Agenda Item 9:
2024 GHG Inventory and
S/CAP KPI Progress Report,
2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan,
and S/CAP Studies
Presenters:
Brad Eggleston, Director, Public Works
Jonathan Abendschein, Assistant Director, Climate Action Christine Luong, Sustainability Manager
March 2, 2026 www.paloalto.gov
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Objectives for Tonight
1. Review the 2024 Citywide & Municipal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories (Attachments A, B, and C); and
2. Review the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Key Performance Indicators Annual Progress Report for calendar year 2024 (Attachments D and E).
3. Approve the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan (Attachment F) as recommended by the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee (CASC); and
4. Receive the following studies as recommended by CASC:
a. S/CAP Funding and Financing Study (Attachment H);
b. EV Charger Needs Assessment (Attachment I);
c. Single-family, Multi-family, and Non-Residential Building Sector Studies (Attachments J, K, and L); and
d. S/CAP Funding Source Survey (Attachment M)
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2024 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
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2024 Palo Alto Citywide GHG Emissions Down ~50.2%
Source: 2024 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
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Palo Alto Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Capita
Source: 2024 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
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2024 Palo Alto Citywide GHG Emissions Down ~50.2%
80 x 30 Target
(160K MT CO2e)
Source: 2024 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
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2024 Palo Alto Citywide GHG Emission Sources
Source: 2024 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
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Progress Towards Carbon Neutrality ~ 66% reductions
Source: 2024 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
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Palo Alto in Context – Cities with 1990 Baseline Year
City Emissions
Reduction
Target
Carbon
Neutrality
Goal
GHG
Inventory
Year
GHG
Reduction
Per Capita
Emissions
1990
Per Capita
Emissions
Current
Palo Alto 80% by 2030 2030 2024 50% 14.3 6.1
Santa Monica 80% by 2030 2050 2023 54% 16 6.8
Cupertino 66% by 2030 2040 2024 26% 9.97 7.26
Belmont 40% by 2030 2045 2023 15% 5.08 3.9
Santa Barbara 100% by 2035 2035 2019 15% 8.16 6.72
Beverly Hills 40% by 2030 2045 2019 8% 14.2 12.5
Burbank 40% by 2030 2045 2022 6% 11.5 9.75
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2024 Palo Alto Municipal GHG Emissions
Source: 2024 Palo Alto GHG Emissions Inventory
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2024 Key Performance Indicators Progress
2024 Key Performance Indicators Progress Highlights
S/CAP Area Key Performance Indicator 2022 2023 2024
Climate Action GHG Reductions 47.4% 48.1% 50.2%
Energy GHG emissions from natural
gas use in buildings
144,996 MT CO2e
146,289 MT CO2e 127,051 MT CO2e
Electric Vehicles GHG emissions, vehicle travel 221,923 MT CO2e 225,387 MT CO2e 226,019 MT CO2e* Mobility Total vehicle miles traveled 575,190,655 597,735,000 601,350,463* (est.) Water Indoor per capita residential
water consumption (est.)
24,171 gallons 17,537 gallons 17,927 gallons
Climate
Adaptation and
Sea Level Rise
Progress towards sea level rise
levee alignments
Not launched yet No data USACE feasibility study
conducted; no federal
interest in funding
large levee alignment
projects at this time
Natural
Environment
City-wide Tree Canopy
coverage
No data 26% (urbanized areas)
44% (includes Foothills
Nature Preserve)
Data forthcoming
Zero Waste Diversion Rate 91% 91% 88%
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2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan
14 14Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction S/CAP Key Issue Areas
SUSTAINABILITY AREAS
CLIMATE ACTION AREAS
15 15Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan - Sustainability
Sustainability – 27 work items
– 14 On-going projects
– 13 Discrete projects: 8 Completed 5 In progress 1 delayed – 3 in-progress items added to 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan • 8B. Design and Build a Salt Removal Facility for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant
• 8F. Develop a Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan
• 8Y . Eliminate Single-Use Disposable Containers
16 16Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan Outcomes - Sustainability
• Launched WaterSmart online water management tool, accessed by 36% of single-family customers, generating water savings of 3.4% • Commenced construction for the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Project • Completed the 2025 Community Wildfire Protection Plan • Began updating the Tree and Landscape Technical Manual • Launched a Zero Waste Living outreach campaign
17 17Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan - Sustainability
Water
S1. Water Efficiency and Conservation Measures
S2. Improve Recycled Water Quality through Salt Removal S3. Identify and Implement Water Distribution System Adaptation Measures Sea Level Rise
S4. Finalize Partnership Agreement with Santa Clara County on SB272 Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan requirements to Develop a Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan
S5. Update City’s Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy to also include Sea Level Rise Planning Decision-Making Points in the City
S6. Complete Construction and Begin Monitoring the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project (PAHLPP)
S7. Continue Partnership with Valley Water on Sea Level Rise / Shoreline Levee Improvement Efforts
Wildfire
Protection
S8. Implement the Foothills Fire Management Plan
18 18Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan - Sustainability
Natural
Environment
S9. Increase Tree Canopy in South Palo Alto
S10. Reduce Pesticide Use in Parks and Open Space Preserves Green
Stormwater
Infrastructure
S11. Construct a Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project at a City of Palo Alto Park S12. Increase Green Stormwater Infrastructure on City of Palo Alto Property and/or Right- of-Way
S13. Quantify Land Area that Uses Green Stormwater Infrastructure to Treat Urban Water Runoff
Zero Waste
S14. Champion Waste Prevention, Reduction, Reusables, and the Sharing Economy S15. Eliminate Single-Use Disposable Containers and Reduce Disposal Foodware S16. Promote Food Waste Reduction
19 19Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan - Communications
Communications
C1. Build awareness about sustainability and climate action and City programs available to the community
C2. Drive community actions to achieve S/CAP goals
C3. S/CAP Data Collection and Annual Reporting
20 20Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan - Climate Action
• Climate Action – 50 work items
– 16 On-going projects
– 34 Discrete projects: 27 Completed 6 In progress 1 delayed – 5 in-progress items included in 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan • 2.2D. Commuter Transportation and EV Charging Strategy • 2.3D. Micromobility Evaluations
• 2.4B. Facility Electrification Assessment Implementation • 2.4F Publicly Owned Charger Planning
• 5 D. Gas Utility Financial and Operating Plan
21 21Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan Outcomes - Climate
• Launched building electrification and EV charger programs, mostly in the residential sector. More needed in multi-family and non-residential – 2023-2025 studies inform future multi-family/non-residential program design • Built community awareness of electrification programs, but more work needed on raising awareness of the 80x30 goal itself
• Did pilots and studies to learn about building infrastructure for an electrified community
• Built tools and data to enable staff to develop policy options for funding and financing of community-wide electrification 22 22Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan - Climate Action
Single-Family
CA1. Continue Advanced Home Electrification Pilot Program CA2. Develop a Residential Electrification as a Service or Similar Financing Pilot for Council Approval
CA3. Enhance data tracking for home electrification
Multi-Family
CA4. Launch Enhanced Multifamily EV Charging Infrastructure Program CA5. Develop a Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) or Similar Financing Pilot for Council Approval
CA6. Continue Affordable Multifamily Building Electrification Incentive Program CA7. Launch Multi-Family Technical Assistance
Non-Residential
CA8. Launch Advanced Heat Pump HVAC Program
CA9. Develop a Commercial Electrification as a Service pilot or Similar Financing Pilot for Council Approval
CA10. Launch Workplace EV Charging Pilot
CA11. Launch Pilot program for Electrification of Centralized Water Heaters and Boilers CA12. Establish One or More Partnerships with Large Commercial Facility Owners 23 23Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan - Climate Action
Regulatory,
Analytics,
Finances, and
Strategy
CA13. Develop S/CAP Funding and Financing Strategies for City Council Consideration CA14. Develop Potential Regulatory Measures to Drive Climate Action CA15. Develop Carbon Neutrality Strategies for City Council Consideration CA16. Cost-Based Pricing of Non-Electric Decarbonization and Inefficient Electrification CA17. Reduce Permitting, Interconnection, and Other Barriers to Adoption CA18. Develop Public Charging Siting and Business Models Infrastructure CA19. Continue Grid Modernization
CA20. Develop Gas Transition Management Strategies
Mobility
CA21. Achieve Benchmarks for Bicycle and Pedestrian Capital Improvement Projects CA22. Implement Micromobility Feasibility Study Recommendations CA23. Continue Traffic Signal Operations and Multimodal Improvements CA24. Continue Implementing the Housing Element / Land Use Planning and Policy CA25. Update City’s Traffic Calming Policy and Process
Municipal Assets
and Operations
CA26. Develop and begin implementing a City Facility Electrification Plan CA27. Electrify City Vehicle Fleet when Feasible
CA28. Explore the electric capacity needs of the Palo Alto Airport for electric aviation 24 24Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction Feedback Incorporated in 2026-2027 Work Plan
• Feedback received from
– Climate Action and Sustainability Committee (CASC)
– Climate Action Working Group
– Climate Action and Sustainability Committee Workshop Attendees • Feedback incorporated from May 5, Nov 20, January 9 CASC meetings and Dec 13 CASC Workshop
• High level feedback received at the January 9 CASC meeting – Weave 80 x 30 into Communications Strategies
– Make titles of the strategies clearer
– Include regional collaboration
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S/CAP Studies
26 26Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction S/CAP Studies
• The S/CAP Funding and Financing Study: developed S/CAP Funding Model for funding policy development and modeled three scenarios that illustrate financial dynamics of community-scale electrification • The EV Charger Needs Assessment: evaluates illustrative scenarios for EV adoption and charging strategies in Palo Alto
• The S/CAP Funding Source Survey: an inventory of potential funding sources for community-wide electrification.
• Single-Family, Multi-Family, and Non-Residential Building Sector Studies: provide data and insights on building electrification strategies and costs that can be used for program design and strategic planning
27 27Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction Key S/CAP Funding Study Insights
• At a community level, the costs of electrification exceed the benefits • These costs and benefits are unevenly distributed
• Incentive-only approach exceeds currently available City resources • Electrified future means higher up-front costs, lower ongoing costs • Building electrification a net cost, light duty EV adoption a net benefit • Achieving goal over longer period cuts community costs, has tradeoffs • 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan item - model a variety of strategies and scenarios for achieving climate goals for City Council consideration
28 28Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction December 13 CASC Workshop
• CASC, UAC representative, staff, Air District representative, and 20 members of the public
• Reviewed insights from previous slide
• Discussed balance between regulatory measures and incentives • Brainstormed creative alternatives to incentive programs to accelerate electrification in Palo Alto
29 29Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Review the 2024 Citywide & Municipal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories; and
2. Review the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Key Performance Indicators Annual Progress Report for calendar year 2024.
The Climate Action and Sustainability Committee and staff recommend that the City Council:
3. Approve the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan; and
4. Receive the following studies:
a. S/CAP Funding and Financing Study;
b. S/CAP Funding Source Survey;
c. EV Charger Needs Assessment; and
d. Single-family, Multi-family, and Non-Residential Building Sector Studies.
Thank You!