Town of San Anselmo - File #: 22-366

Date	Action By	Action	Result	Action Details	Meeting Details	Video
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FROM:

Sean Youra, Climate Action Coordinator

SUBJECT:

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Climate Action Update

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RECOMMENDATION

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Review the Climate Action Update report.

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BACKGROUND

The quarterly Climate Action Update report details progress made by staff in implementing the Town’s Climate Action Plan (CAP).

DISCUSSION

This report details progress made in implementing the CAP since the last report provided to Council on July 26, 2022. The table below details actions taken by staff during the past quarter to implement the CAP and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The applicable measures from the CAP along with the estimated GHG emissions reduction that would result from achieving the targets for each of the applicable measures are provided for reference for each action taken.

Action	CAP Measure	Estimated GHG Emissions Reduction in 2030 (in MTCO2e)
Wrote a staff report and presented to Council on considerations for prohibiting additional gas-powered landscape equipment and establishing a new trade-in and rebate program for landscape equipment. This included conducting significant research and targeted outreach to local landscapers to gather feedback on the use of electric landscape equipment.	T-10: Electric Landscape Equipment	24 Note: The estimated emissions reduction in the CAP for this measure is based on achieving a target of 100% of leaf blowers in the Town being electric by 2030. If all landscape equipment used in the Town are electric by 2030, the estimated emissions reduction would be 516 MTCO2e.
	T-14: Municipal Electric Landscape Equipment	N/A
Promoted the Town’s existing electric leaf blower rebate program on the website and newsletter.	T-10: Electric Landscape Equipment	24
	O-2: Community Engagement	N/A
Met with Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) staff about moving pilot fleet electrification and charging infrastructure projects forward and potentially launching some of them in early 2023. TAM also submitted staff’s pilot project proposals to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to potentially receive additional funding and technical assistance for these projects.	T-1: Zero Emission Vehicles	5,242
	I-3: Identify and Secure Funding Sources	N/A
Formed a project team that includes Public Works staff and CAC members to work on developing a Resilience Hub at Town Hall and the Library. Wrote a staff report to request funds to cover the costs for Sage Energy Consulting to submit an interconnection application to PG&E and perform a feasibility study for this project.	R-4: Innovative Technologies	N/A
	R-5: Solar Energy Systems for Municipal Buildings	N/A
	A-1: Preparation and Response	N/A
Conducted community outreach to gather feedback on the Marin Countywide EV Acceleration Strategy, which will help Marin communities reduce GHG emissions, lower vehicle operating and fuel costs, and improve air quality by encouraging the use of EVs and transitioning municipal fleets to EVs.	T-1: Zero Emission Vehicles	5,242
	O-2: Community Engagement	N/A
Hired the Town’s first shared Climate Action Fellow through the Climate Corps AmeriCorps program who will assist in the implementation of both Fairfax’s and San Anselmo’s CAPs.	N/A	N/A
Participated in several Green Building Steering Committee meetings and community workshops led by the County’s Sustainability team to assist with outreach and engagement regarding cross-jurisdictional building reach code development and implementation. Continuing to gather community, staff, and CAC feedback on the model reach code.	E-4: Green Building Reach Code	27
	O-2: Community Engagement	N/A
Completed the CalRecycle Electronic Annual Report (EAR) for the Town that required collaboration with public works and other departments to gather the necessary SB 1383 and other waste regulation data.	W-1: Commercial Organic Waste	216
	W-2: Residential Organic Waste	508
	W-3: Construction & Demolition Debris and Self-Haul Waste	29
Conducted significant research on SB 1383 requirements and trained staff on the relevant requirements. Began establishing a baseline for current recovered organic waste products procurement and investigating opportunities to increase compost/mulch usage to try to meet the Town’s required procurement target. Staff is also collaborating with other Marin jurisdiction staff on strategies to meet the procurement targets including a potential study to identify compost/mulch application potential on public and private lands.	S-2: Habitat Restoration and Soil Regeneration	N/A Note: The potential emissions reductions from implementation of SB 1383 and the carbon sequestration potential of applying compost/mulch on public and private lands in the Town have not been quantified in the CAP. Staff and the CAC will be working on a future CAP update that will hopefully include quantified emissions reduction estimates for these additional measures.
Reviewed and provided feedback on the Town’s 2020 GHG Inventory Report prepared by Christine O’Rourke, Sustainability Coordinator for MCEP.	I-2: Update GHG Emissions Inventories	N/A
Submitted a grant application in collaboration with ReadySetReplace (RSR) for a TECH Quick Start grant. Staff and CAC members have been working with RSR to develop a Water Heating Electrification Campaign Program to help residents in both Fairfax and San Anselmo get electric-ready and install heat pump water heaters, which the grant would help fund.	R-3: Building and Appliance Electrification	46
	E-1: Energy Efficiency Programs	3,077
	I-3: Identify and Secure Funding Sources	N/A
Got the Town to join as a sponsor for the Marin Green Home Tour on October 19 and 20, which is a free virtual tour event that will showcase what Marin residents are doing to combat climate change, improve air quality, save water, and make their homes resilient. Staff is promoting the event in the Town’s newsletter and social media.	O-1: Community Education	N/A
	O-2: Community Engagement	N/A
Worked with Public Works staff to take advantage of Willdan’s Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Electrification Program. Willdan replaced the gas water heaters with HPWHs in the Town’s corporation yard, Robson-Harrington house, and Fire Station 19 and 20 at zero cost to the Town. Created a video to discuss the Town’s new HPWHs and the environmental benefits of switching to HPWHs that the CAC posted on social media.	E-6: Municipal Energy Efficiency Audit and Retrofits	19 Note: Willdan estimated that the lifecycle emissions reduction from switching to HPWHs in all these buildings would be 122 MTCO2e. The potential emissions reduction from electrifying all appliances in municipal buildings has not been quantified in the CAP, but hopefully will be included in a future CAP update.
	O-1: Community Education	N/A
Wrote a staff report discussing the proposed changes to the State’s net energy metering program (NEM 2.0) and requesting that Council send a letter the CAC drafted to the CPUC to advocate for maintaining the current NEM program.	O-3: Advocacy	N/A
Wrote a staff report and prepared responses to the 2021-2022 Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report on building electrification in collaboration with the Town’s Building Official and CAC.	E-4: Green Building Reach Code	27
Worked with the CAC on their Annual Report to Council covering a summary of the latest GHG inventory report, the Town’s FY 2021-22 climate action accomplishments, and the CAC’s FY 2022-23 priorities.	I-1: Annual Monitoring	N/A

In addition, staff is continuing to:

• Serve as a staff liaison to the CAC, provide updates on CAP implementation during the CAC monthly meetings, and provide feedback on CAC proposed initiatives.

• Identify new climate action funding opportunities and manage existing grant funds (Applicable to CAP Measure I-3: Identify and Secure Funding Sources).

• Educate community members about climate action-related incentives, programs, events, and regulations through the Town’s newsletter, social media, and website (Applicable to CAP Measure O-1: Community Education, and Measure O-2: Community Engagement).

• Coordinate with MCEP members to discuss and develop plans, policies, programs, and strategies that can assist in CAP implementation across all Marin jurisdictions.

• Monitor CAP implementation progress and prioritize projects to meet the CAP goals.

• Stay abreast of new climate-related state and federal regulations, technological innovations, and opportunities to further the Town’s climate action efforts.

CONCLUSION

Staff continues to make progress in implementing the Town’s CAP in collaboration with the CAC and external partners.