City of
SAN MATEO
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
Adopted by the San Mateo City Council on April 6, 2020 by Resolution 31(2020) Technical Update – July 2023, Public Review Draft
Prepared for the City of San Mateo by:
PlaceWorks in collaboration with DNV GL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (2020)
City of San Mateo
City Council
Mayor Joe Goethals
Deputy Mayor Eric Rodriguez
Council Member Rick Bonilla
Council Member Amourence Lee
Council Member Diane Papan
Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission
Rafael Reyes, Chair
Susan Rowinski, Vice Chair
Clifford Robbins
Greg St. Clair
Jackie Nuñez
Planning Commission
Mike Etheridge, Chair
Ellen Mallory, Vice Chair
John Ebneter
Ramiro Maldonado
Margaret Williams
City Staff
Drew Corbett, City Manager
Kathy Kleinbaum, Assistant City Manager
Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst
Kohar Kojayan, Community Development Director
Julia Klein, Principal Planner
Wendy Lao, Associate Planner
Alice Chen, Plan Check Supervisor
Roxanne Murray, Solid Waste and
Recycling Program Coordinator
Sue-Ellen Atkinson, Principal Transportation Planner
David Fink, Facilities and Fleet Services Manager
Gabrielle Whelan, Assistant City Attorney
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ii City of San Mateo July 2023
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (2023)
City of San Mateo
City Council
Mayor Amourence Lee
Deputy Mayor Lisa Diaz Nash
Council Member Adam Loraine
Council Member Rob Newsom Jr.
Council Member Rich Hedges
Sustainability and Infrastructure
Commission
Susan Rowinski, Chair
Kimiko Narita, Vice Chair
Clifford Robbins
Sigalle Michael
Pam Rittelmeyer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary...............................................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose of the Climate Action Plan................................................................................................................................................1 Key Outcomes of the CAP..................................................................................................................................................................3 Chapter 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Purpose................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Climate Change Science................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Local Context........................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Regulatory Framework ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Climate Action Planning Process.................................................................................................................................................. 30 Chapter 2 Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Forecasts, and Reduction Targets................................................................ 35 Background........................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Baseline Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory......................................................................................................................... 35 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Forecast........................................................................................................................................... 43 GHG Emissions Reduction Targets............................................................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 3 Strategies to Achieve the Targets.............................................................................................................................. 49 Revised and New GHG Reduction Measures........................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 4 Implementation................................................................................................................................................................... 98 Implementing the Climate Action Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 98 Implementation Measures .............................................................................................................................................................. 99 Work Plan ............................................................................................................................................................................................100 Glossary........................................................................................................................................................................................................106 Appendix 1: Technical Appendix: Methods and Assumptions..........................................................................................1-1 Appendix 2: CAP Measure Key Metrics.........................................................................................................................................2-1 Appendix 3: CAP Consistency Checklist........................................................................................................................................3-1 Appendix 4: Summary of Community Workshop....................................................................................................................4-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ii City of San Mateo July 2023
TABLES
Table ES-1: Reductions from Existing and Planned Accomplishments 7 Table ES-2: Reductions by Measure 8
Table 1: California Climate Change Impacts 19
Table 2: San Mateo Population (2005 – 2019) 39
Table 3: San Mateo 2005 Community-Wide GHG Emissions 40 Table 4: San Mateo 2005-2019 Community-Wide Emissions 41 Table 5: San Mateo 2005 and 2019 Community Emissions (Per-Capita) 43 Table 6: San Mateo 2019, 2030, 2040, and 2045 Growth Indicators 43 Table 7: San Mateo Community-Wide BAU GHG Emissions Sector Totals 45 Table 8: San Mateo Emissions with CAP Implementation (2030 – 2045) 49 Table 9: Reductions from CAP Measures (2030 – 2045) 50
Table 10: San Mateo Community-Wide GHG Emissions Reductions from State Programs 53 Table 11: Emissions Reductions from Local and Regional Programs 57 Table 12: Emissions with Existing and Planned Efforts 57 Table 13: GHG Emissions Reductions by Measure Topic, 2030-2045 (MTCO2e) 95 Table 14: CAP Implementation Work Plan 102
Table 1-1: Emissions Coefficients for CAP Measures 1-2
Table 2-1: CAP Measure Key Metrics 2-2
TABLE OF CONTENTS AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan iii
FIGURES
Figure ES-1: CAP Timeline 3
Figure ES-2: GHG Inventory Sectors 4
Figure ES-3: 2019 GHG Emissions 5
Figure 1: The Greenhouse Effect 16
Figure 2: Potential Global Temperature Increases 18
Figure 3: Historic and Projected Snowpack Levels Impacting San Mateo’s Water Supply 20 Figure 4: Sea Level Rise in San Mateo (2100) 22
Figure 5: San Mateo 2005 Community-Wide GHG Emissions (MTCO2e) 40 Figure 6: San Mateo 2005-2019 Community-Wide GHG Emissions (MTCO2e) 42 Figure 7: CAP Co-Benefits 60
Figure 8: San Mateo GHG Emissions with Reduction Measures, 2030-2045 (MTCO2e) 96
TABLE OF CONTENTS AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
iv City of San Mateo July 2023
Sidewalk art from the City’s 2014 Downtown Cleanup.
Photo by City of San Mateo
TABLE OF CONTENTS AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan v
List of Abbreviations
Acronym/Abbreviation Term
AB Assembly Bill
ABAG Association of Bay Area Governments
BAAQMD Bay Area Air Quality Management District
BAU business-as-usual
CALGreen California Green Building Standards
CAP Climate Action Plan
CARB California Air Resources Board
C/CAG City/County Association of San Mateo County
CEC California Energy Commission
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CO2 carbon dioxide
EIR environmental impact report
EMFAC CARB Emission Factor
GHG greenhouse gas
I- Interstate
kW kilowatt
kWh kilowatt-hour
MPO metropolitan planning organization
MTC Metropolitan Transportation Commission
MTCO2e metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
OPR Office of Planning and Research
PCE Peninsula Clean Energy
TABLE OF CONTENTS AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
vi City of San Mateo July 2023
Acronym/Abbreviation Term
PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company
RICAPS Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite RPS Renewables Portfolio Standard
SB Senate Bill
SCS sustainable communities strategy
SR- State Route
TDM Transportation Demand Management
TMA transportation management agency
TNC Transportation network company
TOD transit-oriented development
USEPA US Environmental Protection Agency
VMT vehicle miles traveled
Executive Summary
PURPOSE OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
This Climate Action Plan (CAP) is San Mateo’s comp rehensive strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It demonstrates the leadership of community members and the City on sustainability and GHG reduction. San Mateo’s General Plan directs the preparation, ongoing implementation and update of the CAP, providing the framework for San Mateo to reduce its community-wide GHG emissions in a manner consistent with state reduction targets and goals for 2030 and 2045. The CAP is prepared consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for Plans for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (California Code of Regulations Section 15183.5). This allows th e CAP to support and possibly streamline environmental review of GHG emissions related to future development projects within the city.
This CAP is a direct update to the 2015 CAP. The CAP analyzes San Mateo’s progress to date in meeting its GHG reduction targets and contains new information to achieve more significant and longer-term GHG reductions. It also presents a work plan and monitoring program for the City to track progress over time and maintain the status of the CAP as a qualified GHG reduction strategy for the purposes of CEQA streamlining. Since the City’s adoption of the CAP in 2020, the State of California has accelerated its actions and commitments to reduce statewide GHG emissions. In addition to State targets, the CAP and General Plan must follow regional air district guidance and thresholds to serve as the City's qualified GHG reduction strategy. In 2022, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) approved new thresholds of significance to determine whether a proposed project, including general plans and CAPs, will have a significant impact on climate change. In response to these changes, the City completed this technical update to the 2020 CAP so that it is consistent with the Strive San
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2 City of San Mateo July 2023
Mateo General Plan 2040 and continues to serve as the City’s qualified GHG reduction strategy, as it has since 2015.
Local Leadership
San Mateo has an extensive history of action on GHG re duction and other environmental sustainability actions.
This CAP allows community members, City staff and officials, and other stakeholders to understand San Mateo’s existing planning efforts and strategies to achieve its GH G reduction goals. It builds on several earlier efforts, including the 2007 Sustainable Initiatives Plan, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Program, the Climate Action Plan for Operations and Facilities, the 2015 CAP, and many other local accomplishments to date.
Planning Process
The City prepared the CAP as a collaborative effort between City staff, City officials, members of the public, and agency partners. San Mateo’s existing GHG accomplishments is a core foundation of the CAP. From 2005 to 2019, San Mateo achieved a 22 percent decrease in GHG emi ssions. Programs such as Peninsula Clean Energy, composting and other waste reduction efforts, increased adoption of electric and more fuel-efficient vehicles, and improved energy efficiency and water conservation have all helped to achieve this reduction and will continue to reduce GHG emissions far into the future. By 2045, these local efforts are expected to reduce San Mateo’s GHG emission levels over 25 percent below where they would be without these actions.
Starting with these existing efforts, City staff and community members identified opportunities for new and expanded GHG reduction programs in San Mateo, touc hing on all major sources of GHG emissions in the community and leveraging new opportunities for GHG redu ctions that were not available when the City was preparing the 2015 CAP. Through conversations with other City staff members, a public open house meeting, and discussions with the Sustainability and Infrastruc ture Commission, the project team revised this list to produce a final list of GHG reduction measures and the volume of reductions they enable. The CAP allows San Mateo to meet and, in some instances, exceed the state-recommended targets for local communities. This CAP also includes an implementation and monitoring work plan for City staff to put these measures into effect and to track their effectiveness.
Figure ES-1 shows the timeline for the 2020 CAP.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 3
Figure ES-1:CAP Timeline
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE CAP
The CAP includes two major sets of technical analyses. The first is an inventory of San Mateo’s recent GHG emissions and a forecast of how these emissions may change in the future. The second is a set of calculations (known as quantification) showing how the CAP measures, as well as existing and planned efforts, can reduce GHG emissions consistent with the City’s targets.
Community GHG Inventories
GHG inventories are assessments of San Mateo’s GHG emissions from a variety of sources over the course of a calendar year. San Mateo has several previous GHG inventories, including ones for the calendar years 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2017. As part of the 2023 technical update to the CAP, the project team prepared a fifth inventory, for the calendar year 2019. The project team chose to pr epare a 2019 GHG inventory as opposed to a 2020 GHG inventory so that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place orders would not skew the data.
The project team made limited updates to the previous year inventories to use the same methods and data sources as the 2019 inventory, informed by State guidance and best practices. This ensures that all five inventories are consistent and provide an accurate assessment of how San Mateo’s GHG emissions have changed over time. •CAP 2023
Technical
update
2023/
2024
•Adopt
2020 CAP
Spring
2020
•Conduct
public
hearings
and
review
Winter
2019
•Draft 2020
CAP
Autumn
2019
•Finalize
GHG
reduction
measures
•Quantify
GHG
reduction
measures
Summer
2019
•Begin
developin
g GHG
reduction
measures
Spring
2019
•Complete
inventory
and
forecast
•Collect
data on
existing
and
planned
actions
Winter
2019
•Project
kick-off
•Begin
inventory
work
Autumn
2018
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4 City of San Mateo July 2023
San Mateo’s GHG emissions are caused by activities that take place within the city limits, even if the emissions are physically emitted elsewhere. For example, GHG emi ssions caused by the decomposition of trash thrown away in San Mateo are counted in these inventories, even though the decomposition (and resulting emission of GHGs) occurs in a landfill that is not located in San Mateo. All measurements of GHG emissions are in the common unit of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO
2e), which allows for the different strengths of various GHGs to be expressed in a single unit.
Figure ES-2 shows the 10 sources (sectors) of GHG emissions included in the inventories in this CAP.
Figure ES-2: GHG Inventory Sectors
* Informational item, not included in the total of San Mateo’s emissions.
In 2005, San Mateo’s GHG emissions totaled 666,410 MTCO2e. These emissions fell to 651,450 MTCO2e in 2010, 592,010 MTCO2e in 2015, 533,730 MTCO 2e in 2017, and 520,410 MTCO 2e in 2019, a decline of 2 percent, 11 percent, 20 percent, and 22 percent relative to 2005 levels respectively. In all years, the on-road transportation sector is the largest source of emissions, followed by emissions from the two built environment sectors, off-road equipment, solid waste generation, and point sources. La ndfill, rail, and water and wastewater emissions were On-road
transportation
Commercial and
industrial built
environment
Residential built
environment
Off-road
equipment
Solid waste
generation Point sources * Landfill Rail
Water and
wastewater
Land use and
sequestration
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 5
consistently the smallest sources. This CAP uses 2019 as the current year GHG inventory to present normal conditions, as the protocols suggest. Use of data from 2020 would represent an anomalous year as several sectors were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related changes to day-to-day activities resulting from precautions and restrictions. Figure ES-3 shows emissions by sector for 2019.
Figure ES-3: 2019 GHG Emissions
* Point sources are included as an informational item and are not counted towards the total GHG emissions for the City.
On-road transportation:
51%
Residential built
environment:
21%
Commercial/ industrial
built environment:
Solid waste
generation:
4%
Point sources:
3%*
Off-road
equipment:
3%
Rail:
1%
Landfill:
1%
Water and
wastewater:
<1%
0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000
MTCO2e
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6 City of San Mateo July 2023
Forecast
The forecast is a projection of future GHG emissions, showing how these emissions would change over time if no action is taken at the federal, State, or local level to reduce them. In the forecast, changes in emissions are caused by changes in population. As San Mateo is expected to continue to grow through 2045, the forecast projects an increase in emissions. The CAP projects emissions to grow to 605,240 MTCO 2e by 2030, 696,810
MTCO2e by 2040, and 750,400 MTCO 2e by 2045 if no action is taken, a total increase of 44 percent from 2019 levels.
Targets
The CAP sets substantial GHG reduction goals for San Mateo, consistent with the City’s role as a sustainability leader. The CAP relies on the recommended GHG reduction goals in the State’s Climate Change Scoping Plan to set targets for GHG reductions and support a path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, adapted to ensure that they are appropriate for San Mateo and meet the CEQA requirements for community-wide plans as well as individual development projects. These targets are:
x 2030: Reduce emissions to 40 percent below 1990 le vels (49 percent below base line 2005 levels), equal to 339,880 MTCO
2e.
x 2045: Reduce emissions to 85 percent below 1990 levels (87 percent below baseline 2005 levels), equal to 84,970 MTCO2e.
Existing and Planned Accomplishments
The forecast represents a “worst case” scenario if no action is taken to reduce GHG emissions. However, San Mateo, along with regional and State agencies, have already taken actions to reduce GHG emissions below their 2019 limit and to close the gap to the City’s GHG reduction targets. The CAP identifies the GHG reductions from these existing and planned accomplishments. Table ES-1 shows the reductions from these accomplishments and San Mateo’s projected future emissions affect taking these accomplishments into account.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 7
Table ES-1: Reductions from Existing and Planned Accomplishments 2030 2040 2045
Forecasted Emissions 605,420 MTCO2e 696,810 MTCO2e 750,400 MTCO2e Reductions from State existing and planned
accomplishments -72,900 MTCO2e -147,970 MTCO2e -196,140 MTCO2e Reductions from local and regional existing
and planned accomplishments -23,980 MTCO2e -18,360 MTCO2e -4,950 MTCO2e Emissions with existing and planned
accomplishments 508,380 MTCO2e 530,510 MTCO2e 549,320 MTCO2e Reduction Measures
This CAP builds on the GHG reduction measures in the 2015 CAP, as well as the existing and planned accomplishments, to provide an updated suite of GHG reduction measures that meet the City’s targets. These measures are informed by several sources, including discussions with City staff, feedback from public engagement efforts, and direction from the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission. This CAP contains 29 GHG reduction measures, all of which also provide additional community benefits such as financial savings and improvements to public health. Table ES-2 shows these measures and the GHG reductions they allow.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
8 City of San Mateo July 2023
Table ES-2: Reductions by Measure
Measure 2030 2040 2045
BE 1: All-electric new construction -21,070 -38,450 -47,250 BE 2: All-electric existing buildings -102,210 -184,610 -221,260 RE 1: Peninsula Clean Energy -160 -170 0
RE 2: Renewable energy systems for new and existing
residences -70 -160 0
RE 3: Renewable energy systems for new and existing
nonresidential buildings -60 -90 0
EE 1: Residential energy efficiency retrofits -6,160 -7,020 -6,790 EE 2: Nonresidential energy efficiency retrofits -3,800 -8,860 -13,380 EE 3: Residential tree planting Less than -10 Less than -10 0 ME 1: Energy efficiency for new municipal buildings Supportive (no measurable GHG reductions) ME 2: Energy efficiency at existing municipal buildings -10 -30 -40 ME 3: All-electric municipal buildings -130 -200 -270
CF 1: Electric vehicle charging infrastructure -24,420 -49,390 -69,780 CF 2: Electric vehicle education and outreach -4,910 -8,030 -12,360 CF 3: Clean city fleet -130 -200 -270
CF 4: Clean fuel and vehicle emissions -4,210 -16,920 -26,360 ST 1: Bicycle mode share -80 -170 -180
ST 2: Pedestrian mode share -110 -120 -130
ST 3: Micromobility and shared mobility Supportive (no measurable GHG reductions) ST 4: Public transit service -3,610 -5,660 -6,910
ST 5: Commuter programs Less than -10 -70 -160
ST 6: Transportation Demand Management -2,010 -7,950 -13,410 ST 7: Transit-oriented development -10,200 -18,920 -23,700
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 9
Measure 2030 2040 2045
SW 1: Composting program -1,030 -1,710 -1,850
SW 2: Expanded recycling service -6,070 -7,730 -8,820
SW 3: Waste awareness and source reduction -2,080 -4,050 -5,590 WW 1: Water efficiency retrofits for existing buildings -170 -300 -360 WW 2: Water-efficient landscaping Less than -10 -10 0
WW 3: Water efficiency in new construction Less than -10 -10 -20 OR 1: Alternative fuel lawn and garden equipment -3,660 -7,130 -9,890 Total -196,360 -367,960 -468,780
Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
When the CAP is fully implemented, it is projected to reduce GHG emissions to meet or exceed San Mateo’s reduction targets:
x Projected 2030 emissions with the CAP are 311,990 MTCO 2e, below the reduction target of 339,880 MTCO2e.
x Projected 2045 emissions with the CAP are 80,550 MTCO 2e, below the City’s reduction target of 84,970 MTCO2e
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
10 City of San Mateo July 2023
Implementation
Successfully achieving these GHG reductions depends on effective implementation of the CAP. The CAP includes a work plan to help identify the lead City department(s), timeframe, and estimated staff time for each of the GHG reduction measures, which will help prioritize the measures and identify a work program. City staff will monitor implementation of the CAP, report annually on CAP implementation, and will revise the work program as needed to ensure the best use of City and community resources. This approach will help ensure that San Mateo stays on track to meet or exceed its GHG reduction targets and will make it easier to update the CAP in future years, as necessary.
New and emerging technologies, such as systems that track real-time energy use and suggest ways to improve energy efficiency, can help San Mateo continue to reduce its GHG emissions.
Photo by Dennis Schroeder/NREL (22290)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 11
Addressing climate change will help provide numerous benefits to San Mateo community residents, including supporting the conservation of San Mateo’s outdoor resources.
Photo by City of San Mateo
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
12 City of San Mateo July 2023
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Chapter 1
Introduction
This Climate Action Plan (CAP) demonstrates the City of San Mateo’s leadership and commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
This CAP is a comprehensive strategy to reduce GHG emissions and streamline the environmental review of GHG emissions of future development projects in the City of San Mateo, consistent with the Calif ornia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15183.5(b). The CAP identifies a strategy, reduction measures, and implementation actions the City will use to achieve targets consistent with State recommendations of 85 percent below 1990 emissions levels by 2045.
GHG Reduction
Targets
This CAP implements a
key goal of the City’s
2040 General Plan by
achieving the City’s
adopted GHG
reduction targets for
2030 and 2045, which
align with State-
recommended GHG
reduction goals.
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14 City of San Mateo July 2023
PURPOSE
The City of San Mateo first adopted a CAP in 2015, based on a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. This CAP consolidated and updated multiple earlier plans, consistent with the City’s 2030 General Plan, including the Sustainable Initiatives Plan (adopted in 2007), Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Program (adopted in 2010), and the Climate Action Plan for Operations and Facilities (adopted in 2008). Regionally, the 2015 CAP drew on the City’s involvement with countywide climate action planning efforts. The 2015 CAP integrated early and ongoing efforts into a single plan that supported the General Plan and followed CEQA and air quality guidelines set by the State and BAAQMD.
The 2015 CAP recommended that the document be updated at least once every five years to address emerging issues and changing best practices related to GHG emissions, including new regulations, the availability of new technologies, and changes to development patterns. The City completed an update to the CAP in 2020 and again in 2023. This CAP preserves the structure and format of the 2015 document while providing updated information, an expanded set of GHG reduction measures, a longer-term planning horizon, and alignment with the goals of the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040. As a result, this CAP provides a revised framework for addressing GHG emissions in the community, including an updated co nsolidated framework for the review and analysis of GHG emissions from new development activities.
Although the CAP was recently updated and adopted, th e City’s update to the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 and new State laws necessitate a technical update to the CAP so that the CAP will maintain consistency with the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 when adopted and can continue to serve as a qualified GHG reduction strategy.
Since the City’s adoption of the CAP in 2020, the State of California has accelerated its actions and commitments to reduce statewide GHG emissions with the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 1279 codifying the State’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2045. As part of this commitment to carbon neutrality, AB 1279 directs a minimum statewide reduction of GHGs to at least 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2045. In addition to State targets, the CAP and General Plan must follow regional air district guidance and thresholds to serve as the City's qualified GHG reduction strategy. In April 2022, the Bay Area Ai r Quality Management District (BAAQMD) approved new thresholds of significance to determine whether a proposed project, including general plans and CAPs, will have a significant impact on climate change. BAAQMD strongly recommends that cities and counties adopt a CAP that has been prepared consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) to demonstrate their ability to meet the State’s GHG reduction goals for 2030 and 2045. In response to these changes, the City completed a technical update to the 2020 CAP in 2023 so that it is consistent with Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 and continues Warming of the climate
system is unequivocal,
and since the 1950s,
many of the observed
changes are
unprecedented over
decades to millennia.
The atmosphere and
ocean have warmed,
the amounts of snow
and ice have
diminished, sea level
has risen, and the
concentrations of
greenhouse gases have
increased.
– IPCC Fifth
Assessment Report
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 15
to serve as the City’s qualified GHG reduction strategy, as it has since 2015. The approach for this technical update is consistent with the BAAQMD guidance available.
The CAP allows City decision makers and the community to understand the sources and magnitude of local GHG emissions, establish goals to reduce GHG emissions, and prioritize steps to achieve emissions reduction targets.
The CAP updates and expands the City’s goals, measures, and actions to reduce community-wide GHG emissions.
It also revises San Mateo’s implementation program and framework to monitor and report progress.
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
To make meaningful and effective decisions regarding GHG emissions reductions, it is important to understand the scientific and regulatory framework under which this Plan has been developed. This section provides a brief introduction to the scientific research efforts to understand how climate change occurs and its global implications, and describes the federal, State, regional, and local regulations that provide guidance and inform the development of this Plan.
Since the early 1990s, scientific consensus holds that the world’s population is releasing GHGs faster than the earth’s natural systems can absorb them. These gases are released as byproducts of fossil fuel combustion, waste disposal, industrial processes, land-use changes, and other human activities. While often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the terms “climate chan ge” and “global warming.” According to the National Academy of Sciences, climate change refers to any significant, measurable change of climate lasting for an extended period that can be caused by both natural factors and human activities. Global warming, on the other hand, is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere caused by increased GHG emissions. The use of the term “climate change” is more accurate becau se it encompasses all changes to climate, not just temperature.
Greenhouse Effect
The release of gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N 2O), creates a blanket around the earth that allows light to pass through but traps heat at the surface preventing its escape into space (Figure 1). These gases function similarly to the glass panes of a greenhouse, which allow sunlight to pass into the building but trap heat inside, hence the name for this process: the greenhouse effect. While the greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring process that is vital for the existence of life, human activities have accelerated the generation of GHGs beyond natural levels. The overabundance of the gases that cause this effect, known as greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere has led to an une xpected warming of the earth and has the potential to severely impact the earth’s climate system.
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16 City of San Mateo July 2023
Climate Change Impacts
The continued release of GHGs at or above the current rate will continue to increase average temperatures around the globe. These increases in global temperatures are likely to change our planet’s climate in ways that will have significant global, regional, and local long-term effects.
Figure 1:The Greenhouse Effect
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center. 2008. NOAA Satellite and Information Service.
Global Climate Change Impacts
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report summarizes the most recent scientific understanding of global climate change and projects future conditions using the most comprehensive set of recognized global climate models. The report, released in 2013, considers all impacts human activities have on global temperature, and states that there is at least a 95 percent probability that “human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20 th century.” The Fifth Assessment Report projects
four different temperature scenarios, all of which project 2016–2035 temperatures 0.54 to 1.26°F warmer than the 1986–2005 average temperature, and potentially over 7.2°F by 2100 under the most aggressive scenario.
It is extremely likely [at
least a 95% probability]
that human influence
has been the dominant
cause of the observed
warming since the mid-
20th century.
– IPCC Fifth Assessment
Report
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 17
As asserted in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report and other scientific studies, if trends remain unchanged, continued GHG emissions above current rates will induce further warming changes in the global climate system and pose even greater risks than those currently witnessed. Figure 2 shows the effects of additional warming on global temperatures. Given the scientific basis of climate change and expected trends, the challenge remains to prepare for and mitigate climate change through deliberate global and local action.
Emission Scenarios
The future severity of climate change depends on future GHG emission trends worldwide. If GHG emissions drop quickly and significantly, scientists project that there will be fewer substantial changes in future climate conditions. If emissions continue to increase, or only decline slowly and in the more distant future, severe climate change is more likely. These emission trends depend on political actions, economic conditions, individual behavior, and many other factors.
The global scientific community commonly uses four scenarios, called Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). In California, the best available data is for two of these scenarios: RCP 4.5 (a medium-low emissions scenario) and RCP 8.5 (a high emissions scenario). For the sake of a conservative analysis that identifies the greatest potential range of climate change effects, this section presents results of the RCP 8.5 scenario.
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18 City of San Mateo July 2023
Figure 2: Potential Global Temperature Increases
Historic and potential future global temperatures, depending on different levels of future GHG emissions. The red line shows the expected temperature trend without significant worldwide action to reduce GHG emissions Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2019 Climate Change Impacts to California and the City of San Mateo The City of San Mateo, like most communities in California, is expected to experience multiple direct impacts as a result of climate change, including potential flooding , sea level rise, wildfires, drought, extreme heat, and negative effects on public health and biodiversity. Research suggests that California will experience hotter and drier conditions, reductions in winter snow and increases in winter rains, sea level rise, significant changes to the water cycle, and an increased occurrence of extreme weather events. Such compounded impacts will affect transportation networks, water supplies, and economic systems throughout the state, with likely ramifications in the City of San Mateo. To refrain from action is costly and risky; the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 19
estimates that no action to address the potential impacts of climate change will lead to economic losses of “tens of billions of dollars per year in direct costs” and “expose trillions of dollars of assets to collateral risk.” Table 1 summarizes potential impacts in California due to climate change.
Table 1: California Climate Change Impacts
Climate Impact Historical Trends Future Direction
of Change
Confidence for
Future Change
Temperature Warming Warming Very High
Sea Level Rise Rising Rising Very High
Snowpack Declining Declining Very High
Annual Precipitation No Significant Trends Unknown Low
Intensity of Heavy Precipitation Events No Significant Trends Increasing Medium-High Frequency of Droughts No Significant Trends Increasing Medium-High Frequency and Intensity of Santa Ana
Winds No Significant Trends Unknown Low
Marine Layer Clouds Some Downward
Trends Unknown Low
Acres Burned by Wildfire Increasing Increasing Medium-High Source: Bedsworth, Louise, Dan Cayan, Guido Franco, Leah Fisher, Sonya Ziaja. (California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission). 2018.
Statewide Summary Report. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Publication number: SUMCCCA4-2018-013.
Decreased Supply of Fresh Water
The State’s water supply is already under stress and is anticipated to shrink under even the most conservative climate change scenario. Warmer average global temperatures cause more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, making the winter snowfall season shorter and accelerating the rate at which the snowpack melts in the spring. The Sierra snowpack is estimated to decline by at more than two-thirds below its historical average by 2050. Figure 3 shows anticipated changes in snowpack levels above the Hetch Hetchy reservoir watershed, the source of most of the water used in San Mateo, under a high GHG emissions scenario. With rain and snow events becoming less predictable and more variable, the rate of flooding could increase beyond what is currently considered flood-prone, and California’s ability to store and transport fresh water for consumption could decrease. Further, warmer weather will lead to longer growing seasons and increased agricultural demand for CHAPTER 1
20 City of San Mateo July 2023
water throughout the state, as well as an increase in the prevalence of ticks, mosquitos, and other vectors for harmful diseases.
Figure 3: Historic and Projected Snowpack Levels Impacting San Mateo’s Water Supply Source: Cal-Adapt 2019.
Increased Severity and Frequency of Flood Events
Forecasts indicate more intense rainfall events, generating more frequent or extensive runoff, and flooding that may result from a changing climate. According to Cal- Adapt, these intense rainfall events historically occurred an average of 11 times per year and are projected to increase to an average of 13 times per year by 2050 and an average of 16 times by 2100. Localized flood events may in crease in periods of heavy rain. As explained by the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment, California’s water system is structured and operated to balance between water storage for dry months and flood protection during rainy seasons. Although climate change is likely to lead to a drier climate overall, risks from regular, more intense rainfall events can generate more frequent and/or more severe flooding that upsets this managed balance between storage and protection. Areas along creeks, including Laurel Creek and San Mateo Creek, and east of El Camino Real are at a higher risk of flooding. 0 10
20 30
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60 1950
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Snow Water Equivalence (Inches)
Year
Snow Water Equivalence (Inches)
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 21
Climate change may increase the frequency and severity of storms and expand the parts of the city that are considered prone to flooding. Additionally, erosion may increase, and water quality may decrease because of increased rainfall amounts.
Rising Sea Levels
Sea level rise is attributed to the increase of average ocean temperatures and the resulting thermal expansion and the melting of snow and ice contributing to the volume of
water held in the oceans. While many effects of climate change will impact the region, sea level rise is one specific impact that has been extensively studied and quantified, and its effects mapped. The speed and amount of sea level rise will be influenced by the increase in average
temperatures and rate of melting of glacial ice. While there is a degree of uncertainty in projections, the actual rate of sea level rise is occurring more quickly than many previous projections had estimated.
The California Natural Resources Agency, in partnership with the California Ocean Protection Council, issued a 2018 update to the State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance, which states that sea levels in the San Francisco Bay Area may rise between 1.1 and 2.7 feet by mid-century and between 3.4 and 10.2 feet by the end of the century.
Because it is in a low-lying coastal area, San Mateo is highly vulnerable to this threat. A sea level rise of 2 feet could inundate areas near Seal Point. If the level of San Francisco Bay rises 7 feet, water is projected to inundate all parts of San Mateo east of Highway 101, the area north of downtown, and large sections of the Hayward Park, Bay Meadows, and Laurie Meadows neighborhoods. Rising sea levels also threaten a significant portion of San Mateo’s housing, commercial buildings, essential infrastructure, and economic drivers, as low-lying land near the shoreline could be subject to more frequent flooding. Affected essential infrastructure includes US Highway 101, State Route (SR-) 92, and the Caltrain station and associated railroad infrastructure. Meanwhile, rising tides may increase groundwater levels, inundating contaminated soils. Given that some contaminated sites in San Mateo sit near the shoreline, rising groundwater may cause contaminated soils to leach into new, different areas.Figure 4 shows the parts of San Mateo that are expected to be inundated by sea level rise by 2100.
Shoreline areas of San Mateo, such as Ryder Park, may be vulnerable to sea level rise.
Photo by City of San Mateo
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22 City of San Mateo July 2023
Figure 4: Sea Level Rise in San Mateo (2100)
Source: Adapting to Rising Tides 2019, City of San Mateo 2019, San Mateo County 2019, ESRI 2019, PlaceWorks 2019
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 23
Deteriorating Public Health
Heat waves are expected to have a major impact on public health, as well as decreasing air quality and increasing mosquito breeding and mosquito-borne diseases. Further, climate change is expected to alter the spread and prevalence of disease-carrying insects, organisms, or people, referred to as vectors, in addition to leading to a possible decrease in food quality and security. Vector control districts throughout the State are already evaluating how they will address the expected changes to California’s climate.
According to a report from the California Air Resource s Board (CARB), the warming climate will increase ozone levels in California’s major air basins, leading to upwards of 6 to 30 more days per year with ozone concentrations that exceed federal clean-air standards. The number of extreme heat days per year (when the daily average temperature exceeds 90 degrees) is also projected to double from mid-century to the end of the century.
Cost-effective measures to reduce GHG emissions and protect public health are important for local governments.
The new CARB study provides evidence of what is be coming known as the “climate penalty,” where rising temperatures increase ground-level ozone and airborne health-damaging particles, despite the reductions achieved by programs targeting smog-forming emissions from cars, trucks, and industrial sources. The elderly, young, and sensitive populations most likely to be impact ed by climate change are also those that often lack sufficient resources to adapt. Such vulnerable demographics are likely to need assistance to respond to climate change. Social equity issues related to the unequal di stribution of resources and increased costs to address community-wide health risks will need to be addressed proactively to reduce the potential for financial strain on local governments.
Increased Rate of Wildfires
Wildfire risk is based on a combination of factors in cluding rainfall, winds, temperature, and vegetation.
According to California Fourth Climate Change Assessm ent, higher temperatures, longer dry periods, and increased frequency of high velocity winds over a longer fire season will directly increase wildfire risk. Indirectly, wildfire risk will also be influenced by potential climate-related changes in vegetation and ignition potential from lightning. Historically, the annual average area burned in San Mateo was 50 acres. According to Cal-Adapt, under a higher emissions scenario, this could increase to an average annual burn area of 120 acres by 2050 and 132 acres by 2100. The hills behind San Mateo, east of Intersta te (I-) 280, are also expected to see an increase in wildfire frequency, and fires in this area could cause damage in the community or impact local air quality.
Negative Impacts on Wildlife
As temperatures rise, species are migrating north in Cali f o r n i a o r t o h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n s . T h i s e c o l o g i c a l s h i f t disrupts the food chain and prevents some plant specie s from being pollinated. Water and food supplies are expected to be more variable and to shift as the seas ons change. The California Office of Emergency Services and the California Natural Resources Agency note that those species that are unable to migrate face the danger CHAPTER 1
24 City of San Mateo July 2023
of extinction: “The amount of future warming expected in California may likely exceed the tolerance of endemic species (i.e., those that are native to a specific location and that only occur there) given their limited distribution and microclimate.”
Reduction in soil moisture will result in early dieback of many plants, potentially leading to conflicts with animal breeding seasons and other natural processes. Many of the potential effects on wildlife are still being studied, but with a limited ability to adapt to new climates and the expected success of invasive species, pests, and pathogens in future climate conditions, there is a potential for severe species loss.
Several potential hydrological changes associated with gl obal climate change could also specifically influence the ecology of aquatic life in California and have several negative effects on cold-water fish. For example, if a rise in air temperature by just a few degrees Fahrenheit occurs, this change could be enough to raise the water temperatures above the tolerance of salmon and trout in many streams, favoring instead non-native fishes such as sunfish and carp. Unsuitable summer temperatures would be particularly problematic for many of the threatened and endangered fish that spend summers in cold-water streams, either as adults or juveniles or both.
Additionally, oak woodlands, a habitat found in San Mateo, is vulnerable to climate stressors that alter water availability or soil temperature.
LOCAL CONTEXT
The CAP has been an implementation program of the City ’s 2030 General Plan. The City of San Mateo adopted the 2030 General Plan in 2010. As part of the Genera l Plan update, the City prepared and adopted the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Program (Program). The 2010 Program was the City’s first step to consolidate City efforts into a framework for reducing GHG emissions consistent with the California Global Warming Solutions Act. The 2010 Program was based on the City’s Sustainable Initiatives Plan adopted in the early stages of the 2030 General Plan update. The City revised its approach four years later by developing the 2015 CAP, in response to evolving guidance and new protocols. This CAP supersedes the 2015 document. 2030 and 2040 General Plan
The 2030 San Mateo General Plan presents the City’s vision for establishing San Mateo as a diverse community with an exceptional quality and character. The General Plan envisions a preeminent City with balanced commercial and residential growth, with a distinguished downtown and viable, wholesome neighborhoods driven by a solid, healthy economic and financial base.
The City’s General Plan contains goals and policies wh ich regulate urban development, the protection of the natural environment, and public safety. It reflects the community’s long-term vision and provides a goal and policy framework to guide land use and planning-related decisions, and future funding decisions. The General Plan also enables citizens and those seeking to develop property to understand San Mateo’s values and
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 25
objectives. The General Plan also establishes the City’s vision of serving as a leader in addressing the environmental effects of climate change with education, promotion, and fostering sustainable development.
The General Plan establishes a set of GHG reduction goal s and directs the City to reduce emissions to achieve these goals by developing a comprehensive GHG reduction strategy. The Sustainable Initiatives Plan initially fulfilled this role, followed by the 2015 CAP. This CAP will serve as the new GHG reduction strategy for San Mateo.
The City and community members are currently updating San Mateo’s General Plan and will replace it with the community’s 2040 General Plan called Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040. This process began in 2018 and the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 is set to be adopted in 2024. Future updates to the CAP will reflect any new policies or visions in Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040.
Sustainable Initiatives Plan
Adopted in 2007, the Sustainable Initiatives Plan was pr epared by the City’s Sustainability Advisory Committee to the City Council, which was an ad hoc committee created for the sole purpose of developing the plan and has since been disbanded. The Sustainable Initiatives Plan provided the City’s overall commitment and framework for reducing GHG emissions and achieving sustainability. This document established the City’s first GHG emissions target of reducing emissions below 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, consistent with State-adopted targets and goals at that time. Strategies in the Sustainable Initiatives Plan included a commitment to incorporate sustainability into policies and foster GHG reductions throughout the community. Community strategies suggested in the Sustainable Initiatives Plan addressed a broad array of issues, from increasing bicycle and pedestrian mode share to facilitating energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the community. The City implemented the Sustainable Initiatives Plan and its companion GHG Reduction Program (presented below), monitored progress, and presented annual updates on this document to the City Council.
2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Program
As part of the City’s General Plan update in 2010, the City prepared the 2010 Program. Adopted as an appendix to the General Plan and General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the Program supported the General Plan with an analysis of GHG emissions. Building on the 2007 Sustainable Initiatives Plan, the Program quantified strategies in the Sustainable Initiatives Plan for anticipated impacts on GHG reductions. An implementation plan in the Program also identified the City’s strategy to monitor GHG reductions and achieve the 2020 reduction target. Preparation of the Program included the develop ment of a monitoring and reporting tool to track progress over time.
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26 City of San Mateo July 2023
The Program sought to streamline the review of new development by demonstrating consistency with BAAQMD guidance. The City fully analyzed and adopted the Program in the General Plan EIR to facilitate streamlining of new development review. Accordingly, the City used the Program to review and consider new development applications for GHG emissions.
Climate Action Plan for Operations & Facilities
In 2008, San Mateo prepared a Climate Action Plan for Operations & Facilities, which includes a 2006 inventory of emissions from municipal operations and applies the ta rgets identified in the Sustainable Initiatives Plan to the City. It covers emissions from energy use in City buildings, fuel use of City vehicles and equipment, commute habits of City employees, and waste thrown away at City facilities. This plan contains policies and specific capital improvements to help achieve these targets, along with recommendations for adapting to the impacts of climate change and how to educate City staff about reducing emissions. In 2010, the Climate Action Plan for Operations & Facilities was incorporated into San Mateo’s General Plan as an appendix. 2015 Climate Action Plan
The City adopted a comprehensive CAP in 2015 that integr ated San Mateo’s earlier sustainability efforts into a single document. It provided an analysis of San Mateo’s community-wide GHG emissions for the years 2005 and 2010, forecasted these emissions out to 2030, and established a new GHG reduction target of 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. This target, along with the targets of 15 percent below 2005 levels (equivalent of 1990 levels) by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, were included in the General Plan as part of the 2015 CAP adoption process. The 2015 CAP listed 28 GHG reduction measures to reduce the community’s emissions, as well as a set of implementation and monitoring efforts to help put the plan into effect. This CAP is an update to the 2015 CAP.
Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite
San Mateo has participated in the Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite (RICAPS) effort. The City/County Association of San Mateo County (C/CAG) has led this project as a countywide effort to support regional climate action planning. Originally funded by grants from BAAQMD and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), RICAPS provides tools and a forum for ongoing countywide efforts. Tools developed through the RICAPS effort include a template of workbooks and documents available for local use. RICAPS also facilitated preparation of recent year inventories for jurisdictions in San Mateo County, including 2010, 2015, 2017, and 2019 community-wide GHG inventories for each participatin g jurisdiction. Jurisdictions in RICAPS continue to coordinate for a regional approach to monitoring GHG emissions and progress to local climate action planning targets.
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 27
While the City of San Mateo continues to participate in the RICAPS effort, the City has developed this CAP as an independent, customized CAP for the community shaped by the City’s unique background and locally adopted priorities.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
California law first addressed climate change in 1988, when AB 4420 directed the State to prepare a GHG inventory and study the impacts of climate change. Since then, California has adopted several laws to assess climate change, analyze GHG emissions and their effects, reduce emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Many of these laws and associated regulations affect local governments, although only some create specific requirements for individual communities.
Executive Order S-03-05 and Assembly Bill 32 – California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 In 2005, former Governor Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-03-05, which established the first statewide GHG reduction goals for California: reduce emissions to 2000 levels by 2010, reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and reduce emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, was approved by the legislature and signed by former Governor Schwarzenegger in 2006. The landmark legislat ion requires CARB to develop regulatory and market mechanisms that will reduce GHG
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020,
codifying the 2020 target in Executive
Order S-03-05. AB 32 also directed CARB
to identify early action items that could be
quickly implemented, to develop a
scoping plan to identify the most
technologically feasible and cost-effective
measures to achieve the 2020 target and
create and adopt regulations requiring
major emitters to report and verify their
emissions.
The Climate Change Scoping Plan (first
adopted in 2009 and then updated in
2014, 2017, and 2022) employs a variety
of GHG reduction measures that include
direct regulations, alternative compliance
mechanisms, incentives, voluntary actions,
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28 City of San Mateo July 2023
and market-based approaches like a cap-and-trade program. The 2022 Scoping Plan identifies local governments as strategic partners to achieving the State goal of reducing human-caused emissions to 85 percent below 1990 levels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. ..
Senate Bill 375 – Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 Senate Bill (SB) 375 builds off AB 32 and aims to reduce GHG emissions by linking transportation funding to land use planning. It requires metropolitan planning orga nizations (MPO) to create a sustainable communities strategy (SCS) in their regional transportation plans for reducing urban sprawl. Each SCS will demonstrate strategies each region will use to achieve the GHG emissions reduction target set by CARB for 2020 and 2035. In 2013, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) adopted Plan Bay Area, consisting of both the region’s first SCS and 2040 Regional Transportation Plan. The plan was updated in 2017 (Plan Bay Area 2040) and 2022 (Plan Bay Area 2050).
Executive Order B-30-15 and Senate Bill 32
In 2015, former governor Jerry Brown signed Executive Order B-30-15, which directed state agencies to take several steps to reduce statewide GHG emissions and adapt to changing climate conditions. One section of this executive order set GHG reduction goal for the state of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. In 2016, SB 32 was passed, codifying this GHG reduction goal into law as an official state target.
Executive Order B-55-18
In 2018, former governor Jerry Brown issued Executive Order B-55-18, which established an additional statewide goal of achieving carbon neutrality (no net GHG emissions) by 2045. Under this goal, any GHGs that are emitted by California must be fully offset by other activities by 2045. While this goal does not yet have the force of law, it does indicate the direction that the state is moving in and may be a reference point for future legislative action.
Assembly Bill 1279 – California Climate Crisis Act
In 2022, the California legislature passed AB 1279, the California Climate Crisis Act, which updated the State’s targets for mitigating GHGs. California must achieve net carbon neutrality for GHG emissions by 2045 and reduce emissions to at least 85 percent below 1990 levels. The 2022 update to the Scoping Plan identifies a path to achieving the AB 1279 target.
Bay Area Air Quality Management District CEQA Air Quality Guidelines Developing a CAP can also provide streamlined environmen tal review for new projects subject to CEQA. SB 97 directed the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to amend the State CEQA Guidelines to address GHG emissions. OPR adopted the CEQA Guidelines in December 2009, and they went into effect on March 18,
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 29
2010. The guidelines include provisions for local governments to use adopted plans for the reduction of GHG emissions to address the cumulative impacts of individu al future projects on GHG emissions (see State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) (1)).
In 2022, BAAQMD adopted the Air District’s CEQA Guidelines, including CEQA Thresholds for Evaluating the Significance of Climate Impacts from Land Use Projects and Plans. Appendix B of the Guidelines, CEQA Thresholds for Evaluating the Significance of Climate Impacts , presents BAAQMD’s thresholds of significance for use in determining whether a proposed project will have a significant impact on climate change and provides the substantial evidence that lead agencies will need to support their use of these thresholds. The Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 EIR will follow this guidance for the assessment of potential impacts related to buildout.
Appendix C, Guidance for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies , assists public agencies with preparation of community-wide GHG reduction strategies and CAPs. BAAQMD strongly recommends that cities and counties adopt a CAP that has been prepared consistent with State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15183.5(b), to demonstrate their ability to meet the State’s GHG reduction goals for 2030 and 2045 and to be updated as needed to align with State targets and local and regional growth forecasts.
The City developed the CAP to consistent with CEQA Guidelines and BAAQMD’s guidance. The 2023 technical update to the 2020 CAP and accompanying environmental review included in the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 EIR are consistent with the guidance set forth by BAAQMD for plan-level review of climate impacts and preparation of community-wide GHG reduction strategies (which parallel and elaborate on criteria established in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) (1)).
This CAP continues to meet the requirements of the CEQA Guidelines and commitments in the Land Use Element of the General Plan, as outlined below.
x Quantify emissions, both existing and projected over a specified period, resulting from activities within a defined geographic area (see Chapter 2).
x Establish a level, based on substantial evidence, below which the contribution of emissions from activities covered by the plan would not be cumulatively considerable (see Chapter 2). This CAP identifies two targets, consistent with State guidance, that are further addressed in Chapter 2. x Reduce emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels (49 percent below 2005 levels) by 2030. x Reduce emissions to 85 percent below 1990 levels (87 percent below 2005 levels) by 2045. x Identify and analyze the emissions resulting from spec ific actions or categories of actions anticipated within the geographic area (see Chapter 3 and Chapter 4). x 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 (see Chapter 4).
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30 City of San Mateo July 2023
x Establish a mechanism to monitor the plan’s progress toward achieving the level and to require amendment if the plan is not achieving specific levels (see Chapter 4). As referenced in the General Plan Land Use Element (page LU-29-40), the City has d eveloped a monitoring and implementation tool to track GHG emission changes over time. This CAP expands and updates the City’s monitoring framework with an implementation plan, updated monitoring tool, and a checklist for new development as described in Chapter 4 and Appendix 3.
x Adopt the GHG Reduction Strategy in a public process following environmental review. The 2020 CAP, as updated in 2023, is evaluated under the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 EIR.
Role of the Climate Action Plan in CEQA Implementation
Consistent with the State CEQA Guidelines, lead agencies may use adopted GHG reduction plans to assess the cumulative impacts of discretionary projects on climate change. In addition, the guidelines provide a mechanism to streamline development review of future projects.
Specifically, lead agencies may use adopted plans consistent with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5 to analyze and mitigate the significant effects of GHGs under CEQA at a programmatic level by adopting a plan for the reduction of GHG emissions. Later, as individual projects are proposed, project-specific environmental documents may tier from and/or incorporate by reference that existing programmatic review in their cumulative impacts analysis. Project-specific environmental documents prepared for projects consistent with the General Plan and the CAP may rely on the programmatic analysis of GHGs contained in this document.
A project-specific environmental document that relies on this CAP for its cumulative impacts analysis must identify specific GHG reduction measures applicable to the project and demonstrate the project’s incorporation of the measures. Project applicants and City staff will identify specific measures applicable to each project during project review. If applicable measures are not otherwise binding and enforceable, they must be incorporated as mitigation measures for the project. If substantial evi dence indicates that the GHG emissions of a proposed project may be cumulatively considerable, notwithstanding the project’s compliance with specific measures in this CAP, an EIR must be prepared for the project. Th is CAP includes a Consistency Checklist, contained in Appendix 3, which City staff can use to keep track of which reduction measures an individual project complies with. This checklist also helps project applicants quickly identify which reduction measures may apply to their project.
CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING PROCESS
The City facilitated a collaborative process to prepare the CAP. City staff, the public, and an appointed advisory body, the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission, provided ongoing input on CAP development.
Stakeholders in San Mateo vetted and recommended appr opriate strategies reflective of the community. The outreach process served to develop a plan that responds to community leadership and priorities. The strategies
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 31
in this CAP reflect those community priorities and recommendations. Engaging the community also allowed the City to build and nurture partnerships necessary to implement the CAP.
Staff Engagement
Many measures in this CAP rely on the City of San Mateo taking action to reduce community-wide GHG emissions. Interdepartmental engagement was essential in the development of the CAP to ensure that goals are attainable and appropriate for each responsible department. Members of the CAP project team consulted with staff from multiple City departments, including Public Works, Community Development, and the City Manager’s Office. Drawing on the expertise of these departments helped define actions that the City was both capable and supportive of. Specific measures refined through staf f engagement include transit-oriented development, sustainable streets, transportation demand management , recycling and waste reduction, development review, and housing programs.
Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission
In 2014, City Council created the Sustainability Commission and appointed five San Mateo residents. In 2018, the City Council combined the Sustainability Commission with the Public Works Commission, forming the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission. This body provides recommendations to the City Council for policies and programs related to environmental sustainability, transportation, and infrastructure. Throughout the CAP update process, the project team met with the City of San Mateo Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission five times to provide updates, answer questions, summarize quantitative analyses, and to collaborate on the development of new GHG reduction measures. The Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission was able to lend valuable insight into local priorities and concerns in the development of measures to meet reduction targets. This allowed for refinement of measures that focus on emissions sources and community values specific to San Mateo, helping to shape a CAP that improves the environmental, social, and economic health of the City.
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32 City of San Mateo July 2023
Public Engagement
Residents of San Mateo were invited to contribute ideas and concerns throughout the CAP development process. The project team hosted a community workshop at the San Mateo Public Library. Additionally, five public meetings with the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission served as a platform for citizens to continue to voice their thoughts about the CAP update and related sustainability topics.
Community Workshop
The City hosted a community workshop at the San Mateo Public Library on June 6, 2019. The goals of the forum were for participants to:
x Become aware of the project and the community’s role in the planning process.
x Learn about the CAP and CAP update, and San Mateo’s
efforts to reduce GHG emissions.
x Learn about the City’s contributions to climate change and the threat climate change poses to the community.
x Engage with the CAP update team and share what they are doing to reduce GHGs, where they think more work by the City is needed, and what they think should be in the City’s strategy to address climate change.
Approximately 50 people attended the workshop. The event began with a half-hour presentation by members of the CAP update project team that reviewed the sources of San Mateo’s GHG emissions, an overview of the City’s efforts to implement the CAP since it was first adopted in 2015, and a review of the new opportunities to reduce San Mateo’s GHG emissions. After the presentation was an open house session. During this period, the pr oject team seven large posters around the room, and participants were provided with green, yellow, and red sticky dots. Six posters listed potential GHG reduction strategies for the CAP, and participants were asked to place sticky dots on the posters as a means of voting (green for policies that participants support, yellow for policies that participants would consider but have concerns about, and red for policies that participants do not support). The project team set up blank sheets of paper next to each poster and invited participants to leave more detailed comments. The seventh poster asked participants to write down a “big idea” for GHG reduction or share other open feedback.
San Mateo community members participate in the
June 6, 2019 CAP workshop.
Photo by PlaceWorks
INTRODUCTION
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 33
During the open house period, participants were free to visit any or all posters in any order. Members of the project team were positioned at the different posters to answer questions and help guide participants through the activity.
Appendix 4 summarizes the results of the community workshop.
San Mateo community members shared their big ideas for GHG reduction at a community workshop.
Photo by PlaceWorks
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34 City of San Mateo July 2023
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Chapter 2
Greenhouse Gas
Inventories,
Forecasts, and
Reduction Targets
BACKGROUND
State, regional, and local laws, along with agencies ta sked with local regulatory oversight, have influenced common methods, and provided an impetus for identificati on of reduction targets in California. A greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and forecast lays the groundwork for this CAP, which seeks to align the City’s GHG reduction efforts with state-recommended targets. The City is committed to achieving a 40 percent reduction from 1990 emissions levels by 2030 (equivalent to a 49 percent reduction below 2005 levels by 2030), and an 85 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2045 (equivalent to an 87 percent reduction below 2005 levels).
BASELINE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION INVENTORY
A greenhouse gas inventory is a summary of the GHG emissions occurring as a result of activities that take place within a community. In some instances, the emissions themselves may be emitted within the jurisdiction, such as emissions from a car being driven within the community’s boundaries. In other cases, the emissions may occur elsewhere but are included because the activity responsible for generating the emissions took place within the jurisdiction, such as a community member using electricity generated by a power plant in another part of California. Inventories help allow elected officials, City staff, and members of the public to understand what activities generate GHG emissions.
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36 City of San Mateo July 2023
Protocols and Guidance
Reduction targets are developed based on a calculation of current and future GHG emissions, called the GHG inventory. The GHG inventory reflects the GHG emissions as sociated with everyday activities in the community of San Mateo, such as the electricity used in homes, miles traveled in vehicles, and waste sent to landfills.
Creation of the community inventories is based on emissions factors and methods in an evolving field of science.
Over the past several years, organizations in Californ ia and throughout the United States have established protocols to assist and guide communities in assessing GHG emissions from government operations and community activities. While these protocols are not regula tory, they identify relevant sources or activities, recommend methods to estimate GHG emissions from each source, and provide consistency in the identification, assessment, and presentation of emission results across multiple jurisdictions.
In California, and as recommended by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, many communities utilize the 2012 US Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, commonly referred to as the US Community Protocol, to identify and assess community activities. The protocol provides guidance on how to measure and report community-wide GHG emissions, including identification of relevant sources or activities, methods to estimate GHG emissions from each source, and consistency in the identification, assessment, and presentation of emissions results across multiple jurisdictions.
The City’s community-wide GHG inventory was prepared using protocols and best practices identified within the US Community Protocol, supported by methods in the Lo cal Government Operations Protocol (LGOP) v. 1.1 where appropriate.
Prior Inventories
The CAP relies on four existing GHG inventories, which were all revised for consistency with current recommended methods and best practices as part of this CAP:
1) A 2005 baseline inventory originally developed by ICLEI and revised during the preparation of the 2015 CAP,
2) A 2010 inventory prepared as part of the regional RICAPS program (as discussed in Chapter 1), 3) A 2015 inventory prepared as part of the regional RICAPS program (as discussed in Chapter 1), 4) A 2017 inventory prepared as part of the regional RICAPS program (as discussed in Chapter 1).
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES, FORECASTS, AND
REDUCTION TARGETS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 37
To ensure accurate comparisons across all three existing inventories, the project team adjusted some of the methods of these past efforts to apply a consistent approach. This also helped ensure that all inventories were fully in compliance with the US Community Protocol. The project team made five key changes to the inventories:
x Updated Global Warming Potential (GWP) figures: Previous inventories used GWPs (measurements of how much heat is trapped by a unit of GHGs) reported in the IPCC’s Second Assessment Report, first released in 1995. The project team updated these values to use the most recent GWPs from the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report, which was released in 2013.
x ”Origin-destination” VMT methodology: In the past, inventories utilized the “in-boundary” methodology for estimating vehicle miles travelled (VMT) in San Mateo. This method includes all VMT that occur within the city boundary, including pass-through traffic, regardless of trip origin or destination.
An alternative method, the “origin-destination” meth od, has been determined to be a more accurate representation of VMT in a city. As a result, the inventories were updated to use this approach. The “origin- destination” VMT methodology only accounts for vehicle trips that begin and/or end within the city boundary and ignores “pass-through” trips that travel though San Mateo but begin and end elsewhere (for example, a person commuting from Redwood City to San Francisco on US-101). x Consistent off-road equipment method: Previous inventories used CARB’s OFFROAD2007 model to estimate total emissions from off-road equipment. The project team revised the off-road equipment emissions for all previous inventories using the up dated CARB Emission Factor (EMFAC) model and updated US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA ) emission factors to maintain consistency with previous inventory methodologies.
1 The EMFAC model provides more reliable information about off-road equipment types and fuel use in the region than the previous version. x Reporting of direct access electricity : In the past, data on total electr icity use associated with direct access customers (customers that purchase electricity directly from a power provider, rather than a utility such as PCE or PG&E) in San Mateo was not available. Historically, direct access electricity consumption was estimated based on County-level direct access elec tricity consumption data. In recent years, direct access electricity consumption data has become avai lable at the city level and the inventories were updated to reflect this.
x Reporting of transmission and distribution losses for electricity and natural gas : Transmission and distribution losses in electricity refer to the energy lo st as heat during the transportation of electricity from power plants to end-users through transmissi on and distribution networks. Similarly, methane emissions result from transmission and distributio n of natural gas and end-use leakage. Methane end-
1 EMFAC is a model developed by the California Air Resources Board to calculate statewide or regional emissions from vehicle activity data from all motor vehicles. More information can be found at: https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/.
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38 City of San Mateo July 2023
use leakage refers to the unintentional release of methane from the final use of natural gas, such as from pipelines, storage facilities, and appliances.
x Land use and sequestration : Land use decisions can result in the release of emissions through the development of previously undeveloped land, or the removal (or sequestration) of carbon from the atmosphere through the creation and protection of urban trees and open space. The project team calculated land use emissions and sequestration (negative emissions) for the 2005 and 2019 inventories. 2019 Inventory
The project team prepared a 2019 GHG inventory to provide the most up-to-date available measurement of how San Mateo’s GHG emissions have changed over time, including since the 2015 CAP. This inventory uses the same methods as the updated prior inventories, ensuring that all four inventories in the CAP are consistent with each other.
Inventory Results
The community-wide inventories in the CAP include the following sectors, consistent with guidance in the US Community Protocol:
x On-road transportation: on-road vehicle trips on local roads and State highways within the city limits. x Commercial/industrial built environment : electricity and natural gas used in nonresidential settings (e.g., industrial, commercial), including direct access electricity. x Residential built environment: electricity and natural gas used in residential settings. x Off-road equipment: the use of portable equipment and vehicles that do not travel on roads (e.g., construction or lawn and garden equipment).
x Solid waste generation : material produced by the community that is deposited in landfills which decompose and produce methane.
x Landfills: emissions that occur in the inventory year as a result of waste-in-place at a landfill that is within the community boundary or operated by the City.
x Rail: emissions resulting from Caltrain trips generated by passengers at three stations: San Mateo, Hayward Park, and Hillsdale, as well as emissions from freight trains. x Water and wastewater: energy used to treat and pump water used and wastewater created, along with emissions from the processing of wastewater.
x Land use and sequestration: emissions resulting from development of previously undeveloped land and sinks (negative emissions) from carbon sequestration of open space and urban trees.
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES, FORECASTS, AND
REDUCTION TARGETS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 39
x Point sources: stationary source emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion within the county as reported by BAAQMD. These emissions are included as an informational item and are not counted as part of the City’s total emissions based on guidance from BAAQMD as they are not under the jurisdiction of the City.
Table 2 shows the number of residents in San Mateo for the inventory years.
Table 2: San Mateo Population (2005 – 2019)
Indicator 2005
Value
2010
Value
2015
Value
2017
Value
2019
Value
Percentage
Change,
2005–2019
Source
Population 93,400 97,110 101,610 103,470 104,599 12% CA Dept. of Finance, ABAG
In the baseline year of 2005, the GHG emissions from the covered activities totaled 666,410 MTCO 2e, as shown in Table 3 and Figure 5. The sector with the largest portion of emissions was on-road transportation, which produced 282,370 MTCO 2e, or 42 percent of all community emissions. The next largest sector, commercial/industrial built environment, produced 169,000 MTCO2e, 25 percent of the total. The residential built environment was the third largest sector with 25 percent of total emissions (163,770 MTCO2e) followed by solid waste generation (22,180 or 3 percent), the off-road equipment (15,900 MTCO2e or 2 percent), and landfill (7,370 MTCO2e or 1 percent) sectors. Rail emissions totaled 4,350 MTCO 2e (1 percent) and water and wastewater emissions totaled 2,520 MTCO2e (less than 1 percent of total emissions). Finally, land use and sequestration were responsible for a reduction in emissions of 1,050 MTCO2e, equivalent to removing 1 percent of total emissions.
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40 City of San Mateo July 2023
Table 3: San Mateo 2005 Community-Wide GHG Emissions
Sector MTCO2e Percentage
On-road transportation 282,370 42%
Commercial/industrial built environment 169,000 25%
Residential built environment 163,770 25%
Solid waste generation 22,180 3%
Off-road equipment 15,900 2%
Landfill 7,370 1%
Rail 4,350 1%
Water and wastewater 2,520 0%
Land use and sequestration -1,050 -1%
Total 666,410 100%
Informational Items
Point sources 7,390 1%
Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
Figure 5: San Mateo 2005 Community-Wide GHG Emissions (MTCO2e) * Point sources are included as an informational item and are not counted towards the total GHG emissions for the city.
On-road
transportation:
Commercial/
industrial built
environment:
Residential built
environment:
Off-road
Solid waste
generation:
Point sources:
1%*
Landfill:
Rail:
Water and
wastewater:
0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000 MTCO2e
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES, FORECASTS, AND
REDUCTION TARGETS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 41
Interim Inventories
The 2010, 2015, and 2017 inventories show how San Mateo’s GHG emissions have changed over time. Total emissions declined from 666,410 MTCO 2e in 2005 to 520,410 MTCO 2e in 2019, a decrease of 22 percent.
Emissions from most sectors declined as well, except fo r emissions from point sources and rail activity. Overall, the relative proportion of emissions from different sect ors remained similar (on-road transportation emissions remained the largest source of emissions, followed by residential and commercial/industrial built environment, then off-road equipment, etc.). Tables 4 and 5 and Figure 6 show the change in San Mateo’s community-wide GHG emissions from 2005 to 2019.
Table 4: San Mateo 2005-2019 Community-Wide Emissions
Sector 2005
(MTCO2e)
2010
(MTCO2e)
2015
(MTCO2e)
2017
(MTCO2e)
2019
(MTCO2e)
Percentage
Change,
2005 to
2019
On-road transportation 282,370 287,550 280,570 269,110 276,560 -2% Commercial/industrial built
environment 169,000 151,200 137,350 101,720 83,660 -50% Residential built environment 163,770 165,800 131,660 118,980 114,630 -30% Off-road equipment 15,900 17,840 14,960 14,940 14,400 -9% Solid waste generation 22,180 16,580 15,860 17,890 21,910 -1% Landfill 7,370 6,670 6,030 5,800 4,180 -43%
Rail 4,350 4,480 4,410 4,520 4,440 2%
Water and wastewater 2,520 2,380 2,220 1,810 1,670 -34% Land use and sequestration -1050 -1,050 -1,050 -1,040 -1040 -1% Total 666,410 651,450 592,010 533,730 520,410 -22% Informational Item
Point sources 7,390 7,390 11,610 14,230 18,090 145%
Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
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42 City of San Mateo July 2023
Figure 6: San Mateo 2005-2019 Community-Wide GHG Emissions (MTCO2e) The decrease in GHG emissions from most sectors is due to less resource use, less GHG-intensive resources, or both. For example, San Mateo buildings used approximat ely 10 percent less electricity in 2019 than in 2005.
Additionally, the electricity used in San Mateo also generated 77 percent fewer GHGs per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2019 than in 2005, causing emissions from building electricity use to fall by 80 percent. In another case, San Mateo community members drove 14 percent more miles in 2019 than 2005, but cars became 15 percent cleaner during this period, causing a 2 percent decline in emissions.
It is important for community members to see their role in producing, and therefore reducing, GHG emissions.
Table 5 presents the 2005 baseline and 2019 current-year inventory results in a per-capita format. In 2005, residents produced 7.14 MTCO2e per person. In 2019 residents produced 4.98 MTCO2e per person. -100,000
0 100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
2005 2010 2015 2017 2019
On-road transportation Commercial/industrial built environment Residential built environment Off-road equipment
Solid waste generation Landfill
666,410 MTCO2e 651,450 MTCO2e
592,010 MTCO2e
533,730 MTCO2e 520,410 MTCO2e
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES, FORECASTS, AND
REDUCTION TARGETS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 43
Table 5: San Mateo 2005 and 2019 Community Emissions (Per-Capita) 2005 2019
MTCO2e per-capita 7.14 4.98
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FORECAST
A forecast of future GHG emissions helps to ensure consistency with the guidelines for a Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy put forward by BAAQMD, as described in Chapter 1 . A forecast allows elected officials, City staff, and community members to identify the amount of reductions necessary in order to achieve future GHG reduction targets and can help support long-range community planning efforts. The CAP update includes a forecast for the calendar years 2030 2040, and 2045.
A GHG emissions forecast estimates how emissions would grow over time if no action is taken at the federal, State, or local level to reduce them. A set of indicators determines the extent of growth that could occur and how resulting emissions may change. An emissions forecast was prepared for San Mateo using the best available information regarding indicators and growth rates. The forecast relies on growth assumptions from the buildout projections in the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040. Ac tivity data rates in the forecast, such as household energy use, vehicle miles travelled, or per person waste disposal, are based on the 2019 emissions inventory.
Table 6 presents data from 2019 and projections for the years 2030, 2040, and 2045.
Table 6: San Mateo 2019, 2030, 2040, and 2045 Growth Indicators Indicator 2019
Value
2030
Value
2040
Value
2045
Value
Percentage
Change,
2019–2045
Population 104,599 129,210 156,585 172,370 65%
Households 39,771 49,260 59,843 65,960 66%
Jobs 61,232 69,400 77,760 82,310 34%
Service population1 165,831 198,610 234,345 254,680 54% 1 Service population is the sum of the residential population and the number of jobs.
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44 City of San Mateo July 2023
Each indicator is used to project future emissions for the following sectors:
x Population: off-road equipment (lawn and garden equi pment, pleasure crafts, portable equipment, and recreational equipment).
x Households: Residential built environment.
x Jobs: Commercial/industrial built environment, off- road equipment (industrial equipment and light commercial equipment).
x Service population: On-road transportation, rail (Caltrain), off-road equipment (construction and mining equipment, transportation refrigeration units), solid waste generation, water and wastewater.
Emissions from direct access electricity, point sources, and freight trains are held constant, and are not projected to change over time. Construction and mining emissions, part of the off-road equipment sector, are forecasted by the change in service population. Landfill emissions are based on decomposition rates provided by CARB and are not forecasted by an indicator. Land use and sequestration emissions are based on the acreage of forested land, developed land, and urban areas, as projected by the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040.
The project team applied these indicators to forecast future GHG emissions. Relative to 2019 emissions, San Mateo’s GHG emissions are expected to rise by more than 44 percent by 2045 if no action is taken. The forecast assumes that each person in San Mateo will continue to contribute the same amount of GHGs to the community’s total, so that the amount of GHGs increase as the demographics of the community change. Tables 7 and 8 show San Mateo’s forecasted community-wide GHG emissions
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES, FORECASTS, AND
REDUCTION TARGETS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 45
Table 7: San Mateo Community-Wide BAU GHG Emissions Sector Totals Sector 2019
(MTCO2e)
2030
(MTCO2e)
2040
(MTCO2e)
2045
(MTCO2e)
Percentage
Change,
2019–2045
On-road transportation 276,560 308,930 351,730 375,310 36% Commercial/industrial built
environment 83,660 93,710 104,010 109,610 31%
Residential built environment 114,630 141,960 172,460 190,110 66% Off-road equipment 14,400 23,770 26,620 30,360 111%
Solid waste generation 21,910 26,240 30,960 33,650 54%
Landfill 4,180 4,470 3,660 3,310 -21%
Rail 4,440 5,220 6,080 6,560 48%
Water and wastewater 1,670 1,990 2,340 2,540 53%
Land use and sequestration -1,040 -1,050 -1,050 -1,050 0% Total 520,400 605,240 696,810 750,400 44%
Percentage Change from 2005 -22% -9% 5% 13%
Informational Item
Point sources 18,090 18,090 18,090 18,090 0%
Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
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46 City of San Mateo July 2023
GHG EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15183.5(b) requires that a Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy contain a goal for substantive GHG reductions, although the guidelines do not set a specific level for what these goals should be. In the Climate Change Scoping Plan (Scoping Plan), the State provides its statewide GHG reduction targets and guidance for local communities. The CAP uses 2005 as a baseline year for measuring progress towards emission targets. In the 2015 CAP, the City adopted a GHG reduction target of 15 percent below the baseline 2005 GHG emission levels by 2020. The City chose this reduction target to remain consistent with the state-recommended target at the time, which was a reduction of 15 percent below existing levels by 2020, which is the local equivalent of the state’s own adopted reduction target of reducing emissions to 1990 levels. Although “existing emission levels” wa s not formally defined by the Scoping Plan, agencies throughout California have often interpreted it as referring to emissions occurring between 2005 and 2008. San Mateo’s GHG reduction strategies have used 2005 emissions as the “existing” levels and the State targets to inform the 2030 and 2045 targets listed below.
These statewide targets are:
x 2030: Reduce emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels, codified into law by SB 32 (2016) x 2045: Reduce emissions 85 percent below 1990 levels and achieve carbon neutrality, codified into law by AB 1279 (2022).
Based on the results of the quantification process to identify the GHG reduction potential from this CAP (see Chapter 3), the City determined that the statewide targets for 2030 and 2045 were appropriate for San Mateo.
To ensure that the CAP can continue to serve as a Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy, San Mateo has set its 2030 and 2045 targets to align with the State’s targets. In the quantification of the CAP measures, 2040 is used as an interim benchmark as it aligns with the horizon of Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 and tracks progress towards the 2045 target. These targets are meant to serve as ceilings for future GHG emissions. As discussed in the following chapter, the City has the potential to achieve greater GHG reductions, decreasing emissions below these levels.
Previous versions of the Scoping Plan have recommended per-capita targets for community-wide plans, such as a CAP. The 2020 CAP, prior to the 2023 update, used per-capita targets as recommended by the most recently adopted version of the Scoping Plan at the time it was written. With the adoption of AB 1279 and the 2022 Scoping Plan, State guidance recommends that local governments use “absolute” GHG reduction targets consistent with statewide GHG reduction goals. This version of the CAP uses absolute GHG reduction targets.
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES, FORECASTS, AND
REDUCTION TARGETS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 47
Qualified GHG Reduction Strategies
These revised targets help ensure that the 2020 CAP will continue to serve as San Mateo’s Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy, which allows developments that are consistent with the CAP to streamline their environmental review. As noted in Chapter 1, the requirements for a Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy are:
x Quantify emissions, both existing and projected over a time period, from activities in a defined area. x Establish a level, based on substantial evidence, below which the contribution of emissions from activities covered by the plan would not be cumulatively considerable. x Identify and analyze the emissions resulting from specific actions or categories of actions anticipated within the geographic area.
x Specify measures or a group of persons that substantial evidence demonstrates, if implemented on a project-by-project basis, would collectively achieve the specified emissions level. x Establish a mechanism to monitor the plan’s progress toward achieving the level and to require amendment if the plan is not achieving specific levels. x Adopt the GHG reduction strategy in a public process following environmental review.
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48 City of San Mateo July 2023
The targets in the CAP can apply to individual development projec ts as well as the entire community, helping to streamline the environmental review projects that are consistent with San Mateo’s GHG reduction efforts.
Photo by City of San Mateo
Chapter 3
Strategies to Achieve
the Targets
To understand the level of action necessary to achieve the City’s reduction targets this updated CAP analyzes existing, planned, and future actions. By first looking at these accomplishments, the City can understand progress achieved and outstanding opportunities. Existing and cu rrent efforts provide a foundation for this CAP. New measures can further close the gap and guide future programs. Together, these efforts serve as the City’s multipronged strategy to achieve reduction targets.
Table 8 shows the GHG emission levels that are expected to result when this CAP is fully implemented, based on the results of the analyses in this chapter, along with the GHG reduction targets.
Table 8: San Mateo Emissions with CAP Implementation (2030 – 2045) 2030 2045
Projected Emission level 311,990 MTCO2e 80,550 MTCO2e
Target 339,880 MTCO2e 84,970 MTCO2e
Target achieved? Yes Yes
Gap to target -27,890 MTCO2e -4,420 MTCO2e
The CAP achieves these reductions by accounting for th e GHG reductions from existing and planned State, regional, and local activities, along with the reduction measures in the CAP itself. Table 9 shows the reduction levels achieved by the individual measures in the CAP. More details about the measures and all other reductions are given below.
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50 City of San Mateo July 2023
Table 9: Reductions from CAP Measures (2030 – 2045)
Measure 2030 2040 2045
BE 1: All-electric new construction -21,070 -38,450 -47,250 BE 2: All-electric existing buildings -102,210 -184,610 -221,260 RE 1: Peninsula Clean Energy -160 -170 0
RE 2: Renewable energy systems for new and existing
residences -70 -160 0
RE 3: Renewable energy systems for new and existing
nonresidential buildings -60 -90 0
EE 1: Residential energy efficiency retrofits -6,160 -7,020 -6,790 EE 2: Nonresidential energy efficiency retrofits -3,800 -8,860 -13,380 EE 3: Residential tree planting Less than -10 Less than -10 Less than-10 ME 1: Energy efficiency for new municipal buildings Supportive (no measurable GHG reductions) ME 2: Energy efficiency at existing municipal buildings -10 -30 -40 ME 3: All-electric municipal buildings -130 -200 -270
CF 1: Electric vehicle charging infrastructure -24,420 -49,390 -69,780 CF 2: Electric vehicle education and outreach -4,910 -8,030 -12,360 CF 3: Clean city fleet -130 -200 -270
CF 4: Clean fuel and vehicle emissions -4,210 -16,920 -26,360 ST 1: Bicycle mode share -80 -170 -180
ST 2: Pedestrian mode share -110 -120 -130
ST 3: Micromobility and shared mobility Supportive (no measurable GHG reductions) ST 4: Public transit service -3,610 -5,660 -6,910
ST 5: Commuter programs Less than -10 -70 -160
ST 6: Transportation Demand Management -2,010 -7,950 -13,410 ST 7: Transit-oriented development -10,200 -18,920 -23,700 SW 1: Composting program -1,030 -1,710 -1,850
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 51
Measure 2030 2040 2045
SW 2: Expanded recycling service -6,070 -7,730 -8,820
SW 3: Waste awareness and source reduction -2,080 -4,050 -5,590 WW 1: Water efficiency retrofits for existing buildings -170 -300 -360 WW 2: Water-efficient landscaping Less than -10 -10 0
WW 3: Water efficiency in new construction Less than -10 -10 -20 OR 1: Alternative fuel lawn and garden equipment -3,660 -7,130 -9,890 Total -196,360 -367,960 -468,780
Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
Existing and Planned Accomplishments
Both State and local efforts have achieved additional progress toward the reduction target, reducing the outstanding gap of emissions to achieve the City’s reduction targets described in the previous chapter.
As mentioned in Chapter 2, the GHG emissions forecast is based on the results of the 2019 inventory and assumes that per-capita activity remains constant, so that changes in projected emissions are based on expected changes in San Mateo’s demographics. This approach means that any action taken through 2019 to reduce GHG emissions is already taken into consideration for the forecast. For example, if homes installed solar energy systems in 2018, the effect of that action (lower residential electricit y use) will already show up in the 2019 inventory, and by extension will be carried through into the forecast.
State Existing and Planned Accomplishments
Since passing AB 32, the State has enacted regulations and programs to reduce GHG emissions. Although statewide in scope, these actions affect several sources of San Mateo’s emissions, and so the local benefits of these State efforts can be “credited” to San Mateo even in cases where the community has not needed to take any action. This CAP includes the local benefits from five State policies:
x Renewables Portfolio Standard: The Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) was first established in 2002 and has been amended multiple times, most recently by SB 100 in 2018. It requires all electricity providers in the State to obtain at least 33% of their electric ity from eligible renewable resources by the end of 2020, 60% of their electricity from eligible renewable resources by the end of 2030, and all of their electricity from carbon-free (although not necessaril y eligible renewable) resources by the end of 2045.
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52 City of San Mateo July 2023
This policy reduces GHG emissions from electricity use, including electricity used to transport and process water and wastewater, and electricity used for electric vehicles.
x Clean Car Standards: In 2002, California adopted AB 1493, the New Passenger Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission
Standards or Pavley standard. It requires a reduction in tailpipe GHG emissions from new vehicles produced from 2009 to 2015.
In 2012 CARB adopted an extension of this policy, the Advanced Clean Car Standards, which require more stringent reductions in tailpipe GHG emissions from vehicles produced from 2016 to 2025. In 2022, CARB adopted a further extension, known as Advanced Clean Cars II, which apply to vehicles produced from 2026 to 2035, and require that all new light-duty vehicles sold in California be zero-emission by 2035. The Clean Car Standards (including the Advanced Clean Car Standards) reduce GHG emissions from on-road transportation.
x Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards: Title 24 is California’s energy efficiency standards for new buildings, applied at the local level through the project review process. The standards are strengthened every three years, with the ultimate goal of making new buildings net-zero energy, meaning that they would
generate as much energy as they use. The most recent set of Title 24 standards went into effect on January 1, 2023. This policy will reduce GHG emissions from electricity and natural gas use in new homes and nonresidential buildings. x SB 1383: California’s SB 1383 aims to reduce GHG emissions from organic waste by requiring businesses and residents to separate their organic waste from other waste streams for recycling or composting. The law sets targets for reducing organic waste disposal in landfills by 75 percent by 2025 and requires local jurisdictions to implement organic waste recycling programs to meet these goals.
Collectively, the State reduction efforts are expected to reduce San Mateo’s GHG emissions below forecasted levels by 72,890 MTCO
2e in 2030, 147,970 MTCO2e in 2040, and 196,150 MTCO 2e in 2045. Table 10 shows the emission reductions from the individual State existing activities.
Renewable and
Carbon-Free
Electricity
California’s RPS establishes
requirements for both eligible
renewable and carbon-free
electricity. Eligible renewable
resources are those that are
specifically defined under state
law, and include solar, wind,
geothermal, small-scale
hydroelectric, and most forms of
bioenergy. Carbon-free sources
include eligible renewable
sources, as well as others that do
not emit GHGs but are not
officially defined as renewable,
including large-scale
hydroelectric and nuclear energy.
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 53
Table 10: San Mateo Community-Wide GHG Emissions Reductions from State Programs Policy 2030 Emissions
(MTCO2e)
2040 Emissions
(MTCO2e)
2045 Emissions
(MTCO2e)
Forecasted emissions 605,240 696,810 750,400
Clean Car Standards -55,030 -95,730 -109,680
Renewables Portfolio Standard -4,720 -15,330 -39,860
Title 24 -9,380 -32,480 -41,790
SB 1383 -3,760 -4,430 -4,820
Total reductions from existing State programs -72,890 -147,970 -196,150 Emissions with existing State programs 532,340 548,840 554,260 Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
There are other programs that reduce GHG emissions that State agencies have adopted or are planning to put into effect. These are not included in this section because of uncertainty about how these programs will be applied. In many cases, State programs may be implemented by local actions, and reductions associated with these programs are included in the local reduction measures discussed later in this chapter.
Existing and Planned Local and Regional Accomplishments The City of San Mateo has a successful history of developing and implementing sustainability policies. The City’s adopted plans, along with leadership from community members and businesses have been partially responsible for the decline in GHG emissions since 2005. Several policies are currently in place that are expected to further reduce San Mateo’s GHG emissions. Some of these accomplishments were established before the City adopted its first CAP in 2015, while others were implemented in response to the 2015 CAP.
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54 City of San Mateo July 2023
The project team identified the following existing local and regional efforts that are expected to reduce San Mateo’s future GHG emissions:
x Peninsula Clean Energy: Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) is a community choice energy program run by the local
governments of San Mateo County that is the default
electric provider for the City of San Mateo and provided approximately 87 percent of the community’s electricity as of 2019 (expected to grow to more than 90 percent by
2020). First established in 2016, PCE provides electricity to community members from a higher proportion of
renewable and carbon-free sources than PG&E. As of
2021, PCE supplies 100 percent carbon-free electricity and plans to supply 100 percent renewable electricity by 2025. x Energy efficiency retrofits: A number of single-family homes, multi-family homes, and businesses in San Mateo have conducted energy efficiency retrofits. These retrofits involve replacing older appliances with more energy-efficient models, upgrading insulation, improved sealing around windows and doors, and other types of activities. From 2015 to 2019, over 1,600 single-family and multifamily homes and at least 66 businesses, have completed energy efficiency retrofits through programs such as Energy Upgrade California and the San Mateo County Energy Watch.
x Solar energy installation: Since 2016, San Mateo has required in its building code that all new residential and non-residential buildings install solar energy systems. Many existing building owners have also chosen to voluntarily install these systems on their properties, reducing their electricity bills and increasing the amount of renewable energy used by the community. Since the 2020 CAP was adopted, San Mateo has installed close to 700 solar energy systems, capable of generating almost 4 MW of power. x Municipal energy efficiency retrofits : In addition to the Smart Street Light program and retrofits by private property owners, San Mateo has conducted several energy efficiency retrofits at municipal properties. At the end of 2017, the City began working with PG&E to identify potential retrofit activities through the Sustainable Systems Turnkey program. San Mateo secured approximately $3.2 million in funding for energy-efficiency upgrades to municipa l facilities. Since 2020, San Mateo has conducted significant retrofits to City facilities, saving over 1,831,170 kWh and 22,871 therms annually. The City has also carried out lighting retrofits at small buildings such as public park restrooms and storage sheds, using a grant from the San Mateo County Energy Watch.
Peninsula Clean Energy provides most of San
Mateo’s electricity, and offers a cleaner mix o f
energy sources than PG&E by default.
Photo by City of San Mateo
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 55
x Public-access EV chargers: The City of San Mateo has installed 55 publicly accessible EV charging stations in the community since 2020, including DC fast chargers that can recharge an electric vehicle in less than an hour. In
addition to helping to support EV adoption in San Mateo itself, the presence of publicly accessible EV chargers also helps boost EV adoption in the region, making it easier for people to use EVs for longer trips.
x Transportation Demand Management: San Mateo
requires that new significant developments along the
Caltrain corridor reduce the number of trips they generate relative to a conventional development project. Since
2017, there have been 895 residential units and
approximately 158,370 square feet of nonresidential space planned or under construction in San Mateo that are subject to trip reduction requirements. x Additional bicycle lanes: San Mateo published the 2020 Bicycle Master Plan, which proposes the development of an additional 45 miles of bicycle lanes to achieve a target of 101 bicycle lanes citywide.
Improved bike infrastructure and increased connectivity of the bicycle network can reduce VMT as residents are encouraged to replace vehicle trips with bicycle trips. Since its publication, approximately 6 miles of bicycle lanes have been completed.
There is also one planned action accounted for in this CAP:
x Caltrain electrification: This is a plan to install overhead power lines above the tracks on the Caltrain commuter rail line between San Francisco and San Jose, which will allow Caltrain to replace most of its diesel-powered locomotives with electric ones, significantly reducing GHG emissions from Caltrain operations. As of 2020, some electric lines have been installed, but electric trains are not expected to begin carrying passengers until at least 2024.
Some actions included in the initial version of the 2020 CAP are removed for the 2023 technical CAP update as they no longer produce additional GHG emission redu ctions beyond 2020. GHG emission savings from these programs are already accounted for in the 2019 GHG in ventory and projections of future emissions. These include:
x Upgraded streetlights program: San Mateo has replaced over 5,600 streetlights in the community with LED bulbs that use significantly less energy than older bulbs. This program is expected to save approximately 2 million kWh of electricity annually, equal to the yearly electricity use of almost 400 San Public electric vehicle charging stations at a
shopping center in San Mateo.
Photo by PlaceWorks
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56 City of San Mateo July 2023
Mateo homes. These LED bulbs also provide higher-quality lighting and reduce light pollution in accordance with the Dark Sky Objectives.
x Caltrain shuttles: The regional Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance operates three public shuttles in San Mateo, transporting riders from the Hillsdal e Caltrain station to employment centers throughout the community. These three shuttles served approximately 58,900 people in 2018. Ridership of the shuttles decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic shelter-in-place period and is therefore not quantified as a GHG reduction measure.
x Composting: San Mateo first established a composting program in 2011, allowing participating residents and businesses to place organic waste in a dedicated waste bin to be picked up by the community waste hauler along with trash and recyclables. With the passage of SB 1383, any GHG emission reductions associated with composting are quantified as part of the State measure. x Electric vehicle adoption: San Mateo, like many other Bay Area communities, has been a leader in adopting EVs. When San Mateo’s original CAP was adopted in 2015, there were approximately 1,050 EVs registered in the community, including plug-in hybrids. San Mateo adopted requirements for new development that went into effect in 2017, mandating that multifamily and nonresidential developments install EV chargers at a set number of parking spaces. By the end of 2017, the number of EVs had more than doubled to approximately 2,290, making EVs appr oximately 2 percent of all cars registered in the community. San Mateo adopted a revised building standard code in 2020, which requires more EV chargers and EV-capable spaces at all types of new developments. Since the projected rate of EV adoption locally does not surpass the State level adoption projection, any GHG emission reductions associated with EV adoption are quantified as part of the State’s Clean Fuel Standards.
This is not a comprehensive list of all existing and planned local and regional accomplishments that may reduce GHG emissions. The City and its regional partners have implemented many other policies and programs that may contribute to GHG reductions. However, these efforts may not have clearly measurable reductions, or data on their effectiveness may not be available. In these cases, the project team is unable to credit a GHG reduction to these efforts.
As with the State reductions, the CAP credits reductions from local and regional efforts that go beyond the policies in place as of 2019, as conditions that existed in 2019 are already factored into the forecast. In addition, the CAP only credits local and regional reduction efforts if they go beyond State policy. For example, San Mateo received significant reduction credits from EV adoption in 2020 because the local numbers exceed what the State forecasts for the region. However, by 2030, State policies are expected to increase EV adoption to exceed San Mateo’s current rate, so the community does not receive any additional GHG reductions from local accomplishments.
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 57
Collectively, San Mateo’s existing and planned local and regional accomplishments are expected to reduce emissions by 23,990 MTCO 2e in 2030, 18,360 MTCO 2e in 2040, and 4,950 MTCO 2e in 2045, in addition to the reductions achieved by State accomplishments. Table 11 shows the reductions from each local and regional accomplishment.
Table 11: Emissions Reductions from Local and Regional Programs Policy
2030 GHG
Emissions
(MTCO2e)
2040 GHG
Emissions
(MTCO2e)
2045 GHG
Emissions
(MTCO2e)
Emissions with Existing State Programs 532,340 548,840 554,260 Peninsula Clean Energy -20,000 -13,750 0
Energy efficiency retrofits -30 -30 -30
Solar energy installations -20 -10 0
Municipal energy retrofits -160 -160 -160
Public access EV chargers 0 0 0
Transportation Demand Management -220 -200 -190
Caltrain electrification (planned) -3,560 -4,200 -4,560 Total reductions from existing and planned local
and regional programs -23,990 -18,330 -4,940
Emissions with existing and planned local and
regional programs
508,380 530,510 549,320
Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
Existing and planned local, regional, and State accomplishments reduce San Mateo’s forecasted GHG emissions by a significant amount. Table 12 shows the benefit of these accomplishments relative to San Mateo’s baseline.
Table 12: Emissions with Existing and Planned Efforts
Policy 2030 2040 2045
2005 (baseline) emissions (MTCO2e) 666,430 666,430 666,430 Emissions with existing and planned programs (MTCO2e) 508,380 530,510 549,320 Percent below baseline emissions -24% -20% -18%
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58 City of San Mateo July 2023
REVISED AND NEW GHG REDUCTION MEASURES
A central goal of the CAP update is to achieve additional GHG reductions to work toward the City’s 2030, 2040, and 2045 reduction target, recognizing that the reduction measures in the 2015 CAP are insufficient to meet these reductions. To identify these additional reductions, the project team began with the 28 GHG reduction measures in the City’s 2015 CAP. Some of these measures have been fully implemented, and do not need to be carried forward into the CAP update. Others are still a pplicable and can be revised or expanded to achieve additional GHG reductions. There are also opportunities to add entirely new measures to address new and emerging issues not covered in the 2015 CAP.
The project team based the revised and new GHG reduction measures on several sources, including:
x San Mateo’s inventory and forecast.
x The existing and planned State, regional, and local accomplishments. x Discussions with City staff to identify past succes ses and challenges, plans and opportunities, and goals and priorities related to GHG reduction efforts.
x An audit of energy-related strategies being recommended and implemented by communities throughout San Mateo County through the RICAPS program, working with staff from PCE and the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability
x Feedback and direction from Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission members, along with comments provided by members of the public at these meetings. x Comments and results of the priority voting activity at the June 6, 2019, community workshop.
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 59
Calculating Credit
This CAP uses a process called quantification to determine the amount of GHG emissions reduced by each measure. The foundation for the quantification calculations is the baseline GHG inventory and forecast. Activity data from the inventory, such as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) or kilowatt-hours (kWh), are combined with participation rates and data about the reduction in activity data from each action to calculate the GHG reduction benefit of each measure. This approach ensures that the GHG reductions from San Mateo’s CAP measures are tied to current and future activities that are actually occurring in the community.
Calculations for reductions in activity data come from tools and reports provided by government agencies; these agencies include the US Environmental Protection Agenc y (EPA), the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, the US Department of Energy, and local air districts. If accu rate data are not available through these sources, the quantification uses case studies from comparable comm unities and applicable scholarly research. The specific quantification process for each measure is presented in Appendix 1, which includes a list of data sources and assumptions.
The project team was able to identify GHG reductions for most of the measures in this CAP. However, there are a few that do not have a specific reduction level due to missing data or the lack of a reliable method. These efforts are still expected to reduce GHG emissions, but the level cannot be accurately determined. These measures are labeled as supportive.
GHG Reduction Measures
Based on the results of this process, the project team identified a total of 29 GHG reduction measures to include in this CAP. These measures include a mix of education and outreach programs to encourage GHG reduction activities, financial subsidies, and other enticements to incentivize GHG reductions, and mandates to require GHG reduction efforts. These 29 measures are organized into 9 categories:
1) Building Electrification (BE)
2) Renewable Energy (RE)
3) Energy Efficiency (EE)
4) Municipal Energy Efficiency and
Electrification (ME)
5) Off-Road Equipment (OR)
6) Clean Transportation Fuels (CF)
7) Sustainable Transportation (ST)
8) Solid Waste (SW)
9) Water and Wastewater (WW)
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Each measure entry includes a description of the measure, the anticipated 2030, 2040, and 2045 GHG reductions achieved by the measure at the projected performance level, and the recommended actions necessary to implement it. Assumptions, projected performance levels, sources, and metrics used to calculate GHG reductions are given for each measure in Appendix 1. Each measure entry also identifies the co-benefits of the measure, which are advantages provided by the measure beyond GHG reduction. Figure 7 presents the co-benefits assessment for each GHG reduction measure.
Figure 7: CAP Co-Benefits
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Promotes equity Reduces utility bills Saves energy
Building Electrification (BE)
Most buildings, both residential and nonresidential, use electricity and natural gas to operate appliances and other pieces of equipment. While sources of electricity have become much cleaner over time and will continue to become cleaner due to State law and utility policies, the GHG emissions associated with using a unit of natural gas has remained constant, as natural gas is a fossil fuel and cannot become a cleaner energy source. Buildings that receive most or all their energy from electricity instead of natural gas can significantly reduce their GHG emissions as a result. Buildings can be constructed to be mostly electric or all-electric, or existing buildings can be electrified as part of retrofit activities. Advances in electric appliances, such as those used for space heating, water heating, and cooking, have helped make building electrification easier and more cost-effective.
BE 1: All-electric new construction
As San Mateo property owners construct new residential and nonresidential buildings, they have the option to construct these buildings to receive most or all their energy from electricity rather than natural gas. Not having to install natural gas piping decreases the cost of cons truction. New buildings in San Mateo must also install solar panels to generate electricity, and so all-electric buildings with solar panels may be able to generate all the energy they need on-site.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 21,070 38,450 47,250
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 61
Recommended actions:
x For each three-year code cycle, adopt a reach code to encourage residential and commercial new construction to be built to an all-electric standard, including electric heating, cooling, and water heating. x Explore the feasibility of reducing permitting fees if builders elect to construct all-electric buildings instead of buildings that use natural gas.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Improves public health Promotes equity Reduces utility bills BE 2: All-electric existing buildings
Although most existing buildings already have natural gas infrastructure and natural gas devices installed, these systems can be converted to all-electric. Electric appliances that replace natural gas-powered models are highly efficient, readily available, and cost-effective. Many buildings can install these appliances with simple electric wiring and panel upgrades, if upgrades are required at all. The cost of converting existing buildings to mostly- or all-electric can be further reduced if the electrification is done as part of a larger retrofit activity. 2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 102,210 184,610 221,260
Recommended actions:
x Encourage residents and businesses to purchase electric technologies (e.g., air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric dryers, and electric stoves). x Encourage residents and businesses to upgrade electric panels to accommodate electric technologies including solar PV, battery storage, air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric dryers, and electric stoves.
x Support training and outreach to residents, busine sses, contractors, vendors, and installers about preferable electric equipment replacement technologies.
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62 City of San Mateo July 2023
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Improves public health Promotes equity Reduces utility bills
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 63
Renewable Energy (RE)
While much of San Mateo’s electricity already comes from renewable or carbon-free sources, increasing the amount of energy in the community from renewable so urces not only further reduces GHG emissions but also has the potential to reduce the cost of electricity for residents and enhance the local economy. By incentivizing on-site electricity generation and storage and thereby decentralizing the creation of energy, the City of San Mateo also becomes more resilient to grid failures and power shutoffs and helps make the community less dependent on outside resources.
Renewable Energy Emissions Reductions in 2045
Measures that only reduce electricity use or increase renewable electricity supplies will show zero GHG reductions in 2045. This is because all electricity sold in California must be carbon-free by 2045, as required by the State’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). Since there will already be no emissions from electricity use in 2045, San Mateo cannot count additional reductions associated with electricity in this year. This CAP already credits reductions from the RPS as an existing State program.
While Peninsula Clean Energy supplies most of San Mateo’s electricity and is carbon-free as of 2021, some San Mateo customers are still expected to receive their electricity from PG&E or direct access providers. As these providers are not expected to be carbon-free until required by the State, measures that reduce electricity use or increase renewable electricity supplies will show some GHG reductions in 2030 and 2040, even though most of the community will already use carbon-free electricity.
Remember that local renewable energy systems and energy efficiency measures will continue to provide several co-benefits to the community, including lower electricity bills and increased resiliency against power disruptions, even if there are no measurable additional GHG reductions.
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RE 1: Peninsula Clean Energy
Since beginning operations in 2016, the county-wide Pe ninsula Clean Energy (PCE) program has been highly successful in increasing the amount of renewable and carbon-free electricity used by the community. As of 2019, more than 97 percent of San Mateo’s residents and businesses receive their electricity from PCE. San Mateo can achieve more GHG reductions with PCE by encouraging the remaining residents and businesses to participate in the program and by supporting efforts for customers to upgrade to PCE’s ECO 100 service, which provides all electricity from renewable sources.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 160 170 0
Recommended actions:
x Encourage residents and businesses to participate in Peninsula Clean Energy. x Encourage residents and businesses participating in PCE to opt up to ECO 100. x Support PCE’s outreach to direct access customers to encourage use of carbon-free electricity.
Co-benefits:
Enhances local economy Reduces utility bills
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 65
RE 2: Renewable energy systems for new and existing residences The addition of renewable energy systems to new residential buildings can often meet (and even exceed) the energy demand of the home. State and local regulations al ready require new homes to install solar panels of a particular size, but homeowners can choose to install larger systems to generate additional power. Existing homes not subject to this requirement can also benefit from installing renewable energy systems. Extra energy can meet any additional electricity needs of the home, or can be sold back to the grid, which helps reduce the amount of energy needed from nonrenewable sources and can help the homeowner finance the project. 2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 70 160 0
Recommended actions:
x For each three-year code cycle, adopt reach codes to require residential developments to install renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltaic or solar water heating, as needed to exceed State requirements.
x Provide education and outreach to residents and contractors on the benefits of pairing battery storage with solar PV systems.
x Explore the feasibility of reducing or eliminating solar permitting fees. x Provide information to property owners about discounts, incentives, and financing programs for renewable energy systems, including solar bulk purch ase programs and financing programs that allow property owners to incrementally pay for renewable energy systems. x Provide education and outreach to stakeholders on the benefits of retrofitting existing residential buildings to be zero net energy.
x Promote the installation of renewable energy and energy storage systems as part of major home retrofit projects.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Promotes equity Reduces utility bills
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RE 3: Renewable energy systems for new and existing nonresidential buildings The addition of distributed-generation renewable energy systems to nonresidential buildings helps reduce the amount of energy from nonrenewable sources the building requires, and in some cases may exceed the amount of electricity needed. While San Mateo requires that new nonresidential buildings include renewable energy systems, this requirement does not apply to existing bu ildings, which can still take advantage of the benefits provided by these systems. New nonresidential buildings can also install larger systems than local standards require, producing an additional amount of renewable ener gy that can either be used by the building or sold back to the grid. New construction that is built to include such systems helps reduce GHG emissions and may save businesses money on utility costs.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 60 90 0
Recommended actions:
x For each three-year code cycle, adopt reach codes to require nonresidential developments to install renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltai cs or solar water heating, as needed to exceed State requirements.
x Promote financing programs that allow developers, property owners, and tenants to incrementally pay for renewable energy systems.
x Explore the feasibility of reducing or eliminating solar permitting fees. x Work with appropriate property owners to identify potential sites for a microgrid demonstration project.
Provide education and outreach to these property owners on the multiple benefits of developing a microgrid, including reliability, cleaner energy, and cost savings. x Encourage property owners to pair battery storage systems with solar PV systems. x Support development of a local rebate program for on-site renewable energy systems.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Reduces utility bills
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 67
Energy Efficiency (EE)
Electricity and natural gas are used to heat, cool, and light buildings, as well as to operate appliances and machinery. This goal seeks to provide opportunities for businesses and residents to conserve energy and maximize efficiency, which in turn reduces energy costs, supports the local economy, and further reduces GHG emissions.
EE 1: Residential energy efficiency retrofits
Older homes, especially those built before incorporation of energy efficiency and green building standards in local and State building codes (generally before 1980), are less energy efficient than newer buildings. Home retrofit programs address a variety of improvements in existing houses and include upgrades to insulation, windows, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting, and appliances, and may reduce the average home’s energy use by 33 percent or more. San Mateo residents have already completed a limited number of retrofits, as discussed in the Existing and Planned Accomplishments section, through programs such as Energy Upgrade California.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 6,160 7,020 6,790
Recommended actions:
x Establish a time of sale residential energy conservation program that requires an energy audit by a certified energy professional. Audits would be disclosed to the buyer. x Educate homeowners, real estate agents, rental pr operty owners, and tenants about the benefits of residential energy retrofits, the availability of financing options, and how to participate. x Provide energy retrofit information to project applicants seeking permits for renovation or expansion work on existing houses.
x Host residential energy outreach events such as evening workshops and local learn-at-lunch sessions, provide energy retrofit information at community events, and distribute information on residential energy retrofits online and in public buildings.
x Promote financing programs that allow homeowners, rental property owners, and tenants to incrementally pay for energy efficiency retrofits.
x Provide funding to support energy efficiency education and low-cost retrofits for low-income households. x Offer low- or no-cost energy audits to rental pr operty owners who agree to disclose a unit’s energy efficiency results to tenants.
x Encourage property owners to participate in energy benchmarking efforts.
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x Work with tenant groups and property management companies to identify actions tenants can take within the bounds of their lease to improve energy efficiency. x Promote incentives such as direct subsidies and reduced fee permitting to rental property owners who make energy efficiency improvements to their units beyond any minimum actions required by the adopted energy code.
x Encourage property owners to consider installing cool roofs when reroofing buildings.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Reduces utility bills Saves energy Home energy audits can identify opportunities to reduce electricity and natural gas use through both retrofit activities and low- or no-cost behavioral changes.
Photo by Dennis Schroeder/NREL (28533)
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 69
EE 2: Nonresidential energy efficiency retrofits
As with residential buildings, many of San Mateo’s nonresidential buildings have been constructed before the adoption of modern energy efficient building codes. Energy-efficient retrofits can help the City reduce GHG emissions and save businesses money. Retrofits to these structures can reduce energy use by approximately 35% to 45%. Property owners who are substantially remodelin g their nonresidential buildings can also bring the structure up to current energy efficiency codes as part of the remodel, which can also significantly decrease the buildings’ electricity and natural gas use.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 3,800 8,860 13,380
Recommended actions:
x Develop policy requiring reporting of energy use (ENERGY STAR performance score) by commercial and multifamily buildings. Apply benchmarking ordinance to smaller commercial and multifamily buildings, below the minimum size threshold for mandatory benchmarking under AB 802 and require commercial buildings to receive an energy assessment every five to ten years depending on size. x Educate property owners and tenants about energy efficiency retrofit programs and financing options. x Work with property owners to offer green leases for tenants, allowing tenants to specify energy efficiency improvements to the space or to finance energy efficiency retrofits in exchange for reduced occupancy fees. Promote a green lease addendum template that can be used by nonresidential property owners to incorporate green lease language into future leases.
x Support participation in demand response programs.
x Offer low-cost energy audits for business or office pa rks, including identification of most cost-efficient savings for weatherization or appliance upgrades.
x Offer reduced fee permitting to project applicants undergoing specifically defined energy retrofit measures, such as a retrofit to achieve Zero Net Energy in an existing building. x Promote the San Mateo County Green Business program to help encourage energy efficiency and sustainable actions in local businesses.
x Encourage property owners to consider installing cool roofs when reroofing buildings.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Reduces utility bills Saves energy
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The windows in this airport building have been retrofitted to electronically darken in bright sunlight, helping to keep the inside of the building cool. Advances such as this can be applied to San Mateo office buildings, reducing the energy use for air conditioning.
Photo by Dennis Schroeder/NREL (54582)
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 71
EE 3: Residential tree planting
Shade trees provide several benefits, including reducing the urban heat island effect, reducing runoff during flood events, and providing habitat for wildlife. When pr operly placed, they can also help keep home interiors cool, reducing the need for homes to run their air conditioners or other cooling equipment. San Mateo can promote tree planting to help decrease home cooling demands. 2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 Less than 10 0
Recommended actions:
x Establish a City program to provide free or subsidized shade trees for buildings with eastern, western, or southern exposure to reduce energy use associated with cooling homes. x Partner with community organizations and applicable professional associations to support education and outreach on the benefits and best practices of st rategic tree planting to provide shade and cooling.
Develop guidance on the preferred tree types and the recommended approach to selecting locations for tree plantings that support energy conservation and efficiency.
Co-benefits:
Improves public health Reduces utility bills Saves energy Street trees can help keep nearby buildings cool, reducing the need for air conditioning during hot days.
Photo by PlaceWorks
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Municipal Energy Efficiency and Electrification (ME)
The City of San Mateo strives to serve as an example of efficiency and to embody the commitment to reducing emissions citywide. Measures and actions under this goal save energy and reduce utility bills, which preserves valuable City resources and provides green building case studies for other developments in the community.
ME 1: Energy efficiency for new municipal buildings
The California Energy Commission is considering a goal of having all new nonresidential buildings be zero net energy by 2030. The City can work toward this goal by constructing new municipal facilities to be more energy efficient than State or local regulations require, including achieving zero net energy in advance of the State’s target.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) Supportive Supportive Supportive Recommended actions:
x Seek grant funding or low- or no-interest loans to implement energy saving efforts and renewable energy systems at municipal facilities at time of construction or substantial renovation.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Reduces utility bills Saves energy
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 73
ME 2: Energy efficiency at existing municipal buildings While San Mateo has conducted significant retrofits to existing municipal properties, additional opportunities for reducing energy use exist at City-owned facilities. The Sustainable Solutions Turnkey (SST) program has identified multiple HVAC and lighting retrofits at several City properties, including the Police Department, City Hall, multiple fire stations, and many others. This measure goes beyond the SST program (which is already accounted for as a planned activity) and looks at opportuniti es for retrofits at additional facilities or for additional retrofits not covered as part of other programs.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 10 30 40
Recommended actions:
x Implement energy efficiency upgrades (including lighting and HVAC systems) at municipal buildings as needed.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Reduces utility bills Saves energy Although many City buildings have already been retrofitted, there are always opportunities to take advantage of new energy- saving technologies and practices. These municipal retrofits help reduce the amount of public money spent on utility bills, and also allow the City to pilot new ways to reduce energy use.
Photo by City of San Mateo
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74 City of San Mateo July 2023
ME 3: All-electric municipal buildings
Constructing new buildings or renovating existing ones to receive most or all their energy from electricity, as opposed to a mix of electricity and natural gas, has si gnificant GHG savings. As the City encourages private property owners to construct mostly electric or all-electric buildings, it can set an example by constructing its new buildings and renovating existing spaces to use electricity only. If these all-electric buildings also have renewable energy and battery storage systems, they ca n also be protected against power grid failures and intentional shutoffs.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 130 200 270
Recommended actions:
x As feasible, design and build all-electric municipal buildings and facilities, including electric heating, cooling, and water heating.
x Evaluate existing buildings and facilities to identify opportunities for retrofitting them to be all-electric, including electric heating, cooling, and water heating. x During the development and construction of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, also consider all-electric technology including electric heating, cooling, and water heating. x Explore the feasibility of establishing microgrids at new or existing municipal facilities to capture the multiple benefits of microgrids, including reliability, clean energy, and cost savings.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Reduces utility bills
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 75
Clean Transportation Fuels (CF)
The promotion of clean transportation fuels, such as electricity or hydrogen, can ease a transition away from reliance on vehicles fueled by gasoline or diesel fuel. Providing increased support for vehicles that use these clean transportation fuels through public and private infr astructure makes it easier for residents who want to purchase one of these vehicles.
CF 1: Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
Widespread availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is critical to ensuring that EV drivers can quickly and easily charge up their vehicles. This helps reduce both real and perceived barriers to EV adoption, increasing the rate of EV ownership in the community. A large numbe r of appropriately located EV charging stations can also encourage EV drivers from other communities to stop in San Mateo, which can provide economic opportunities. The City can ensure that EV drivers are not challenged to find a charging station at both public and private facilities. With the passage of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule in 2020, the Advanced Clean Cars II rule in 2022 and the Advanced Clean Fleets rule in 2023, state regulations require all sales of new light-duty vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 and sales of new medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles to be zero-emission by 2036.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 24,420 49,390 69,780
Recommended actions:
x For each three-year code cycle, update reach codes to exceed the state-mandated minimum percentage of EV parking spaces designed to accommodate the future installation of electric vehicle supply equipment in new residential and commercial development, including the installation of supply equipment for heavy-duty EVs at appropriate commercial development. x Promote incentives to encourage the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in existing public and private properties, including parking structures, hotels and motels, multi-unit dwellings, and workplaces. x Partner with other agencies to incentivize property owners to install EV charging stations for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles as appropriate.
x Install additional public EV charging stations in desirable, high-volume, and prominent City-owned locations.
x Encourage the expansion of appropriate light-duty and heavy-duty EV charging infrastructure in existing buildings.
x Encourage pairing EV charging infrastructure with battery storage systems. x Explore options to reduce or eliminate permit fees for the installation of EV charging infrastructure.
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Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Promotes equity Dedicated areas for electric vehicle charging at residential complexes and businesses help encourage EV adoption, reducing GHG emissions from transportation.
Photo by Dennis Schroeder/NREL (26765)
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July 2023 Climate Action Plan 77
CF 2: Electric vehicle education and outreach
EVs, including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are becoming incr easingly widespread and co st-effective to California residents. San Mateo can improve the adoption of EVs among City residents by promoting these vehicles through media and in-person events. The City can encourage property owners who are not required to install EV chargers to do so and can publicize the availability of incentives. 2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 4,910 8,030 12,360
Recommended actions:
x Provide information about the benefits of EVs and PHEVs through the City’s electronic media systems and at public events, including creating opportunities for public EV/PHEV test drives. x Conduct educational outreach to homeowners, commercial property owners, and developers about the benefits of EV charging stations.
x Identify and distribute resources to assist community members seeking to install an EV charging station on their properties.
x Work with local and regional partners to explore providing additional incentives to community members who purchase an EV or PHEV.
x Evaluate opportunities to regulate or incentivize transportation network companies (TNCs) to increase adoption of electric vehicles as regulatory conditions allow.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Improves public health Promotes equity
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CF 3: Clean City fleet
San Mateo can further demonstrate its leadership on GHG reduction by increasing the number of vehicles in the municipal fleet that use clean transportation fuels. The City has already purchased vehicles that run off biomethane, a substitute for compressed natural gas (CNG) generated from waste products at the San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant. As EVs become more widely available, the City has more opportunities to replace its gasoline and diesel-fueled cars and trucks.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 130 200 270
Recommended actions:
x Purchase EVs or PHEVs as replacements for gasoline, diesel, or conventional hybrid City fleet vehicles that have not been converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, as available and cost-effective. x Update the Vehicle and Fleet Equipment policy and explore an “Electric Vehicle First” procurement policy.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Improves public health
Methane is produced as a by-product of treating the community’s wastewater. The City collects this methane and processes it to produce a natural gas substitute called biomethane, which is used to fuel municipal vehicles. The City can expand its use of biomethane, as well as other clean fuels, to operate its fleet.
Photo by City of San Mateo
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 79
CF 4: Clean fuel and vehicle emissions
Beyond electricity and biomethane, other clean vehicle fuel s are available, such as hydrogen and biofuels from sustainable sources. Although these fuels are available in limited places and quantities, they are likely to become more widespread in coming years as California seeks to substantially cut GHG emissions from transportation. San Mateo can encourage adoption of these additional clean vehicle fuels by making it easier for fueling stations that supply them to locate in the community.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 4,210 16,920 26,360
Recommended actions:
x Support efforts to build fueling stations in San Mateo for other clean fuels, including hydrogen and sustainably-sourced biofuels, as supported by market conditions. x Explore ways to reduce vehicle idling in selected areas with large numbers of vehicle drop-offs and pick- ups, such as schools.
x Explore signal light optimization to reduce vehicle idling at traffic signals.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Promotes equity
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80 City of San Mateo July 2023
Sustainable Transportation (ST)
Increasing the number of transportation modes available to San Mateo residents creates a healthier community, promotes equity, and reduces emissions. By providing individuals with a range of safe, reliable options to get to work, school, shopping, and other important destinations that are more sustainable than personal vehicles, the City can ensure that other modes of transportation ar e a feasible and effective alternative. This reduces dependence on personal vehicles in San Mateo, improving mobility options for all community members.
ST 1: Bicycle mode share
Bicycles currently make up an estimated 1.4 percent of San Mateo trips, using the approximately 62 miles of dedicated bike trails and lanes within the community. Efforts to increase this are currently under way, with the ongoing implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan, which was adopted in 2011 and updated in 2020. These efforts include dedicated bicycle parking, new bike lanes, and improvements to existing bicycle infrastructure, along with educational and outreach efforts. Such effo rts are supported by the 2015 Sustainable Streets Plan, which includes standards for complete streets, and the 2019 Green Infrastructure Plan, which supports beneficial landscaping and other green infrastructure components that can make bicycling a more safe and pleasant experience.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 80 170 180
Recommended actions:
x Host bicycle safety and awareness efforts for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. x Support bike-to-school commutes through the Safe Routes to School program. x Install bike racks and long-term bike storage lockers in the public right-of-way and at City facilities and transit facilities.
x Secure funding for design and construction of the infrastructure improvements identified in the updated Bicycle Master Plan.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Promotes equity
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 81
ST 2: Pedestrian mode share
The San Mateo Pedestrian Master Plan, adopted in 2012, seeks to create a pedestrian-friendly environment throughout the community to encourage walking and contribute to the
community’s ambitious 2020 mode share target. By focusing new development in existing areas of higher density rather than low- density residential areas, San Mateo can support increased pedestrian activity by locating homes within walking distance of key facilities such as shops, offices, and schools. Such efforts are supported by the Sustainable Streets Plan and the Green Infrastructure Plan which includes standards for complete streets and pedestrian-friendly landscaping improvements such as low- impact development.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 110 120 130
Recommended actions:
x Improve pedestrian safety through education and outreach efforts. x Support walk-to-school efforts through the Safe Routes to School program. x Secure funding for design and construction of the infrastructure improvements identified in the adopted Pedestrian Master Plan and Green Infrastructure Plan.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Promotes equity Pedestrian-friendly areas, such as Downtown San
Mateo, encourage people to walk rather than drive.
Photo by City of San Mateo
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82 City of San Mateo July 2023
ST 3: Micromobility and shared mobility
Micromobility refers to the use of electric scooters, uni-skates, etc. to travel short distances. It is a growing trend for individuals to own their own person al micromobility devices to connect to transit and job centers. Shared mobility options, such as a bike share program, allow community members an easy way to make shorter trips without owning their own devices. People who do not have access to a bike, scooter, or other mobility device of their own can rent one from various private shared mob ility operators. In 2019, San Mateo adopted a Shared Mobility Permit Program, establishing regulations that would allow these companies to begin operating in the community. Providing shared mobility devices helps make more sustainable transportation modes available to more people while ensuring that shared mobility companies operate in a safe and responsible manner. 2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) Supportive Supportive Supportive Recommended actions:
x Identify operators for a shared mobility program to provide first- and last-mile connections for residents and commuters.
x Work closely with shared mobility operator(s) to monitor program and encourage ridership. x Support infrastructure improvements that encourage the use of personal micromobility devices in alignment with the updated Bicycle Master Plan.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Promotes equity
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 83
ST 4: Public transit service
Multiple public transit providers operate in San Mateo, including the county-wide SamTrans bus network, the Caltrain commuter rail line between San Francisco and San Jose/Gilroy, and AC Transit’s bus connections to Hayward and Castro Valley. In partnership with these regional service providers, San Mateo can support efforts to increase the frequency and speed of transit service, improve the quality of public transit infrastructure, and support additional service as needed. Educational and incentive programs can also encourage people to increasingly use public transit, helping to get cars off the road and reducing congestion while simultaneously decreasing GHG emissions.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 3,610 5,660 6,910
Recommended actions:
x Support the development of new rapid bus transit routes. x Work with transit providers to improve the safety and comfort at transit stops. x Work with Caltrain to improve the frequency of Caltrain services, particularly to the Hayward Park station. x In partnership with transit providers, explore the feasibility of transit priority signals and other infrastructure improvements to speed up transit service. x Increase ridership for public transit by enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access to high-quality transit and encourage incentive programs to decrease reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Promotes equity Improvements to San Mateo’s public transit service
help reduce congestion as well as community GHG
emissions.
Photo by PlaceWorks
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84 City of San Mateo July 2023
ST 5: Commuter programs
San Mateo’s efforts to encourage walking, bicycling, and public transit use can work in concert with other transit services, such as private shuttles and vanpools, to reduce vehicle trips associated with employee commutes.
Existing businesses can encourage employees to adopt more sustainable commute options, including increased use of telecommuting, to reduce GHG emissions and congestion in the community. San Mateo’s existing Transportation Demand Management program can offer a model for how to reduce commute-related trips for existing businesses.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 70 160
Recommended actions:
x Conduct an outreach campaign to San Mateo residents and employees about available shuttle and vanpool options to support increased use of these existing programs. x Work with regional partners and employers to offer micro-transit services to provide first-mile and last- mile connections with key job and housing centers.
x Provide outreach for carpool incentive programs to San Mateo residents and employees. x Encourage existing employers to participate in Transportation Demand Management efforts. x Support efforts by employers to provide telecommuting as a viable option for appropriate employees.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Improves public health Promotes equity
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 85
ST 6: Transportation Demand Management
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) is a suite of strategies intended to reduce the amount of single- occupancy vehicle trips generated and vehicle miles traveled, particularly during peak commute times. TDM can include increased use of public transit, non-motori zed transportation, carpools and ridesharing, and telecommuting, among many others. In San Mateo, new developments in the Hillsdale and Hayward Park transit- oriented development areas are required to reduce the number of trips they generate. The City is looking to establish similar requirements for significant new developments in the downtown area and can also encourage participation in TDM programs for developments in other parts of the communities. Developments implementing TDM measures generally have the freedom to choose the strategies that suit their needs. 2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 2,010 7,950 13,410
Recommended actions:
x Require new developments of at least six multi-family units and/or 10,000 square feet of nonresidential space to implement a suite of TDM strategies to comply with the appropriate trip reduction target identified in applicable area plans.
x Require developments of at least 20 multi-family units and/or 50,000 square feet of nonresidential space undergoing additions or alterations (as defined in San Mateo Municipal Code Section 23.06.012) to implement TDM strategies consistent with the targets in relevant area plans. x Educate developers working on projects in San Mateo not located in a TDM area about ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled and the resultant benefits.
x Publicize developments and businesses with successful TDM programs. x Work with regional partners to fund successful TDM strategies for existing developments that can be implemented with little or no cost to property owners.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Improves public health Promotes equity
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86 City of San Mateo July 2023
ST 7: Transit-oriented developments
Transit-oriented developments (TODs) are development projects located in areas close to high-quality transit services, such as commuter rail stations or bus stops with rapid and frequent service and are designed to encourage community members living and working in these projects to use public transit as an alternative to driving. Many TODs in San Mateo are in areas already covered by TDM requirements that also support reduced vehicle use. The City can also encourage TODs in other parts of the community, further decreasing congestion on local roads and highways.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 10,200 18,920 23,700
Recommended actions:
x Increase transit-oriented developments along El Camino Real, within one-half mile of Caltrain stations, and in the Rail Corridor Transit Oriented Development and Hillsdale Station Area Plan areas.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy Improves public health Transit-oriented developments encourage community members to use public transit for many of their trips.
Photo by City of San Mateo
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 87
Solid Waste (SW)
Efforts to divert waste away from landfills not only reduce emissions, but also provide residents with an opportunity to focus on comprehensive sustainability an d exercising awareness of individual impact on the environment, including minimizing waste generation and encouraging source reduction. These measures build on the City of San Mateo’s active leadership to date reducing waste through innovative programs.
SW 1: Composting program
Decomposing landfill waste emits methane, which is a potent GHG. Diverting compostable materials from traditional waste streams may reduce these emissions. San Mateo and a number of other surrounding communities instituted a curbside composting program in 2011 in conjunction with the local waste hauler. This voluntary program allows residents and businesses to deposit food scraps into a green bin to be composted and turned into fertilizer. Previously, this material would have gone to the landfill, producing GHGs as it decomposed.
Virtually all of San Mateo’s single-family households currently participate in the program, along with some multi- family households and businesses. Increasing the participation rate of this program can decrease GHG emissions and help educate residents about waste generation.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 1,030 1,710 1,850
Recommended actions:
x Provide educational outreach materials to multifamily residents about urging HOA/property managers to support composting programs.
x Work with Recology San Mateo County to include information about adding composting services in monthly garbage and recycling bills to existing BizSMART customers. x Work with food service facilities to understand barriers to using existing composting programs. Use this clearer perception of roadblocks to mitigate concerns and target incentives more specifically at high food-waste facilities.
x Work with multifamily and commercial property owners to minimize any potential health or cleanliness impacts associated with compost collection bins.
x Explore alternative off-site collection or sorting methods to capture compostable materials from multifamily units.
x Continue to provide a diversion discount to partic ipating commercial and multifamily users to properly incentivize and fully use compost services.
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Co-benefits:
Conserves resources
Food waste and other organics is one of the most common materials in California’s trash. Composting programs help keep this waste out of landfills, reducing GHG emissions and providing useful, nutrient-rich soil as a co-benefit.
Photo by U.S. EPA
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 89
SW 2: Expanded recycling service
Beyond food waste and other organics, San Mateo residents can recycle many other types of materials. However, if materials are not placed in the correct bin, they ma y be accidentally landfilled, leading to increased GHG emissions. Proper sorting and other educational efforts can ensure that recyclable materials end up where they are supposed to. The City’s waste hauler may also be able to accept additional types of materials for recycling at a future time, depending on market conditions.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 6,070 7,730 8,820
Recommended actions:
x Allow expanded recycling programs to accommodate ad ditional material types as economic conditions allow.
x Improve educational efforts around proper waste sorting.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources
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90 City of San Mateo July 2023
SW 3: Waste awareness and source reduction
While it is important to sort waste properly and use re cyclable/compostable products whenever possible, it is also helpful for community members to minimize the amount of materials that they throw away at all, regardless of the bin it ends up in. These efforts to decrease the overall amount of waste produced in the community not only decrease GHG emissions but can help keep harmful materials out of the environment and provide an opportunity for increased community education.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 2,080 4,050 5,590
Recommended actions:
x Work with partners to establish a source reduction program. x Work with partners to establish a materials reuse program. x Explore a ban on specific types of single-use or disposable plastics. x Work with waste haulers and the South Bayside Wa ste Management Authority to minimize recycling contamination.
x Continue to promote the Team Up to Clean Up program.
x Encourage local restaurants to partner with food rescue organizations to divert food that would otherwise be thrown away to non-profit organizations for distribution to those in need.
Co-benefit:
Conserves resources Enhances local economy
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 91
Water and Wastewater (WW)
Increasing the efficiency of water usage reduces emissions and helps conserve valuable resources, saving money for the City and its residents, reducing dependence on outside resources, and increasing resilience to water shortages.
WW 1: Water efficiency retrofits for existing buildings Older buildings often have opportunities to improve water efficiency by replacing old fixtures (sinks, showerheads, toilets, etc.). Especially in periods of drought, optimizing indoor water efficiency may greatly reduce GHG emissions from conveyance and treatment of water. New buildings are required to use water-efficient fixtures under State law. These buildings can incorporate fixtures that exceed California standards to achieve additional water use reductions.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 170 300 360
Recommended actions:
x Provide educational materials and outreach to encourage indoor water conservation. x Work with Cal Water and Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) to promote rebate offerings for high efficiency toilets, washing mach ines, rain barrels, and other water-conserving appliances.
x Work with Cal Water to offer low-cost or free water audits to businesses and homeowners. Explore ways to encourage installation of greywater systems in existing buildings, especially as part of significant retrofits.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Reduces utility bills
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92 City of San Mateo July 2023
WW 2: Water-efficient landscaping
Treating and conveying water requires large amounts of energy. Minimizing the amount of water used for nonessential applications, such as landscaping and turf grass, helps reduce GHG expenditures and increases resiliency in periods of drought.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 10 0
Recommended actions:
x Provide educational materials to the community about drought-tolerant landscaping. x Host educational workshops on drought-tolerant and native landscaping x Partner with Cal Water and/or BAWSCA to host a tr ade-in program for inefficient sprinklers for more efficient drip irrigation systems.
x Retrofit City-owned landscapes to increase the amount of drought-resistant and/or native plant landscaping.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Reduces utility bills
Water-efficient landscaping is an increasingly common choice throughout San Mateo to reduce water use and improve resilience to drought conditions.
Photos by City of San Mateo
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 93
WW 3: Water efficiency in new construction
The California Building Standards Code already requires new buildings to be highly water efficient. The City can encourage new buildings to go beyond these requirements to meet the voluntary standards in the California Green Building Code, improving community-wide water efficiency. San Mateo can also promote the availability of greywater systems, allowing water to be reused in a safe and hygienic way to further improve water efficiency. 2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 10 20
Recommended actions:
x Adopt a reach code to require new developments to meet the voluntary indoor and outdoor water efficiency standards in the California Green Building Standards Code. x Encourage developers to install greywater systems in new buildings at time of construction.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources
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94 City of San Mateo July 2023
Off-Road Equipment (OR)
Shifting to alternative fuel equipment across the community and promotes healthier air for all residents due to the reduction in gasoline or diesel fumes. This is especially important for sensitive populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic respiratory disease.
OR 1: Clean fuel lawn and garden equipment
Most lawn and garden equipment, such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chippers, etc., are fueled by gasoline or diesel. Many manufacturers produce hybrid and electric models, which use less fuel compared to a conventional model (or none at all). These models produce less pollution and may also be quieter to operate than gasoline or diesel equipment.
2030 2040 2045
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 3,660 7,130 9,890
Recommended actions:
x Buy hybrid and alternative fuel models when purc hasing new City-owned landscaping equipment, as feasible.
x Conduct education campaigns and outreach events to property owners and landscaping companies about the availability of hybrid and alternative fuel landscaping equipment, including electric equipment, and available incentives such as the BAAQMD Lawn Mower Exchange.
Co-benefits:
Conserves resources Improves public health
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 95
Summary of Total GHG Emissions
Collectively, the measures in this chapter achieve substantial GHG reductions for the years 2030, 2040, and 2045.
Table 13 shows the reductions achieved by topic, and Figure 8 shows these reductions relative to San Mateo’s community-wide emissions.
Table 13: GHG Emissions Reductions by Measure Topic, 2030-2045 (MTCO2e)
2030 2040 2045
Building electrification -123,280 -223,060 -268,510
Renewable energy -290 -420 0
Energy efficiency -9,960 -15,880 -20,170
Municipal energy efficiency and electrification -140 -230 -310 Clean fuels -33,670 -74,540 -108,770
Sustainable transportation -16,010 -32,890 -44,490
Solid waste -9,180 -13,490 -16,260
Water and wastewater -170 -320 -380
Off-road equipment -3,660 -7,130 -9,890
Total -196,360 -367,960 -468,780
Note: Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
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96 City of San Mateo July 2023
Figure 8: San Mateo GHG Emissions with Reduction Measures, 2030-2045 (MTCO2e) In total, this CAP is projected to reduce San Mateo’s GHG emissions to 311,990 MTCO2e (45 percent below 1990 levels) by 2030, 162,530 MTCO2e by 2040 (71 percent below 1990 levels), and 80,550 MTCO2e (86 percent below 1990 levels) by 2045. These reductions allow San Mateo to meet its GHG reduction targets of 40 percent below 1990 levels (339,880 MTCO2e) by 2030, and 85 percent below 1990 levels (84,970 MTCO2e) by 2045.
It is likely that there will be new policies and regulations, technologies, personal and economic behaviors and preferences, and other factors that emerge in coming years. These factors cannot be accurately forecasted in this CAP, but they will likely be able to reduce GHG emissions beyond the level identified here. Future updates to the CAP will be able to better assess the GHG emission redu ctions from these factors and include them as part of San Mateo’s GHG reduction strategy as appropriate. Future revisions to the CAP may include more stringent GHG reduction targets as they are feasible and appropriate. 0 100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
2030 2040 2050
Forecasted emissions Existing and planned efforts CAP measures
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 97
Technologies such as autonomous vehicles have the potential to significantly affect future GHG emissions, but the full effect o f this and other emerging technologies cannot be accurately forecasted at this time.Photo by PlaceWorks
Chapter 4
Implementation
IMPLEMENTING THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
To ensure the success of the CAP, the City of San Mateo will integrate the goals and strategies of this plan into other local and regional plans, and implement the prog rams and activities identified herein. As the City moves forward with updating other planning documents such as the General Plan, the San Mateo Municipal Code, or specific plans, staff will ensure that these documents support and are consistent with the CAP.
Implementing the CAP will require City leadership to execute these measures and report progress. This plan identifies a work plan that includes responsible departments, time frames, and relative costs associated with each measure. Staff will monitor progress using an implementa tion and monitoring tool on an annual basis and will provide an annual update to City decision-makers. The measures in this CAP are accompanied by a list of recommended actions, selected by City staff, members of the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission, and members of the public. The list of recommended actions represents suggested means of achieving the measure; however, these actions are not a prescriptive path to implementation. Furthermore, not all of the listed actions may be necessary for the City to achieve its target. Due to ongoing changes in technology and regulations, and the emergence of new best practices and funding opport unities, this approach enables the City to adapt and leverage new opportunities or partnerships without being constrained by a specific implementation pathway.
The City’s sustainability program manager will serve as an ongoing advisor for CAP implementation. As part of annual progress reports, the sustainability program manager and City staff will evaluate the effectiveness of each measure to ensure that anticipated emissions reductions are occurring. If reductions do not occur as expected, the City can modify and add additional measures to the CAP to ensure the reduction target is achieved.
IMPLEMENTATION
May 2023 2020 Climate Action Plan 99
The following programs are designed to guide San Mateo in successfully implementing the CAP.
IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
Implementation Measure 1: Monitor and report progress toward Climate Action Plan target achievement on an annual basis.
Actions to support Implementation Measure 1:
x Assign responsibility for facilitating and supporting CAP implementation to the City’s sustainability program manager.
x Identify key staff from each department responsibl e for supporting the sustainability program manager with information and updates for annual reporting and monitoring. x Continue to involve the Sustainability and Infras tructure Commission or other advisory bodies in reviewing and recommending CAP action items.
x Prepare an annual progress report on implementation of the recommended GHG reduction measures for review and consideration by the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission and City Council. When information is available, provide updates on es timated GHG emissions reductions and current GHG emissions levels.
x Use the CAP implementation and monitoring tool to track GHG benefits from CAP implementation and identify progress toward the CAP reduction target.
Implementation Measure 2: Continue collaborative partnerships with agencies and community groups that support Climate Action Plan implementation.
Action to support Implementation Measure 2:
x Continue formal membership and participate in loca l and regional organizations that provide tools and support for energy efficiency, energy conservati on, GHG emissions reductions, adaptation, public information, and implementation of this Plan.
x Participate as a member of the Regionally Integrat ed Climate Action Planning Suite (RICAPS) climate action planning effort to monitor available resources, programs, and funding to leverage with City CAP efforts.
x At the direction of the City Council, commit to formal membership through joint powers authorities or other partnerships to implement high priority measures from the CAP. x Provide policy input to partner agencies (e.g., League of Cities) on policy barriers that need to be addressed at the state level.
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100 City of San Mateo May 2023
Implementation Measure 3: Secure necessary funding to implement the Climate Action Plan.
Actions to support Implementation Measure 3:
x Identify funding sources and levels for reduction measures as part of annual reporting. x Include emissions reduction measures in department work plans, the capital improvement program, and other plans as appropriate.
x Pursue local, regional, State, and federal grants to support implementation. x Explore dedicated funding sources for CAP implementation. x Explore opportunities to allocate a portion of revenues from revenue-generating measures to CAP allocation.
Implementation Measure 4: Continue to update the baseline emissions inventory and Climate Action Plan every five years.
Actions to support Implementation Measure 4:
x Prepare a 2021 emissions inventory no later than 2024. x Update the CAP no later than 2025 to incorporate new technology, practices, and other options to further reduce emissions.
WORK PLAN
The work plan in Table 14 contains information to support staff and community implementation of the measures to effectively integrate them into budgets, the capital improvement program, and other programs and projects.
Information about the sources of data to monitor implementation of each measure is given in Appendix 2. The measures of success included in Table 14 are defined as follows:
Code: The abbreviation that is used to refer to the measure in the CAP and all corresponding workbooks.
Measure: The language used to guide actions needed for reductions.
GHG Reductions (MTCO2e): Amount of GHG emissions reduced by 2020, 2030, and 2050.
City Staff Time: The estimated cost to the City (in staff hours) to complete implementation of the measure, ranked as follows:
x Low (less than 80 hours)
x Medium (80–500 hours)
x High (more than 500 hours)
IMPLEMENTATION
May 2023 2020 Climate Action Plan 101
Time Frame: The year by which a measure should be effective by year’s end. The exact status of a measure will vary based on its actions, and many measures will be ongoing through and beyond 2030. An effective measure is one that will be actively on track to achieve its targeted GHG emissions reductions, support adaptation to climate change effects, or achieve long-term resilience. For a measure to be effective, the necessary programs and efforts should be active, and any infrastructure or other capital improvements should be in place. The effective year is not the end year, as many of the measures are programs that are intended to remain in effect for the foreseeable future, and so they do not have end dates. Time frames for effectively setting up the measures are described as follows:
x Immediate (by 2024)
x Near-Term (by 2025)
x Mid-Term (by 2027)
x Long-Term (by 2030)
Lead Department: The lead City department tasked with implementing the measure.
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Table 14: CAP Implementation Work Plan
Measure Measure
2030 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2040 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2045 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
City
Staff
Time
Time
Frame
Lead
Department(s)
BE 1 All-electric new construction -21,070 -38,450 -47,250 Medium Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
BE 2 All-electric existing buildings -102,210 -184,610 -221,260 High Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
RE 1 Peninsula Clean Energy -160 -170 0 Low Immediate City Manager’s Office
RE 2 Renewable energy systems for new and
existing residences -70 -160 0 Medium Immediate
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
RE 3 Renewable energy systems for new and
existing nonresidential buildings -60 -90 0 Medium Immediate City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
EE 1 Residential energy efficiency retrofits -6,160 -7,020 -6,790 High Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
EE 2 Nonresidential energy efficiency retrofits -3,800 -8,860 -13,380 High Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
EE 3 Residential tree planting Less than -10 Less than -10 Less than -10 Low Mid-term City Manager’s
Office, Parks and
Recreation
IMPLEMENTATION
May 2023 2020 Climate Action Plan 103
Measure Measure
2030 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2040 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2045 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
City
Staff
Time
Time
Frame
Lead
Department(s)
ME 1 Energy efficiency for new municipal
buildings Supportive Supportive Supportive Medium Mid-term City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works
ME 2 Energy efficiency at existing municipal
buildings -10 -30 -40 Medium Near-term
City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works
ME 3 All-electric municipal buildings -130 -200 -270 Medium Long-term City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works
CF 1 Electric vehicle charging infrastructure -24,420 -49,390 -69,780 High Immediate City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development,
Public Works
CF 2 Electric vehicle education and outreach -4,910 -8,030 -12,360 High Immediate City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
CF 3 Clean City fleet -130 -200 -270 Low Near-term Public Works CF 4 Clean fuel -4,210 -16,920 -26,360 Medium Long-term City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development,
Public Works
ST 1 Bicycle mode share -80 -170 -180 Medium Mid-term
Community
Development,
Public Works
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104 City of San Mateo May 2023
Measure Measure
2030 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2040 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2045 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
City
Staff
Time
Time
Frame
Lead
Department(s)
ST 2 Pedestrian mode share -110 -120 -130 Low Near-term Community
Development,
Public Works
ST 3 Micromobility and shared mobility Supportive Supportive Supportive Low Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works
ST 4 Public transit service -3,610 -5,660 -6,910 Medium Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works
ST 5 Commuter programs 0 -70 -160 High Mid-term
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development,
Public Works
ST 6 Transportation Demand Management -2,010 -7,950 -13,410 Medium Immediate Community
Development,
Public Works
ST 7 Transit-oriented development -10,200 -18,920 -23,700 Low Near-term Community Development
SW 1 Composting program -1,030 -1,710 -1,850 High Immediate Public Works SW 2 Expanded recycling service -6,070 -7,730 -8,820 High Near-term Public Works SW 3 Waste awareness and source reduction -2,080 -4,050 -5,590 Medium Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Public
Works
IMPLEMENTATION
May 2023 2020 Climate Action Plan 105
Measure Measure
2030 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2040 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
2045 GHG
Reduction
(MTCO2e)
City
Staff
Time
Time
Frame
Lead
Department(s)
WW 1 Water efficiency retrofits for existing
buildings -170 -300 -360 Medium Mid-term Public Works
WW 2 Water-efficient landscaping Less than -10 Less than -10 Less than -10 Low Near-term Public Works WW 3 Water efficiency in new construction 0 -10 -20 Medium Mid-term Community Development
OR 1 Alternative fuel lawn and garden
equipment -3,660 -7,130 -9,890 Medium Mid-term
City Manager’s
Office, Parks and
Recreation
Glossary
Activity: Any action that directly or indirectly results in GHG emissions. Examples include electricity use, vehicle use, and solid waste disposal. Activity data are a discre te measure of how much of an activity occurred in San Mateo in a certain year (e.g., how much electricity was used in 2015). The measurement unit of activity data varies depending on the activity.
Assembly Bill (AB) 32, California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: Establishes a comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to ac hieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases (GHG) for the State of California. AB 32 designates the California Air Resources Board as the responsible agency for monitoring and reducing statewide GHG emissions to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1279, California Climate Crisis Act of 2022: Revises the GHG targets established in AB 32 and declares the policy of the state both to achieve net-zero GHG emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and achieve and maintain net negative GHG emissions thereafter, and to ensure that by 2045, statewide human-caused GHG emissions are reduced to at least 85 percent below 1990 levels.
Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG): The regional planning agency for the nine counties and 101 incorporated cities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Baseline year: The year against which future changes are measured. Many communities in California use a baseline year of 2005 through 2008 for consistency with AB 32; the San Mateo inventory uses a baseline year of 2005.
GLOSSARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 107
Building electrification: Replacing some or all of a building’s natural gas-powered appliances or machinery with models that run on electricity. Since electricity releases much fewer GHGs (and in some cases no GHGs at all), there is a significant GHG reduction benefit. Building electrification is also called “fuel switching”.
California Air Resources Board (CARB): A division of the California Environmental Protection Agency charged with protecting public health, welfare, and ecological resources through the reduction of air pollutants.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): A State law requiring State and local agencies to regulate activities with consideration for environmental protection. If a proposed activity has the potential for a significant adverse environmental impact, an environmental impact re port (EIR) must be prepared and certified as to its adequacy before action can be taken on the proposed project. General plans require the preparation of a program EIR.
California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen, Title 24 Part 11): The California Green Building Standards Code, commonly referred to as the CALGreen Code, is a statewide mandatory construction code that was developed and adopted by the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development. The CALGreen standards require new residential and commercial buildings to comply with mandatory measures under the topics of planning and design, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency, and environmental quality. CALGreen also provides voluntary tiers and measures that local governm ents may adopt that encourage or require additional measures in the five green building topics.
Carbon dioxide (CO
2): A colorless, odorless gas that occurs natu rally in the earth’s atmosphere. Significant quantities are also emitted into the air by fossil fuel combustion.
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e): A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential (GWP). Th e carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP.
Clean Car Fuel Standards (AB 1493, Pavley): Signed into law in 2002 and commonly referred to as Pavley standards. Requires carmakers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new passenger cars and light trucks beginning in 2011. An updated set of standards, called the Advanced Clean Car Standards, took effect in 2016 and requires further GHG reductions from new vehicles. A further set of standards, called the Advanced Clean Car II Standards, will take effect in 2026 and will lead to all new light-duty vehicles being zero-emission starting in 2035.
Climate Action Plan (CAP): Strategic plans that establish policies and programs for reducing (or mitigating) a community’s greenhouse gas emissions.
GLOSSARY
108 City of San Mateo May 2023
Climate change: The term “climate change” is sometimes used to refer to all forms of climatic inconsistency, but because the earth’s climate is never static, the term is more properly used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another.
Co-benefit: An additional benefit occurring from the impl ementation of a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measure that is not directly related to reducing GHG emissions.
Complete streets: Complete streets policies ensure that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all potential users in mind. This includes private vehicles, bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
Emissions factor: A number that describes the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) released per unit of a certain activity (e.g., GHGs per unit of natural gas used). Factor s are provided by utility companies, State agencies, and guidance documents.
Energy conservation: Reducing energy waste, such as turning off lights, heating, and motors when not needed.
Energy efficiency: Doing the same or more work with less energy, such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs or buying an Energy Star appliance to use less energy for the same or greater output.
Energy efficiency standards (Title 24 Part 6): California’s energy efficiency standards, also called the California Energy Code (Part 6 of Title 24, the California Building Standards Code), were first adopted in 1978 and established minimum energy efficiency standards for resi dential and nonresidential buildings. These standards are updated every few years by providing more stringent energy budgets for new buildings to reduce California’s energy consumption, eventually working toward a zero-net energy standard for new construction.
Energy Star: A joint program of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy to provide consumers with information and incentives to purchase the most energy efficient products available.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR): A report required by the California Environmental Quality Act that assesses all the environmental characteristics of an area and determines what effects or impacts will result if the area is altered or disturbed by a proposed action or project. See California Environmental Quality Act.
Global warming potential (GWP): An index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure to compare the relative potency of different gases without directly calculating the changes in atmospheric concentrations. Greenhouse gases are expres sed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent. Global warming potentials are expressed in terms relative to carbon dioxide, which has a global warming potential of 1.
GLOSSARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 109
Green building: Sustainable or “green” building is a holistic approach to design, construction, and demolition that minimizes the building’s impact on the environment, the occupants, and the community. See the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) for green building regulations in California.
Greenhouse gas/gases (GHG): Gases that cause heat to be trapped in the atmosphere, warming the earth. GHGs are necessary to keep the earth warm but increasing co ncentrations of these gases are implicated in global climate change. GHGs include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. The majority of GHGs come from natural sources, although human activity is also a major contributor.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory: Provides estimates of the amount of GHGs emitted to and removed from the atmosphere by human activities. A city or county that conducts an inventory looks at both community emissions sources and emissions from government operations. A base year is chosen and used to gather all data from that year. Inventories include data collection from such things as vehicle miles traveled, energy usage from electricity and gas, and waste.
Greywater: Wastewater collected from showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, bathroom sinks, and clothes washing machines that is reused on-site for irrigation and other non-potable (i.e., non-drinkable) purposes.
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): A federally funded transportation planning organization comprising representatives from local government agencies and transportation authorities.
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC): The MPO for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. It is responsible for securing and distributing funding for transportation planning and construction projects, working with local and regional public transit providers to improve the effectiveness of service, and encouraging development within existing urbanized areas to minimize the loss of agriculture and open space. It also operates the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges and the Clipper transit fare card.
Micromobility: A mode of transportation that uses lightweigh t, usually powered, devices, such as electric scooters, electric-assist bicycles, and electric skateboards.
Mixed-fuel building: A building that uses multiple sources of energy to operate applies and devices. In most of California, including San Mateo, this refers to buildings that use both electricity and natural gas.
Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE): A community choice aggregation program run by the local governments of San Mateo County to provide electricity to San Mateo Count y community members. PCE purchases electricity on behalf of its customers and distributes it through existing power lines owned by PG&E. It is the default electricity supplier for San Mateo County.
GLOSSARY
110 City of San Mateo May 2023
Quantification: The process of determining the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced by each measure.
Recycled water: Wastewater from tubs, toilets, and sinks inside homes and offices that is cleaned through a treatment process, producing non-potable water that is safe for landscapes, raw vegetable crops, and agricultural crops.
Reduction measure: A goal, strategy, program, or set of actions that target and reduce a specific source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Regional Transportation Plan (RTP): A long-term blueprint of the region’s transportation systems. The RTP is a federally mandated comprehensive long-range region al planning document that identifies the region’s transportation needs, sets forth an action plan of projects, determines actions and programs to address the needs and issues, and documents the financial resources needed to implement the RTP. Plan Bay Area, the combined RTP and SCS for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, was last adopted in 2017.
Renewable energy: Energy from sources that regenerate and are less damaging to the environment, such as solar, wind, biomass, and small-scale hydroelectric power.
Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS): A regulation requiring utility companies in California to increase the production of renewable energy from solar, wind, or biomass, or geothermal sources.
Sector: A category of activities responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as transportation, water use, or energy use. Sectors may comprise multiple GHG sources and activities.
Senate Bill (SB) 97: Requires lead agencies to analyze greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Senate Bill (SB) 375: Directs the metropolitan planning organizati ons in California to create a sustainable communities strategy (SCS) as part of the regional transportation plan. The SCS will demonstrate how the region will achieve the 2020 and 2035 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for the region set by the California Air Resources Board.
Senate Bill (SB) 1383: Requires businesses and residents to separate their organic waste from other waste streams for recycling or composting with a target for reducing organic waste disposal in landfills by 75 percent by 2025. Requires local jurisdictions to implement organic waste recycling programs to meet these goals.
Shared mobility: A means of transportation using shared devices, such as bicycles and scooters, that users rent for short periods of time.
GLOSSARY
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 111
Sustainability: Community use of natural resources in a way that does not jeopardize the ability of future generations to live and prosper.
Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS): The land use element of each metropolitan planning organization’s regional transportation plan as required by Senate Bill 375. The SCS will demonstrate how the region will achieve the 2020 and 2035 vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for the region set by the California Air Resources Board. Plan Bay Area, the combined RTP and SCS for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, was last adopted in 2017.
Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Transit-oriented development (TOD): A mixed-use residential or commercial area designed to maximize access to transit options.
Transportation demand management (TDM): A voluntary or mandatory program developed by local agencies, large employers, or high traffic commercial services to limit the amount of congestion and pollution related to transportation demand. TDM plans may include incentives, regulations, and education about transportation alternatives.
Transportation network company (TNC): A company whose service allows users to request an on-demand ride from drivers using their own personal vehicles to transport users. Lyft and Uber are the most prominent examples.
Vehicle miles traveled (VMT): A key measure of overall street and highway use. Reducing VMT is often a major objective in efforts to reduce vehicular congestion and achieve regional air quality goals.
Water conservation: Reducing water use, such as by turning off taps, shortening shower times, and reducing outdoor irrigation demand.
Water-efficient landscape: Native or low-water-using landscapes. Wa ter-efficient landscapes are required by law in all cities and counties in California to conserve water.
Water use efficiency: Replacing older technologies and practices in order to accomplish the same results with less water, for example, by replacing toilets with new high efficiency models and by installing “smart controllers” in irrigated areas.
Zero net energy: Generating as much energy as is used, over the course of a year. For example, a zero net energy building will generate as much energy on-site as it uses annually.
GLOSSARY
112 City of San Mateo May 2023
Works Cited
This list is a general list of sources used to broadly inform preparation of the CAP. Appendix A lists the sources used to specifically quantify individual GHG reduction measures.
Bay Area Air Quality Management District. 2022. “California Environmental Quality Act: Pre-release Version of Appendix C Guidance for GHG Reduction Strategies.”
———. 2022. “Justification Report: CEQA Thresholds for Evaluating the Significance of Climate Impacts From Land Use Projects and Plans.”
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” California Air Resources Board. 2011. “Local Government Operations Protocol for Greenhouse Gas Assessments.” https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/protocols/localgov/localgov.htm. ———. 2022. “AB 32 Scoping Plan.” https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm.
California Energy Commission. “Cal-Adapt.” https://cal-adapt.org/.
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Energy Commission, and California Natural Resources Agency. “California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment.” http://www.climateassessment.ca.gov/.
City of San Mateo. 2015. San Mateo 2015 Climate Action Plan . https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/65426/San-Mateo-CAP---Adopted?bidId=.
WORKS CITED
114 City of San Mateo May 2023
———. 2020, 2021, and 2022. “CAP Progress Updates.” https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3962/CAP-Progress- Updates.
County of San Mateo. 2019. “RICAPS Program.” https://performance.smcgov.org/stories/s/RICAPS/xzkp-fn3v/.
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. 2012. US Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. http://www.icleiusa.org/tools/ghgprotocol/community-protocol.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2013. IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1/.
Appendix 1:
Technical Appendix:
Methods and
Assumptions
GHG REDUCTION MEASURE QUANTIFICATION
This appendix summarizes data sources, assumptions, and performance metrics used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions reductions for the City of San Mateo Climate Action Plan. The sources and metrics are organized by measure and rely on four primary types of data an d research: (1) San Mateo’s GHG emissions inventory and forecast, (2) government agency tools and reports, (3) ca se studies in similar jurisdictions, and (4) scholarly research.
Further, the quantification approaches are consistent with guidance provided by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) for development of a Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy. The baseline GHG inventory and forecast serve as the foundation for the quantification of the City’s GHG reduction measures.
Activity data from the inventory form the basis of measure quantification, including vehicle miles traveled (VMT), kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity or therms of natural gas consumed, and tons of waste disposed. Activity data were combined with the performance targets and indicators identified by the City and consultants. The activity data and performance targets and indicators were used throughout the quantification process to calculate the
APPENDIX 1
1-2 City of San Mateo July 2023
emissions reduction benefit of each measure. This approach ensures that San Mateo’s GHG emissions reductions are tied to the baseline and to future activities occurring within the City.
Emissions Factors
Table 1-1 lists the emissions factors used to quantify emissi ons reductions in the CAP. These emission factors reflect the GHG reductions from existing and planned acco mplishments, as well as PCE, to the extent feasible.
They do not reflect the average emission factors with full implementation of this CAP.
Table 1-1: Emissions Coefficients for CAP Measures
Source 2005 2019 2030 2040 2045 Source
MTCO2e per mile
driven (with Pavley) 0.000464 0.000392 0.000312 0.000277 0.000269 EMFAC 2021 MTCO2e per Caltrain
passenger mile 0.004371 0.002506 0.000629 0.000627 0.000626 Caltrain, US
Community
Protocol
MTCO2e per kWh
(PCE) - 0.000045 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 PCE, US EPA MTCO2e per kWh
(PG&E) 0.000223 0.000002 0.000002 0.000001 0.000000 PG&E, US EPA MTCO2e per kWh
(direct access) 0.000057 0.000212 0.000152 0.000095 0.000000 CEC, US EPA MTCO2e per kWh
(weighted
community average)
0.000160 0.000054 0.000010 0.000006 0.000000 PCE, PG&E, CEC, US EPA
MTCO2e per therm 0.005292 0.005319 0.005319 0.005319 0.005319 US Community Protocol
MTCO2e per ton of
waste 0.207521 0.253266 0.236134 0.236134 0. 236134
CARB Landfill
Emissions Tool
v1.3
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-3
These emissions coefficients were calculated as follows, using data from the GHG inventory and forecast:
x MTCO2e per mile driven: Divide the emissions from on-road transportation by the number of on-road vehicle miles traveled.
x MTCO2e per passenger mile : For Caltrain, divide the emissions from Caltrain activities related to San Mateo by the number of passenger miles attributed to San Mateo. x MTCO2e per kWh: Divide the sum of the emissions for residential and commercial electricity use by the sum of the kWh for these two sources, for each electricity provider. x MTCO2e per therm: Divide the sum of the emissions from residential and commercial natural gas by the sum of the therms used by these two sources.
x MTCO2e per ton of waste: Divide the sum of the emissions from landfilled waste and waste in place by the sum of the tons of waste in these sources.
TECHNICAL DATA FOR EXISTING AND PLANNED LOCAL AND REGIONAL ACTIVITIES Data sources, methods, and assumptions for the quantification of the existing and planned local and regional activities are provided below. Note that some existi ng and planned local activities may not have assumptions and/or performance metrics. The GHG reductions shown fo r existing and planned local and regional activities are only in addition to any reductions achieved by existing or planned State efforts.
Peninsula Clean Energy
GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 20,000 13,750 0
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Electricity supplied by PCE (kWh) 495,153,490 487,569,650 501,096,050 PCE electricity supplied to ECO100 customers (kWh) 27,614,500 27,614,500 27,614,500 APPENDIX 1
1-4 City of San Mateo July 2023
GHG Method
For overall electricity supplied by PCE, the project team identified the current fraction of community electricity supplied by PCE and applied this ratio to future projections of electricity use. The team subtracted the amount of PCE-supplied electricity in 2020 from this future projec tion to obtain the increase in PCE electricity supplies, then multiplied this value by an emissions factor that reflects PCE’s future energy procurement plans. For ECO100, the project team identified how much electricity is served to ECO100 and applied an emissions factor that reflects the community’s weighted average of electricity sources to determine the overall amount of averted emissions.
GHG Sources
California Energy Commission. 2023. 2019 Power Content Label: Peninsula Clean Energy . https://www.energy.ca.gov/filebrowser/download/3244.
Doubrovskaia, M. 2023. Peninsula Clean Energy. Personal communication to A. Chow, City of San Mateo. April
19. TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-5
Energy-efficiency retrofits
Activity and GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 136,470 136,470 136,470
Natural gas savings (therms) 5,910 5,910 5,910
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 30 30 30
GHG Method
The project team collected data on the savings from energy efficiency retrofits, as reported by the San Mateo County Energy Watch and BayREN. The team then multiplied these values by the appropriate emissions factor in order to calculate GHG reductions.
GHG Sources
City of San Mateo. 2021. Climate Action Plan Progress Report . https://sanmateo.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=4766&type=2
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1-6 City of San Mateo July 2023
Solar energy installation
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 5,695,620 5,695,620 5,695,620 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 20 10 0
GHG Method
The project team obtained data on the number and generation potential of new solar energy installations in San Mateo. The team then used a National Renewables Ener gy Laboratory tool to determine how much electricity can be produced in San Mateo, on average, per kilo watt of generation potential, and calculated the total electricity generated annually from these installations. The project team applied a weighted average community electricity emissions factor to this total to determine GHG reductions.
GHG Sources
California Solar Initiative. 2023. “California Distributed Generation Statistics.” https://www.californiadgstats.ca.gov/downloads/
City of San Mateo. 2022. Climate Action Plan Progress Report . https://sanmateo.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=6472&type=2 National Renewable Energy Laboratory. n.d. “PVWatts Calculator.” https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-7
Municipal energy-efficiency retrofits
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 1,831,170 1,831,170 1,831,170 Natural gas savings (therms) 22,870 22,870 22,870
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 160 160 160
GHG Method
The project team reviewed the results of the energy efficiency analysis provided by PG&E, which identifies anticipated electricity and natural gas savings from im plementing the SST retrofits. The team applied the appropriate electricity and natural gas emissions factor to determine the overall GHG reduction.
GHG Sources
City of San Mateo. 2021. Climate Action Plan Progress Report . https://sanmateo.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=4766&type=2
APPENDIX 1
1-8 City of San Mateo July 2023
Public-access EV chargers
GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 Less than 10 Less than 10 Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Net increase in EV VMT 258,720 258,720 258,720
Net increase in electricity use (kWh) 87,960 87,960 87,960 GHG Method
The project team collected information on the number of public EV chargers in San Mateo and used factors about the average charging use of public EV chargers to estimate how many VMT of EV use the public chargers in the community support annually. The project team then estimated the electricity use from these EV chargers.
Next, the team applied the appropriate emissions factors to the VMT and electricity use figures and took the difference between the two as the net reduction in GHG emissions.
GHG Sources
Chow, A. 2023. City of San Mateo. Personal communication to E. Krispi, PlaceWorks. April 14.
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. n.d. Climate and Air Pollution Planning Assistant v 1.5.
US Environmental Protection Agency. n.d. “Interactive Version of the Electric Vehicle Label.” https://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/interactive-version-electric-vehicle-label.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-9
Transportation Demand Management
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Transportation savings (VMT) 725,620 700,370 687,710
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 190 170 160
GHG Method
The project team obtained information from the San Ma teo Rail Corridor Area Transportation Management Agency to identify the mandatory reductions in trip generation as a result of existing and under-construction developments subject to TDM provisions and combined this information with results from the inventory and forecast to estimate the decrease in VMT resulting from TDM. The project team applied the community-wide VMT emissions coefficient to this figure to determine the GHG reductions.
GHG Sources
Lim, L. 2019. City of San Mateo. Personal communication to A. Chow, City of San Mateo. January 3.
APPENDIX 1
1-10 City of San Mateo July 2023
Additional Bicycle Lanes
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
VMT savings 97,990 111,570 119,050
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 30 30 30
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Additional bicycle lanes (miles) 6.4 6.4 6.4
GHG Method
The project team reviewed the Bicycle Master Plan showing the increase in bicycle lanes planned for 2020 along with the number of bicycle lanes that have been constructed since the 2019 inventory. The team used this information and the proposed methodology from the Cali fornia Air Pollution Control Officers Association to calculate the percentage decrease in VMT associated with an increase in bicycle lanes and applied the VMT emissions factor for personal vehicles to determine the GHG reductions associated with this existing accomplishment.
GHG Sources
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” Chow, A. 2023. City of San Mateo. Personal communication to E. Krispi, PlaceWorks. April 14 U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. 2014 – 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, B08006: Sex of Workers by Means of Transportation to Work [data table].
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-11
Caltrain electrification
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity use increase (kWh) 11,852,700 11,852,700 11,852,700 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 3,560 4,200 4,560
GHG Method
The project team reviewed information from the Caltrain electrification project EIR to estimate decreases in diesel use and increases in electricity use from electrification. The team combined these data with information from the inventory to scale these changes in activity data spec ifically to San Mateo. The team applied the Caltrain emissions factors from the inventory to determine net GHG reductions from electrification.
GHG Sources
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. 2014. Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project Draft Environmental Impact Report.
http://www.caltrain.com/projectsplans/CaltrainModernization/Modernization/PeninsulaCorridorElectrificatio nProject/PCEP_DEIR_2014.html.
APPENDIX 1
1-12 City of San Mateo July 2023
TECHNICAL DATA FOR QUANTIFIED MEASURES
Data sources, methods, and assumptions for the quantification of CAP measures are provided below.
BE 1 All-electric new construction
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Cumulative % of residential construction influenced by energy efficiency reach code: 90% 95% 95%
Cumulative % of office commercial construction influenced by energy efficiency reach code: 85% 90% 95%
Cumulative % of non-office commercial construction influenced by energy efficiency reach code: 40% 60% 90%
Cumulative % new non-residential buildings that are office space: 59% 64% 64% Activity and GHG reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -8,588,290 -15,674,440 -19,303,790 Natural gas savings (therms) 3,099,740
5,653,260
6,936,870
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 21,070 38,450 47,250
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-13
Performance indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of all-electric
new construction
residential housing units
8,280 new construction
residential housing units
built all-electric.
19,360 new construction
residential housing units
built all-electric.
25,500 new construction
residential housing units
built all-electric.
Square feet of all-electric
new construction non-
residential buildings
837,280 square feet of
new construction non-
residential buildings built
all-electric.
2,264,130 square feet of
new construction non-
residential buildings built
all-electric.
3,424,010 square feet of
new construction non-
residential buildings built
all-electric.
GHG Method
The project team obtained data from Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 Land Use Element on projected buildout of nonresidential buildings in San Mateo and da ta from Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Plan Bay Area on projected buildout of households in San Mateo out to 2045, and used these data to estimate the number of new buildings that would be impacted by an all-electric new construction reach code. The team identified the average amount of natural gas used per household are per nonresidential square foot and data on the equivalent amount of electricity that would be requir ed in an all-electric version of similar buildings and applied this information to the projected number of ne w buildings built in order to estimate the projected reduction in natural gas consumption and the projected increase in electricity consumption resulting from the policy. The team then applied the emission factor for avoided natural gas consumption to estimate the emissions reduction associated with reduced natural gas consumpt ion, and the emission factor for electricity use to estimate the emissions increase associated with increased electricity consumption. The net resulting emissions is the estimated emissions avoided from the policy.
GHG Sources
California Energy Commission. 2006. "California Commercial End-Use Survey.” https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/ceus/2006_enduse.html
California Energy Commission. 2009. "2009 California Residential Appliance Saturation Study.” https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/appliances/rass/previous_rass.html APPENDIX 1
1-14 City of San Mateo July 2023
BE 2 All-electric existing buildings
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Cumulative percent of commercial buildings that are office space 59% 64% 64% Cumulative percent of residential gas equipment reaching end of life replaced with electric due to panel incentive 35% 40% 50% Cumulative percent of residential electrical panel upgrades resulting in EV purchase 50% 35% 20%
Cumulative percent of office gas equipment reaching end of life replaced with electric due to panel incentive 70% 75% 90% Cumulative percent of office electrical panel upgrades resulting in EV charging installation 40% 30% 20%
Cumulative percent of EV purchases replacing gasoline vehicle 98% 97% 96% Cumulative percent of EV purchases replacing diesel vehicle 3% 3% 4% Activity and GHG reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -80,105,780 -125,747,100 -133,624,540 Natural gas savings (therms) 5,002,490 11,459,340 17,775,000 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 102,210 184,610 221,260
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-15
Performance indicators
2030 2040 2045
Existing residential gas
to electric HVAC
conversions
9,890 existing residential
gas HVAC systems
replaced with electric
HVAC systems.
22,620 existing residential
gas HVAC systems
replaced with electric
HVAC systems.
35,340 existing
residential gas HVAC
systems replaced with
electric HVAC systems.
Existing residential gas
to electric water heating
conversions
14,840 existing residential
gas water heaters
replaced with electric
HVAC systems.
33,920 existing residential
gas water heaters
replaced with electric
HVAC systems.
53,000 existing
residential gas water
heaters replaced with
electric HVAC systems.
Existing residential gas
to electric clothes drying
conversions
7,420 existing residential
gas clothes dryers
replaced with electric
clothes dryers.
16,960 existing residential
gas clothes dryers
replaced with electric
clothes dryers.
26,500 existing
residential gas clothes
dryers replaced with
electric clothes dryers.
Existing residential gas
to electric cooking
conversions
5,940 existing residential
gas ranges and ovens
replaced with electric
ranges and ovens.
13,570 existing residential
gas ranges and ovens
replaced with electric
ranges and ovens.
21,200 existing
residential gas ranges
and ovens replaced with
electric ranges and ovens.
Existing residential
electrical panel
upgrades
19,050 existing residential
electrical panels
upgraded.
43,530 existing residential
electrical panels
upgraded.
68,020 existing
residential electrical
panels upgraded.
Square feet of existing
offices receiving gas to
electric HVAC
conversions
5,523,120 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas
HVAC systems with
electric HVAC systems.
12,778,100 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas
HVAC systems with
electric HVAC systems.
19,167,150 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas
HVAC systems with
electric HVAC systems.
Square feet of existing
offices receiving gas to
electric water heating
conversions
8,284,680 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas water
heaters with electric
water heaters.
19,167,150 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas water
heaters with electric
water heaters.
28,750,730 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas water
heaters with electric
water heaters.
APPENDIX 1
1-16 City of San Mateo July 2023
2030 2040 2045
Square feet of existing
offices receiving gas to
electric cooking
conversions
6,627,740 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas
ranges and ovens with
electric ranges and ovens.
15,333,720 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas
ranges and ovens with
electric ranges and ovens.
23,000,580 square feet of
existing office buildings
replace existing gas
ranges and ovens with
electric ranges and ovens.
Square feet of existing
offices receiving
electrical panel
upgrades
10,217,770 square feet of
existing office buildings
electrical panels
upgraded.
23,639,490 square feet of
existing office buildings
electrical panels
upgraded.
35,459,230 square feet of
existing office buildings
electrical panels
upgraded.
Number of electric
vehicles
purchased/leased to
replace internal
combustion engine (ICE)
vehicles
16,750 electric vehicles
purchased or leased by
residents or commuters
to replace internal
combustion engine
vehicles.
27,780 electric vehicles
purchased or leased by
residents or commuters
to replace internal
combustion engine
vehicles.
26,150 electric vehicles
purchased or leased by
residents or commuters
to replace internal
combustion engine
vehicles.
Existing office parking
spaces with EV charging:
8,170 EV charging ports
installed at existing office
buildings.
14,180 EV charging ports
installed at existing office
buildings.
14,180 EV charging ports
installed at existing office
buildings.
Existing residential
parking spaces with EV
charging:
9,520 EV charging ports
installed at existing
residential buildings.
15,240 EV charging ports
installed at existing
residential buildings.
13,600 EV charging ports
installed at existing
residential buildings.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-17
GHG Method
The project team used data from Strive San Mateo Gener al Plan 2040 Land Use Element on projected buildout of residential and nonresidential buildings in San Ma teo and data from Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Plan Bay Area on projected buildout of households in San Mateo out to 2045 to estimate the number of existing buildings that would be impacted by a policy aimed at providing incentives to encourage residents and businesses to upgrade electric panels and adopt all-elec tric technologies. The team identified the percent of natural gas equipment (e.g., water heaters) that would be replaced at end of life if this policy existed, using the average life of natural gas equipment to estimate the number of each type of equipment type that would be replaced per year. Next, the project team consulted reports on the average amount of natural gas consumed by each type of equipment to estimate the natural gas consumption avoided through electrification of natural gas equipment. The team used data on energy factors by equipment type to estimate the resulting increase in electricity use resulting from the replacement of natural gas equipment with electric equipment. The team also identified performance indicators for the percent of EV chargers that would be installed as a result of this policy and the resulting number of EVs that would be purchased due to accessibility of charging. The team used data on the average VMT by a passenger vehicle, average efficiency of gasoline vehicles, average efficiency of diesel vehicles, and average efficiency of electric vehicles to estimate the resulting gasoline and diesel consumption avoided and increase in electricity use resulting from the replacement of gasoline and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles. Last, the team applied the appropriate emission factors for natural gas consumption, electricity use, gasoline consumption, and diesel consumption to estimate the emissions reduction associated with a reduction in natural gas consumption, gasoline consumption, an d diesel consumption and the increase in emissions associated with an increase in electricity consumption. The net resulting emissions is the estimated emissions avoided from the policy.
GHG Sources
California Energy Commission. 2006. "California Commercial End-Use Survey.” https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/ceus/2006_enduse.html
California Energy Commission. 2009. "2009 California Residential Appliance Saturation Study.” https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/appliances/rass/previous_rass.html RSMeans. 2019 RSMeans Online, 2019 [software package].
ASHRAE, 2017. "ASHRAE Technical FAQ". https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/technical-faqs.
US Department of Energy. 2019. www.fueleconomy.gov. https://www.fueleconomy.gov/.
APPENDIX 1
1-18 City of San Mateo July 2023
California Air Resources Board. 2022. “EMFAC2021 Web Database”. https://arb.ca.gov/emfac/.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 2018. "CEC EV Infrastructure Projection Tool (EVI-Pro)." https://afdc.energy.gov/evi-pro-lite.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-19
RE I Peninsula Clean Energy
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of residents enrolling in PCE 98% 99% 99.5%
Percent of businesses enrolling in PCE 98% 99% 99.5%
Percent of direct access customers switching to PCE 2% 4% 5% GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2045
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 160 170 0
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
PCE opt-out rate 1.0% 1.0% 0.5%
kWh supplied by ECO 100 32,959,210 43,792,410 55,425,750
GHG Method
The project team identified the amount of electricity from San Mateo customers projected to switch from PG&E to PCE service, and PCE customers upgrading to ECO100. The team next applied the difference in PG&E and PCE emissions factors for both regular and ECO100 service to identify the decrease in GHG emissions.
GHG Sources
California Energy Commission. 2018. 2017 Power Content Label: Peninsula Clean Energy . https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/pcl/labels/2017_labels/PCE_2017_PCL.pdf.
City of San Mateo. 2020. 2020 Climate Action Plan Annual Progress Report . https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3962/CAP-Progress-Updates.
APPENDIX 1
1-20 City of San Mateo July 2023
RE 2 Renewable energy systems for new and existing residences GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of existing homes installing solar energy systems 15% 25% 30% Percent of existing homes with solar energy systems installing battery storage systems 20% 35% 50%
Percent of new homes installing battery storage systems 25% 40% 60% GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 70 160 0
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of homes built before 2018 with solar panels 4,960 8,540 10,530 Number of total homes (existing and new) with battery energy systems 1,500 12,040 22,710
GHG Method
For solar energy systems, the project team identified the number of existing homes in San Mateo that could be projected to have a solar energy system. Using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the team identified how much electricity these solar energy systems could generate annually and applied the community- wide electricity factor to identify electricity savings. For battery systems, the team identified the number of new and existing homes installing solar energy systems and determined the number of these homes that could install a battery energy system. Assuming that battery systems fully charge and discharge once a day, the team identified how much additional renewable energy storage capacity would be enabled by the batteries. The project team then again applied the community-wide electricity factor to identify electricity savings.
GHG Sources
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. n.d. “PVWatts Calculator.” https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-21
Regional Climate Action Planning Suite. 2019. RICAPS Menu of Measures version 4.1 [data table].
RE 3 Renewable energy systems for new and existing nonresidential buildings GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of existing businesses installing solar energy systems 6% 10% 15% Percent of existing businesses with solar energy systems installing battery storage systems 15% 25% 40%
GHG reductions
2030 2040 2045
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 60 90 0
Performance indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of businesses built before 2018 with solar panels 180 340 550 Number of existing businesses with battery energy systems 40 100 240 GHG Method
The project team identified the number of existing busi nesses in San Mateo that could be projected to have a solar energy system. Using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the team identified how much electricity these solar energy systems could generate annually and applied the community-wide electricity factor to identify electricity savings. Next, the team identified the number of existing businesses installing solar energy systems and determined the number of these businesses that could install a battery energy system. Assuming that battery systems fully charge and discharge once a day, the team identified how much additional renewable energy storage capacity would be enabled by the batteries. The project team then again applied the community- wide electricity factor to identify electricity savings.
APPENDIX 1
1-22 City of San Mateo July 2023
GHG Sources
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. n.d. “PVWatts Calculator.” https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/.
Regional Climate Action Planning Suite. 2019. RICAPS Menu of Measures version 4.1 [data table].
EE 1 Residential energy efficiency retrofits
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of existing homes conducting standard retrofits (not including fuel-switched homes) 15% 18% 20%
Percent of existing homes retrofitting to current Title 24 standards (not including fuel-switched homes) 20% 25% 30%
Activity and GHG reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 9,137,050 7,303,020 6,039,130 Natural gas savings (therms) 903,660 1,030,250 996,860
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 6,160 7,020 6,790
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-23
Performance indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of
homes
retrofitted
2,290 single-family homes
and 1,840 multifamily homes
undergoing standard
retrofits, and 3,060 single-
family homes and 2,450
multifamily homes being
upgraded to current Title 24
standards
2,540 single-family homes
and 2,040 multifamily homes
undergoing standard
retrofits, and 3,530 single-
family homes and 2,830
multifamily homes being
upgraded to current Title 24
standards
2,350 single-family homes
and 1,890 multifamily homes
undergoing standard
retrofits, and 3,530 single-
family homes and 2,830
multifamily homes being
upgraded to current Title 24
standards
GHG Method
The project team looked at reports from retrofit programs throughout California to identify the typical electricity and natural gas savings from single-family and multi-fa mily home retrofits and applied these savings to the energy use patterns of residences in San Mateo. The team next reviewed current and projected future Title 24 standards against the current energy performance of San Mateo homes and projections of future San Mateo Title 24 retrofits to determine the typical electricity and natural gas savings. The team then applied the appropriate emissions factors to the energy savings estimates to determine GHG reductions.
GHG Sources
California Energy Commission. 2014. Impact Evaluation of the California Comprehensive Residential Retrofit Programs.
EE 2 Nonresidential energy efficiency retrofits
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of existing businesses conducting standard retrofits (not including fuel-switched businesses) 25% 35% 10%
Percent of existing businesses retrofitting to current Title 24 standards (not including fuel-switched businesses) 15% 40% 75%
APPENDIX 1
1-24 City of San Mateo July 2023
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 22,252,780 60,968,630 93,592,880 Natural gas savings (therms) 535,400 1,266,570 1,964,000 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 3,800 8,860 13,380
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of
businesses
retrofitted
590 businesses undergoing
standard retrofits, and 360
businesses upgraded to
current Title 24 standards.
740 businesses undergoing
standard retrofits, and 840
businesses upgraded to
current Title 24 standards.
170 businesses undergoing
standard retrofits, and 1,300
businesses upgraded to
current Title 24 standards.
GHG Method
The project team looked at reports of the energy savings from different types of nonresidential energy efficiency retrofits to identify the typical electricity and natural gas savings from these activities and applied these savings to the energy use patterns of San Mateo businesses. The team next reviewed current and projected future Title 24 standards against the current energy performance of San Mateo businesses and projections of future San Mateo Title 24 retrofits to determine the typical electric ity and natural gas savings. The team then applied the appropriate emissions factors to the energy savings estimates to determine GHG reductions.
GHG Sources
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 2011. Advanced Energy Retrofit Guides: Office Buildings. https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-20761.pdf.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 2011. Adva nced Energy Retrofit Guides: Retail Buildings. https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-20814.pdf.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-25
EE 3 Residential tree planting
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of households with shade trees 10% 25% 35%
Activity and GHG reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 793,560 1,889,740 2,837,540
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 Less than 10 0 Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of households with shade trees 4,240 13,130 22,330 GHG Method
The GHG inventory and reports from PG&E were used to identify per business energy use in San Mateo, while data from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the California Energy Commission, and academic studies were used to determine reductions per home. These results were combined with participation rates to calculate total reductions in energy use from this measure. The outcome was then combined with emissions factors from the inventory to determine GHG reductions.
GHG Sources
The project team reviewed studies about the typical electricity savings from reduced air conditioning demand associated with tree planting. The team then applied this information to projections of future participation and the energy use patterns in San Mateo to identify total electricity reduction. Next, the team converted this to GHG emission savings using the appropriate emissions factors.
APPENDIX 1
1-26 City of San Mateo July 2023
ME 1 Energy efficiency for new municipal buildings
GHG Assumptions, Reductions, and Performance Indicators This measure is supportive due to the lack of informat ion about future municipal construction. There are no assumptions, activity or GHG reductions, or performance indicators for supportive measures.
GHG Method
Supportive measures do not produce direct, measurable GHG reductions, so no calculations were made.
GHG Sources
Supportive measures do not produce direct, measurable GHG reductions. There are no sources for GHG reduction calculations for supportive measures.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-27
ME 2 Energy efficiency at existing municipal buildings
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of existing municipal square footage retrofitted 10% 25% 35% Note that these retrofits go beyond those included as part of the Sustainable Solutions Turnkey program, as those are already accounted for as a planned action.
Activity and GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 67,260 168,140 235,400
Natural gas savings (therms) 1,860 4,640 6,500
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 10 30 40
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Square footage of retrofitted municipal buildings 9,440 23,610 33,050 GHG Method
The project team looked at the typical energy efficiency savings that can be achieved with retrofits to office buildings and applied this reduction to the projected amount of retrofitted City square footage to calculate the total electricity and natural gas savings. The team then used the appropriate emission factors to identify the GHG reductions from these retrofits.
GHG Sources
City of San Mateo. 2007. City of San Mateo Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report . https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/5262/APPENDIX-S-October24-2007?bidId= Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 2011. Advanc ed Energy Retrofit Guides: Office Buildings. https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-20761.pdf.
APPENDIX 1
1-28 City of San Mateo July 2023
ME 3 All-electric municipal buildings
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Cumulative building area of existing municipal building/s electrified (square feet): 40,000 60,000 80,000
Cumulative number of police stations & fire stations electrified: 0 0 1 Cumulative building area of new municipal building/s electrified (square feet): 40,000 60,000 80,000
Activity and GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -157,380 -236,070 -314,760
Natural gas savings (therms) 19,760 29,640 39,520
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 130 200 270
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Square feet of
existing municipal
building/s electrified:
40,000 square feet of
existing municipal
buildings retrofitted to all-
electric.
60,000 square feet of
existing municipal
buildings retrofitted to all-
electric.
80,000 square feet of
existing municipal
buildings retrofitted to all-
electric.
Number of police
stations & fire
stations electrified:
0 existing police stations
or fire stations retrofitted
to all-electric.
0 existing police stations
or fire stations retrofitted
to all-electric.
1 existing police stations
or fire stations retrofitted
to all-electric.
Square feet of new
municipal building/s
electrified:
40,000 square feet of new
municipal buildings built
all-electric.
60,000 square feet of new
municipal buildings built
all-electric.
80,000 square feet of new
municipal buildings built
all-electric.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-29
GHG Method
The project team to inputs from City staff to project the total square footage of new municipal construction that is built all-electric and existing municipal construction that is retrofitted to be all-electric. The team estimated annual gas use associated with the existing municipal buildings to be retrofitted and the newly constructed municipal buildings (assuming they were built with na tural gas equipment), based on energy use intensity information from the California Energy Commission Commercial End-Use Survey. The team used this estimate on "business as usual" natural gas consumption for these buildings to calculate the natural gas consumption avoided from retrofitting to all-electric or building to all-electric. The team looked at data on the average amount of natural gas consumed by each type of equipment to estimate the natural gas consumption avoided through electrification of natural gas equipment and used data on energy factors by equipment type was used to estimate the resulting increase in electricity use resulting from the replacement of natural gas equipment with electric equipment. The team applied emission factors for natura l gas consumption and electricity use to estimate the emissions reduction associated with a reduction in natural gas consumption and the increase in emissions associated with an increase in electricity use and took the net resulting emissions as the estimated emissions avoided from the policy.
GHG Sources
California Energy Commission. 2009. "2009 California Residential Appliance Saturation Study.” https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/appliances/rass/previous_rass.html
APPENDIX 1
1-30 City of San Mateo July 2023
CF 1 Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Cumulative average square feet of new commercial building space per parking spot 300 300 300
Target percent of new workplace parking to have EV charger installed 20% 20% 25% Target percent of new multi-unit dwelling residents with EV charger access 15% 25% 30%
Target percent of new single-family homes to have EV charger outlet installed 15% 25% 35%
Cumulative percent commercial buildings that are office space with parking 59% 64% 64%
Cumulative average square feet of existing commercial building space per parking spot 600 600 600
Target percent of existing workplace parking to have EV charger installed 7% 8% 10%
Target percent of existing multi-unit dwelling residents with access to EV charging 7% 8% 10%
Cumulative target additional public parking spaces with EV charging 38 55 60 Cumulative percent of EV purchases that replace a gasoline vehicle 98% 97% 96% Cumulative percent of EV purchases that replace a diesel vehicle 2% 3% 4% Target percent of heavy-duty vehicle converted to EV 5% 20% 25% TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-31
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -22,561,870 -36,502,430 -51,974,960 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 24,420 49,390 69,780
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
New non-residential
parking spaces with EV
charging
1,570 EV charging ports
installed at new non-
residential buildings.
3,160 EV charging ports
installed at new non-
residential buildings.
5,010 EV charging ports
installed at new non-
residential buildings.
New multi-unit dwelling
residential parking
spaces with EV charging
810 EV charging ports
installed at new multi-
family residential
buildings.
3,380 EV charging ports
installed at new multi-
family residential
buildings.
5,290 EV charging ports
installed at new multi-
family residential
buildings.
New single-family
residential parking
spaces with EV charger
outlet
680 EV charging outlets
installed at new single-
family residential
buildings.
1,970 EV charging outlets
installed at new single-
family residential
buildings.
3,600 EV charging outlets
installed at new single-
family residential
buildings.
Existing non-residential
parking spaces with EV
charging
1,540 EV charging ports
installed at existing
non-residential
buildings.
2,100 EV charging ports
installed at existing non-
residential buildings.
2,770 EV charging ports
installed at existing non-
residential buildings.
Existing multi-unit
dwelling residential
parking spaces with EV
charging
1,850 EV charging ports
installed at existing
multi-family residential
buildings.
2,570 EV charging ports
installed at existing multi-
family residential
buildings.
3,530 EV charging ports
installed at existing multi-
family residential
buildings.
Existing additional public
parking spaces with EV
charging
38 EV charging ports
installed at existing
public locations.
60 EV charging ports
installed at existing public
locations.
60 EV charging ports
installed at existing public
locations.
APPENDIX 1
1-32 City of San Mateo July 2023
2030 2040 2045
Number of light-duty
electric vehicles
purchased or
leased
5510 light-duty electric
vehicles purchased or
leased
10,840 light-duty electric
vehicles purchased or
leased.
16,110 light-duty electric
vehicles purchased or
leased
GHG Method
The project team relied on data from the Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 Land Use Element for the projected buildout of nonresidential buildings in San Mateo, along with data from Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Plan Bay Area on projected buildout of households in San Mateo out to 2050, to estimate the number of new buildings that would be impacted by an electric vehicle charging infrastructure new construction reach code.
The team used permit data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to estimate the percent of new residential units that will be single family or duplex vs. 3+ unit multifamily. Using assumptions regarding the building square footage per new development parking space, the team identified the total number of parking spaces associated with multi-family residential and commercial development, assuming an increasing percentage of new development parking spaces will be required to be built electric vehicle (EV) capable to accommodate electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). The team looked at how the deployment of EVSE in new development is projected to increase the rate at which residents and employees will replace gasoline vehicles with EVs, and estimated how the increased adoption of EVs is likely to decrease the VMT (and associated gasoline and diesel consumption) from gasoline and diesel vehicles and increase the VMT (and associated electricity use) from EVs. The team then applied emission factors for avoided gasoline and diesel consumption, and increased electricity use, and took the difference as the net reduction in GHG emissions.
GHG Sources
California Air Resources Board. 2022. "EMFAC2021 Web Database.” NREL, 2018. "CEC EV Infrastructure Projection Tool (EVI-Pro)." U.S. Census Bureau. 2017. "American Community Survey."
U.S. Department of Energy. 2019. "www.fueleconomy.gov." U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2019. "State of the Cities Data Systems." TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-33
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Ad ministration. 2016. "Average miles driven per year by state."
APPENDIX 1
1-34 City of San Mateo July 2023
CF 2 Electric vehicle education and outreach
Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Target percent of total community Transportation Network Company (TNC) VMT from electric vehicles 30% 45% 60%
Target percent total community VMT from electric vehicles 30% 60% 70% Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -4,334,040 -6,786,810 -10,211,980 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 4,910 8,030 12,360
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Annual additional
VMT travelled by
EV TNCs
17,528,180 vehicle miles
travelled by internal
combustion engine
transportation network
companies vehicles
replaced with electric
vehicles.
30,375,160 vehicle miles
travelled by internal
combustion engine
transportation network
companies vehicles
replaced with electric
vehicles.
45,704,900 vehicle miles
travelled by internal
combustion engine
transportation network
companies vehicles
replaced with electric
vehicles.
GHG Method
The projected team relied on forecasted total community VMT from passenger vehicles and estimates from the City of San Francisco on the percent of total communi ty VMT from Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) to estimate the total annual VMT from TNCs in City of San Mateo. The team assumed that the policy or program aimed at regulating or incentivizing TNCs to increase adoption of EVs will results in a specific percent of TNCs being EVs by a given target year, and then estimated how the increased adoption of TNC EVs will decrease the VMT (and associated gasoline consumption) associat ed with gasoline vehicles and increase the VMT (and TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-35
associated electricity consumption) associated with EV s. The team applied the emission factor for avoided gasoline consumption, and an emissions factor for increased electricity use. The difference between the two results is the net GHG reduction from this measure.
GHG Sources
California Air Resources Board, 2022. "EMFAC2021 Web Database." San Francisco County Transportation Authority. 2017. “T NCs Today: A Profile of San Francisco Transportation Network Company Activity.”
US Department of Energy. 2019. www.fueleconomy.gov.
CF 3 Clean City fleet
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of City vehicles replaced with EVs 25% 45% 60%
Percent of City vehicles fueled by biomethane 15% 20% 25% Activity and GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -105,540 -212,500 -319,750
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 130 200 270
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Fleet EV VMT 610,020 1,250,360 1,779,020
Fleet biomethane VMT 366,010 555,720 741,260
APPENDIX 1
1-36 City of San Mateo July 2023
GHG Method
The projected team looked at State projections for regi onal increases in electric and natural gas (including biomethane) vehicles and applied these proportions to the City municipal fleet. The team then took the local projections for increases in electric and natural gas vehicles in the municipal fleet and identified the increase in electric and natural gas VMT resulting from local policies. The team then adjusted the natural gas VMT to account for the different energy density of natural gas and gaso line/diesel and calculated the increase in electricity resulting from greater municipal EV adoption. Lastly, the team applied emission factors, taking the net difference between decreased VMT emissions from electric and natural gas vehicle adoption and increased electricity use as the overall GHG benefit.
GHG Sources
City of San Mateo. 2007. City of San Mateo Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report . https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/5262/APPENDIX-S-October24-2007?bidId= ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. 2012. US Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. http://www.icleiusa.org/tools/ghgprotocol/community-protocol.
Gable, C., and Gable, S. 2019. “G asoline Gallon Equivalents (GGE).” https://www.thoughtco.com/fuel-energy- comparisons-85636.
CF 4 Clean fuel
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Target % total community VMT from hydrogen vehicles 8% 30% 45% Activity and GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -2,186,300 -8,413,180 -13,430,770 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 4,210 16,920 26,360
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-37
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of heavy-duty
hydrogen vehicles
purchased or
leased
260 hydrogen fuel heavy-
duty cell vehicles
purchased or leased .
1,110 hydrogen fuel cell
heavy-duty vehicles
purchased or leased .
1,770 hydrogen fuel cell
heavy-duty vehicles
purchased or leased .
GHG Method
The project team estimated how the deployment of hydrog en fueling stations will increase the rate at which residents and employees will replace heavy-duty gasoline and diesel vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). The team analyzed how the increased adoption of FCVs is likely to decrease the VMT (and associated gasoline consumption) associated with heavy-duty gasoline diesel vehicles and increase the VMT (and associated hydrogen consumption) associated with FCVs. The team us ed data from the U.S. Department of Energy on the efficiency of the electrolysis process to estimate the amount of electricity required to produce hydrogen. The team then applied an emission factor for avoided gaso line and diesel consumption to estimate the emissions reduction associated with reduced gasoline and diesel consumption, and an emission factor for electricity consumption to estimate the emissions increase associat ed with increased electricity use. The net resulting emissions is the estimated emissions avoided from the policy.
GHG Sources
California Air Resources Board, 2022. "EMFAC2021 Web Database.” California Air Resources Board, 2023. “Final 2022 Scop ing Plan – AB 32 GHG Inventory Sectors Modeling Data Spreadsheet.” https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/ab-32-climate-change-scoping-plan/2022-scoping- plan-documents.
US Department of Energy, 2019. www.fueleconomy.gov.
U.S. Department of Energy, 2019. "DOE Technical Targets for Hydrogen Production from Electrolysis."
APPENDIX 1
1-38 City of San Mateo July 2023
ST 1 Bicycle mode share
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Additional miles of bike lanes 22 45.2 45.2
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Travel savings (VMT) 300,960 704,120 751,370
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 80 170 180
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Total miles of bike lanes 78 101 101
GHG Method
The project team identified projected increase in bike lanes from implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan.
Based on the proposed additional miles of bike lanes in San Mateo, the team followed the recommendations of the California Air Pollution Control Officer’s Association to estimate the projected decrease in VMT as a result.
The team then applied the appropriate emissions factors to calculate the GHG reduction.
GHG Sources
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” City of San Mateo. 2019. City of San Mateo Bicycle Master Plan . https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3944/Bicycle- Master-Plan-Update.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-39
ST 2 Pedestrian mode share
GHG Assumptions
It is assumed that all new development occurs in infill areas (areas with existing development) Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Travel savings (VMT) 436,590 497,160 530,520
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 110 120 130
Performance Indicators
There are no performance indicators associated with this measure.
GHG Method
Using the Pedestrian Master Plan, the project team identified the existing and planned miles of sidewalks and pedestrian pathways in San Mateo. The team applied a method recommended by the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association to determine the VMT reduction, and then applied the appropriate emissions factor to calculate GHG reductions.
GHG Sources
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” City of San Mateo. 2012. “Citywide Pedestrian Master Plan.” https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/2218/Pedestrian- Master-Plan
APPENDIX 1
1-40 City of San Mateo July 2023
ST 3 Micromobility and shared mobility
GHG assumptions, activity and GHG reductions, and performance indicators.
This is a supportive measure, due to the lack of sufficient data or a feasible method of quantification that would avoid double-counting reductions with other measures. As a result, there are no assumptions, activity or GHG reductions, and performance indicators associated with this measure.
GHG Method
Supportive measures do not produce direct, measurable GHG reductions, so no calculations were made.
GHG Sources
Supportive measures do not produce direct, measurable GHG reductions. There are no sources for GHG reduction calculations for supportive measures.
ST 4 Public transit service
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Bus coverage 15% 20% 20%
Percent increase in Caltrain service 25% 40% 50%
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -10,253,31 -23,468,340 -31,189,470 Travel savings (VMT) 13,770,100 23,451,790 29,098,510
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 3,610 5,660 6,910
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-41
Bus commute share 15% 20% 20%
Average Caltrain daily ridership in San Mateo 8,070 12,900 15,720 GHG Method
For increases in the bus coverage network, the project team made an assumption regarding the percentage increase in bus network miles. Using methods from the California Air Pollution Control District, the project team determined the VMT reduction that would occur given this increase in network coverage, and then applied the appropriate GHG emissions factor. For an increase in Ca ltrain service frequency, the project team reviewed Caltrain’s existing business plan and projected increases in service under the “Moderate Growth” scenario, then applied this increase to San Mateo. Using factors from the inventory and existing/planned activity calculations, the team determined the VMT reduction from increased Caltrain service as well as the increase in electricity use due to Caltrain becoming a mostly electric system. Th e team applied the appropriate emissions factors to the difference in VMT to calculate a reduction in emissions.
GHG Sources
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” Caltrain. 2020. Caltrain Business Plan Summary Report.
https://www.caltrain.com/media/24042/download?inline.
Caltrain. 2019. Caltrain Business Plan: Developing a Long-Range Vision for Caltrain. https://caltrain2040.org/wp- content/uploads/CBP_CIA_R2_Booklet_SanMateo-2.pdf.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2023. 2014 – 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, B08006: Sex of Workers by Means of Transportation to Work [data table].
APPENDIX 1
1-42 City of San Mateo July 2023
ST 5 Commuter programs
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of existing employers (pre-2006) participating in TDM 5% 20% 30% Average trip reduction from voluntary TDM participation, beyond other CAP measures 8% 30% 40%
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Travel savings (VMT) 15,290 278,640 669,000
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 70 160
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Existing (pre-2006) businesses participating in TDM efforts 130 540 810 GHG Method
The project team identified the amount of commute-related VMT from personal vehicles associated with existing businesses and applied the projected metrics from voluntary participation in Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs to determine the total VMT reduction from implementation of this measure. The team then used the appropriate emissions factors to ca lculate GHG reductions. It is assumed that these TDM standards would go beyond trip reductions associated with other measures in the CAP, as the goal of TDM efforts is to reduce trip generation below the level that would otherwise occur if the TDM requirement was not in place.
GHG Sources
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-43
ST 6 Transportation Demand Management
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of new developments subject to TDM rules 90% 90% 90% Average trip reduction from new development
subject to TDM rules, beyond other CAP measures 10% 15% 20% Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Travel savings (VMT) 7,646,580 32,944,170 56,484,350
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 2,010 7,950 13,410
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Service population in new development (2018 and later)
subject to the TDM ordinance 29,940 65,680 86,010
GHG Method
The project team determined the number of new people and jobs in developments that would be subject to TDM rules, excluding those already identified through the existing and planned activities assessment. Using projections of future TDM standards, the project team determined the amount of VMT that would be reduced by future TDM requirements, then converted this reduction to a decrease in GHG emissions. It is assumed that these TDM standards would go beyond trip reductions associated with other measures in the CAP, as the goal of TDM efforts is to reduce trip generation below the level that would otherwise occur if the TDM requirement was not in place.
APPENDIX 1
1-44 City of San Mateo July 2023
GHG Sources
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” ST 7 Transit-oriented development
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of new units in areas supporting transit-oriented development 95% 95% 95%
Percent of new nonresidential square footage in areas supporting transit-oriented development 90% 90% 90%
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Travel savings (VMT) 38,865,630 78,398,130 99,833,910
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 10,200 18,920 23,700
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
New development in
TOD zones
9,610 households and
7,350 employees
20,330 households and
14,880 employees
26,520 households and
18,970 employees
GHG Method
The project team identified the anticipated development in areas that support transit-oriented development and used geospatial analysis to obtain a reasonable estimate of the new growth potential in these areas. The team then used resources from the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association to determine the VMT reduction associated with transit-oriented development in these ar eas, then applied the appropriate emissions factors to calculate GHG reductions.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-45
GHG Sources
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. 2021. “Handbook for Analyzing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity.” City of San Mateo. 2018. Area plans [GIS file].
City of San Mateo. 2018. SMRoadCenterline [GIS file].
Metropolitan Transportation Commission. 2017. Major_Transit_Stops_2017 [GIS file].
APPENDIX 1
1-46 City of San Mateo July 2023
SW 1 Composting program
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Residential composting participation rate 90% 93% 95%
Nonresidential composting participation rate 85% 88% 90% Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Waste savings (tons) 2,350 3,900 4,220
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 1,030 1,710 1,850
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Composting
participation levels
47,270 households and
3,890 businesses
59,020 households and
4,510 businesses
66,800 households and
4,880 businesses
GHG Method
The project team reviewed the number of future projected residences and nonresidential buildings participating in the community’s composting program, removing the currently participating customers to only focus on growth in the composting program. The team used results of a statewide waste characterization study to estimate the total amount of organic waste generated by the participants and combined this information with technical factors for waste decomposition by materials to identify the total reduction in GHG emissions.
GHG Sources
California Air Resources Board. 2010. Local Government Operations Protocol for the Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories version 1.1 .
https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/protocols/localgov/pubs/lgo_protocol_v1_1_2010-05-03.pdf California Air Resources Board. 2011. Landfill Emissions Tool version 1.3. https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/landfills/landfills.htm
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-47
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. 2020. 2018 Disposal-Facility-Based Characterization of Solid Waste in California. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/Details/1546.
City of San Mateo. 2022. 2022 Climate Action Plan Annual Progress Report . https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3962/CAP-Progress-Updates SW 2 Expanded recycling service
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Target diversion rate 85% 88% 90%
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Waste savings (tons) 9,860 12,570 14,330
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 6,070 7,730 8,820
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Total tons of recyclables recovered (curbside bins only) 22,450 27,420 30,480 GHG Method
The project team looked at projections of how San Mateo’s diversion rate from curbside recycling may increase in future years and used statewide waste characterization studies to identify the amounts of various material types that could be recovered from this increase. The team then applied the results of technical studies about waste decomposition to determine the total GHG reductions that would result from increased waste collection.
GHG Sources
California Air Resources Board. 2010. Local Government Operations Protocol for the Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories version 1.1 .
https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/protocols/localgov/pubs/lgo_protocol_v1_1_2010-05-03.pdf APPENDIX 1
1-48 City of San Mateo July 2023
California Air Resources Board. 2011. Landfill Emissions Tool version 1.3. https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/landfills/landfills.htm
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. 2020. 2018 Disposal-Facility-Based Characterization of Solid Waste in California. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/Details/1666.
Chow, A. 2023. City of San Mateo. Personal communication to E. Krispi, PlaceWorks. April 24.
SW 3 Waste awareness and source reduction
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Decrease in non-organic and non-recyclable waste tonnage 5% 20% 50% Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Waste savings (tons) 15,420 30,110 41,510
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 2,080 4,050 5,590
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Decrease in non-organic and non-recyclable waste tonnage sent to landfills 15,420 30,110 41,510
GHG Method
The project team looked at statewide waste characterization studies to determine the amount of materials being produced in San Mateo that could not be recycled or composted (including construction and demolition wastes) and used technical studies about waste characterization to determine the GHG emissions associated with a ton of this waste material. The project team then examined projections about waste awareness potential to identify how much of this waste could be reduced in future years and combined these two outcomes to determine the total GHG savings.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-49
GHG Sources
California Air Resources Board. 2010. Local Government Operations Protocol for the Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories version 1.1 .
https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/protocols/localgov/pubs/lgo_protocol_v1_1_2010-05-03.pdf California Air Resources Board. 2011. Landfill Emissions Tool version 1.3. https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/cc/landfills/landfills.htm
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. 2020. 2018 Disposal-Facility-Based Characterization of Solid Waste in California. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/Details/1666.
WW 1 Water-efficiency retrofits for existing buildings
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of existing homes retrofitting water fixtures 50% 70% 80% Percent of existing businesses retrofitting water fixtures 40% 70% 80% Percent of existing homes with greywater systems 5% 15% 20% Percent of existing businesses with greywater systems 3% 10% 15% Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 411,310 777,100 914,320
Water savings (millions of gallons) 160 280 340
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 170 300 360
APPENDIX 1
1-50 City of San Mateo July 2023
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of water
efficiency retrofits
19,890 existing homes and
1,610 existing businesses
with water efficiency
retrofits.
27,840 existing homes and
2,820 existing businesses
with water efficiency
retrofits.
31,820 existing homes and
3,230 existing businesses
with water efficiency
retrofits.
Number of
greywater system
installations as part
of retrofit activities
2,120 homes and 120
businesses with greywater
systems installed.
6,360 homes and 400
businesses with greywater
systems installed.
8,480 homes and 610
businesses with greywater
systems installed.
GHG Method
Working on the assumption that half of greywater syst ems are laundry-to-landscaping, and that the other half uses greywater from additional sources such as wash basins and showers, the project team identified the water savings resulting from greywater systems for an individu al home or business. The project team then used the water savings to determine the decrease in electricity use and direct process emissions associated with this effort per building, and then applied the projections of greywater installations at existing San Mateo buildings as part of retrofit activities to identify the total water, electr icity, and direct process emissions. The team applied the appropriate electricity emissions coefficients to identify the additional GHG savings.
GHG Sources
Alliance for Water Efficiency. 2009. Making Every Drop Work: Increasing Water Efficiency in California’s Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Sector . https://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/resources/publications/making-every-drop-work-increasing- water-efficiency-california%E2%80%99s-commercial.
California Department of Water Resources. 2013. California Water Plan 2013 Update, Volume 3, Chapter 3: Water Use Efficiency.
http://toolbox.calwep.org/wiki/California_Water_Plan_2013_Update_(selections)#tab=Vol__3_Ch__3_- _Water_Use_Efficiency.
California Department of Water Resources. 2017. Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life:
Implementing Executive Order B-37-16. https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web- TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-51
Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/Make-Water-Conservation-A-California-Way-of-Life/County- Drought-Planning/Files/Making-Water-Conservation-a-CA-Way-of-Life-EO-B-37-16.pdf.
WW 2 Water-efficient landscaping
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Reduction in total outdoor water use 10% 20% 25%
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 374,760 827,380 1,086,620
Water savings (millions of gallons) 260 570 750
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 10 0
GHG Method
The team estimated the total water use that occurs outdoors in San Mateo and determined the amount that would be reduced based on assumed participation levels. The project team then used the water savings to determine the decrease in electricity use associated wi th this effort and applied the appropriate electricity emissions coefficients to identify the GHG savings.
GHG Sources
There are no sources for this measure beyond the inventory and forecast.
WW 3 Water efficiency in new construction
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of new homes installing greywater systems 8% 20% 25% Percent of new businesses installing greywater systems 5% 15% 20% APPENDIX 1
1-52 City of San Mateo July 2023
Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) 7,620 40,580 66,320
Water savings (millions of gallons) 10 30 50
Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) Less than 10 10 10
Performance Indicators
2030 2040 2045
Number of new homes with greywater systems 810 4,280 6,980 Number of new businesses with greywater systems 30 160 280 GHG Method
Working on the assumption that half of greywater syst ems are laundry-to-landscaping, and that the other half uses greywater from additional sources such as wash basins and showers, the project team identified the water savings resulting from greywater systems for an individu al home or business. The project team then used the water savings to determine the decrease in electricity use and direct process emissions associated with this effort per building, and then applied the projections of greywater installations at new San Mateo buildings to identify the total water, electricity, and direct process emissions. The team applied the appropriate electricity emissions coefficients to identify the additional GHG savings.
GHG Sources
Alliance for Water Efficiency. 2009. Making Every Drop Work: Increasing Water Efficiency in California’s Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Sector . https://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/resources/publications/making-every-drop-work-increasing- water-efficiency-california%E2%80%99s-commercial.
California Department of Water Resources. 2013. California Water Plan 2013 Update, Volume 3, Chapter 3: Water Use Efficiency.
http://toolbox.calwep.org/wiki/California_Water_Plan_2013_Update_(selections)#tab=Vol__3_Ch__3_- _Water_Use_Efficiency.
TECHNICAL APPENDIX: METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 1-53
California Department of Water Resources. 2017. Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life:
Implementing Executive Order B-37-16. https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web- Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/Make-Water-Conservation-A-California-Way-of-Life/County- Drought-Planning/Files/Making-Water-Conservation-a-CA-Way-of-Life-EO-B-37-16.pdf.
OR 1 Alternative fuel off-road equipment
GHG Assumptions
2030 2040 2045
Percent of landscaping equipment that uses electricity 20% 45% 60% Percent of other off-road equipment that uses electricity 15% 25% 30% Activity and GHG Reduction
2030 2040 2045
Electricity savings (kWh) -2,201,600 -4,633,000 -6,091,990 Emissions reduction (MTCO2e) 3,660 7,130 9,890
GHG Method
The team used data from the California Air Resources Board and the inventory to identify the reduction in direct emissions per percent of landscaping equipment and non-landscaping off-road equipment converted to electricity traded in. The team then estimated the decrease in gasoline and diesel fuel resulting from this effort and used information about energy density to determine the increase in electricity needs. The team estimated the GHG increase from greater electricity needs and subtracted this from the emission reduction from decreased fuel use to determine the net GHG reduction.
GHG Sources
Alternative Fuels Data Center. 2014. Alternative Fuels Data Center – Fuel Properties Comparison . https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/fuel_comparison_chart.pdf/ California Air Resources Board. 2022. "EMFAC2021 Web Database."
APPENDIX 1
1-54 City of San Mateo July 2023
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Appendix 2:
CAP Measure Key
Metrics
This appendix summarizes the items that the City will us e to track implementation of the CAP. As part of San Mateo’s ongoing CAP monitoring and implementation efforts, the City will track progress on the implementation of individual measures. The City will collect specific pieces of data, known as key metrics, for each measure, including the planned actions. These key metrics will be used to identify the implementation status of each measure. City staff, utility companies, and state and regional agencies collect the key metrics to track CAP implementation. Some data may be collec ted through the Development Checklist in Appendix 3 .S p e c i f i c information about the sources of each key metric is given in the monitoring tool. The key metrics are shown in Table 2-1.
APPENDIX 2
2-2 City of San Mateo July 2023
Table 2-1: CAP Measure Key Metrics
Measure Time
Frame
Lead
Department Key Metric
BE 1 All-electric new
construction Near-term
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
- Number of all-electric new
construction residential housing units.
- Square feet of all-electric new
construction non-residential
buildings.
BE 2 All-electric existing
buildings Near-term
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
- Number of existing homes with gas
to electric HVAC conversions.
- Square feet of existing office
buildings with gas to electric HVAC
conversions.
- Number of parking spaces at existing
office buildings with EV charging.
RE 1 Peninsula Clean
Energy Immediate City Manager’s Office - PCE opt-out rate. - kWh supplied by ECO 100
RE 2
Renewable energy
systems for new
and existing
residences
Immediate
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
- Number of homes built before 2018
with solar panels.
- Number of total homes (existing and
new) with battery energy systems.
RE 3
Renewable energy
systems for new
and existing
nonresidential
buildings
Immediate
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
- Number of businesses built before
2018 with solar panels.
- Number of existing businesses with
battery energy systems.
EE 1 Residential energy
efficiency retrofits Near-term
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
- Number of homes retrofitted.
EE 2
Nonresidential
energy efficiency
retrofits
Near-term
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
- Number of businesses retrofitted.
CAP MEASURE KEY METRICS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 2-3
Measure Time
Frame
Lead
Department Key Metric
EE 3 Residential tree
plantings Mid-term
City Manager’s
Office, Parks and
Recreation
- Number of households with shade
trees.
ME 1
Energy efficiency
for new municipal
buildings
Mid-term City Manager’s
Office, Public Works None – supportive measure.
ME 2
Energy efficiency
at existing
municipal
buildings
Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Public Works
- Square footage of retrofitted
municipal buildings.
ME 3
All-electric
municipal
buildings
Long-term City Manager’s
Office, Public Works
- Square feet of existing municipal
buildings electrified.
- Square feet of new municipal
buildings electrified.
CF 1
Electric vehicle
charging
infrastructure
Immediate
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development, Public
Works
- Number of parking spaces at new
nonresidential buildings with EV
charging.
- Number of parking spaces at existing
nonresidential buildings (not
including offices) with EV charging.
- Number of parking spaces at existing
multifamily units with EV charging.
CF 2
Electric vehicle
education and
outreach
Immediate
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development
- Estimated number of TNCs operating
in San Mateo that are EVs.
- Number of residents contacted with
EV marketing materials.
CF 3 Clean City fleet Near-term Public Works - Fleet EV VMT. - Fleet biomethane VMT.
CF 4 Clean fuel Long-term
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development, Public
Works
- Number of hydrogen vehicles
registered.
APPENDIX 2
2-4 City of San Mateo July 2023
Measure Time
Frame
Lead
Department Key Metric
ST 1 Bicycle mode
share Mid-term
Community
Development, Public
Works
- Total miles of bike lanes.
ST 2 Pedestrian mode
share Near-term
Community
Development, Public
Works
- Percent increase in pedestrian
sidewalks and pathways.
ST 3 Micromobility and
shared mobility Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Public Works None – supportive measure.
ST 4 Public transit
services Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Public Works
- Bus network coverage.
- Caltrain service frequency.
ST 5 Commuter
programs Mid-term
City Manager’s
Office, Community
Development, Public
Works
- Pre-2006 businesses participating in
TDM efforts.
ST 6
Transportation
Demand
Management
Immediate
Community
Development, Public
Works
- Service population in new
development subject to the TDM
ordinance.
ST 7 Transit-oriented
development Near-term Community
Development - New development in TOD zones.
SW 1 Composting
program Immediate Public Works - Composting participation levels.
SW 2 Expanded
recycling service Near-term Public Works - Total tons of recyclables recovered.
SW 3
Waste awareness
and source
reduction
Near-term City Manager’s
Office, Public Works
- Decrease in non-organic and non-
recyclable waste tonnage sent to
landfills.
WW 1
Water efficiency
retrofits for
existing buildings
Mid-term Public Works
- Number of water efficiency retrofits.
- Number of greywater system
installations in existing buildings.
WW 2 Water-efficient
landscaping Near-term
City Manager’s
Office, Parks and
Recreation
- Estimated outdoor water use
CAP MEASURE KEY METRICS
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 2-5
Measure Time
Frame
Lead
Department Key Metric
WW 3 Water efficiency in
new construction Mid-term Community
Development
- Number of new homes with
greywater systems.
- Number of new businesses with
greywater systems.
OR 1
Alternative fuel
lawn and garden
equipment
Mid-term
City Manager’s
Office, Parks and
Recreation
- Estimated percent of landscaping
equipment that uses electricity.
- Estimated percent of non-landscaping
equipment that uses electricity.
Appendix 3:
CAP Consistency
Checklist
The following checklist assists project applicants and City staff to determine whether a proposed project complies with the City of San Mateo CAP. The CAP is an implementation tool of the General Plan, demonstrating the City’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions co nsistent with Section 15183.5 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. New projects deemed consistent with the CAP are eligible for streamlining the analysis of GHG emissions. Projects inco nsistent with the CAP may refer to this checklist for informational purposes but may have to submit a separate GHG analysis for the project. Examples of projects inconsistent with the City’s forecast include:
x Stationary source emissions regulated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. x General Plan amendments.
x New specific plans, amendments to specific plans, or new development agreements that would increase the population and nonresidential land use expectatio ns beyond those anticipated in the General Plan buildout scenario.
APPENDIX 3
3-2 City of San Mateo July 2023
Development Checklist
Project Description Characteristics
Please identify the applicable land uses included in the proposed project and provide a brief description of the proposed project (or the project description to be used for the associated environmental document). 1) What is the size of the project (in acres)?
2) Identify the applicable land uses:
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Manufacturing
Other
3) If there is a residential component to the project, how many units are being proposed? Single-family residences: :
Multi-family residences: :
4) Please provide a brief project description, including the square footage of conditioned space by land use:
5) Does the project require any amendments to the General Plan or specific plans? Yes No
If yes, please explain:
CAP CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 3-3
6) Is the project located in a specific plan area?
Yes No
If so, which one? _______________
7) Please complete the following table to identify project compliance with any applicable CAP measures.
Standards for CAP Consistency – New Development
Reduction Measure and Applicable Standard Does the Project Comply? Notes & Comments
BE 1: All new development: The project does
not have natural gas connections, and does not
have any natural gas appliances or other
equipment installed
Yes
No
N/A
Additional notes:
RE 2. All new developments with residential
units: The project includes an on-site renewable
energy system that meets or exceeds the
minimum requirements of the California State
Building Code
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, what is the kW potential of the
renewable energy system?
Additional notes:
RE 2. All new developments with residential
units: The project includes an on-site energy
storage system, such as a battery.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, how much electricity does the
system store?
Additional notes:
RE 3. All new developments with
nonresidential space: The project includes an
on-site renewable energy system that meets or
exceeds the minimum requirements of the
California State Building Code
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, what is the kW potential of the
renewable energy system?
Additional notes:
APPENDIX 3
3-4 City of San Mateo July 2023
Reduction Measure and Applicable Standard Does the Project Comply? Notes & Comments
RE 3. All new developments with
nonresidential space: The project includes an
on-site energy storage system, such as a
battery.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, how much electricity does the
system store?
Additional notes:
EE 3. All new developments with residential
units: The project includes trees that provide
shade to residences.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, how many residences are
shaded by newly planted trees?
Additional notes:
CF 1. All new development with dedicated
off-street parking: The project includes
parking spaces with installed EV chargers or are
pre-wired for EV chargers, consistent with state
and any local regulations.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, how many spaces include
installed EV chargers?
If yes, how many spaces are pre-
wired for EV chargers?
Additional notes:
CF 1. All new development with dedicated
off-street parking: The project includes
parking spaces with installed EV chargers that
are accessible by members of the public beyond
those who live and/or work at the project.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, how many spaces with
installed EV chargers are accessible
by members of the public?
If yes, how many Level 3 chargers
installed as part of this project are
publicly accessible?
Additional notes:
CAP CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 3-5
Reduction Measure and Applicable Standard Does the Project Comply? Notes & Comments
ST 6. New developments of at least six multi-
family units and/or 10,000 square feet of
nonresidential space: Implement TDM
strategies to comply with the appropriate trip
reduction target identified in applicable area
plans and San Mateo Citywide TDM Plan.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, what is the trip reduction
target for the project?
% s h o r t - t e r m c o m m u t e t r i p
reduction
% l o n g - t e r m c o m m u t e t r i p
reduction
What strategies will the project use
to achieve these trip reduction
targets?
Additional notes:
ST 6. Projects of at least 20 multi-family units
and/or 50,000 square feet of nonresidential
space undergoing additions or alterations (as
defined in San Mateo Municipal Code
Section 23.06.012): Implement TDM strategies
consistent with the targets in relevant area plans
and the San Mateo Citywide TDM Plan.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, what is the trip reduction
target for the project?
% s h o r t - t e r m c o m m u t e t r i p
reduction
% l o n g - t e r m c o m m u t e t r i p
reduction
What strategies will the project use
to achieve these trip reduction
targets?
Additional notes:
ST 7. All new development: Be located along
El Camino Real, within one-half mile of any
Caltrain station, or in the Rail Corridor Transit
Oriented Development or Hillsdale Station Area
Plan areas.
Yes
No
N/A
Additional notes:
APPENDIX 3
3-6 City of San Mateo July 2023
Reduction Measure and Applicable Standard Does the Project Comply? Notes & Comments
SW 1. All developments with multifamily
units or nonresidential space: Provide an area
of sufficient space to store and allow access to a
compost bin.
Yes
No
N/A
Does the project participate in any
composting programs?
Does the project compost on-site?
Additional notes:
WW 3. All new development: Include a
greywater system.
Yes
No
N/A
If yes, is the greywater system
“laundry-to-landscape” or another
type of system?
Additional notes:
Appendix 4:
Summary of
Community Workshop
The City, with support from the PlaceWorks and DNV GL consultant team, hosted a community meeting for the Climate Action Plan (CAP) update on Thursday, June 6, 2019, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the San Mateo Public Library.
The purpose of this workshop was to provide community members with an overview of the 2015 CAP and the CAP update process, the results of the new and updated GHG inventory, and the new and revised GHG mitigation measures that will be included in the updated CAP. This workshop offered an opportunity to receive feedback on the measures and suggest additional reduction measures for the CAP.
City staff and members of the consultant team facilitated the workshop. Approximately 50 community members attended and participated. The workshop included a presentation about the CAP update and a summary of work- to-date, a question-and-answer period, and an open house that allowed participated to review draft GHG reduction measures, provide input, and engage with staff, consultants, and other community members.
Community members reviewed the proposed measures by placing colored dots next to each measure: green for measures they supported, yellow for measures they supported with some reservations or concerns, and red for measures they did not support.
APPENDIX 4
4-2 City of San Mateo July 2023
The following results are organized by poster topic and present the number and type of dots for each measure (green, yellow, or red) and any open comments received on sticky notes and easel pads. No comment cards were submitted during the meeting, although some additional comments were submitted later via email.
BOARD 1: RENEWABLE ENERGY
Measure Greens Yellows Reds
Measure 1: Continue to support Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) and encourage residents and businesses not already participating in PCE, especially large energy users, to join.
17 1 0
Measure 2: Continue promoting renewable energy systems for new homes and businesses with education and incentives. 12 2 0
Measure 3: Continue to encourage property owners to install renewable energy systems on existing homes and businesses. 12 2 0 Measure 4: Renew San Mateo’s requirement for new buildings to include solar panels, going beyond state requirements. 11 2 1
Measure 5: Promote battery storage systems as a part of renewable energy installations. 8 6 0
Measure 6: Set up microgrid demonstration projects. 5 5 1 Renewable Energy Open Comments
Measure 4: We need a way to store power from PV to use at night, check out Sandford’s [sic] Central Energy Facility’s thermal storage/heat recovery.
Measure 4: More infill to reduce VMT.
Measure 6: There are a lot of bigger things we can do.
Measure 5: Batteries – What level of support will this provide? For whom? How rapidly will today’s batteries become obsolete if the technology is evolving rapidly?
Will microgrid demonstration have a significant impact?
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-3
On/Off grid solar installs - reduce fees if install option to supply power when PCE down to house/buildings.
APPENDIX 4
4-4 City of San Mateo July 2023
BOARD 2: ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION
Measure Greens Yellows Reds
Measure 1: Continue to provide education about energy efficiency retrofits to residents and businesses, including information about financing. 9 2 1 Measure 2: Provide incentives for energy efficiency retrofits. 11 1 0 Measure 3: Establish a program to require home energy assessments at the time of sale. 12 2 0
Measure 4: Provide incentives for all-electric new construction. 7 1 0 Measure 5: Encourage upgrades to existing buildings to support all- electric operations. 9 0 0
Measure 6: New municipal buildings and facilities will be all-electric or will use alternative fuels. 9 1 0
Measure 7: Establish a commercial and multi-family energy conservation benchmarking program and offer low- or no-cost energy audits to rental properties and business.
11 0 0
Measure 8: Continue to conduct energy efficiency retrofits for existing municipal buildings. 7 0 0
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Open Comments
Require Net Zero on existing homes.
Cut energy use everywhere else in the US that is hotter and/or colder than San Mateo: urban infill.
Urge people to wear sweaters etc.
Incentivize cleaner emission leaf blowers (continuing the work sustainability commission started in 2018 then halted).
Make a contest, who can reduce their emissions? Or compare vs. an average.
Require by law, plus shift housing to the public sector.
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-5
Prioritize PCE 100 – how does it compare to home retrofits? Ban military recruiters so our citizens don’t participate in the world’s worst institutional emitter: the US military.
Incentivize won’t save us. If we want to stop Armageddon, we must require sustainable to its fullest extent, right now!
BOARD 3: ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
Measure Greens Yellows Reds
Measure 1: Expand the public shuttle system in San Mateo, including using microtransit to provide first-mile and last-mile connections. 23 0 0 Measure 2: Continue to support reduction of commuter-related vehicle trips through the City’s Transportation Demand Management program and other employer-focused programs.
11 1 0
Measure 3: Expand carpool options for San Mateo residents and commuters. 3 4 1
Measure 4: Implement the Bicycle Master Plan and continue to support additional shared mobility options. 22 0 1
Measure 5: Continue to make walking a safe and easy way to get around San Mateo. 27 0 0
Measure 6: Increase transit-oriented developments along El Camino Real and near Caltrain stations. 22 3 0
Measure 7: Support new rapid bus transit routes. 14 1 0 Measure 8: Improve the frequency of Caltrain services, particularly to the Hayward Park station. 17 1 0
Alternative Transportation Open Comments
Increase penalty for stealing bicycles.
Encourage mixed-use development to reduce SOV.
APPENDIX 4
4-6 City of San Mateo July 2023
Close B Street to car traffic and institute shuttle to encourage less driving in City core.
Help change mindset of Peninsula re: BART/Bus Service.
Spend more on GHG Reduction than road maintenance and more truck free roads (weight and potholes) and more car free walking streets.
Eliminate traffic deaths for pedestrians and bicyclists with Vision Zero. New York City is good example.
Sierra Club recommends dividend account parking.
San Mateo needs to be much more bike friendly. 1) more dedicated lanes, 2) lights triggered by bike, 3) Require businesses like Safeway to have bike racks. (1 green)
Citywide mobility targets: Portland does it with target mode share (1 green) Increase buses and vans use. Incentivize use, increases status of transit use.
More east-west transit opportunities shuttles, scooter, etc.! Increase bike boulevards and bike infrastructure.
Work from home!!
Need bus-only lanes and transit signal priority. (2 greens) Bike Streets work North/South (Claremont, Edinburg, Flores).
Create bus routes that allow access to natural public spaces like Laurelwood park and Purisima Creek. This will create love for nature and drive action.
Ridesharing kills public transit, congest streets, and abuses workers. The City must impose a heavy cap on Uber & Lyft vehicles to save our streets.
Light intersections that are triggered by bikes.
Educate residents and visitors on their impacts while driving.
What can the City do to reduce people idling in their cars? (1 green)
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-7
Affordable housing = reduced GHGs (2 greens)
Fewer cars, more public transit! Increased frequency in bus service, other non-car modes.
Affordable housing for workers = fewer trip = lower GHG where is housing in the CAP? Change the topic/sector name – alternative to what?
BOARD 4: ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Measure Greens Yellows Reds
Measure 1: Require all new buildings to have EV charging infrastructure. 15 5 0 Measure 2: Continue to encourage EV charging infrastructure in existing homes and businesses. 8 0 1
Measure 3: Continue to install EV charging infrastructure in public parking lots and garages. 17 0
1 Measure 4: Transition San Mateo’s municipal fleet to electric and other clean-energy vehicles. 15 1 0
Measure 5: Continue to educate community members about the availability of hybrid and clean-fuel landscaping equipment. 13 4 4 Measure 6: Buy hybrid and clean-fuel landscaping equipment for municipal use as options are available. 11 0 0
Alternative Fuels Open Comments
Measure 3: Battery Ready
Measure 5: Very low hanging fruit compared to something as important as diet, which is not even mentioned so far. Topic 4, Measure 5
Measure 5: Start with large properties like churches, help them through issues like extension cord length limits (if they exist).
APPENDIX 4
4-8 City of San Mateo July 2023
Measure 5: Go beyond education. Need a competitive “g reen yard” program for homeowners. Need to incentivize or network commercial properties and church es to transitions them ASAP. The landowners already have equipment for Menlo Park and Atherton!
Measure 5: Ordinance to restrict gas landscape equipment.
EVs are great but often not affordable could there be financial incentives and subsidy? More community charging stations are needed. Will Measure 1 create charging stations that can be shared by the public? Even by registering them with the building or something? Measure 2: Provide incentives!!
Measure 5: This will work as well as abstinence-only sex ED Biodiesel incentives? Can reduce net carbon emissions and use waste oil.
You always mention El. Cars = No!!! Go hydrogen!
Change the topic/sector name – alternative to what?
BOARD 5: SOLID WASTE
Measure Greens Yellows Reds
Measure 1: Continue to expand San Mateo’s composting
program to businesses and multi-family homes. 25 0 0
Measure 2: Accept new types of materials in recycling bins as economics allow. 8 5 0
Measure 3: Create a materials reuse program and educate community members about ways to make unwanted items
available for reuse.
11 2 1
Measure 4: Explore a ban on single-use plastics. 22 6 (Do it! Just do it!) 0 Measure 5: Work with waste haulers to reduce contamination of recyclables. 12 1 0
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-9
Solid Waste Open Comments
Multi-family composting opportunities are a must!! You can also put the collection points in parks and around the community!
If composting in multi-family units is problematic, at least offer compost drop off points through the City! Recycling info keeps changing. We need way better educations.
Create a mass distribution program for reusable bottle, paid for through business tax hikes.
My condo association will be charged if we get composting so we don’t compost.
Solid waste = 3% of the GHG. These programs are good but please do not use a lot of $$.
More guidance is needed about good vs. poor recycling habits. (what plastics are good) Be able to recycle black plastic or don’t allow it to be used. (1 green) I wish we could get more compost delivered to our houses.
Biweekly recycling and garbage pickup instead of weekly? Other cities have tried this. Since San Francisco/Recology has one of the best recycling/zero waste programs in the USA, why not excel at it here in San Mateo! If pickups were fewer, folks might be motivated (or forced) to decrease their waste. Fewer pickups also means less fuel/energy wasted by the trucks.
Tax consumers for clamshells in packaging – like plastic bags.
Measure 4: reusable bags require more energy to produce… causing more production.
Stop selling chemicals – pass an ordinance.
People are either uneducated or lazy/noncompliant RE putting items in the correct bins. Adding different/more bins won’t work because of this. (2 greens)
Work with Trader Joes, Safeway, etc. to reduce clamshell packaging.
New accurate recycle bin labels for everyone.
APPENDIX 4
4-10 City of San Mateo July 2023
Offer better rates for very low trash creation. Smaller waste cans? Alternate week collection? Reduce uses at the source, require take back of packaging (3 greens) Be able to recycle plastic bags that have the recycle symbol.
Encourage reduce purchases consumption. (1 green)
Encourage stores like Costco to put (business + social) pressure on their venders to use recyclable packaging (not plastics). When venders figure out recyclable packaging, they should let their customers know about the efforts they have made to solve a problem that affects everyone. Mae it a win-win-win situation.
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-11
BOARD 6: WATER AND WASTEWATER
Measure Greens Yellows Reds
Measure 1: Continue to work with water providers and regional agencies to encourage water-efficient retrofits of existing buildings. 21 2 0 Measure 2: Require new developments to meet higher water efficiency standards. 19 1 0
Water and Wastewater Open Comments
The current CAP should be renamed “Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan” The CAP should include water and waste conservation, recycle, reduction mechanisms. (1 green) Green lawn/yard competition among homeowners.
We need a water committee to implement best practices.
Is there local support for existing greywater systems?
I wish that there was information to have domestic greywater. (Help in putting it in) (5 greens) Recycle water from treatment plant. (4 greens)
Can the City investigate rainwater collection for use by City and residents? Are there incentives for lawn replacement/xeriscaping/use of native landscaping? Lawns are a huge source of water use. They should be abolished! Large lots and sprawl leads to wasted water for irrigation.
Ban green lawns. (1 green, 1 yellow)
Provide realistic incentives for homeowners to get rid of lawns. Too expensive right now. (1 green) Can the wastewater treatment plant be run on a schedule that helps address duck curve? APPENDIX 4
4-12 City of San Mateo July 2023
Educate people with sprinklers to not water the sidewalks! Looks like real problem is behavior of individual’s free will.
Follow best practices from more arid places (landscaping water, recycle water, flow meters on faucets, fix leaks) Eliminate garbage disposals in new construction and retrofits.
Incentivize water reuse, especially in new development and public buildings (Use SFPUC model). (1 green).
Adopt better water demand management, including conservation, like SFPUC’s programs. Reduce outdoor irrigation by 70%.
Aim for 5% reduced imported water by 2024.
BOARD 7: WHAT’S YOUR BIG IDEA?
Open comments
Plant more trees.
Plant trees and gardens, every $1 in trees returns $2.5 in value to the community. California Billion Tree Initiative. (10 greens)
Build housing here and plant trees elsewhere. (1 green) Increase the urban tree canopy where possible. (2 greens) Do not allow wood burnings in fireplaces or building FP in new buildings. (1 green) Explore rainwater collection for use by city and residents.
To reduce traffic and auto emissions on Hillsdale A ve, employ The Boring Company to put a tunnel under Hillsdale Avenue (2 greens, 5 reds)
Local public free telecommuting centers, reduce VMTs from commuters, keep people and money in San Mateo.
Affordable housing reduced worker trips where is that in CAP? (1 green)
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-13
More communication/educations on climate change and CO2 emissions.
Allow for micro units and affordable housing.
Don’t let people cut and trim existing trees and shrubs for view.
Require more from residents (instead of “encourage”). (2 greens) Bring back recycling stations at Safeway.
The US Military is one of the largest institutional GHG emitters worldwide. Ban military recruiters from San Mateo and stop the rolling war machine in our City.
Include a program for carbon sequestration and offsets.
Ban leaf blowers and gas-powered landscape equipment. (3 greens, 1 red) x Need a way to transition this would hurt all the gardeners.
No Amazon infrastructure in San Mateo.
Annual reporting of GHG: Mountain View does this an d allocates $10k/year. Sectors can be adjusted for compliance.
Promote the local “I heart rakes and brooms” campaign.
Send a link to all San Mateo residents that helps them calculate their carbon footprint.
Encourage competition among homeowners to use electric lawn equipment to “lose your lawn”, to practice permaculture/plant native plants/use IPM methods. Create a City competition! Determine San Mateo’s “earth overshoot” day to raise awareness.
Public housing for all! (With solar panels) (1 green)
City government should fund clothing and farming co-ops in our community to reduce reliance on global trade.
Encourage cooperative businesses (worker owned). Expansion isn’t profit seeking drive our crisis and must stop.
Please design new housing near transit centers to have at most car space. Maybe happening already.
APPENDIX 4
4-14 City of San Mateo July 2023
Count on per capita basis and not a total basis.
To avoid 2 degree C temperature rise, there must be a robust system of carbon capture by 2030! (1 green) Raise the height limit on buildings. (5 greens)
Take advantage of our volunteer hours needed by master composter participants – 40 hours each.
Urban infill: UC Berkeley rates urban infill in the Ci ty of San Mateo #1 among all rated measures visit:
coolclimate.berkeley.edu/ca-scenarios/index.html. (2 greens) When we add jobs but not housing, we should count 100% of those commute emissions.
Make GHG’s info public => competitions in neighborhoods to retrofit/reduce fossil energy use? Smart Meters? Charge new businesses setting up shop in San Mateo a “sustainability” tax to fund all these projects. (1 green) Pedestrian overpass at Hillsdale/Highway 101. (3 greens) More density causes miserable traffic. (1 red)
San Mateo to provide water barrels at cost and volunteer installers too much water is lost.
According to many studies, reaching greenhouse reduction goals without the world adapting a plant-based diet is impossible. Many people in San Mateo are not aware that they can contribute greatly to GHG lowering by modifying their diet. San Mateo should encourage diet change. (3 greens, 1 red) Increased densities in SFH and transit-oriented areas. Infill housing helps to reduce VMTs. (3 greens) Implement UN Agenda 21.
Please ban leaf blowers!! Exhaust + PM in the air! (1 green) Encourage infill development instead of greenfield development.
Figure how to encourage plant-based diet education? (w/ groceries, schools, etc.) Taxes on meat? Don’t’ just say we have no control over that. (2 greens)
Meatless Monday or eating 1x per day instead of twice. Could this be worked into schools or civic buildings?
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-15
Composting toilets save water, reduce methane, turn waste into resources. Make legal, they don’t stink! To reduce commutes and traffic, subsidize ADUs in neighborhoods w/ larger lots, houses, and parking available. (1 green)
Way more outreach to non-English speakers. (1 green)
Make sure to do outreach to non-English speakers and people not on City email lists.
MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS
Clarifications on process of accounting GHGs, timeline, state vs local actions.
Solar panels – why need in light of PCE? What about city buildings.
Cement emissions- embedded emissions of development.
Data – on implementation measures for example – cool climate Berkeley .edu – consumption based calcs – concerns on highest impact including embedded emissions (infill as example).
APPENDIX 4
July 2023 Climate Action Plan 4-16