Annual Report on
S/CAP Implementation
Presenters:
Brad Eggleston, Director, Public Works
Jonathan Abendschein, Assistant
Director, Climate Action
Christine Luong, Sustainability Manager
November 12, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org
2 2cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Objectives for Tonight
Review the following:
• 2022 Palo Alto Citywide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory and progress toward the 80 x 30 goal
• S/CAP Key Performance Indicators 2023 Annual Progress Report • Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Implementation Q2 and Q3 2024 Progress Report Highlights
• Whole Home Electrification Pilot Program
3 3cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction
2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories
4 4cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future 2022 Palo Alto Citywide GHG Emissions Down ~47.4%
Source: 2022 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
5 5cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Palo Alto Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Capita
Source: 2022 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
6 6cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future 2022 Palo Alto Citywide GHG Emissions Down ~47.4%
80 x 30 Target
(156K MT CO2e)
Source: 2022 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
7 7cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future 2022 Palo Alto Citywide GHG Emission Sources
Source: 2022 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
8 8cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Progress Towards Carbon Neutrality ~ 66% reductions
Source: 2022 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
9 9cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future 2022 Palo Alto Municipal GHG Emissions
Source: 2022 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
10 10cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future 2023 Key Performance Indicators Progress
11 11cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future 2023 Key Performance Indicators Progress Highlights
S/CAP Area Key Performance Indicator 2021 2022 2023
Climate Action GHG Reductions 53.9% 47.4% To be determined Energy GHG emissions from natural
gas use in buildings
135,697 MT CO2e 143,599 MT CO2e 144,972 MT CO2e
Electric Vehicles GHG emissions from vehicle
travel
185,925 MT CO2e 221,923 MT CO2e To be determined
Mobility Total vehicle miles traveled 515,738,090 575,190,655 To be determined Water Indoor per capita residential
water consumption (estimate)
24,904 gallons 24,171 gallons 17,537 gallons
Climate Adaptation
and Sea Level Rise
Progress towards sea level
rise levee alignments
Not applicable Not launched yet Not launched yet
Natural
Environment
City-wide Tree Canopy
coverage
36.8% Data unavailable 44% (includes open space,
Foothills Nature Preserve)
26% (urbanized areas only)
Zero Waste Diversion Rate 84% 91% TBD
12 12cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future 2024 2nd and 3rd Quarter Progress
13 13cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future S/CAP Key Issue Areas
cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction
SUSTAINABILITY AREAS
CLIMATE ACTION AREAS
14 14cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Climate Action Progress
• Progress on carbon emissions
– Not on a "straight line" trajectory to achieve 80x30 –but that is expected – 2023-2025 Work Plan Focus is on laying the groundwork for future growth - Pilots and new infrastructure to support future rapid adoption - Studies to support scaling up climate effort
- Raising awareness
– S/CAP Climate Action is a partnership – success requires extraordinary support by the City and extraordinary participation by community members
15 15cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Climate Protection Ad Hoc Committee
• Climate Protection Ad Hoc Committee
– Council Member Vicki Veenker (Chair) and Council Member Pat Burt – 19 meetings in 2024 plus 3 upcoming
• Climate Protection Working Group
– Bret Andersen, Carbon Free Palo Alto; Lincoln Bleavens, Stanford University; Justine Burt, Palo Alto Transportation Management Association; Rachel Croft, Utilities Advisory Commission; Bruce Hodge, Carbon Free Palo Alto; Mark Hoffberg; Tom Kabat; Phil Metz, Utilities Advisory Commission; Debbie Mytels, 350 Silicon Valley Palo Alto; Matt Passell; Anu Ramamurty, Kat Kid Adventure; Avroh Shah, Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition; Julia Zeitlin, Silicon Valley Sunrise Hub and Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition
– 8 meetings in 2024 plus 2 upcoming
16 16cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Climate Action Progress
• Modernizing the Electric Grid
– Goal is to enhance reliability and resiliency, add capacity for electrification, and modernize to integrate new technologies
– First neighborhood on track for completion early 2025 – about 1000 homes – Goal is about 5000 more homes each year for the following three years – Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan to evaluate new technologies that may help with reliability, local resiliency, reduce distribution investment • Other trends enhancing reliability
– Statewide preservation of generating capacity and growth in battery storage – Second transmission line continues to be a priority
17 17cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Climate Action Progress
• Program Successes
– Advanced Heat Pump Water Heater Pilot – over 450 HPWHs • 5-10 times as much participation per capita as other programs – Multi-family EV Charger Program – shared charger access for 13% of MFR units
• Includes three affordable housing complexes
– Commercial rooftop HVAC pilot
– Last mile transit solutions: extended Palo Alto Link through June, made progress on micromobility market assessment
– Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update feedback – Progress on Downtown & San Antonio Housing Plan
development
18 18cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Climate Action Progress
• New and Upcoming Programs
– Whole Home Electrification Pilot Program
– Study in progress on multi-family and non-
residential technologies to pilot
– Study on EV charging needs and how to greatly
expand access in progress
• Community Outreach
– Outreach via Earth Day Festival, tabling at events,
newsletters
– Added question on climate goal awareness to
Community Survey
– Created Youth Climate Advisory Board
– Utilities Director outreach about electric reliability
19 19cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Sustainability Progress
• Mitigate the potential for wildfires and plan for sea level rise – Palo Alto Horizontal Levee - first of its kind
to be built in the Bay Area
– Completed the Palo Alto Annex to the Santa Clara
County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Progress on an efficient and resilient water system
– WaterSmart customer portal, launched November 2022
– Continuing work on the RWQCP Advanced Water Purification System – Developing a "One Water" Plan for Palo Alto
20 20cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Sustainability Progress
• Protections to the local natural environment
– Establishing a baseline for carbon storage of Palo Alto’s urban tree canopy – Completed first year of implementation of the updated Tree Protection Ordinance
• Progress on zero waste goals
– Countywide edible food recovery program
– Reviewed Fiscal Year 2023 progress on the Deconstruction and Construction Material Management Ordinance
– Low Carbon Construction Materials Reach Code, went in effect January 1, 2023
21 21cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Whole Home Electrification Pilot Program
22 22cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Whole Home Program Two Phase Launch Plan
• Phase One (early 2025) – incentives, financing, technical assistance – Launch incentives (funding approved in FY 2025 Budget) – Promote GoGreen Financing
– Provide home electrification plans
– Over the counter mechanical/electrical/plumbing
permit pilot program
• Phase Two (summer 2025) – full service turnkey program – Contract for full service provider to manage the entire process for participants
23 23cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Proposed Whole Home Electrification Pilot Program Incentives ITEM
PROPOSED
INCENTIVE
per Home
100 Home
Pilot Comments/Assumptions
Heat Pump HVAC $2,500 $250,000
Additional Items:
Attic/Roof insulation $1,000 $30,000 Assume 30% of homes apply; $0.75/sqft, max $1000
Electric Panel $1,500 $15,000 10% of homes opt for panel upgrades Electric Readiness $2,000 $100,000 $500/circuit, up to $2000. Est. 50% utilization rate Disconnect Gas Meter $2,000 $20,000 10% of homes go all electric Program Costs:
Home Electrification Plan $300 $30,000 Plan + Electrification Advisor Permit Fees* TBD* $75,000 Permit fees, up to a capped amount Rebate Administration $120 $12,000
Transformer Upgrades TBD TBD Still estimating the cost of this item Total Program Costs** Up to $9,400 +
permit fees $532,000
* Tentative – staff intends to recommend covering permit fees. Payment method and dollar amounts still being designed. ** Turnkey service in Phase 2 would include additional project management & concierge service fees, TBD. 24 24cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction Acting Now for A Resilient Future Next steps in S/CAP Implementation
• Ongoing S/CAP Implementation
– Sustainability Programs
– Electrification Programs
– E-Mobility Strategic Plan adoption
– Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan policy discussions – S/CAP Funding Study discussions
• 2026-2028 Energy Code updates
• 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan development