regulate energy uses not addressed in the California Energy Code. The Energy Performance Reach Code also does not ban natural gas systems in new construction but requires increased building performance. To be consistent with state law, the City made findings that the Building Code amendments related to building energy performance are cost-effective and use less energy than the standard State Code. In accordance with Public Resources Code section 25402.1(h)(2),
the California Energy Commission approved the City's analysis before the local amendments to the California Energy Code went into effect.
Current EV Reach Code (Adopted 2024, Revised 2/2025)
The City’s current, adopted EV Reach Code requires increased EV infrastructure for all building types with the purpose of increasing EV adoption in the community and providing more accessible charging. There are three levels of EV charging, categorized by the amount of power that they provide to vehicles:
1. Level 1 Charging: 120-Volt household outlet; Charging Speed: 3-5 MPH; Locations: Home, Workplace & Public
2. Level 2 Charging: 208-Volt to 240-Volt – low power (20 Amps) & high power (30- 40 Amps); Charging Speed: 12-80 MPH; Locations: Home, Workplace & Public
3. Level 3 Charging: 400-Volt to 900-Volt (DC Fast Charge & Supercharging); Charging Speed: 3- 20 Miles Per Minute; Locations: Public There are three distinct EV infrastructure readiness descriptions in the Building Code (2025 CALGreen Section 202):
1. EV Capable Space: a parking space that has an installed electrical panel capacity with a dedicated branch circuit and a continuous raceway/conduit from the panel to the future EV parking spot.
2. EV Ready Space: a parking space that has installed electrical panel capacity, raceway/conduit and wiring “terminating in a receptacle or a charger”, such that in the case of a receptacle, off-board charging equipment can be used to charge an electric vehicle.
3. Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVSE): a parking space that includes an installed and operable Level 2 EV charging station.
The requirements of the Reach Code, which amended CALGreen, are as follows:
Table 2. EV Reach Code Standards
Building Type Reach Code Standards
Single-Family Residential • 1 Level 2 EV Ready
• 1 Level 1 EV Ready
Multi-Family Residential • 100% of spaces for residents are low power Level 2 EV Ready
• 25% of common use spaces include
Level 2 EVCS
• 75% of common use spaces are low
power Level 2 EV Ready
Hotels & Motels • 40% of spaces are low power Level 2
EV Ready
• 25% of spaces include Level 2 EVCS
Non-Residential – Office & Retail • 23% of spaces include Level 2 EVCS • 7% of spaces are Level 2 EV Capable
Non-Residential - Other • 15% of spaces include Level 2 EVCS • 15% of spaces are Level 2 EV
Capable
Following initial adoption of the EV Reach Code, staff were instructed to return with an amendment that would exempt any projects in the Hospital Overlay Zone from the EV Reach Code, which Council adopted on February 4, 2025 (Ord. 25-01).
Re-Adoption Timing
The California Building Code, which includes the California Energy Code, is updated every three years. The City’s adopted Reach Codes will expire with the current Building Code on December 31, 2025 in accordance with the “sunsetting” of the 2022 California Building Code and the adoption of the 2025 California Building Code.
In support of Reach Code development, the California Energy Codes and Standards Statewide Utility Program develops and publishes cost-effectiveness studies in accordance with the triennial code cycle. Staff anticipates that some of the 2025 studies will be available at the end of 2025 for certain building types, and the remainder will be published in Q1 2026. Once the cost-effectiveness studies are published, the City can work on bringing the Energy Performance Reach Code to Council for re-adoption.
Since the EV Reach Code amends CALGreen and does not require cost-effectiveness studies in order to be approved by the California Building Codes and Standards Commission (Commission), the City could re-adopt the EV Reach Code alongside the adoption of the 2025 Building Code for an effective date of January 1, 2026.
Impact of AB 130 on Building Codes & Reach Codes
Cities and counties are allowed to make modifications to the California Building Code to address local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions, and adoption of local amendments requires specific findings in adopting ordinances which must be filed with the Commission. (Health & Safety Code, § 17958.7.) Changes in state policy for residential buildings have constrained the ability of local jurisdictions to adopt new amendments to the California Building Code for residential buildings, an effort that was closely monitored by cities and counties across the state for the 2025 legislative session.
Signed into law on June 30, 2025, AB 130 added restrictions to the residential code cycle for the next six years in the hope of streamlining the production of more housing in the coming years.
Specifically, from October 1, 2025 through June 1, 2031, AB 130 prohibits a city or county from adopting changes or modifications to California Building Codes, including green building standards, applicable to residential units unless one of the following conditions is met:
1. The modifications are substantially equivalent to local amendments previously filed with the Commission and in effect as of September 30, 2025.
2. The Commission deems the modifications necessary “as emergency standards to protect health and safety.”
3. The modifications relate to “home hardening” (which changes may be proposed by a fire protection district pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 13869.7.)
4. The modifications are local amendments “adopted to align with a general plan approved on or before June 10, 2025, and that permits mixed-fuel residential construction consistent with federal law while also incentivizing all-electric construction as part of an adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy.”
5. The changes or modifications are related to administrative practices, are proposed for adoption during the intervening period between code cycles, and exclusively result in any of the following:
a. Reductions in time for a local agency to issue a postentitlement permit. b. Alterations to a local agency’s postentitlement fee schedule. c. Modernization of, or adoption of, new permitting platforms and software utilized by the local agency.
d. Reductions in cost of internal operation for a local agency. e. Establishment, alteration, or removal of local programs related to enforcement of building code violations or complaints alleging building code violations. (Health and Safety Code, § 17958.7(b).)
If one of the above-referenced conditions is satisfied, the local jurisdiction must still make express findings that the changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions, and submit such findings with the proposed change to the Commission. (Health and Safety Code, §§ 17958.5, 17958.7.) As summarized above, one of the five limited pathways that AB 130 allows residential Reach Code adoption after October 1, 2025 if “the changes or modifications are substantially equivalent to changes or modifications that were previously filed by the local jurisdiction and were in effect as of September 30, 2025.” (Health & Safety Code, § 17958(b).) This allows jurisdictions with existing Reach Codes to re-adopt them. Under this interpretation, re-adoption of any Reach Codes in effect prior to September 30, 2025 is allowable, provided that the re-adoptions are substantially equivalent. Based on interagency meetings and discussions staff has attended over the summer, staff’s understanding is that the City can re-adopt its two Reach Codes (EV Reach Code and Energy Performance Reach Code), since both were adopted by the City Council and approved by State agencies before September 30, 2025.
There are a couple additional key points of AB 130 related to local Building Codes:
• The 2025 Building Code cycle will go into effect as planned for both Residential and Nonresidential Standards effective January 1, 2026. • Nonresidential Building Code is not impacted by this legislation and will proceed with the usual three-year cycle.
Per the Planning and Environmental Review (PER) Department’s adopted FY 2025-26 Annual Work Program, Sustainability staff is intending to work on re-adopting the City’s existing Reach Codes in conjunction with the State Building Code adoption (November 2025). Staff has been coordinating regionally and statewide with other jurisdictions and technical experts on developing updates to our Reach Codes for the City to consider readopting with the California Building Code cycle.
Discussion:
If the City re-adopts the EV Reach Code, the City can also decide whether to upgrade EV Reach Code standards; however, any changes must be substantially equivalent to what the City is already requiring in Reach Codes in effect by September 30, 2025. As summarized below, in several areas, the new CALGreen standards have now caught up with the City’s EV Reach Code.
Goleta’s 2024 EV Reach Code comparison to 2025 Mandatory CALGreen Baseline.
1. Single-family
• Goleta's current Reach Code already exceeds the 2025 CALGreen voluntary tiers.
2. Multifamily
• 2025 CALGreen Mandatory Baseline Code matches Goleta's current Reach Code. • EV Ready + Receptacle for assigned or unassigned parking - Goleta's Reach Code matches the 2025 baseline Code.
o Option to upgrade to the Tier 1 voluntary measures (maximum current increased for assigned spaces, so can charge at a faster rate) • EV Ready + EV Chargers for common use parking - Goleta's Reach Code matches the 2025 baseline.
o Option to upgrade to the Tier 1 voluntary measures (increase by 5-15% to 30-40% of spaces containing Level 2 EVSE)
• If requirements are not increased during re-adoption, Multifamily section removed.
3. Hotels & Motels
• 2025 CALGreen Mandatory Baseline Code matches Goleta's current Reach Code. • EV Ready + Receptacle - Goleta's Reach Code matches the 2025 baseline. o Option to upgrade to the Tier 1 voluntary measures (increase by 5-20% to 45-60% of total spaces containing Level 2 charging receptacles) • EV Ready + EV Chargers - Goleta's Reach Code matches the 2025 baseline.
o Option to upgrade to the Tier 1 voluntary measures (increase by 5-15% to 30-40% of total spaces containing Level 2 EVSE)
• If requirements are not increased during re-adoption, Hotels & Motels section removed (would also remove Parking Lift Exemption).
4. Non-Residential
• Goleta's current Reach Code exceeds the 2025 CALGreen Mandatory Baseline Code, and matches the 2025 CALGreen Voluntary Tier 1.
• Office & Retail - Goleta's Reach Code matches 2025 Tier 1. o Option to upgrade to Tier 2 voluntary measures (45% spaces EV Capable or EVCS ); option to choose a percentage between Tier 1 and 2 • Other - Goleta's Reach Code matches 2025 Tier 1.
o Option to upgrade to Tier 2 voluntary measures (45% spaces EV Capable or EVCS ); option to choose a percentage between Tier 1 and 2 • Remove Parking Lift Exemption, especially if removed for Hotels & Motels Discussion Question: Does the Green Committee recommend upgrading the City’s EV Reach Code?
EV Reach Code Re-Adoption Policy Options:
1. Adopt same EV Reach Code as adopted in 2024; OR
2. Adopt substantially similar EV Reach Code as adopted in 2024, with upgrades to:
a. Multifamily requirements; and/or
b. Hotels & Motels; and/or
c. Non-Residential
Recommendations:
Staff recommends that the Green Committee consider recommending Council readoption of the City’s EV Reach Code in conjunction with the City Council adoption of the mandatory California Building Code, and re-adoption of the City’s Energy Performance Reach Code, as soon as possible once state cost-effectiveness studies are available.
Next Steps/Estimated Timelines:
EV Reach Code:
August-October 2025: Ordinance development
November-December 2025: Council 1st and 2nd Reading approval and BSC submittal Energy Performance Reach Code:
December 2025-March 2026: Ordinance development
January-March 2026: Cost-effectiveness studies released by State
March-April 2026: Council 1st and 2nd Reading approval and BSC/CEC submittal ITEM III. CITY FACILITIES UPDATE
Improving energy efficiency at City facilities is essential to advancing building decarbonization and a core tenet of leading by example, as prioritized in the City’s 2025- 2027 Strategic Plan.
1.1.2. Encourage energy conservation through enhanced insulation, LED replacement lighting and similar measures, including at City-owned facilities
1.1.3. Encourage renewable energy generation and use through installation of solar panels, battery energy storage, electric vehicle charging stations and similar measures, including at City-owned facilities
With the aging infrastructure of the City’s more recently acquired properties, there are many opportunities to support electrification and improve the resilience of the City’s essential infrastructure. One such opportunity identified by General Services is the phasing out of traditional HVAC systems at City Hall as they reach the end of their life cycle. Sustainability is working with the General Services Department to identify grant or rebate funds to help reduce the cost of an HVAC conversion to electric heat pumps with economizers for two units, which would improve the comfort, functionality, and energy efficiency of City Hall.
In looking for available funds for the heat pump conversion, staff contacted the Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) and connected with 3C-REN’s Energy Assurance Services (EAS) Program, which provides free, tailored energy audits for critical facilities in the tri-county region. General Services and Sustainability staff have met with the EAS Program consultants and are looking into conducting a comprehensive facilities energy audit in the future that would help identify energy efficiency opportunities, solar and battery storage evaluation, and a suite of options that the City could take to improve the performance of the City’s buildings. Staff plans to proceed with the program once major renovations underway at GCC and the Library have been completed. Sustainability staff will continue to coordinate interdepartmentally to evaluate further opportunities for City facilities to improve building modernization and efficiency while reducing GHGs.
Under the PER FY 25-26 Annual Work Program, Sustainability staff has been seeking microgrid, EV charger, and solar opportunities for City facilities (Community Center, City Hall, Library). However, the City’s key facilities are currently undergoing extensive safety renovations. Before the City can pursue feasibility evaluations, whole-building energy analyses, and potential grants, these renovation projects need to be closer to completion For example, the Community Center (GCC) is approaching 100 years since development and some of the original systems are still in place. In particular, the facility lacks a centralized HVAC system and due to its age and type of construction, adapting to modern systems is complicated. The facility electrical system is a mixture of original knob-andtube branch circuit wiring, aged romex, and panels that are significantly beyond their useful life. These base systems require replacement prior to potential upgrades that the existing system could not accommodate. As staff continue to plan and implement capital projects at City facilities, potential future expansions and renovation, programs addressing energy efficiency and site resiliency are integrated into project designs.
Staff explored a program/grant opportunity offered by Southern California Edison earlier this summer that could have provided a solar+microgrid feasibility analysis and potentially up to $14 million to install a front-of-meter microgrid at the GCC. Ultimately, due to timing conflicts with other GCC building improvements, the complexity of the aged electrical system, and staff bandwidth limitations necessary to manage the application and project, it was decided that the City forego the opportunity at this time. Instead, General Services is currently working on a complete redesign of the electrical system throughout the GCC campus. Besides restoring reliability of the electrical system, the project also contemplates future installation of solar power and EV charging infrastructure.
In addition to the GCC, the Goleta Valley Library Remodel Project will substantially increase energy efficiency at the Fairview Library Branch. The project will completely replace the existing air handling system with a modern, efficient system and will retrofit much of the lighting to LED. Moreover, future installation of solar power, EV charging, and battery storage can be accommodated by the redesigned electrical room.
Sustainability staff plans to pursue a solar+microgrid feasibility analysis and EV charging infrastructure once the remodel project is complete.
Staff will be evaluating the performance of the City Hall Monarch Solar Array and new City Hall EV charger installation, with results to be presented at the next Green Committee meeting.
ITEM IV. ZONAL ELECTRIFICATION PILOTS
In September 2024, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 1221 to advance CA’s carbon neutrality goals by authorizing the CPUC to approve 30 pilot projects to remove natural gas service at the neighborhood level to avoid the cost of replacing aging natural gas infrastructure. Cost-effective, zero-emission alternatives, such as electric appliances, have become more advanced and available in recent years, creating an opportunity for increased household adoption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved air quality. In Goleta's region, Southern California Edison (SCE) is looking for communities with neighborhoods that may be interested in participating in the pilot. These neighborhoods would need to be identified by SoCalGas for aging gas infrastructure replacement. As a note, the map of gas infrastructure that needs replacement covers a significant portion of Goleta and the South Coast.
The CPUC will only approve pilot projects for decarbonization zones that receive consent from at least 67% of property owners with natural gas service in the project boundary area. The details of participation and funding have yet to be provided at this stage in the CPUC hearing and program development process. At this stage in the process, the utilities and CPUC have been reaching out to local governments to gauge interest in the pilot program - but not asking for commitments. Staff has heard from some neighboring jurisdictions that they intend to pursue participation in the pilot project. The CPUC recently held a hearing where the public provided verbal and written comments related to the pilot.
Staff will continue to collect information from CPUC and SCE and closely monitor the pilot program opportunity alongside neighboring jurisdictions.
ITEM V. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON NEW & EMERGING TOPICS