Benicia may battle global warming on a city level

Times Herald

By Tony Burchyns/Times-Herald staff write

August 18, 2009 - BENICIA -- Addressing climate change on a local level, Benicia officials have unveiled what they say is a road map to a greener community.

Benicia's so-called Draft Climate Action Plan, released on the city's Web site, looks at everything from private industry and manufacturing to green building standards and city operations.

"We are trying to lead by example," Benicia Community Development and Public Works Director Charlie Knox said. Benicia is the first Solano County city to address climate change through a comprehensive planning process, Knox said.

"We're well on the way," Knox added.

The plan follows citywide, greenhouse gas reduction targets established last year by the Benicia City Council.

More than 100 pages long, it has 36 emissions-lowering goals, and 115 strategies

to control Benicia's carbon footprint. It focuses on public education and outreach; energy production; transportation and land use; buildings; industry and commercial; water and wastewater; solid waste; and parks and open space.

"This plan will help us achieve our goals," said Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, who has pushed for a more sustainable community since her days on the general plan review committee in the 1990s.

Patterson said she's particularly excited about ways to help residents cut energy use. The plan includes residential energy- and water-use audits, and could lead to a low-interest loan program through the city for energy-efficient retrofitting,including solar panel installation.

"A number of cities and counties -- including Sonoma -- are already way ahead," Patterson said, referring to local governments implementing new state financing mechanisms aimed at boosting renewable energy projects.

"People really trust their local governments," Patterson said of addressing climate change at a local level. "And they're willing to take some bold steps more quickly."

The city's goal is to cut emissions to 2005 levels by next year and reduce them to 10 percent below 2000 levels by 2020.

Energy efficiency is a critical component, city officials said.

Also, city officials said they recognize the importance of engaging private-industry leaders to reduce emissions in the Benicia Industrial Park.

The plan also calls for a so-called "Green Team" of city staff members to develop internal policies and procedures as they relate to greenhouse gas reduction.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo students were recruited by city officials to help develop the plan. The students carried out background research, including a review of existing policies or programs that support or conflict with the city's renewable energy goals. Cal Poly also provided the preliminary draft.

The plan is scheduled to move through hearings and to the City Council for approval next month.

Also in September, the City Council is scheduled to review proposed, renewable energy projects ranging from solar panels on city facilities to internal energy-use audits.

"This is about supporting what we think will be a greener economy," Knox said. "It's really the role of city government to establish what the mandates will be."

Contact staff writer Tony Burchyns at tburchyns@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6831.

Global Climate Change, Local Solutions: To view Benicia's Draft Climate Action Plan, visit www.ci.benicia.ca.us and click on the "sustainability" link.

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