HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7899
City of Palo Alto (ID # 7899)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 4/17/2017
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Earth Day Report 2017 (EDR17)
Title: Annual Earth Day and Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP)
Update
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Recommendation
Accept this Report. This was originally an informational report, but has been converted to an
Action Item to allow Council to bring up questions related to information in this report as part
of the Action Item on the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) of the S/CAP on tonight’s agenda.
It is recommended both items be taken up simultaneously.
Executive Summary
This report includes:
Summary/Overview
Background
Discussion/Summary of 2016 initiatives and results, including:
o Progress towards development and adoption of the Sustainability and Climate
Action Plan (S/CAP)
o Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions from City Operations, City and Community
Activities, and from City of Palo Alto Utilities
o Water Consumption and Considerations
o Highlights and Accomplishments from City Departments
Future Vision and Challenges
Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability and climate action, and has made substantial
progress in meeting its climate goals and forwarding its substantial sustainability commitments.
Much of that progress is summarized in this report.
The draft Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Framework, which Council adopted
November 28 2016, set an ambitious goal for GHG reductions and provided the foundation for
a comprehensive S/CAP including goals, policies, and implementation actions. The final S/CAP is
envisioned as a roadmap for how the City will continue its environmental stewardship, and will
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include a Sustainability Implementation Plan (SIP), which will lay out the initial steps the City
will need to take in 2017-2020 to both progress toward our established goals, and to build the
organizational capacity and flexible platforms that will enable us to respond effectively to the
changes that we will no doubt encounter on the road to 2030.
Progress this year has included (partial list; additional detail below and in Attachment D):
Adopted the 2030 S/CAP goal of reducing GHG emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by
2030, and adopted a draft S/CAP framework consisting of goals, guidelines and
principles
Began work on a Sustainability Implementation Plan (SIP) for 2017-2020
Worked to align the draft S/CAP framework and the evolving SIP into the ongoing
Comprehensive Plan Update
Adopted the Green Building Ordinance and Energy Reach Code
Dramatic reductions in per capita water use
Continued electric vehicle (EV) development (including grant funding for additional
chargers in City facilities and development of pricing policy, Ride and Drive and other
outreach events, fleet electrification policy and strategy)
Award of $1.085 million Federal grant to support mobility alternatives
Engaged 43 households in pilot Cool Block program
Collaborated with other cities on ZNE workshop, sustainability finance tool kit,
sustainable purchasing tool kit
Joined multi-city sustainability initiatives, including Compact of Mayors and Mayors
National Climate Action Agenda
The challenges the City faces (in addition to the uncertain Federal policy environment) include:
Matching City processes to the pace of technology, climate and policy change
Continuing to encourage water conservation even as the urgency Palo Altans feel
toward conservation is alleviated as Palo Alto exits near-term drought conditions.
Monitoring the changes to the electric industry as it is affected by increasing solar
penetration, electric vehicle adoption, controllable electric loads, and other factors and
determining what changes the utility may need to make to adapt.
Potential changes in relevant federal, state and regional policy
Consistent assessment and efficiency enhancement of City buildings and fleet
Managing S/CAP implementation,
Understanding and reducing “Scope 3” emissions1
Developing, consolidating and using sustainability performance dashboards.
Nurturing a culture of agility, experimentation and emergence in City government
Addressing adaptation and resilience choices in the face of seal level rise and other
dimensions of climate change
1 “Scope 3 emissions” are indirect emissions, such as those engendered by purchased goods and services,
production of purchased goods, emissions from the use of sold products, business travel, employee commuting,
transportation and distribution of electricity, and waste disposal.
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Financing the future/Investing in sustainability and climate action
(These challenges are discussed in more detail below.)
Background
Demonstrating its leadership in climate and sustainability, Palo Alto adopted one of the first
municipal climate action plans in the U.S. in 2007, delivering carbon neutral electricity, and
partnering with our community to develop a vision for an innovative, carbon neutral city of the
future—and quickly exceeded the 20% reduction goals set by Council in the 2007 Climate
Protection Plan. In 2013, Council established the Office of Sustainability in the City Manager’s
Office, to work with other City departments to bring a sharper strategic focus, better inter-
departmental synergy and greater momentum to the City’s sustainability and climate initiatives.
On April 18, 2016, Council unanimously approved the primary goal of the S/CAP - achieving an
80% reduction in Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) below 1990 levels by 20302 - 20 years ahead of the
State of California 80x50 target. Since that time, the City has: adopted an advanced Green
Building Ordinance and Energy Reach Code; continued analyzing electrification options,
explored Zero Net Energy buildings and districts; adopted the S/CAP Framework including
Goals, Strategies, Guidelines, Design Principles and Decision Criteria; approved a Carbon
Neutral Natural Gas Plan; begun aligning the S/CAP and the Comprehensive Plan Update; and
drafted a Sustainability Implementation Plan for 2017-2020.
On November 28, 2016, Council adopted the S/CAP Framework3, including its Guiding
Principles, Decision Criteria, Design Principles, and key Goals and Strategies, as the road map
for development of S/CAP Implementation Plans.
On December 5, 2016, Council unanimously approved Palo Alto’s “Carbon Neutral Natural Gas
Plan”4, making City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) one of the first carbon neutral utilities for both
electricity and natural gas in the US. This move will also help mitigate one of Palo Alto’s largest
remaining sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
As shown in Figure 3, Palo Alto reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions an estimated 37%
since 19905 in 2016 —a remarkable achievement in 26 years, with most of it accomplished in
2 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/51856
3 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/54865
4 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/55728
5 Palo Alto emissions in the 1990 baseline year are estimated at 765,920 MT CO2e, a restatement of prior
estimates of 780,119 MT CO2e due to changes in “Lifecycle Emissions from Annual Total Waste placed in Landfills”
and “Landfilling Recyclable Material” emissions, which have been updated based on the most recent EPA Waste
Reduction Model (WARM) methodology. Most emissions noted in this report as called “estimates,” since only
utility consumption (electricity, natural gas and water) are measured. Transportation emissions are modeled every
few years; solid waste related emissions are calculated using established EPA protocols. Solid waste related
emissions were not included in the CompPlan DEIR. Staff has been unable to obtain “confidence intervals” for the
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the ten years since 2005—largely a result of the leadership of Palo Alto Utilities and the City
Council’s 2013 commitment to carbon neutral electricity. Palo Alto’s largest remaining sources
of greenhouse gas emissions are road transportation (approximately 66%) followed by natural
gas use (approximately 29%).
To achieve an 80% reduction target by 2030, Palo Alto will need to meet a target “GHG
reduction budget” of about 224,600 MT CO2e6 (See Figure 1 below). The 2016 S/CAP analysis
projects that 117,900 MT CO2e, or more than half of the needed additional reductions, can
come from mobility related measures, 97,200 MT CO2e, or just under half from efficiency and
fuel switching measures (largely in buildings), and 9,500 MT CO2e, or 4% from continuation and
extension of Palo Alto’s zero waste initiatives.
Figure 1. Overview of Palo Alto GHG Reduction Target relative to Business-as-Usual (MT
CO2e)
Discussion
The national political environment has of course shifted since the last Earth Day Report. We
have a new administration in the White House, a new EPA Administrator, and a lot of
uncertainty around the status of existing environmental legislation, climate funding, and
whether the United States will follow the historic Paris Climate Agreement - the first
international treaty to mitigate global warming.
transportation emissions modelling, so these estimates should be considered to have a confidence interval of at
least +/-5%.
6 MT CO2e = metric tons of CO2 equivalent
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The State of California – a leader in environmental advocacy for the past 50 years, beginning
with setting appliance and vehicle emissions standards in the 1960s – has responded to this
uncertainty by pledging to work directly with other nations and states to defend and strengthen
climate change policies. And cities around the world—including the 150-member Urban
Sustainability Directors Network, the 75-member Mayors National Climate Agenda, the
Compact of Mayors, and the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance—remain in the forefront of
sustainability and climate action.
Despite uncertainty around climate policy on the federal level, California continues to lead on
climate and energy through strong government leadership, accelerated investment in clean
energy, and advancement of a low-carbon economy. Key State climate change strategies
include: increasing renewable electricity production to 50%, reducing petroleum use by 50% in
vehicles, doubling energy efficiency savings at existing buildings, reducing GHG emissions from
natural and working lands, reducing short-lived climate pollutants, and safeguarding California
from the worst impacts of climate change. Cities across the US, including Palo Alto, have
responded by joining together in the U.S. Mayors’ National Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA),
and committing to ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, setting climate
action, regularly reporting on progress, sharing lessons, and holding each other accountable.
Even before the Presidential Election, cities around the globe started working together to
combat climate change through organizations like Compact of Mayors and C40.
To continue our forward progress, the City of Palo Alto will need to continue its leadership in
advancing sustainability commitments. This will require continued cooperation across City
departments and diverse community stakeholders, and possibly even the addition of dedicated
staff to help Palo Alto achieve its sustainability goals.
Climate Action
The City launched its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) initiative in August 2014 to
chart a path to a more sustainable future, find ways to improve our quality of life, grow
prosperity, and create a thriving and resilient community – all while dramatically reducing our
carbon footprint. The S/CAP builds on Palo Alto’s historic leadership – and our successes
exceeding the goals of our 2007 climate plan – to create an ambitious plan that also considers
broader issues of sustainability, such as land use and biological resources.
On April 18, 20167, Council adopted the S/CAP’s “80x30” GHG reduction goal, “supported the
draft S/CAP framework,” and directed staff to return for further discussion of the S/CAP
Guidelines as Design Principles, unanimously adopting those in turn November 28, 20168.
Staff used the draft proposed S/CAP actions as the starting point for a near-term Sustainability
Implementation Plan (SIP). Staff formed inter-departmental teams to develop a 2017 – 2020
Sustainability Implementation Plan to cover key S/CAP sections: Mobility, Efficiency and
7 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/52025
8 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/55242
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Electrification, Water Management, Zero Waste & Circular Economy, Municipal Operations,
Climate Adaptation & Resilience, Regeneration & Natural Environment, and Financing
Strategies. Other S/CAP sections - Community Behavior, Culture, and Innovation; and Utility of
the Future - will be developed in future work phases.
The Office of Sustainability led other departments in development of the 2017 – 2020
Sustainability Implementation Plan (SIP, being presented to Council as an action item tonight),
delineating key initial actions towards fulfilling the S/CAP’s 2030 goals, and building
organizational capacity to carry out key strategies and actions which will enable Palo Alto to
reduce GHG emissions 50% by 2020.
A more complete summary of the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan can be found in
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
GHG Emissions from City Operations
Overall the performance of City Operations is mixed for 2016, with large declines in emissions
from power generation facilities, street lights and traffic signals, and wastewater facilities; little
change in emissions from vehicle fleet, and water delivery facilities, and continued increases in
emissions from buildings & other facilities and solid waste facilities (Figure 2).
Figure 2: City Operations GHG Emissions: 2005 and 2013-2016 (Hydro and PAG-adjusted)
Total Emissions Reduced from 42,000 MT in 2005 to 23,300 MT in 2016
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Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities
More detailed analysis can be found in Attachment B: City Municipal Operations Emissions
GHG Emissions from City and Community Activities
Combined City Municipal Operations and Palo Alto community emissions continue to decline. In
2016, overall City and Palo Alto GHG emissions were reduced an estimated 37% from 1990
levels, slightly less than 2% beyond 2015 reductions. As shown in Figure 3 below, estimated City
and community transportation related emissions declined an additional 4% from 2015
reductions, due to both a decrease in Vehicle Miles Travelled and changes in fleet composition.
Natural gas emissions increased slightly from 2015, by approximately 1 %, due in part to a
colder fall and winter in 2016 than in 2015, which was warmer than average.
Figure 3: Palo Alto Municipal Operations and Community GHG Emissions9
9 Total Emissions are weather adjusted, with biogenic emissions excluded. Net Brown Power (fossil fuel-based)
electricity emissions taper down and are not present starting in 2013 because the CPAU began purchasing
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset all the GHG emissions for this power source.
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Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities
As illustrated in Figure 4 below, Palo Alto’s largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions is
transportation into, around, and through the City (approximately 66%), followed by natural gas
use (approximately 29%).
While City Fleet Services reports a steady reduction in fuel consumption and emissions over the
past years, the vast majority of transportation emissions are from residents, workers, and
people to and from and doing business in Palo Alto. The City can’t control the cars, but it can
influence the driving environment. The S/CAP is exploring multiple strategies to help people
shift from using single occupancy vehicles (which dominate the commute and around town
traffic flows) to a comprehensive suite of attractive mobility options. OOS is working with its
partners in the Planning Department, Development Services, Fleet Services, regional business
and agencies and the community to envision, explore and assess a broad spectrum of
approaches for transforming mobility within the City—supported by a $1.085m “Mobility on
Demand” grant from the US Department of Transportation for regional pilots of mobility
alternatives.
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Figure 4: 2016 Palo Alto Community-wide GHG Emissions10 Sectors
Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities
In 2016, Palo Alto’s Cool Block program – a pilot program of the Cool City Challenge –brought
together 43 households within 12 neighborhood blocks who worked together on 1208 actions
that eliminated 611,066 pounds of CO2 emissions-- an average 7.1 tons of CO2 per household.
The City of Palo Alto adopted a Zero Waste policy in 2005. Since then, Palo Alto has
dramatically reduced the amount of material going into landfills. Palo Alto now has a waste
diversion rate of 80 percent, up from a 63 percent diversion rate in 2005 (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Annual Diversion Rate, 1995-2014
10 Total Emissions are weather adjusted, with biogenic emissions excluded
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Source: City of Palo Alto Public Works Department
A breakdown of actual emissions numbers can be found in Attachment C: Palo Alto Community
and City Municipal Operations GHG Emission
GHG Emissions from City of Palo Alto Utilities
Palo Alto’s biggest source of leverage to increase resource efficiency and reduce carbon impacts
resides with its largest municipal business entity: City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU).
The City’s electricity supply has been carbon neutral since 2013, when Council approved a
Carbon Neutral Electric Resource Plan, committing Palo Alto to pursuing only carbon-neutral
electric resources and effectively eliminating all GHG emissions from the City's electric portfolio
(Figure 6). The 2016 Solar group-buy discount program, Bay Area SunShares, resulted in 28 kW
of new local solar. 94 CPAU customers installed net metered PV systems in 2016 for a total
capacity of 541 kW (~0.1% of load). The City added 80 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable
energy to its carbon neutral electric resources portfolio in 2016, resulting in more than 150 MW
of solar power commitments throughout California. By bringing these facilities online, solar
energy will now supply about one-third of Palo Alto’s total electricity needs on an annual basis.
With the addition of renewable energy from these projects to other renewable resources
including PA CLEAN, wind, small hydro, and landfill gas, the City is on track to reach a
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of up to 60 percent in 2017. For comparison, in 2015
California adopted one of the most aggressive RPS policies in the country, requiring that all
utilities in the state supply 50 percent of their retail electric sales from eligible renewable
energy resources by the year 2030.
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Figure 6: Electricity Portfolio: 2005-2025 (Actuals and Projections)
Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities
Council unanimously approved Palo Alto’s “Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan” on December 5,
2016 meeting, one week after approving the S/CAP Framework. The Natural Gas Plan achieves
carbon neutrality for the gas supply portfolio by 1) purchasing high-quality environmental
offsets equivalent to our City and community natural gas emissions (~29% of our carbon
footprint); 2) pursuing efficiency strategies to reduce natural gas use, and 3) seeking
opportunities to fund local offsets that finance actual emissions reductions in Palo Alto and the
surrounding region.
Overall residential per capita utility consumption of resources from CPAU has been steadily
declining since FY 2007 (Figure 7), contributing to overall GHG emissions reductions; but energy
and natural gas use ticked up last year - due in part to a colder fall and winter in 2016 than in
2015, which was warmer than average - while per capita water use continued to decline
significantly.
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Figure 7: Residential Per Capita Utility Consumption Declining
Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities
Water Consumption and Considerations
The City of Palo Alto’s Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) was updated in May of 2016.
The UWMP incudes an assessment of the reliability of the City’s water sources, an analysis of
water demand, identification of alternative water supply sources, a description of water
conservation efforts, and a water shortage contingency plan.
Although the City has experienced several drought periods since 1975, the most recent drought
has had a particularly profound effect on City and customer attitudes regarding water. The
current state-mandated water use reductions resulted in large numbers of landscape
conversion projects as well as a dramatic shift in customer behavior regarding water use. In
addition, new construction in every sector is subject to increasingly stringent regulations
regarding water‐using appliances and fixtures.
Because many permanent water use changes including landscape conversion has occurred as a
result of rebate programs and public outreach, and because staff detects a shift in the
community’s attitude regarding water use, the City’s water consumption is forecast to remain
relatively stable in the future, with slight increases due to a post-drought rebound and
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continued increases in economic development and population. By 2025, it is predicted that the
overall trend of decreasing per capita water use will resume.
In 2015 residential and multi-family water sales were responsible for 60% of total water
consumption in the City. The business sectors including commercial and industrial customers
consume 23%, while irrigation customers consumed 11%. Public and City facilities consume the
remaining 6%. The relative share of water consumed has not changed significantly between
customer types since 2010.
CPAU data shows that total residential water consumption declined 17% from FY 16 to FY 15,
and has declined 40% since FY 07. Much of the decline since FY 07 has come in the last two
fiscal years, largely as a result of the community’s exceptional response to the current drought
conditions. Total commercial, industrial research and City Facilities water consumption declined
11% from FY 16 to FY 15, and has declined 21% since FY 07.
Highlights and Accomplishments from City Departments
Staff is implementing more than 150 sustainability programs across the city. This section
provides a summary of key activities.
Administrative Services (ASD) and Public Works (PWD) – Green Purchasing: The City‘s award-
winning green purchasing program has “greened” several performance criteria for structural
and landscaping pest control, custodial and office supplies, and computers. The City has
reduced the use of single-use plastics (bottled water, plastic bags, plastic packaging), reduced
the toxicity and amount of pesticides used, and virtually eliminated products that contain
mercury and dioxins. The City incrementally embeds green purchasing into its procurement
procedures by revising forms, contract specifications, and contract Terms and Conditions.
City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU): Many new programs were introduced in 2016. Council
approved a carbon-neutral gas plan using environmental offsets. With customers focusing on
the drought, water and gas savings were high. Electric savings were just below target. The City’s
Renewal Portfolio Standard was 26.0% in 2015, and 40.2% in 2016. Executed contracts will
result in RPS of 59.9% in 2017, with the remaining supply coming from hydro resources. The
2016 Solar group-buy discount program, Bay Area SunShares, resulted in 28 kW of new local
solar. 94 CPAU customers installed a net metered PV system in 2016 for a total capacity of 541
kW (~0.1% of load). In May 2016, CPAU launched a pilot program to promote heat-pump water
heaters. Rebate program for EV chargers using LCFS funds was launched in January 2017.
Electric vehicle count in Palo Alto is estimated at around 2,000 at the end of 2016.
Community Services (CSD): Community Services Department maintains over 4,000 acres of
parkland. CSD reduced potable water use by approximately 25% through strategic reductions in
irrigation in open space, parks, and golf courses. Posted signs at every park and preserve
highlighting the City’s conservation efforts in order to lead by example. Partnered with
environmental organizations and volunteers to improve habitat by removing 18,591 pounds
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invasive weeds and planting a total of 10,216 native plants – 8,519 native plants were planted
in the Baylands Nature Preserve and 1,697 native plants were planted in Pearson Arastradero
Preserve.
Development Services (DSD): Developed and gained approval on two sustainability ordinances
related to green building, the green building ordinance and the energy reach code ordinance,
both going into effect January 1, 2017. The new Energy Ordinance will focus on energy
efficiency with solar power as a method for compliance. Presented an update on the
Electrification Study in March 2017 in accordance with the Electrification Study work plan,
which studied barriers and opportunities in the pursuit of electrification.
Library (PACL): Library buildings include information about energy use and conservation, model
new thinking regarding public building design, and sustain materials collections that aid
customer education about all aspects of sustainability and the environment. PACL continues to
host events and provide programs to all ages that passively or purposefully provide examples to
demonstrate some aspect of sustainable practices. For example, nearly all crafts programs
incorporate reuse of materials. Installed Bike Repair stations at Mitchell Park and Rinconada
Libraries.
Office of Emergency Services (OES): Evaluating (cost-effective and practical) means to expand
the use of renewables to reduce the risk of power disruption for certain facilities. OES retained
an outside expert to evaluate the existing photovoltaic (PV) grid-tied panel system and propose
a design to add a battery back-up capability, so that certain locations and systems at Cubberley
would remain operational even in a grid-down scenario. OES designed, developed, and now
operates several vehicles and units of portable equipment, such as the Mobile Emergency
Operations Center (MEOC). In addition to these energy assurance efforts, OES leads a number
of other community resilience efforts, including the Emergency Services Volunteer (ESV)
program that encompasses CERT, Neighborhood Watch, and other programs
(www.cityofpaloalto.org/emergencyvolunteers), support of Stanford University and affiliates
(such as Stanford Hospital), regional public safety planning efforts, regional training programs,
coordination with private sector entities for emergency response and recovery, technology
development for public safety, grant management, and other all hazards activities.
Office of Sustainability (OOS): Held a community summit on January 24, 2016 that brought
together more than 500 engaged and committed citizens who worked on the challenges of
water, energy, and transportation; their ideas fed into the Sustainability and Climate Action
Plan (S/CAP), described above, which has since been approved by Council. Developed a
Financial Scan & Toolkit categorizing 44 “other than General Fund” options for financing City
sustainability initiatives, and conducted two workshops. Won a $1 million federal grant for a
demonstration project to reduce single-occupant vehicle driving from 75 percent to 50 percent
in the Bay area using commuter trip reduction software, a multimodal trip planning app and
workplace parking rebates. Led the City in joining the U.S. Mayors’ National Climate Action
Agenda (MNCAA), which authored two letters to President Obama and two letters to President
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Trump. Built sustainability considerations, commitments and capacity into City operations
through actions such as creating an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Task Force,
developing an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Pricing Policy, reporting GHG emissions to Climate
Registry (TCR) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), and initiating a Sustainability
purchasing audit. Hired two two half-time, limited term employees.
Planning and Community Environment (PCE): Aligning the Comprehensive Plan for Palo Alto
Update with the adopted Sustainability/Climate Action Plan and evolving implementation plans
to the extent feasible, completing the analysis of Scenarios 5 & 6 for inclusion in the
Comprehensive Plan Update Environmental Impact Report (EIR), assessing a more balanced
approach to jobs and housing developing strategies to increase trip frequency and ridership of
the expanded free shuttle service, supported activities of the new Transportation Management
Association to reduce Single Occupancy Vehicle trips to/from downtown.
Public Works – Engineering & Public Services: Through various Capital Improvement Projects,
Public Works is working to use energy more efficiently and reduce water usage through actions
such as including drought-tolerant landscaping and trees and more efficient irrigation systems
in park renovations and utilizing efficient LED lighting, more efficient HVAC systems, cool
roofing materials, and water saving fixtures in building projects. Utility Track Software has been
acquired and installed in Facilities Management in order to benchmark and compare with
similar buildings in the state and the nation, and identify and prioritize opportunities for
improvement.
Public Works – Fleet: The City has been steadily decreasing its unleaded fuel and diesel
consumption, decreasing its fuel consumption by more than 17,000 gallons and its diesel
consumption by almost 35,000 gallons from 2006 to 2016. These reductions contributed to the
Fleet reducing GHG emissions 28.7% from a 2005 baseline year, which includes a 5% reduction
from 2015. In addition, the City’s overall propane consumption is down due in part to
modernization steps taken in Fleet.
Public Works – Watershed Protection: Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) GHG
emissions decreased by more than 60% since 1990. RWQCP total recycled water usage
remained relatively constant from 2015 to 2016 with a 1% decrease from 220 million gallons in
2015 to 218 million gallons in 2016. In 2016, 85 active recycled water permits were reviewed
and approved for use; this is a 40% increase from 2015 when 61 recycled water permits were
active. The City of Palo Alto not only met the Bay Area Municipal Regional Permit 60% trash
reduction guideline, but also met the 70% trash reduction requirement one year ahead of
schedule by reducing trash 84% by July 2016.
Public Works – Zero Waste & Landfill: The City now has a waste diversion rate of 80 percent,
up from a 63 percent diversion rate in 2005. In April 2016, the City began implementing the first
phase of the Recycling and Composting Ordinance that required all large businesses and
institutions, food service establishments, and multifamily complexes to subscribe to compost
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services. The City anticipates that this ordinance will dramatically increase the amount of food
scraps composted and kept from the landfill. The City has partnered with GoBox to provide an
easy to use “to go” container for downtown Palo Alto lunchtime eaters. The City has also
partnered with Rethink Disposables to provide technical support to local restaurants on how
they can save money and reduce their environmental footprint by switching from disposable
food service ware to reusables. The landfill closure work was completed in November 2015. The
overall the trend in City of Palo Alto landfill GHG emissions is downward. Fluctuations in GHG
emissions are likely the result of closure activities.
Expanded departmental reports, including goals, activities and challenges, can be found in
Attachment D.
The City continues to gain acknowledgement for its leadership. Some of the awards won in the
last year include11:
Date Organization
Giving Award or
Recognition
Person/Program
Receiving Award or
Recognition
Title and Description of Award or
Recognition
2016
California Energy
Efficiency Industry
Council
Development Services
Department
Energy Champion Award - recognizes
key businesses and policy leaders in
California who have shown
excellence in advancing energy
efficiency
2016 League of American
Bicyclists City of Palo Alto
The City was awarded gold level
status as a Bicycle Friendly
Community.
2016 Moody's City of Palo Alto Water
Enterprise
Moody's upgraded the City's Water
Enterprise bond rating from Aa2 to
Aa1, a rare event for water
operations.
2016 Solar Electric Power
Association CPAU Solar Programs
Top Ten list of utilities that
integrated the most solar into the
grid. #3 on the Watts-per-Customer
list for 2015.
2016 Arbor Day
Foundation City of Palo Alto Utilities
Tree Line USA Utility - In recognition
of quality tree care, annual worker
training, tree planting, and public
education
11 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/utl/about/awards.asp &
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/services/sustainability/sustainability_news.asp
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Future Vision and Challenges
There is challenging work ahead. The completed Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP),
including the implementation plan currently in development, will provide a roadmap for how
the City will continue its environmental stewardship and exceed state goals for GHG emission
reductions. The Sustainability Implementation Plan will lay out the initial steps the City will
need to take in 2017-2020 to both progress toward our established goals—and to build the
organizational capacity and flexible platforms that will enable us to respond effectively to the
changes that we will no doubt encounter on the road to 2030— will help Palo Alto continue its
forward progress.
Planning in the face of uncertainty is not a familiar practice for the City—nor for any City—but
the traditional practice of extrapolating from past trends will not be sufficient in a world of
rapid and sometimes exponential change. The City is addressing that challenge with 2030 goals
and strategies that are high level, directional and aspirational. We understand the major moves
that will need to be made over the next 14 years, and the specific moves that will need to be
made in the next four, and recognize that much of the mid- and long-term plan will emerge as
we orient, experiment and learn, and update the plan as we go.
In order to do that effectively, staff and community will need to take an agile, experimental
approach—taking and testing small steps, which in turn are steered by the SCAP Guidelines,
Principles and Decision Criteria; learning from those initial explorations and experiments; and
embedding our learnings into City policies, programs, practices and management systems. And
we will need to find ways to not let “what we already know” stand in the way of “what we
might be able to learn.”
Some of the specific challenges the City faces (in addition to the uncertain Federal policy
environment) include:
Matching City processes to the pace of change
o As climate change accelerates, and in technology capabilities, price and
performance continue to accelerate, existing processes may make it difficult for
the City to make timely decision. (For example, when SCAP when finally
approved with be two years old, based on three year old analyses.)
Continuing to encourage water conservation even as the urgency Palo Altans feel
toward conservation is alleviated as Palo Alto exits drought conditions.
o Over the long term, climate change will likely result in an ever-increasing need
for conservation. California may face a “multi-decadal mega-drought”12 in the
future, raising potential challenges for both water supply and hydroelectric
power supply.
Monitoring the changes to the electric industry as it is affected by increasing solar
penetration, electric vehicle adoption, controllable electric loads, and other factors and
determining what changes the utility may need to make to adapt.
12 See, for example, https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/southwest-may-face-megadrought-in-this-century-ua-
researchers-find
City of Palo Alto Page 18
o The rapidly declining price of renewables, the rapid growth of distributed energy
resources (DER) and storage, and the potential evolution of utility industry
business models present strategic challenges and opportunities for CPAU.
Previously framed as the Utility of the Future chapter of the S/CAP, this will be
addressed in the upcoming CPAU Strategic Plan.
Potential changes in relevant federal, state and regional policy
o Development Services, for example, faces continuous change in the area of
state, local, and federal policy, and the changing policies don’t always align with
the specific needs of Palo Alto.
Consistent assessment and efficiency enhancement of City buildings and fleet
o While the City has made substantial progress in these realms, City facilities have
not been subject to regular efficiency assessments, and Fleet has found it
challenging to implement the City Manager’s “EVs first” policy, due to fleet
utilization patterns.
Managing S/CAP implementation
o Staffing constraints in departments and OOS will put a premium on better
coordination and more effective [performance tracking and information sharing.
Understanding and reducing Scope 3 emissions13 (e.g. from purchases of computers,
furniture, cheeseburgers, etc.).
o While not part of climate reporting protocols, Scope 3 emissions can be a
significant part of a community’s GHG emissions14, and will only be shifted
through cultural and behavioral changes, not policy and regulation. Some Scope
3 emissions, such as employee commuting and waste disposal, are already being
addressed by the S/CAP and the 2017 – 2020 Sustainability Implementation Plan.
But there are many other Scope 3 emissions—especially the emissions
“embedded” in City and community purchases—that need further examination.
The next phase of the City’s climate and sustainability planning will need to take
this into account.
Developing, consolidating and using sustainability performance dashboards.
o The City has at least five sustainability dashboard projects in various degrees of
active use. We have the opportunity to consolidate these platforms, and use
them more actively to support better decision making and more timely staff and
community understanding.
Nurturing a culture of agility, experimentation and emergence in City government
o The City’s planning cycles and inclusive deliberative processes have the benefit
13 The most widely-used international accounting tool, the GHG Protocol, categorizes GHG emissions into three
groups or “scopes”. Scope 1 covers all direct GHG emissions, such as fuel combustion. Scope 2 covers indirect GHG
emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam. Scope 3 covers other indirect emissions, such
as those engendered by purchased goods and services, production of purchased goods, emissions from the use of
sold products, business travel, employee commuting, transportation and distribution of electricity, and waste
disposal.
14 Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard:
http://www.ghgprotocol.org/standards/scope-3-standard
City of Palo Alto Page 19
of inclusiveness but a pace that sometimes means missed opportunities, and a
welcome rigor that sometimes encourages over-specification in projects that are
intrinsically “emergent.” S/CAP and the SIPs offer an opportunity to test more
agile approaches to decision making and project management that could support
faster learning cycles while preserving accountability.
Addressing adaptation and resilience choices in the face of sea level rise and other
dimensions of climate change
o These “big and slow” issues present both opportunities and tough questions. For
example, what is the comparative economic and resilience value of investing in a
second point connection to the power grid vs. expanding local electrical power
generation?
Financing strategies.
o The S/CAP analysis estimates that meeting Palo Alto’s 2030 S/CAP goals will
require a public investment of $10 million (leveraging private investment of $760
million), estimated to generate an attractive Net Present Value15 (NPV) of $400
million. Nonetheless, however attractive the rate of return, the funds must come
from somewhere, and the City’s financing capacity is finite and faces competing
needs. The Sustainability Finance Toolkit16, developed by the City in
collaboration with the USDN, evaluates more than 40 financing mechanisms—
including carbon pricing, finds and taxes—that could complement General Fund
and Enterprise Fund resources in support of Palo Alto’s sustainability and climate
goals.
Attachments
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Attachment B: City Municipal Operations Emissions
Attachment C: Palo Alto Community and City Municipal Operations GHG Emission
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organizational Structure
Timeline, Resource Impact, Policy Implications, Environmental Review (If Applicable)
Attachments:
Attachment A: Summary of Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Attachment B: City Municipal Operations Emissions
Attachment C: Palo Alto Community and City Municipal Operations GHG Emission
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organizational Structure
15 Net Present Value, defined as the present value of the future net cash flows from an investment project,
evaluates the relative worthiness of an investment.
16 http://usdn.org/public/page/32/Government-Operations
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Page 1 of 7
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Summary Description of the 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
On April 18, 2016 the Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved the primary goal of the
S/CAP - achieving an 80% reduction in Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) below 1990 levels by 20301.
On November 28, 2016, Council adopted the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP)
Framework, including its Guiding Principles, Decision Criteria, Design Principles, and key Goals
and Strategies, as the road map for development of subsequent S/CAP Implementation Plans2.
As of the end of 2016 Palo Alto reduced GHG emissions an estimated 38% since 19903. (See
Figure 1) Palo Alto’s largest remaining sources of greenhouse gas emissions are road
transportation (approximately 66%) followed by natural gas use (approximately 29%). Figure 2
illustrates the current sources breakdown more clearly. Figure 3 provides another view of the
relative size of Palo Alto’s emissions sources.
Over the next 13 years, a variety of external drivers, including Federal and state policy (such as
building efficiency and vehicle efficiency standards) and demographic changes, are expected to
reduce Palo Alto emissions to an estimated 45% below 1990 emissions by 20304—in line with
the State of California’s recently approved 2030 reduction target of 40%. Initiatives that the City
has already approved or set in motion (such as existing City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU)
efficiency incentive programs, Palo Alto’s existing Green Building Ordinance and Reach Code,
and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan), will bring emissions down to an estimated 52% of 1990
levels by 2030. These trajectories are shown in Figure 3.
The additional GHG reduction between those already “in-the-pipeline” reductions and the 80%
reduction target for 2030 is about 224,600 metric tons (MT) CO2e5, and is Palo Alto’s target
“GHG reduction budget.” The S/CAP projects that 117,900 MT CO2e, or more than half of the
needed additional reductions, can come from mobility related measures, 97,200 MT CO2e, or
just under half from efficiency and fuel switching measures (largely in buildings), and 9,500 MT
CO2e, or 4% from continuation and extension of Palo Alto’s zero waste initiatives. These
emission reduction budgets are shown in Figure 4.
1 Staff Report 6754: Sustainability/Climate Action Plan and Annual Earth Day Report,
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/51856
2 Staff Report 7304: Discuss and Approve S/CAP Framework, Principles & Guidelines,
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/54865
3 Palo Alto emissions in the 1990 baseline year are estimated at 780,119 MT CO2e, a restatement of prior
estimates based on revised analyses using updated emissions models. Most emissions noted in this report as called
“estimates,” since only utility consumption (electricity, natural gas and water) are actually measured.
Transportation emissions are modeled every few years; solid waste related emissions are calculated using
established EPA protocols, and lag by one year. Solid waste related emissions were not included in the CompPlan
DEIR.
4 Based on the “business as usual” analysis conducted for the CompPlan DEIR.
5 MT CO2e = metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Page 2 of 7
Figure 1. Palo Alto Community-wide GHG Emissions6 (MT CO2e)7
Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities
6 Total Emissions are weather adjusted, with biogenic emissions excluded
7 Net Brown Power (fossil fuel-based) electricity emissions taper down and are not present starting in 2013
because CPAU began purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset all the GHG emissions for this power
source, and replacing brown power with increasing purchases of renewable energy.
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
1990 2005 2013 2014 2015 2016
Em
i
s
s
i
o
n
s
(
M
T
o
f
C
O
2
e
)
Palo Alto Municipal Operations and Community
GHG Emissions
Natural Gas Distribution Leakage
Lifecycle Emissions From Annual Total Waste Placed in Landfills
Wastewater Process Emissions
Landfilling Recyclable Material
Palo Alto Landfill Fugitive Emissions
Net Brown Power Emissions (Weather adjusted)
Natural Gas Use (in therms)
Road Travel into, from, and within City
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Page 3 of 7
Figure 2. 2016 Palo Alto Community-wide GHG Emissions8 Sectors
Source: City of Palo Alto Utilities
Figure 3. Overview of Palo Alto GHG Reduction Target relative to Business-as-Usual (MT CO2e)
The S/CAP focuses on pathways to a low-carbon future, and initiatives addressing mobility,
energy, city operations, water, green infrastructure, adaptation and regeneration as part of a
holistic framework for sustainability. Specifically, it contains Goals and Strategies for reducing
8 Total Emissions are weather adjusted, with biogenic emissions excluded
Natural Gas
29%
Natural Gas
Leakage
1%
Landfill Fugitive
Emissions
1%
Wastewater
Process Emissions
1%
Lifecycle Emissions
From Annual
Waste to Landfills
0%
Landfilling
Recyclable
Material
2%
Road Travel
66%
2016 Palo Alto Community-wide GHG Emissions Sectors
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Page 4 of 7
Palo Alto’s GHG emissions from the current level of 38% below 1990 levels to 80% below 1990
levels by 2030 (“80x30”), 20 years ahead of the State of California 80x50 target. This represents
a GHG reduction “budget” of approximated 224,600 MT CO2e (as shown in Figure 4 below).
Figure 4: 80x30 GHG Reduction Budget (MT CO2e)
The S/CAP is organized around ten sustainability chapters, including some without direct
quantifiable impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, but which are central to a holistic approach
for sustainability in Palo Alto that protects and enhances our natural resources for generations
to come. The Goals and Strategies for GHG reduction are summarized below:
Mobility:
o Make it more convenient not to drive by developing responsive, multimodal,
service-focused transportation services
o Shift subsidies from free parking to support non-SOV travel
o Encourage land use patterns that reduce both congestion and climate impacts.
o Support policy changes that promote EV charging infrastructure in public and
private development and that encourage EV use by residents and commuters
Building Energy Efficiency & Electrification:
o Pursue large gains in energy, and materials efficiency in buildings and
operations
o Pursue the adoption of an Energy Reach Code that drives energy efficiency
through our building codes
o Emphasize integrative design and streamlined policy approaches
o Explore building stock upgrades to Zero Net Energy or Net Positive through
design, efficiency, renewables and bundled services packages
153,400
97,200
117,900
48,500
80,800
272,800
780,119
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1990 2030
Baseline emissions
GHG reductions achieved
through 2014
BAU1 - State measures
through 2030
BAU2 - Existing Palo Alto
initiatives
S/CAP measures (Mobility)
S/CAP measures (Energy in
Buildings)
S/CAP measures (Waste)
Remaining emissions
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Page 5 of 7
o Encourage all-electric new construction (if technically and legally feasible, cost
effective and directed by City Council)
o Rapidly upgrade existing building stock resource efficiency (residential and
commercial)
o Support a systematic shift from natural gas to all-electric systems9 and/or
renewable natural gas (if technically and legally feasible, cost-effective and
directed by City Council)
Zero Waste and the Circular Economy
o Divert 95% of Waste from Landfills by 2030, and ultimately achieve Zero waste
o Minimize Energy and Pollution from waste collection, transportation and
processing
Water Management:
o Reduce Water Use
o Utilize the right water quality for the right use
o Ensure sufficient water quality and quantity
o Protect the Bay, other Surface Waters, and Groundwater
o Lead in Sustainable Water Management
Sea Level Rise Response:
o Plan for the Coming Changes in our Climate and Environment
o Protect the City from Climate Change-Induced Hazards
o Adapt to Current and Projected Environmental Conditions
o Empower the Local Community and Foster Regional Collaboration
Municipal Operations – Leading the Way
o Create Energy and Water Efficient City Buildings
o Minimize City Fleet Emissions and Maximize its Efficiency
o “Default to Green” purchasing for products and services
o Embed sustainability in city procurement, operations and management
o Set targets and tracking performance metrics for City sustainability
performance
o “Walk the talk” by ensuring the City goes first on any sustainability actions
requested or required of the community
Natural Environment Protection:
o Renew, Restore, and Enhance resilience of our natural environment
o Align Planning for Management of our Natural Environment with the S/CAP and
other key City Plans
o Maximize Carbon Sequestration and Storage in the Natural Environment
Utility of the Future:
o Adapt CPAU offerings and business model to potentially disruptive challenges
facing the utility industry, including distributed generation & storage, and “grid
defection”
o Explore micro-grids, nano-grids and other resilience strategies
9 See analysis of electrification strategies, Staff Report 5971, August 2015
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Page 6 of 7
Community Behavior and Culture Change
o Challenge community to consider the impact on future generations of choices in
lifestyle, purchases and investment.
o Engage and support community through neighborhood initiatives, interactive
tools, etc.
Information systems:
o Advance “smart city” platforms for transportation, utilities, buildings,
operations, finance, etc.
o Provide transparent reporting and open data to track performance, build
knowledge and fuel innovation
Financing Strategies:
o Finance cost-effective initiative through multi-channel, non-general fund, local
and external investment in support of these goals, to the extent permitted by
existing legal and regulatory framework applicable to the City.
Council approved (November 28, 2016) a set of guiding principles, design principles and
decision criteria to guide decision-making. In both evaluating the S/CAP, and in developing and
evaluating future programs guided by it, the City is guided by the guiding principles and design
principles below. In selecting specific programs and policies to pursue, and in allocating public
resources to support them, the City will be guided by the decision criteria below:
Guiding Principles
The Vision Statement for the 1998 Comprehensive Plan Governance Element declares that:
“Palo Alto will maintain a positive civic image and be a leader in the regional, state, and
national policy discussions affecting the community. The City will work with neighboring
communities to address common concerns and pursue common interests. The public
will be actively and effectively involved in City affairs, both at the Citywide and
neighborhood levels.”10
S/CAP builds on that vision with these guiding principles as a basis for effective and sustainable
decision-making:
Consider “sustainability” in its broadest dimensions, including quality of life, the natural
environment and resilience, not just climate change and greenhouse gas emissions
reductions.
Address the sustainability issues most important to the community and select most
cost-effective programs and policies—recognizing that this will entail moral and
political, as well as economic, decision factors.
Seek to improve quality of life as well as environmental quality, economic health and
social equity.
Foster a prosperous, robust and inclusive economy.
Build resilience—both physical and cultural—throughout the community.
10 http://www.paloaltocompplan.org/plan-contents/governance-element/
Attachment A: Summary of 2016 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Page 7 of 7
Include diverse perspectives from all community stakeholders, residents, and
businesses.
Recognize Palo Alto’s role as a leader and linkages with regional, national and global
community.
Design Principles
Focus on what’s feasible—recognizing that technology and costs are shifting rapidly.
Prioritize actions that are in the City’s control – recognizing that we can urge others to
join us, but leading by example is most effective
Be specific about the actions and costs to achieve near-term goals, while accepting that
longer-term goals can be more aspirational
Use ambient resources: Maximize the efficient capture and use of the energy and water
that fall on Palo Alto.
Full cost accounting: Use total (life cycle) cost of ownership and consideration of
externalities to guide financial decisions, while focusing on emission reductions that
achievable at a point in time (i.e. not on life cycle emissions).
Align incentives: Ensure that subsidies, if any, and other investment of public resources
encourage what we want and discourage what we don’t want.
Flexible platforms: Take practical near term steps that expand rather than restrict
capacity for future actions and pivots.
Decision Criteria
Greenhouse gas impact
Quality of life impact
Mitigation cost
Return on investment (ROI)
Ecosystem health
Resilience
Impact on future generations
Council directed Staff to create a Sustainability Implementation Plan (SIP) specifying actions
needed to build City capacity to achieve the “80x30” GHG reduction goal. Staff used proposed
S/CAP actions to construct a near-term SIP. Staff formed inter-departmental teams to develop a
2017 – 2020 Sustainability Implementation Plan to cover key S/CAP sections: Mobility,
Efficiency and Electrification, Water Management, Zero Waste & Circular Economy, Municipal
Operations, Climate Adaptation & Resilience, Regeneration & Natural Environment, and
Financing Strategies. Other S/CAP sections - Community Behavior, Culture, and Innovation; and
Utility of the Future - will be developed in future work phases.
Attachment B: GHG Emissions of City Municipal Operations
Page 1 of 4
Attachment B: GHG Emissions of City Municipal Operations: Comparison Data
City municipal operations related emissions drivers and associated emissions are shown below.
Table B1: City Operations GHG Emission in 2005 and 2013-2016 (in MT of CO2 equivalent)
– Biogenic and Anthropogenic, not normalized for hydro conditions or PAG purchases –
2005 2013 2014 2015 2016
Scope
1 Biogenic Scope
2
Scope
1 Biogenic Scope
2
Scope
1 Biogenic Scope
2
Scope
1 Biogenic Scope
2
Scope
1 Biogenic Scope
2
Buildings
and Other
Facilities 8,723 0 1,819 5,365 0 0 8,177 0 0 8,053 0 0 9,767 0 0
Streetlights
and Traffic
Signals 0 0 689 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Water
Delivery
Facilities 2 0 67 91 0 0 41 0 0 54 0 0 79 0 0
Wastewater
Facilities 8,504 16,689 2,546 5,024 11,183 0 4,913 10,861 0 5,840 11,054 0 5,892 17,462 0
Vehicle
Fleet 2,835 1 0 2,399 0 0 2,523 0 0 2,373 0 0 1,903 0 0
Power
Generation
Facilities 0 0 8,570 0 0 0 23 0 0 333 0 0 468 0 0
Solid Waste
Facilities 6,846 2,994 29 6,642 2,919 0 8,470 6,436 0 8,014 5,941 0 10,160 6,120 0
Other
Processes &
Fugitive
Emissions 3 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 0
TOTAL 26,912 19,684 13,720 19,525 14,102 0 24,151 17,297 0 24,673 16,995 0 28,273 23,582 0
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are non-biogenic emissions that are caused by human activity.
Biogenic emissions are assumed to be net carbon neutral and not reported under GHG emission
reporting protocols. Scope 2 emissions from electricity were eliminated starting in 2013 by the
purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) under the Carbon Neutral Plan. Table B2 below
shows the transformation of the data in Table B1 above by excluding biogenic emissions, and
shows a 30.4% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from the 2005 baseline.
Attachment B: GHG Emissions of City Municipal Operations
Page 2 of 4
Table B2: City Operations GHG Emission in 2005 and 2013-2016 (in MT of CO2 equivalent)
Excludes Biogenic, not normalized for hydro conditions or PAG purchases
GHG Emissions comparison (Scope 1 & 2) 2005 2013 2014 2015 2016
Water Delivery Facilities 69 91 41 54 79
Wastewater Facilities 11,049 5,024 4,913 5,840 5,892
Vehicle Fleet 2,835 2,399 2,523 2,373 1,903
Streetlights & Traffic Signals 689 0 0 0 0
Solid Waste Facilities 6,876 6,642 8,470 8,014 10,160
Power Generation Facilities 8,570 0 23 333 468
Buildings & Other Facilities 10,542 5,365 8,177 8,053 9,767
TOTAL 40,629 19,521 24,147 24,667 28,269
Percentage reduction from 2005 baseline 52.0% 40.6% 39.3% 30.4%
Table B2 does not include the effects of the purchase of PaloAltoGreen resources and the
normalization of the vagaries of hydroelectric supply conditions. Table B3 below does adjust for
these two effects and shows a 44.2% reduction in emissions from the 2005 baseline year.
Table B3: City Operations GHG Emission in 2005 and 2013-2016 (in MT of CO2 equivalent)
Excludes Biogenic, normalized for hydro conditions and PAG purchases
GHG Emissions comparison (Scope 1 & 2) 2005 2013 2014 2015 2016
Water Delivery Facilities 74 91 41 54 78
Wastewater Facilities 11,269 5,024 4,616 4,225 2,914
Vehicle Fleet 2,835 2,399 2,346 2,373 1,903
Streetlights & Traffic Signals 748 0 0 0 0
Solid Waste Facilities 6,878 6,642 8,470 8,014 10,160
Power Generation Facilities 9,308 0 23 173 54
Buildings & Other Facilities 10,698 5,365 8,175 7,060 8,216
TOTAL 41,811 19,521 23,670 21,899 23,326
Percentage reduction from 2005 baseline 53.3% 43.4% 47.6% 44.2%
Attachment B: GHG Emissions of City Municipal Operations
Page 3 of 4
Figure 1 below graphically illustrates Table B3 and is a reproduction of Figure 1 from the body
of the report.
Figure 1: City Operations GHG Emissions: 2005 and 2013-2016 (Hydro and PAG-adjusted)
Total Emissions Reduced from 42,000 MT in 2005 to 23,300 MT in 2016
The primary drivers for GHG emission reduction performance are:
Building and Other Facilities – Due to enactment of the Carbon Neutral Plan in March
2013, all electricity consumed by the City in 2013 had zero carbon emissions. The City
began purchasing carbon offsets through the PaloAltoGreen Gas (PAGG) program in July
2015, which reduced emissions from natural gas consumption relative to 2014.
Increased natural gas usage (even with PAGG offsets) increased emissions in 2016.
Power Generation Facilities – This category accounts for transmission and distribution
system losses. The City divested its ownership of the COTP transmission line in 2009,
resulting in a lower loss allocation to the City. Distribution loss-related emissions also
were eliminated in 2013 due to carbon neutral electric supplies.
Solid Waste Facilities – Closure and capping of the landfill, resulting in less methane
production and leakage in CY 2012. Higher collection and improved monitoring,
Attachment B: GHG Emissions of City Municipal Operations
Page 4 of 4
combustion of biogenic landfill gas through flaring, and uncaptured methane leakage
have resulted in increased emissions since 2014.
Streetlights and Traffic Signals – No emissions are reported due to conversions to highly
efficient LED streetlights (note, only metered fixtures are shown) and carbon neutral
electricity supply.
Vehicle Fleet – Fleet Services saw a slight reduction in consumption of CNG fuels in
2016.
Wastewater Facilities – 74% emissions reduction from 2005 baseline reflects use of
landfill gas for incinerator, optimized use of gas from incinerator tuning, and use of
carbon neutral electricity. The 31% decrease from 2015 was due to purchasing
PaloAltoGreen Gas (PAGG) for use in the incinerator.
Water Delivery Facilities – There has been fluctuating energy use for water pumping,
with a decrease in activity for 2014 and 2015.
Attachment C: Palo Alto Community and City Municipal Operations GHG Emission
Page 1 of 2
Attachment C: Palo Alto Community & City Municipal Operations GHG Emission:
Restated reduction of 35% since 2005, 37% since 1990
1990**** 2005 2013 2014 2015 2016
Consumption
Quantity
Emissions
(MT of
CO2e)
Consumption
Quantity
Emissions
(MT of
CO2e)
Consumption
Quantity
Emissions
(MT of
CO2e)
Consumption
Quantity
Emissions
(MT of
CO2e)
Consumption
Quantity
Emissions
(MT of
CO2e)
Consumption
Quantity
Emissions
(MT of
CO2e)
Notes
Scope 1 Emissions
Natural Gas Use (therms) 36,589,986 194,000 31,374,970 166,350 30,336,076 160,842 26,103,713 138,402 25,491,698 135,153 25,846,328 137,141 1
Natural Gas Distribution
Leakage 4,718 4,718 4,718 4,781 4,781 4,781 2
Palo Alto Landfill Fugitive
Emissions 24,325 9,900 5,110 9,427 8,617 6,527 3
Palo Alto Landfill Gas Flaring
(biogenic) 11,993 2,994 2,919 6,436 5,941 5,463 3
Wastewater Process
Emissions 8,504 8,504 5,024 4,616 4,080 2,914 4
City of Palo Alto Vehicle
Fleet 2,835 2,835
2,399 2,523 2,373 1,903 5
Scope 2 Emissions -- Actual
Total Electric Load (MWh) 996,091 986,241 978,561 963,254 945,744
Hydro Supply (MWh)***** 548,760 406,570 266,026 256,570 406,975
Renewables Supply (MWh) 49,980 188,086 172,139 235,491 361,290
Brown Power Supply (MWh) 186,000 397,352 158,427 391,585 0 540,370 0 471,193 0 177,479 0 6a
Palo Alto Green Purchases
(MWh) 30,601 -12,201 N/A N/A N/A N/A 7
Scope 2 Emissions -- Weather Adjusted***
Total Electric Load 996,091 986,241 978,561 963,254 945,744
Hydro Supply (MWh) 514,073 514,073 514,073 531,538 536,768
Renewables Supply (MWh) 49,980 188,086 172,139 235,491 361,290
Brown Power Supply (MWh) 186,000 432,038 172,257 284,082 113,266 292,324 116,552 196,226 78,237 47,686 19,013 6b
Palo Alto Green Purchases
(MWh) 30,601 -12,201 0 0 0 0 0 7
Scope 3 Emissions
Commute into, from, and
within City 329,005 369,035 317,321 326,773 326,923 314,004 8
Lifecycle Emissions From
Annual Total Waste Placed
in Landfills
2,883 9,900 2,883 5,110 1,931 9,427 1,919 8,617 1,986 6,527 1,850 9
Landfilling Recyclable
Material 13,650 13,650 8,934 8,892 9,910 9,905 9
Total Emissions
(weather adjusted,
biogenic excluded)
765,920
737,931
506,279
497,333
493,823 479,025
Emission
Reduction
(since 2005)
31%
Emission
Reduction
(since 2005)
33%
Emission
Reduction
(since 2005)
33%
Emission
Reduction
(since 2005)
35%
Emission
Reduction
(since 1990)
34%
Emission
Reduction
(since 1990)
35%
Emission
Reduction
(since 1990)
35.53%
Emission
Reduction
(since 1990)
37.46%
Attachment C: Palo Alto Community and City Municipal Operations GHG Emission
Page 2 of 2
Notes:
1 Total Community supply of natural gas use/delivery. Adjusted for purchases of carbon offsets through PaloAltoGreen Gas program.
2 Leakage from the natural gas distribution system- modeled result, unchanged over the period.
3 Now using 40CFR Part HH methodology, per AB32. Estimates provided in prior estimates have been revised to reflect current methodology.
4 Represents N2O emissions from biological treatment process and release of Nitrogen.
5 City of Palo Alto Vehicle Fleet emissions are Scope 1 emissions. For more accuracy in reporting, they are separated out from the Scope 3 "Commute into,
from, and within City" emissions.
6
a. Represents actual quantity of brown power related emission @ 879 lbs/MWh in 2005 and 2012; not applicable beyond 2012 due to Carbon Neutral
electric supply.
b. Weather normalized (for hydroelectric generation) quantity of brown power. No GHG impact in 2016.
7 Emissions saved due to purchase of PaloAltoGreen (PAG) related Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). PAG related RECs not included in 2013 – 2015 due to
Carbon Neutral Plan, and not included in 2016 due to Carbon Neutral electric supply.
8 Road travel estimates are based on emissions modeling, not on actual measurements. The 2016 estimate is from Placeworks On‐Road Transportation
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Technical Memorandum from February 28, 2017. Study results from Fehr and Peer (03/19/2013) using Valley
Transportation Authority regional transportation model based Vehicular Miles Travelled (VMT) and vehicular profiles - does not account for Palo Alto
specific parameters related to greater penetration of alternate fuel vehicles, bicycle use, etc. 2012 - 2013 estimates were from a subsequent 2016 Fehr
and Peer analysis.
9 Based on most recent EPA WARM methodology, based on characteristics and tons of material landfilled; prior year emissions have been updated using
new WARM methodology. Landfilled amount in 2016 down 34% compared to 2005.
* Municipal emissions related to electricity and natural gas consumption included within utility load numbers; fleet vehicle emissions also assumed to be
included in community wide commute related emissions estimates made by consultant.
** Table excludes biogenic emissions related to: Landfill gas flaring and WQCP sludge incineration.
***
Normalized to account for the vagaries of weather on hydroelectric supplies. No GHG impact starting in 2013 due to Carbon Neutral Plan. Because of the
timing of the Earth Day Report, the meter data from renewable power counterparties is not prepared yet, so invoice data is used for some months. The
2015 estimates have been with updated with the most accurate data.
**** 1990 emissions data, where unavailable, were assumed to be equal to 2005 values.
***** The hydro supply number changed for 2015 because the percentage received of Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) base resource hydro power
changed on Jan 1, 2015, and was not accurately reflected in last year’s Earth Day Report Attachment C.
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Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Department Name: Administrative Services Department (ASD) and Public Works (PWD) - Green
Purchasing
Background: PWD and CMO initiated development of the City’s Green Purchasing Policy
following adoption of the 2007 Climate Protection Plan and the City’s 2008 Environmentally
Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Policy1. PWD coordinates with ASD and other City departments to
incorporate green purchasing priorities into contract language and purchasing operations as
resources and program priorities allow. In past Earth Day reports, Green Purchasing was listed
as an ASD objective. In 2017, this has been revised to clarify that PWD leads this effort,
although ASD partners with PWD and incorporates its own green purchasing objectives into City
operations when it can. Green Purchasing program development has not been budgeted for in
either ASD or PWD; as a result, staffing constraints limit Staff’s ability to robustly implement
green purchasing policies or objectives that are not otherwise required by specific City policies
or regulations that do have budgeted resources.
Strategy: In 2015, the City Manager established a “default to green” strategy that makes the
greener product the norm rather than the exception:
Prioritize products and services to green based on City policies, regulatory drivers and
“low hanging fruit”;
Incorporate green purchasing into the City’s policies and purchasing procedures.
Goals:
Goal 1: The City’s “default to green” procurement policy is the standard for aligning
Purchasing procedures with the City’s environmental policies, regulatory requirements
and Council directives;
Goal 2: The City purchases goods and services that value product performance, human
health, and environmental health as outlined in the City’s Green Purchasing Policy and
subsequent guidelines2;
Goal 3: The City provides dedicated staff and budget to implement green purchasing.
Initiatives and Activities: The City‘s award-winning green purchasing program has “greened”
performance criteria for several purchase categories, including structural and landscaping pest
control, custodial and office supplies, computers and the City fleet3. The City has reduced the
use of single-use plastics (bottled water, plastic bags, plastic packaging), reduced the toxicity
and amount of pesticides used, and virtually eliminated products that contain mercury and
dioxins. The City incrementally embeds green purchasing into its procurement procedures by
revising forms, contract specifications, and contract Terms and Conditions, and by training staff
1 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/32651
2 http://cityconnect/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=2287
3 Fleet procurement policies are discussed in more detail under Public Works– Fleet Division on page 37.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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in the application of these procedures.
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome
Develop “default to green”
options where appropriate
and align City procurement
with City environmental
goals, policies, regulatory
requirements and Council
directives.
Continue to implement the
City’s Green Purchasing
three year plan (2015-
2017)4, goals, objectives
and a timeline.
2016 projects:
Implementation continued and
included:
• A new “managed print
service” contract which will
monitor paper use and
provide sophisticated
scanning services to archive
and retrieve files thereby
reducing paper consumption.
The City is targeting the use
of 100% recycled content
paper in copier machines that
are provided for this service,
but may need to use 30% due
to manufacturer
recommendations. This
outcome will be finalized in
2017.
• The Purchasing Department is
greening custodial products
that are centrally distributed
from its warehouse for staff
use. This project will be
completed in 2017.
• PWD–Watershed Protection
revised the City’s Single-use
Plastic Policy to address
plastic foam primary
packaging (most commonly
found in computer
purchases). Manufacturers
may only use packaging that
can be recycled in Palo Alto’s
recycling program or must
take back the packaging, or
pay for the City’s disposal
4 \\staff.copa\files\Public\Green Purchasing\Palo Alto's Policy and Plan Development\2015 Reboot\2016 Revisied
Green Purchasing Timeline for SCAP.xlsx
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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costs. This will be challenging
to enforce, but staff has open
discussion lines with vendors
about packaging preferences.
• Updated procedures to better
inform the community and
enforce the City’s policy
which prohibits City
purchases of bottled water
and other designated single-
use plastics.
City Auditor review of the
Green Purchasing policy
implementation
Determine how well the
City’s Green Purchasing
Policy is being enforced,
and obstacles that must be
addressed.
The Audit will conclude in 2017.
A City Council–Policy and
Services Committee meeting has
been scheduled for March 2017.
Partner with regional green
purchasing efforts.
Learn, contribute, and
leverage regional
partnerships to improve
the City’s green
purchasing program;
Leverage opportunities
outside of Palo Alto
operations to further
environmental
performance goals
related to green
purchasing.
• The City worked with an
Urban Sustainability Directors
Network project to draft The
Buck Starts Here–Sustainable
Procurement Playbook for
Cities5. (Primary funding for
this project was provided by
the USDN Innovation Fund.
Additional funding was
provided by the Roy A. Hunt
Foundation). Agency partners
included the cities of Palo
Alto, San Francisco, Chicago,
Washington D.C. and others.
• RWQCP staff served the first
year of a three year term on
the Advisory Committee for
Electronic Product
Environmental Assessment
Tool (EPEAT) program6. Staff
will explore opportunities to
reduce plastic packaging in
electronics.
5 https://www.usdn.org/uploads/cms/documents/rpn-usdn-sustainable-purchasing-playbook-
101216_final.pdf?source=http%3a%2f%2fusdn.org%2fuploads%2fcms%2fdocuments%2frpn-usdn-sustainable-
purchasing-playbook-101216_final.pdf
6 http://www.epeat.net/
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Data: New data will be available in 2017 related to the audit that is being performed by the City
of Palo Alto Auditor’s Office.
Top Two Sustainability Initiatives for 2017
Sustainability Initiative Objective Anticipated Outcome(s)
Review recommendations of
City Auditor to best comply
with the City’s Green
Purchasing Policy
Improve the City’s Green
Purchasing Program.
Funding for staff and required
budget will likely be a
fundamental discussion point,
along with considering the
recommendations for green
purchasing projects and
programs that are already in
place.
PWD will continue
participation in EPEAT
Advisory Committee.
Discuss plastic packaging in
computer purchases.
Staff will meet with Hewlett
Packard Environmental Affairs
Director to discuss packaging
concerns and options.
Challenges:
The City’s green purchasing initiative lacks dedicated budget and staff resources. In
2016, a large amount of staff time was devoted to the audit process which limited
implementation of the Green Purchasing Workplan objectives during 2016.
Public Works is considered the lead for green purchasing implementations. A better
model is required where all departments are held accountable in complying with green
purchasing policy with better wired–and funded–leadership from both Administrative
Services and Public Works.
Current reporting systems, both from vendors and internal, don’t provide sufficient
information to evaluate and manage the initiative.
# # #
Supplemental Materials:
Please see attached:
2015-2017 Green Purchasing Workplan7
Green Purchasing Policy8
USDN Playbook9
7 \\staff.copa\files\Public\Green Purchasing\Palo Alto's Policy and Plan Development\2015 Reboot\2016 Revisied
Green Purchasing Timeline for SCAP.xlsx
8 http://cityconnect/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=2287
9 https://www.usdn.org/uploads/cms/documents/rpn-usdn-sustainable-purchasing-playbook-
101216_final.pdf?source=http%3a%2f%2fusdn.org%2fuploads%2fcms%2fdocuments%2frpn-usdn-sustainable-
purchasing-playbook-101216_final.pdf
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Department: City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU)
Background: The mission of CPAU is to earn a high level of customer satisfaction by providing
cost competitive, safe, reliable and environmentally sustainable utility services.
Strategy:
Continue to implement cost effective energy efficiency and water conservation
programs
Continue to implement customer behavioral programs to encourage conservation and
efficiency
Implement Local Solar Plan with objective of providing 4% of the community’s electrical
energy needs from local solar resources by 2023
Maintain the City’s 100% carbon neutral electric supply
Facilitate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Palo Alto by providing time of use (TOU)
electric rate option to residential customers and by optimally utilizing Low Carbon Fuel
Standard (LCFS) revenue for the benefit of EV owners in Palo Alto
Implement pilot programs to encourage electrification of natural gas appliances,
specifically for water heating and space heating, in both existing and new buildings
Implement the green gas program to annually procure certified carbon offsets (local
offsets where possible) in quantities equal to total emissions related to natural gas use
in Palo Alto.
Seek and test emerging technologies that have the potential to enable CPAU to provide
more effective utility services
Consistent with cost of service requirements, provide customer rates that encourage
efficiency/conservation, greater EV adoption and electrification of natural gas appliance
Goals:
Reduce electric energy use by at least 5.7% between 2018 and 202710 (no GHG impact
since electric supply portfolio is carbon neutral)
Reduce natural gas use by at least 5.1% between 2018 and 2027 (7,800 metric tons per
year of GHG reduction by 2027)
Reduce water use to 135 gallons per capita per day by 2040 (40% by 2040 from 2015
levels).
Generate at least 4% of electrical energy from local solar by 202311 (no GHG impact)
Continue to procure long-term renewable electric supplies to maintain carbon neutral
electric supplies (no GHG impact since electric supply portfolio carbon neutral)
Implement and manage the green gas program to offset the emissions related to natural
gas combustion in Palo Alto.
10 For the updated 10-year electric energy efficiency goals, see:
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/56087
For the updated 10-year gas energy efficiency goals, see:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/56113
11 For Local Solar Plan, see: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/39981
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Initiatives and Activities:
Top Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability
Initiative
Objective Outcome
Electricity and
Natural Gas
Efficiency and
Conservation
Programs
Promote resource efficiency
to commercial and residential
customers for cost savings,
lowered consumption, and
avoided greenhouse gas
emissions.
Many new programs were introduced
this year, including the Home Efficiency
Genie audit and residential online
utility. With customers focusing on the
drought, water and gas savings were
high. Electric savings were just below
target.
Renewable Portfolio
Standard (RPS)
eligible electric
supplies
Increase renewable energy in
CPAU’s electric portfolio
The City’s RPS was 26.0% in 2015, and
40.2% in 2016. Executed contracts will
result in RPS of 59.9% in 2017, with the
remaining supply coming from hydro
resources.
Local Solar Program
Increase local solar
generation from 0.7% of total
load to 4.0% by 2023.
The 2016 Solar group-buy discount
program, Bay Area SunShares, resulted
in 28 kW of new local solar. 94 CPAU
customers installed net metered PV
systems in 2016 for a total capacity of
541 kW (~0.1% of load).
PaloAltoGreen Gas
Design a program to reduce
the carbon footprint of the
gas utility.
Council approved a carbon-neutral gas
plan using carbon offsets.
Drought Response Meet the State’s mandated
drought-related water
savings goals (see figure D-5
for actual reductions). The
compliance period is from
June 1, 2015 through October
31, 2016.
Potable water use was reduced 34%
over the compliance period.
Long-term potable
water use reduction
Reduce long-term water use
in order to comply with the
State’s 20% by 2020 per
capita water use reduction
requirement.
The 20% by 2020 target has already
been achieved and exceeded.
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Sustainability
Initiative
Objective Outcome
Electrification Facilitate adoption of high
efficiency electric heat pump
appliances and electric
vehicles
Pilot program to promote heat-pump
water heaters launched in May 2016.
Rebate program for EV chargers using
LCFS funds was launched in January
2017. EV count in Palo Alto is
estimated at around 2,000 at the end
of 2016.
Table 1: Resource Efficiency and Local Renewable Energy Programs
Resource
FY 2016
Savings Goals
(% of load)
FY 2016
Savings Achieved
(% of load)
FY 2016
Savings Achieved
Electricity 0.60% 0.58% 5,530 MWh
Gas 0.50% 1.07% 286,317 therms
Water 0.91% 1.96% 74,484 CCF
Customer-side
Renewable Program Goal
FY 2016
Achievement
Cumulative
Achievement
Solar Electric (PV) 6,500 kW by 2017 1,098 kW 7,694 kW since 1999
Solar Water Heating 30 systems/year 1 system 59 systems since 2008
Data:
See impact of energy efficiency programs on utility loads in Figures D-2 and D-3.
See RPS increase since 2005 in Figure D-1.
Challenges:
Current building standards (Title 24) adopted by the California Energy Commission (CEC)
discourage the adoption of electric water heating and space heating, despite the higher
efficiency performance of heat pump appliances. CPAU is collaborating with other
organizations that are also interested in building decarbonization to work with CEC to
remove this bias.
For existing homes, switching from natural gas using appliances (for space heating and
water heating) to electric appliances requires a high upfront investment and is not
cost effective at this time, especially if the home’s electrical panel needs to be
upgraded. For newer home construction, such conversions are marginally cost-effective.
Future State water reduction requirements and regulations that will impact available
water supply are unknown.
Hydroelectric power as well as potable water supplies could be at risk in potentially
disruptive climate change scenarios.
Disruptive innovation in local PV generation, distributed energy storage (including
rolling storage provided by growing EV fleets ) and net zero buildings may require re-
examination of CPAU business models.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Cost of service based retail rate making process required by State law may limit the
options available to encourage electrification through retail rate structures, unless
specifically approved by Palo Alto voters.
While CPAU is delivering efficiency gains generally ahead of targets, greater progress
will be needed to achieve California’s 80% by 2050 GHG reduction goals, or Palo Alto’s
2030 GHG goals. “Low hanging fruit” efficiency have been achieved, so deeper gains
may require new approaches.
If electrification of natural gas appliances achieves high market penetration in the
coming decades, it will increase electricity demand and reduce natural gas
loads/revenues.
# # #
Supplemental Materials:
Figure D-1: Electricity Portfolio: 2005-2025 (Actuals and Projections)
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Figure D-2: Impact of Energy Efficiency Programs on Electric Sales12
Figure D-3: Impact of Energy Efficiency on Gas Sales
12 There are no GHG reductions from electric energy efficiency after 2013 since electric supplies are carbon neutral.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Figure D-4: Residential Per Capita Utility Consumption Declining
Figure D-5: Utility Departmental Efforts in Implementing Sustainability Projects (to be
completed)
Staff estimates that approximately $5.5 million in funding and seven FTE of staff effort is
devoted by Utilities Resource Management Division towards administering and implementing
environmental sustainability-related projects in a year. Staff expects to continue at similar
levels of effort through 2020.
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Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Department Name: Community Services Department - Open Space, Parks, and Golf
Background: Community Services Department maintains over 4,000 acres of parkland. The key
sustainability issues are irrigation water management and habitat restoration. Habitat
restoration, which includes removing invasive vegetation, planting native vegetation and
adapting vegetation to climate change helps renew, restore, and enhance resilience of our
natural environment, and maximizes carbon sequestration and storage in the natural
environment.
Goals:
Reduce potable water use for irrigation in Open Space, Parks, and Golf by 25% (based on
2013 base year)
Plant 10,000 native plants in Palo Alto Open Space areas and parks annually.
Initiatives and Activities:
Top Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome(s)
WATER MANAGEMENT-
Reduce consumption & lead
by example
Conserve potable water
through strategic reductions
in irrigation in Open Space,
Parks, and Golf.
Reduced potable water use by
approximately 25%. Posted signs
at every park and preserve
highlighting our conservation
efforts in order to lead by
example.
REGENERATION & NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT- Renew,
restore, and enhance
environmental resilience
Partner with environmental
organizations and volunteers
to improve habitat by
removing invasive weeds
and planting native plants.
18,591 pounds of invasive weeds
removed, and 8,519 native
plants planted in the Baylands
Nature Preserve. 1,697 native
plants were planted in Pearson
Arastradero Preserve. Total
native plants planted: 10,216
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives for 2017
Sustainability Initiative Objective Anticipated Outcome(s)
Water Management- Protect
creeks, bay, & groundwater
Complete hydrology study for
Buckeye Creek and develop
recommendations to resolve
erosion and flooding issues.
Completed report with
recommendations reviewed by
the Parks and Recreation
Commission and Council.
REGENERATION & NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT- Renew,
restore, and enhance
environmental resilience
Partner with environmental
organizations and volunteers
to improve habitat by
removing invasive weeds and
planting native plants.
Plant 10,000 native plants. Start
creating pollinator pathways (as
described in Parks Master Plan)
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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WATER MANAGEMENT-
Reduce consumption & lead
by example
Conserve potable water
through strategic reductions
in irrigation in Open Space,
Parks, and Golf.
Reduce potable water use by
approximately 25%.
Challenges:
Challenges for potable water reduction include:
Ensure water reduction doesn’t negatively impact tree health (CSD staff will work
closely with Urban Forestry staff to ensure trees are monitored and are receiving the
necessary amount of water.)
Converting ornamental turf to low-water use landscaping can be expensive, and
require increased water use to establish the new landscaping (CSD staff will partner
with environmental groups to help offset the costs)
Challenge for the Buckeye Creek Hydrology Study:
The cost to implement the recommendations from the Buckeye Creek Hydrology
Study is likely to be significant. (CSD staff will research possibilities for outside
funding sources.)
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Department Name: Development Services
Background: Development Services is committed to the design and construction of high-
performance green buildings that reduce the impact on natural resources and provide healthy
environments for living and working.
Strategy: Development Services will continue to provide leadership in the area of green
building programs and enforcement protocol. We will develop green building policy for new
and existing building stock that lead the State in incorporating high performance, resource
efficient buildings, net-zero energy and carbon neutral strategies, and encouraging
deconstruction and recycling of construction waste. Our policies, programs, and incentives will
promote energy, water, and resource efficiency across our community, resulting in occupant
comfort, better indoor air quality, and better environmental quality.
Goals: Our calendar year goal is to improve annual water use reduction, annual energy use
reduction, and metric tons of CO2 avoided by 10% over the FY 2015 data. Our target equals a
total energy use reduction amount of 4.73M kBTu/year, 11.55M gallons/year of water, and
108.9 metric tons of CO2 (compared to 2015 performance data reported below). Also, we have
a target to reduce energy use of buildings while promoting local generation to offset what is
left to achieve Zero Net Energy consumption (or potential Zero Net Carbon emissions—a
potential more relevant metric for Palo Alto) over the course of a year. We have published a
green building survey to better track these building metrics related to building permit
applications.
Initiatives and Activities: Delivered interdepartmental trainings enabling all development
review staff and community to answer basic green building questions to the community.
Initiated a monthly Staff Task Force with an appointed Green Building Liaison for each
department. Continued providing public trainings quarterly for all Palo Alto stakeholders.
Gained approval on two sustainability ordinances related to green building, including the green
building ordinance and the energy reach code ordinance. Continued to meet with Green
Building Advisory Group for future code cycles and to resolve issues from previous review
cycles. Published a streamlined website promoting design clarity in green building policy and
enforcement expectations.
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Top Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome
New Green Building
Ordinance
Expand and update the
existing green building
ordinance with new criteria
that reflects current building
technology and drought
regulations
Adopted a new Green Building
Ordinance, Effective January 1,
2017. Implemented a
Landscape Permit in
accordance with the MWELO.
New Energy Reach Code Conduct a cost-effectiveness
study enabling the
requirement of enforcing a
Zero Net Energy Readiness
Ordinance.
Adopted a new Energy Reach
Code, Effective January 1,
2017.
Training and Outreach Solicit input on future building
code amendments, enforce
existing codes, and support
awareness and compliance
with existing codes.
Successful outcomes include
improved code compliance
and increased capacity from
our community partners.
Electric Vehicle and Photo
Voltaic (PV) Installation
Permitting Streamlining
Develop process to move from
over-the-counter permitting
to on-the-web.
This function is being
implemented as a part of
Accela Work Plan.
Study PV as Default for New
Construction
Explore feasibility of
developing “default to solar”
codes and policy.
The new Energy Ordinance will
focus on energy efficiency
with solar power as a method
for compliance.
Conduct Feasibility Study for
Electrification
Completed Phase 1 of the
Electrification Study
Present an update on the
Electrification Study in March
2017 in accordance with the
Electrification Study work
plan. This determines when
Phase 2 of the study will
occur.
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Data: Fiscal Year 2016
Green Building13
Performance
Measure FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016
Green Building -
revenue $ $73,895 $94,113 $127,186 $89,911 $304,625 $108,255
Green Building
valuations with
mandatory
regulations $ $187,725,366 $543,237,137 $569,451,035 $349,128,085 $537,328,177 $399,013,812
Green Building
square feet with
mandatory
regulations 1,249,748 1,342,448 2,441,575 3,432,025 3,982,319 2,349,870
Energy savings
(kBtu/yr) (sf) 3,399 1,701 1,922,532 3,141,510 3,958,192 3,677,853
Water reduction
(gallons/yr) 2,119,485 4,976,775 5,580,485 7,730,840 31,285,192 8,200,989
CO2 emissions
reduction (metric
tons) 2,818 21 19,269 72,168 103,270 63,331
Challenges:
Development Services faces continuous change in the area of state, local, and federal
policy—particularly policies that don’t align with the specific needs of Palo Alto.
California Energy Commission regulates how aggressive agencies can be in their pursuit
above minimum code. To affect significant change and meet our GHG reduction goals,
new legislation is needed. (Development Services is working with CPAU, CEC, and other
parties to explore these changes.)
Maintaining an educated community of city staff, local architects, and contractors is a
concern that impacts our green building and energy policy.
Development Services will be rolling out a comprehensive green building training
protocol to address this challenge amongst staff and the community.
Cost effectiveness analysis that accounts for environmental costs needs to be
performed to support reach codes.
# # #
13 California requires applicable projects to meet the California Green Building Code Mandatory Provisions
("CALGreen Mandatory") found in Title 24, Part 11. The state has developed higher green building thresholds for
those cities who are leaders in environmental sustainability and wish to elect higher standards. These thresholds
are entitled " CALGreen Tier 1" and "CALGreen Tier 2". For non-residential projects, the City has adopted CALGreen
Tier 1 for tenant improvements and renovations and CALGreen Tier 2 for new construction.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Supplemental Materials:
ZNE Roadmap
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Green Building Vision
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Department Name: Library
Background: The Library (PACL) provides educational opportunities that provide the public with
information and resources for reducing carbon footprint, waste and energy use, and for making
improvements to home and habits that encourage a sustainable life.
Strategy: Library buildings include information about energy use and conservation, model new
thinking regarding public building design, and sustain materials collections that aid customer
education about all aspects of sustainability and the environment. For example:
Mitchell Park Library: building design as an example of sustainable building practices;
architect-developed system of “ecoglyphs” (symbols to lead to discovery of
conservation/sustainable systems), and other educational signage to teach while
observing/experiencing the environment; LEED™ Platinum rating.
Children’s Library: heating/cooling guide on screen
Rinconada Library: building improvements from renovation to HVAC system and
incorporation of improved furnishings
Initiatives and Activities: PACL continues to host events and provide programs to all ages that
passively or purposefully provide examples to demonstrate some aspect of sustainable
practices. For example, nearly all crafts programs incorporate reuse of materials. The Library
provided the following programs for 2016:
January-March 2016: Silicon Valley Reads, “Chance of Rain: The Impact of Climate
Change in Our Lives.” Series of programs to tie in community read of Memory of Water
by Emmi Itäranta and Sherwood Nation by Benjamin Parzybok. Programs included:
o Creative Ecology with Artist Linda Gass
o SVR 2016 Film Series: Screening of Water Detectives
o Success with Low-Water Ornamentals: presented by Master Gardeners of Santa
Clara County
o Silicon Valley Reads Author Visit: Emmi Itäranta
o Water Cycle Storytime & Craft for kids
o Brown Bag Book Club: Book group discussion of Memory of Water
o RainDance: Using Recycled Water
February-November 2016: Monthly Master Gardeners program
April 2016: ‘Welcome to America” series topic on sustainability in Palo Alto
July 2016: Bike Repair program
August: Bike PALS (Palo Alto Library Service) launched using funds from the State
Library and the Friends of the Palo Alto Library
November 2016: Bike Repair stations were installed at MP and Rinconada Libraries.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Top Three Sustainability Initiatives for 2017
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome(s)
Climate Change Book Club Keep readers engaged and
informed on the topic.
Monthly program to begin on
February 16 at MP Library
Sustainable Living Programs Provide workshops for adults
on canning, raising chickens
and home organization and
decluttering
Several programs planned for
Spring 2017
Bike PALS Service Bring the Library out into the
community to promote our
services and reach new
customers
Have events planned
including visits to City events,
schools, community fairs,
senior housing and local
businesses
Challenges:
The Library’s books are still being shipped from other systems and within the Library’s system,
relying on vans that depend on fossil fuel. The Library, while using energy efficient equipment,
nevertheless relies on automation which requires high energy usage. Additional open hours of
service to the public also increase the hours of energy use.
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Department Name: Office of Emergency Services (OES)
Background: The Office of Emergency Services works with all City departments as well as the
community to promote resilience to threats and risks of all types.
Strategy: The mission of the Office of Emergency Services is to prevent, prepare for and
mitigate, respond to, and recover from all hazards. These hazards were recently codified in the
Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) that was presented to City
Council in September 2014 (www.cityofpaloalto.org/thira). The THIRA lists a number of hazards
that could either directly (criminal sabotage or cyber-attack) or indirectly (storm that knocks
out power) endanger critical utilities and fuel supplies. The FEMA THIRA best practice structure
also encompasses the “technological or accidental” type of incident, such as occurred in
February 2010 when a small aircraft collided with the City’s connection to the power grid.
There are a number of City plans and related documents that bear on this topic. The Continuity
of Operations Plan (COOP) (pending) will address means of keeping the City’s government in
operation in the event of disruption of City facilities, including utility-related scenarios. OES has
also drafted an Energy Assurance Plan (EAP) with the pro bono assistance of consultant Arrietta
Chakos.
Palo Alto is required to revise the existing Local Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (LHMAP,
formerly LHMP), with State and FEMA approval, and Council adoption no later than 1 June
2017. The LHMAP process will interface with S/CAP and the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Goals: OES is working with the Chief Sustainability Officer, the Public Works Department,
Utilities, and other staff to:
OES Sustainability Goals Linkage to S/CAP Framework
Bolster resilience for key facilities
Supporting: Goals 5.1, 5.4
Develop systems (primarily vehicles and
communications) that are resilient and
adaptable to energy disruption, supply chain
problems, and other emergencies
Primary: Goal 5.2
Supporting: Goal: 5.4
Community engagement and public safety
education
Supporting: Goal 6.4, 9.1
Explore strategies to leverage existing
sustainability initiatives to realize emergency
preparedness functions of mitigation,
preparedness, response, and recovery
Primary: Goals 6.2, 7.2
Supporting: Goals 2.1, 2.3, 8.1
Primary: Directly Involved
Supporting: Indirectly Involved
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Initiatives and Activities:
Critical Facilities:
OES is evaluating cost-effective and practical means to expand the use of renewables to reduce
the risk of power disruption for certain facilities. For example, the Cubberley Community Center
is an important resource in the event of a major earthquake or other disaster, since it 1) houses
the Red Cross shelter, 2) is an identified site for medical care by the City’s Medical Reserve
Corps (MRC), 3) is a back-up location for certain City departments per the Continuity of
Operations Plan (COOP), and 4) is the location of the City’s Emergency Services Volunteers
Division Operations Center (ESV DOC). OES retained an outside expert to evaluate the existing
photovoltaic (PV) grid-tied panel system and propose a design to add a battery back-up
capability, so that certain locations and systems at Cubberley would remain operational even in
a grid-down scenario.
Future key facilities include the proposed new Public Safety Building (PSB). The PSB may
incorporate microgrids, islanding, and other alternative energy elements to reduce dependence
on 1) the power grid and 2) diesel fuel for generators, especially during prolonged incidents.
Vehicles and Portable Renewable Generation:
OES has designed, developed, and now operates a number of vehicles and portable equipment,
such as the Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC). OES is investigating solar-battery
generator trailers as a means to similarly improve energy resilience for those key assets. OES is
even seeking to acquire an all-electric All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) for rescue operations and
routine use (could be the City’s first-ever non-fossil-fueled public safety vehicle).
Survivable Communications Network:
As the City continues to explore the integration of Fiber into the community, OES supports
expanding current systems to include a public safety Wi-Fi network powered by a PV backbone.
Such a system would enhance emergency communications during a widespread disaster or
temporary failure of the grid tied electrical system, and moreover could be shared with key
community stakeholders who may be assisting our emergency response and recovery efforts
(Emergency Services Volunteers, Business Neighborhoods, Faith Based Organizations, etc).
Community Engagement and Public Safety Education:
In addition to these energy assurance efforts, OES leads a number of other community
resilience efforts, including the Emergency Services Volunteer (ESV) program that encompasses
CERT, Neighborhood Watch, and other programs
(www.cityofpaloalto.org/emergencyvolunteers), support of Stanford University and affiliates
(such as Stanford Hospital), regional public safety planning efforts, regional training programs,
coordination with private sector entities for emergency response and recovery, technology
development for public safety, grant management, and other all hazards activities. OES believes
that the development of local resources, including, for example, locally-grown farm-to-table
food (Victory Gardens!), is not only good for the environment but will help us through a
potential crisis.
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Leverage Environmental Initiatives and Maximize Value for Community Risk Reduction and
Emergency Preparedness:
The City and others have made and plan to make substantial investments to reduce greenhouse
gases, etc. OES seeks to assist by providing input from a public safety perspective to facilitate a
more complete understanding of the consequences and potential risks of certain strategies and
to maximize the full value of such investments.
The push to increase electric home appliances, for example, has a number of nuances. Those
residences with gas appliances (stoves, hot water heaters14) can still use them even during a
power outage. Increasing electric vehicles (EV) can create hazards (electrical problems when
charging; risks to first responders dealing with EVs in accidents) that will need to be considered
and addressed.
This is certainly not to say such strategies should not be explored, but rather that the full
spectrum of pros and cons should be evaluated. In many cases, there could be creative work-
arounds. For example, a resident could install a new electric water heater in parallel to the
legacy gas water heater, idling the gas water heater unless/until electricity fails. (The value of a
shower during a crisis should not be ignored, in other words.)
There may be some genuine opportunities for “big thinking” in terms of resilience. Palo Alto is
unique in having its Utilities, dating back over a century to a time, originally, when the City also
controlled electrical generation. Imagine the benefits to residents, businesses, and others were
the City to again own (all or a large part) of its electrical generation capability locally, mitigating
the risk of grid failures, future pricing and commodities uncertainty, and so forth.
Put another way, what is the comparative economic and resilience value of investing in a
second point connection to the power grid vs. expanding local electrical power generation?
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives for 2017
Sustainability Initiative Objective Anticipated
Outcome(s)
S/CAP Strategy
Electric ATV Public Safety Electric
Vehicle demo
Prove feasibility of
certain EVs in Public
Safety fleet
5.2.1: Continue to
electrify City fleet
vehicles wherever
possible
Portable Power Pod Renewable Energy and
Battery Portable Set-
Up to Power MEOC
and other Key Systems
Reduce fuel supply risk 5.4.1: Infuse
sustainability
throughout City
operations
Cubberley Solar
Project
Provide Off-Grid
Resilience to Red
Improve viability of
Cubberley in cases of
5.1.2: Use city
buildings as
14 Old-school tank hot water heaters have an additional advantage after an earthquake or other disaster where the
water supply to a residence is impaired: It can be used as an emergency water source.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Cross Shelter electrical grid
interruption / serve as
a test case for such
development at other
essential facilities
demonstration
projects for
advanced
building
Technologies
Challenges: The Office of Emergency Services should be viewed a source of expertise, creative
ideas, and operational experience. Improved interdepartmental cooperation is needed to
advance sustainable programs that also maximize resiliency and enhance public safety. This can
only be done with a deliberate interconnect across City Operations.
# # #
Supplemental Materials:
Please refer to www.cityofpaloalto.org/preparedness
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Department Name: Office of Sustainability, City Manager’s Office
Background: The Office of Sustainability (OOS), established in December 2013, works with
other City departments to develop and implement a world class sustainability strategy for Palo
Alto that improves quality of life, grows prosperity and builds resilience, while protecting and
improving the living systems that sustain us — and leads Palo Alto to recognized as one of the
greenest cities in America.
Strategy: In the Office of Sustainability’s (OOS) third full year of operation, our priorities were
to:
Develop and adopt a world class sustainability and climate action plan (S/CAP),
integrating the community’s highest aspirations and the many initiatives across city
departments into coordinated one plan;
Further embed the City’s sustainability commitments, programs and practices into City
operations & Community actions, including management systems, procurement, finance
and training.
Develop innovative new strategies, particularly regarding mobility services and non-
general fund options for financing the City’s sustainability initiatives; expand community
engagement; and
Collaborate with other cities, non-profits, and foundations, to bring in resources, raise
awareness and build our capacity to reduce emissions in the two most impactful
sectors: transportation and buildings.
Develop a city/community wide sustainability performance dashboard, to streamline
and improve access to sustainability performance data through the year.
Foster experimentation, alliances & big leaps, such as electrification, “mobility as a
service,” “Zero Net” and “Net Positive” Energy building initiatives and smart city.
Initiatives and Activities: OOS has coordinated and partnered with other City departments to
advance the City’s overall sustainability goals, including active participation in electrification,
green building, smart city and transportation work streams. On January 24, 2016 OOS held a
community summit that brought together more than 500 engaged and committed citizens who
worked on the challenges of water, energy, and transportation; their ideas fed into the
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP), which has since been approved by Council.
Continuing work on the S/CAP, OOS led other departments in development of the 2017 – 2020
Sustainability Implementation Plan, delineating the next steps in fulfilling the S/CAP’s 2030
goals, and building organizational capacity to carry out key strategies and actions which will
enable Palo Alto to reduce GHG emissions 50% by 2020. OOS is also working with other City
departments to incorporate sustainability commitments and programs into the Comprehensive
Plan where appropriate and align with the S/CAP.
Responding to the uncertainty around climate policy on the federal level, OOS led the City in
joining the Compact of Mayors and the U.S. Mayors’ National Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA),
which authored two letters to President Obama and two letters to President Trump.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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OOS continued to engage and inform both City staff and Palo Alto residents about the City’s
sustainability efforts through the annual Earth Day Report, new employee orientation (NEO)
briefings & Green Team meetings, updated Sustainability web pages, and a re-designed
Sustainability e-Newsletter15.
In 2016, Palo Alto’s Cool Block program – a pilot program of the Cool City Challenge –brought
together 43 households within 12 neighborhood blocks who worked together on 1208 actions
that eliminated 611,066 pounds of CO2 emissions-- an average 7.1 tons of CO2 per household
OOS led an initiative with Ann Arbor MI; Berkeley CA; Ithaca NY; Milwaukee WI; Oakland CA;
Phoenix AZ; Vancouver BC, HIP Investor and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to
develop a Financial Scan & Toolkit16 categorizing 44 “other than General Fund” options for
financing City sustainability initiatives, and conducted two workshops. See summary graphic
below.
In addition, OOS staff responded to multiple community requests for information about
sustainability and City programs, and presented the City’s sustainability work at multiple
conferences and workshops.
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome(s)
Strategy Adopt S/CAP S/CAP 80x30 GHG goal
adopted 8-0 in April 2016;
S/CAP Framework, Principles
& Guidelines adopted 9-0
November 2016
Embed Build sustainability
considerations, commitments
and capacity into City
operations
EVSE Task Force
(underway)
EV Charging Pricing Policy
(underway)
Added initial sustainability
questions to CIP
application form
Participated in
development of USDN
Sustainable Purchasing
toolkit
Supported development of
the Green Building
Ordinance and Energy
Reach Code
15http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/services/sustainability/sustainability_newsletters_and_reports_.asp
16 http://usdn.org/public/page/32/Government-Operations
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Reported GHG emissions to
Climate Registry (TCR) and
the Carbon Disclosure
Project (CDP)
Sustainability Dashboard
pilot (underway)
Sustainability purchasing
audit (underway)
Compiled, updated and
posted list of all City
Sustainability policies
Innovate Build the regional mobility
ecosystem to advance non-
auto, “mobility as a service”
capacity
Participated in Mobility as
a Service (MaaS) regional
convenings
Participated in monthly
Managers Mobility
Partnership meetings with
City Managers of Mountain
View, Palo Alto, Menlo
Park and Redwood City, as
well as Stanford leadership
Won a $1 million federal
DOT grant for a
demonstration project to
reduce single-occupant
vehicle driving from 75
percent to 50 percent in
the Bay area using
commute benefit
programs, commuter trip
reduction software, a
multimodal trip planning
app and workplace parking
rebates
Participated in national
“shared used mobility”
study and database of
initiatives
Conducted two EV ride and
drive events, supported by
$53k CEC grant
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Top Three Sustainability Initiatives for 2017
Sustainability Initiative Objective Anticipated Outcome(s)
Strategy and Planning Implement the S/CAP Complete and adopt
Sustainability
Implementation Plans
Support UTL Strategic Plan
Operations Embed Sustainability in City
operations
Work with ASD to develop
internal carbon pricing
strategy and protocols, and
to improve effectiveness of
City “environmentally
preferable purchasing” EPP
program
Work with PWD to develop
zero emissions fleet
strategy and City facilities
master plan
Add 56 additional EV
chargers at City facilities in
2016-2017 (dependent
upon installation of solar
canopies on four City
garages)
Work with HR,
PCE/Transportation and
the TMA to develop
“commute alternative”
pilots for City staff and
community.
Engagement Deploy and use sustainability
dashboards
Deploy a sustainability
dashboard to provide
better reporting of
sustainability data and
increased transparency to
drive stronger community
engagement
Add 15 more neighborhood
blocks to the Cool Block
Beta Project
Challenges:
OOS is a very small office with a very large mission (in both absolute and comparative
terms), and is challenged to fulfill that mission without permanent staff or stable
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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budget; in 2016, OOS’s two half-time, limited term employees left for full time positions
elsewhere, costing us several months of lost productivity as we recruited and on-
boarded new staff.
OOS relies on coordination with other departments whose resources are also limited
and not always available for collaborative activities; we’re working to design more
effective ways to coordinate sustainability activities across departments.
Synchronizing the different times lines and processes of the S/CAP and CompPlan
processes has been challenging.
The emerging nature of OOS’s work requires timely responsiveness (for example in
relation to funding and collaboration opportunities and invitations to participate in
multi-city platforms and positions) that the City is not always able to provide; as a result
OOS has been unable to capture some funding opportunities.
Finance Scan and Toolkit Summary
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Department Name: Planning and Community Environment Department
Background: The Planning and Community Environment (PCE) Department is responsible for a
range of planning and implementation actions aimed at preserving and enhancing the quality of
life in Palo Alto, ensuring wise transportation investments, and facilitating land use and
development decisions through consistent and transparent processes. The department is
responsible for:
• Updating, maintaining, and overseeing compliance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan
• Monitoring and enhancing the City’s transportation infrastructure
• Implementing a variety of transportation programs aimed at reducing reliance on the
private automobile and improving safety for all modes of travel
• Gathering and analyzing data in support of land-use and transportation policy
• Reviewing commercial and residential applications for planning entitlements for
compliance with the City’s zoning ordinance and applicable guidelines
• Reviewing projects for potential environmental impacts on the City and its residents
• Administration of the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs
• Management and implementation of the City’s Housing Programs
• Oversight and implementation of the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance
• Investigating and abating code violations
Strategy: Prepare an update to the Comprehensive Plan for Palo Alto with active community
input, addressing issues related to land use and community design, transportation, climate
change and sustainability, safety, noise, natural environment, community services and facilities,
business and economics, governance, and housing. Following steps will be implementing
programs to support the adopted goals and policies.
Goals: PCE’s goals for the current year are:
• Incorporate the concept of sustainability into the Comprehensive Plan where
appropriate and align with the stand-alone Sustainability/Climate Action Plan (S/CAP)
that is being prepared concurrently.
• Complete the analysis of Scenarios 5 & 6 for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan
Update Environmental Impact Report (EIR), assessing a more balanced approach to jobs
and housing (employed residents), consistent with the draft Sustainability/Climate
Action Plan.
• Implement transportation programs to address traffic congestion and parking demand
generated by single occupant vehicles including a paid parking study and
implementation of parking management programs (e.g. RPP), creation and support of a
Transportation Management Association (TMA), and development of strategies to
enhance shuttle service.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Initiatives and Activities:
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome(s)
Comprehensive Plan Update Align the Comp Plan Update
with the adopted draft S/CAP
and evolving implementation
plans to the extent feasible
Analysis of scenarios 5 & 6 for
inclusion in the Comp Plan EIR
that would improve the
balance between jobs and
housing (employed residents)
consistent with the draft
S/CAP
Expanded Free Shuttle
Service
Identify ways to increase
ridership by improving and/or
expanding shuttle service in
Palo Alto, as well as ways to
reduce shuttle emissions
Strategies are being
developed to increase trip
frequency and ridership, and
conduct community outreach
(1 year planning phase
delayed by VTA Next Network
planning process).
Transportation Management
Association support
Support activities of the new
TMA to reduce SOV trips
to/from downtown
Provide incentives to
businesses, residents, and the
regional community (3 year
planning phase)
Data: Please see Comp Plan DEIR www.paloaltocompplan.org.
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives for 2017
Sustainability Initiative Objective Anticipated Outcome(s)
Comprehensive Plan Update Align the Comp Plan Update
with the adopted S/CAP
Adoption of Comprehensive
Plan that supports
implementation of S/CAP
goals
Expanded Free Shuttle
Service
Identify ways to increase
ridership by improving and/or
expanding shuttle service in
Palo Alto
Identify preferred strategies
to increase trip frequency and
ridership, and reduce
emissions
Transportation Management
Association support
Support activities of the new
TMA to reduce SOV trips
to/from downtown
Identify a future, secure
funding source and support
the maturation of the non-
profit organization
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Challenges:
PCE recognizes the importance of its sustainability-related initiatives, and has been
challenged to hire the staff needed to implement these programs.
In addition, the process for the S/CAP and Comprehensive Plan Update, both of which
are taking longer than originally anticipated, have not been optimally aligned for
coordination; therefore, it has been challenging to align the policy framework of the two
plans as well as the quantitative analysis of GHG emission reductions.
PCE has not had the resources to gather and track meaningful metrics and is currently
developing (especially for mobility issues like transit, mode shift to cycling or walking,
and parking) a data management system to provide quantifiable evidence for program
effectiveness and outcomes.
# # #
Supplemental Materials: For more information about the work being done by PCE to guide the
preservation and development of Palo Alto, please explore the website to the Comprehensive
Plan: Our Palo Alto 2030: http://www.paloaltocompplan.org/.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Department Name: Public Works – Engineering Services & Public Services
Background: The Public Works department is committed to building, managing and operating
City buildings and infrastructure in a sustainable manner. This includes libraries, community
centers, theatres, fire stations, the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, offices and other
buildings, parks, athletic fields, roads, bridges sidewalks and the Urban Forest. Sustainable
practices are incorporated into major building renovations, maintenance, infrastructure
projects and everyday work practices.
Strategy: Public Works assesses the performance of City-owned facilities, identifies areas for
improvement, and develops phased improvement programs to be optimized through
monitoring energy and resource use to provide high quality service to the Palo Alto community.
Optimization is achieved through improved building management systems and regular
assessments of these systems.
Goals: The overarching operational objective of Public Works is to design, construct and
renovate efficient and healthful City facilities and infrastructure, and to operate and maintain
them in good order for the comfort and productivity of occupants and users. By optimizing
operations, the department seeks to reduce operating costs and the reliability of the building
systems through continuous improvement of resource efficiency and extend the useful life of
the buildings consistent with these goals.
Initiatives and Activities: Through various Capital Improvement Projects, Public Works is
working to use energy more efficiently and reduce water usage. Parks renovations include
drought-tolerant landscaping and trees and more efficient irrigation systems. Building projects
are utilizing efficient LED lighting, more efficient HVAC systems, cool roofing materials, and
water saving fixtures. Street resurfacing and related concrete work are utilizing recycled
aggregates and other waste products such as tire rubber and fly ash. We are following the best
business practices for recycling of construction related debris on all projects. Storm water
capture and pollution control measures are being implemented in building, parks and street
projects.
Green infrastructure is defined as storm drain infrastructure on public and private lands, such
as roads and parking lots, that includes low impact development such as infiltration,
biofiltration, and/or storage and use of best management practices to collect, retain, or detain
stormwater runoff to limit the discharge of pollutants from streets to the storm drain
system. Green infrastructure provides amenities with many benefits beyond water quality
improvement and groundwater replenishment, including creation of attractive streetscapes,
habitat, reduction of heat island effect, and bicycle and pedestrian accessibility. Palo Alto has
completed a Green Infrastructure project in the Southgate Neighborhood. We have installed
full trash capture devices on Storm Drain mains identified as potentially having high trash
content on Park Boulevard at Ventura Ave and a second location at Park Boulevard.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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The City’s stormwater discharge is permitted by the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit
(MRP), a regional permit covering 76 Bay Area municipalities. The permit was reissued in 2016
and includes requirements for Green Infrastructure planning and development. The permit
includes requirements to develop a Council-approved framework, a mechanism to prioritize
projects and criteria, a list of prioritized projects, design guidelines/standard specifications,
ordinance changes, and a funding plan. The permit also requires an update of relevant planning
documents (such as comprehensive plan, specific plan, transportation plans, storm drain
master plan, pavement work plan, and urban forestry plan).
Top Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome
Benchmark City buildings
for comparison of resource
use and cost
Create benchmarks to
compare City building
performance with similar
buildings in the state and the
nation, and identify and
prioritize opportunities for
improvement.
Utility Track Software has been
acquired and installed in
Facilities Management. Building
performance data will be shared
with Engineering Services to
identify opportunities for
improvement.
Install solar canopies and
electric vehicle chargers at
City facilities
Utilize an RFP process to
select a private entity to
install solar canopies and EV
chargers at City-owned
garages
A lease including installation of
solar canopies on four City
garages, as well as 18 Level 2 EV
charger ports and electrical
infrastructure for an additional
80 charger ports, was negotiated
and approved by City Council.
Planning and building permit
submittals were made and are
under review.
Water Efficiency Efforts Reduce use of potable water
in construction activities
Public Works construction
projects require use of recycled
water for dust control and other
applications.
Requirements for basement
construction dewatering were
strengthened in 2016. Basement
dewatering sites must provide
“fill stations” to allow filling of
water trucks, hire a truck one
day per week to water
landscaping at sites identified by
the City, and allow use by
neighbors of shallow non-
potable groundwater that is
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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otherwise discharged to the
storm drain system.
Implementation of Title 24
Building Energy Efficiency
Standards
Incorporate sustainable work
practices for building system
maintenance, including
improvements in mechanical,
electrical, and plumbing
systems.
Mechanical improvements
include the use of cool roofing
materials to meet Title 24
Building Energy Efficiency
Standards, replacing air
conditioning units with more
energy efficient units (when
existing units need replacement)
and using Building Management
Systems (BMS) to control and
monitor and mechanical and
electrical equipment (including
lighting) via computers in some
facilities. Electrical
improvements include the use of
LED lighting, the use of
occupancy sensors, and bi-level
lighting for parking garages.
Plumbing improvements include
the use of low flow urinals and
low flow toilets.
Park Renovation Projects Incorporate sustainable
landscaping and turf
elimination in park
renovation projects managed
by Public Works to conserve
water whenever possible.
Five existing traffic circles were
rebuilt in 2016, with removal of
impervious asphalt surfaces and
addition of landscaping.
Irrigation is provided with water
trucks using recycled water.
Procurement and Use of
Environmentally Preferable
Construction Materials
Include recycled aggregate in
the asphalt mix and base rock
in street resurfacing projects.
Major arterials are being paved
with rubberized asphalt utilizing
recycled tire rubber. Sidewalks,
curbs and gutters are replaced
with concrete that contains
approximately 25% fly ash by
volume. Paving work on Alma
Street and Middlefield Road in
2016 used 3,985 tons of
rubberized asphalt.
Procurement and Use of
Environmentally Preferable
Consumables
Use City’s sustainable
purchasing guidelines.
City facilities are cleaned with
environmentally friendly Green
Seal Certified cleaning chemicals
and no chlorine and post-
consumer content paper towels
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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are supplied in restrooms. Pest
management also focuses on
prevention and then using non-
toxic pesticides.
Top Sustainability Initiative for 2017
Sustainability Initiative Objective Anticipated Outcome(s)
Develop a City-wide energy
management plan
Develop an energy
management plan to guide
the acquisition and
installation of energy
conservation measures in City
–owned buildings
Approve and implement an
energy management plan as part
of the Sustainability/Climate
Action Plan.
Challenges:
As stated in previous reports, as existing building systems are renovated or replaced, air
conditioning is being added where it previously didn’t exist. This additional system tends
to flatten the overall potential energy savings of the newer more efficient heating
systems and lighting. (On the other hand, the more efficient systems mitigate the
demand of the added air conditioning.) At Rinconada Library, geothermal wells were
used to help mitigate this challenge.
Historical preservation requirements are also a challenge. At Rinconada Library, the
large grass lawn was a key historic feature of the overall site. It was therefore not
possible to convert this to drought-tolerant landscaping and reduce irrigation needs.
However, the project installed “purple pipe” so that it can easily be converted to
recycled water when that system is expanded throughout the City.
Public Works has completed a third party independent Facilities Management
Organizational Study (conducted by Matrix Consulting) to evaluate the efficiency of our
maintenance of Facilities. In the study, Matrix called out 10 recommendations related to
Energy Management. Our newly appointed Facilities Manager will be analyzing these
recommendations with the Engineering Services Division in the coming months. Staff
anticipates development of new processes to identify replacement priorities, standards
for replacements and use of energy audits to guide continuous improvement. In this
regard, reducing the energy and water usage is an important consideration. Energy and
water usage can be tracked through our Utility Track software to determine the impact
of efficiency and conservation initiatives.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Department: Public Works– Fleet Division
Overview: The Public Works Fleet Division is responsible for maintenance, repairs, and
compliance of all City of Palo Alto vehicles and equipment. The division is charged with meeting
all local, state, and federal air pollution requirements and vehicle safety standards. It also
conducts the proper disposal of declared surplus and acquisition of replacement vehicles and
equipment. The division’s mandate is to:
Maintain fleet availability by providing the vehicles and equipment to all of the
departments daily in order for the departments to be able to provide the services to the
city of Palo Alto.
Work with all operators, managers and departments to prevent air pollution by training
the drivers on reducing idle time as well as demonstrate the proper and safe use and
operation of the vehicles and equipment
Perform preventive maintenance inspections and repairs on a daily basis to all of the
vehicles and equipment
Ensure regulatory compliance with the BAAQMD, BAR, CHP, DOORS, OSHA and CAL
OSHA
Perform vehicle and equipment usage analysis to be able to identify underutilized
vehicles and equipment and recommend right-sizing the number of vehicles and
equipment needed in the city of Palo Alto.
Strategy: Improve fleet efficiency and reduce vehicle and equipment emission by electrifying
the fleet, maintaining it in top operating conditions, and training staff in safe and efficient
operation.
Goals: The Fleet Division is moving toward a low-emission transportation future with these
department goals:
Identify new technologies and bold strategies to reduce fleet GHG emissions.
Reduce unleaded fuel consumption by at least 10% each year, by scheduling
replacement of all vehicles older than 10 years with current electric or low emissions
models.
Meet or exceed all regulatory requirements for air pollution reduction and air emissions
required by BAAQMD, BAR, DOORS, PERP and EPA while providing an increasingly high
level of service to all members of the Palo Alto community.
Initiatives and Activities: Fleet Services has been replacing gasoline-powered vehicles and
other equipment with cars and trucks that use alternative fuels, such as compressed natural
gas, or electric vehicles (EV). Vehicles and equipment approved for replacement are downsized
whenever possible and economically feasible. The City’s Vehicle and Equipment Use,
Maintenance, and Replacement Policy stipulates that the City will acquire plug-in electric
vehicles (PEV) upon replacement or for new needs when they are available, and meet needed
range, load, and emergency response requirements. When a PEV does not meet these
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 38 of 57
requirements, and another type of low emission vehicle (LEV) does, the other LEV shall be
purchase. PEVs are preferable over LEVs because, in Palo Alto, they have no GHG emissions or
“carbon footprint”.
The City‘s award-winning green purchasing program has “greened” performance criteria for
several purchase categories, including City fleet. The City invested in a compressed natural gas
(CNG) fueling station at the Municipal Service Center for the 10% CNG vehicles in the fleet.
However, choices for vehicle types are limited from manufacturers.
Top Sustainability Initiatives in 2016:
Sustainability
Initiative
Objective Outcome
Reduce
Greenhouse Gas
emissions
Monitor and reduce GHG emissions
associated with vehicles and
equipment
Achieved a 28.7% GHG emissions
reduction from 2005 baseline year
through 2016 (not including CNG
consumption for non-city
operations) as a result of decreased
consumption across all fuel types.
This is an additional 5% reduction
from 2015. Despite serving a larger
service population, vehicle miles
traveled decreased slightly.
Reduce unleaded
and diesel fuel
consumption in
the fleet
Establish policy and procedure for
the operators to minimize the idle
time on the vehicle and equipment
they are using.
Reduce the number of vehicles and
equipment in the fleet by
performing a vehicle utilization
analysis and identify those vehicles
that could be declared surplus and
sold at auction.
The City has been steadily
decreasing its unleaded fuel and
diesel consumption. In addition, the
City’s overall propane consumption
is down due in part to
modernization steps taken in Fleet.
Additional measures are needed to
reduce the Fleet Services’ reliance
on fossil fuels—which can best be
achieved by replacing older vehicles
with current—and, where possible,
alternative fuel—models. The City
fleet currently has 51 alternative
fuel vehicles, with 27% of
nonemergency vehicles using
alternative fuels or technologies.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 39 of 57
Data:
Figure 1: Fuel Use by Type17 (Gallons), 2005-201618
17 GreenWaste is the solid waste collection and processing provider that took over from PASCO in 2009
18 CNG Consumption for non-city operations increased in 2016 due to GreenWaste obtaining 9 new CNG trucks at
the end of 2015
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
CNG (PASCO / GreenWaste, PAUSD)
(not directly operated by the City)44,273 60,928 80,491 88,088 86,786 87,635 85,872 91,125 86,570 51,492 56,405 80,158
CNG (City operations)20,217 18,799 28,197 36,387 36,713 49,948 36,554 40,136 37,854 24,427 15,862 13,611
Biodiesel (B20)46,667 27,261 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Diesel 97,676 103,888 131,810 131,423 122,341 126,500 134,262 95,036 83,539 83,535 74,557 69,076
Gasoline 149,861 156,142 152,153 146,398 131,096 137,850 146,595 147,849 146,479 150,732 146,977 139,076
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
Fu
e
l
C
o
n
s
u
m
p
t
i
o
n
(
G
a
l
l
o
n
s
)
Fuel Use by Type (Gallons)
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 40 of 57
Figure 2: Fleet GHG Emissions (Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalents, CO2e), 2005-201619
Table 1: Fleet GHG Emissions (Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalents, CO2e), 2005-2016
Fuel Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Total
Emissions20
(excluding
PASCO
/GreenWaste,
PAUSD)
2,833 2,784 2,875 2,877 2,652 2,845 2,909 2,543 2,399 2,344 2,160 2,020
Percent Change
from 2005
baseline21
-1.8% 1.5% 1.6% -6.4% 0.4% 2.7% -10.2% -15.3% -17.3% -23.7% -28.7%
19 PASCO / GreenWaste and PAUSD are not directly operated by the City, therefore their GHG emissions are not
included in overall Fleet GHG Emissions. They are included in this graph for informational purposes only.
20 These numbers differ slightly from last year’s Earth Day Report. Staff discovered calculation errors resulting in a
few numbers being off by 1. The largest error was in 2015 Total Emissions. Last year’s table erroneously listed
emissions totals that included PASCO and PAUSD emissions. This table has been corrected to exclude PASCO /
GreenWaste and PAUSD emissions. PASCO / GreenWaste and PAUSD are not directly operated by the City,
therefore their GHG emissions are not included based on operational control reporting criterion.
21 The 2015 percent change from 2005 baseline was incorrectly calculated in last year’s Earth Day Report. This
year’s table has been corrected to show a -23.7% change from 2005 baseline instead of the -10.1% that was listed
in last year’s table.
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
CNG (PASCO / GreenWaste, PAUSD)
(not directly operated by the City)304 418 552 604 595 601 589 625 594 353 387 550
CNG (City operations)139 129 193 250 252 343 251 275 260 168 109 94
Biodiesel (B20)381 223 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
Diesel 997 1,061 1,346 1,342 1,249 1,292 1,371 970 853 853 761 705
Gasoline 1,316 1,371 1,336 1,285 1,151 1,210 1,287 1,298 1,286 1,323 1,290 1,221
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
Em
i
s
s
i
o
n
s
(
M
T
o
f
C
O
2
e
)
Fleet GHG Emissions
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 41 of 57
Challenges:
The City hired Mercury and Associates, a fleet management consulting organization to
conduct a cost recovery analysis and vehicle replacement schedule study. At the time of
this writing, the final report has not been completed, but is expected to be finished in
July 2017. The preliminary recommendations from the Mercury Study are for the City to
spend $ 6 – 8 million to catch up in replacing older vehicles/equipment.
The average age of the fleet is currently at 12.9 years. The ideal fleet age needs to be
less than 10 years. The older the age of the fleet averages the more it costs to operate
and maintain. It also contributes to a higher level in GHG emissions. The city currently
averages 40 vehicles and equipment being replaced each year. To bring the fleet
average to 10 years or less, the city needs to increase the number of units being
replaced.
Programs designed for traditional fleet maintenance goals haven’t been focused on
meeting the bold target of 80% GHG reduction by 2030; the department needs to
develop new programs and manage its performance to achieve its incremental annual
reduction targets.
Electrifying the City Fleet requires a robust and adequate EV charging station
infrastructure. Due to a variety of factors, the City is below target for alternative fuel
vehicles, with only 51 alternative fuel vehicles out of a target of 67.
# # #
Supplemental Materials:
Greenhouse Gas Reduction from Fleet Division: Section 12 in 2015 Clean Bay Plan,
available at cleanbay.org.
Reduced unleaded and diesel fuel consumption in the fleet: Section 12 in 2015 Clean
Bay Plan, available at cleanbay.org.
Compliance with regulatory and policy requirements to reduce other priority air
pollutants in the atmosphere: 2015 CleanBay Plan report, located at cleanbay.org.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Department: Public Works–Watershed Protection & Regional Water Quality Control Plant
Background: The Public Works–Watershed Protection Division, in collaboration with the
Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP), works to reduce pollutants entering the San
Francisco Bay through award-winning pollution prevention, pretreatment, stormwater, water
quality, and air quality management programs. Since 1990, the goals of the RWQCP and
Watershed Protection have been to:
Treat wastewater from the RWQCP six-community service area of East Palo Alto
Sanitary District, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Stanford;
Work with industry and businesses to prevent pollution;
Ensure regulatory compliance with the RWQCP wastewater discharge permit, air
quality permit, and the City’s stormwater permit; and
Provide residential services and education to prevent pollution in Palo Alto’s creeks
and San Francisco Bay.
Strategy: Given strict stormwater and wastewater permit requirements, Palo Alto must explore
all feasible methods of reducing its metals and toxic organic pollutant discharges to San
Francisco Bay. Similarly, given strict air quality permit requirements, Palo Alto must explore all
feasible methods of reducing air pollutants such as greenhouse gases, nitrous oxides, and
volatile organic compounds from its stationary sources. After initially focusing on pretreatment
programs at major industrial facilities, the RWQCP expanded its efforts to include commercial
and residential programs. Strategies to meet sustainability goals in the next 1 – 5 years include:
Commercial and industrial pretreatment program that integrates pollution prevention
into business requirements via ordinance and incentives such as the Clean Bay Business
Program;
Residential pretreatment program that provides programs with collection services for
pollutants of concern (e.g., pharmaceuticals and sharps) and extensive public outreach,
including classroom presentations throughout the RWQCP service area; ongoing
informational campaigns coordinated locally, regionally and state-wide; and workshops,
tours and special events;
Leverage opportunities to improve and expand recycled water use and infrastructure;
and
Evaluate opportunities to improve and/or replace aging treatment process
infrastructure and equipment (e.g., decommission sewage sludge incinerators).
Goals: Watershed Protection had several 2016 goals to reduce industrial and residential
pollutants for stormwater and wastewater, including the following higher-profile efforts:
Identify strategies to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) associated with wastewater
treatment;
Promote the use of RWQCP recycled water through the Truck-Fill Program, salinity
reduction efforts, regional collaborations, and pipeline expansion efforts;
Meet or exceed the RWQCP and Watershed Protection Program permit requirements
for pollutant reduction.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 43 of 57
For a complete summary of 2016 pollution prevention efforts see the 2017 Clean Bay Plan
report located at cleanbay.org.
Initiatives and Activities:
RWQCP GHG Emissions
The RWQCP GHG emissions stem from the treatment of wastewater collected from the City of
Palo Alto as well as its partner agencies (Mountain View, East Palo Alto Sanitary District, Los
Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Stanford). The RWQCP has five major sources of GHG emissions:
electricity usage, natural gas combustion for office heating, sewage sludge incineration (natural
gas, landfill gas, and biosolids combustion), biological treatment of wastewater, and baylands
conversion of wastewater discharge (Figure 1).
RWQCP GHG emissions decreased by more than 60% since 1990 mainly due to the purchase of
green natural gas beginning in 2015, purchase of 100 percent green power electricity since
2013, use of landfill gas as a replacement for natural gas in the incinerator afterburner since
2005, and decreased incinerator hearth natural gas usage due to regular incinerator tuning
(Figure 2).
RWQCP GHG emissions as reported to the California Air Resources Board and United States
Environmental Protection Agency may differ from the values presented in Table 1 due to
different high heat values, global warming potentials, and/or emission factors. RWQCP GHG
emissions contained in this report were calculated using a static document, the Local
Government Operations Protocol, Version 1.1 (2010) for analysis of historical trends and
reductions; in contrast, the state and federal agencies periodically update their GHG calculation
methods to better reflect recent advances in science and federal regulations.
Recycled Water Expansion
RWQCP total recycled water usage remained relatively constant from 2015 to 2016 with a 1%
decrease from 220 million gallons in 2015 to 218 million gallons in 2016 (Figure 3). Despite the
relatively constant total usage of recycled water, active recycled water permits significantly
increased (Figure 4). In 2016, 85 active recycled water permits were reviewed and approved for
use; this is a 40% increase from 2015 when 61 recycled water permits were active.
RWQCP routinely monitors the quality of the recycled water it produces for numerous
parameters. One such parameter is salinity. Salinity is of particular concern for use of recycled
water to irrigate salt-sensitive vegetation (such as Redwood Trees) as well as for use in
industrial cooling towers. The RWQCP analyzes Recycled Water salinity using numerous
metrics: total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and specific conductivity.
RWQCP and its partner agencies (referenced above in “Background”) are taking efforts to
decrease salinity entering the RWQCP from their collection systems (Figure 5). In addition,
Watershed Protection has collaborated with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, City of
Mountain View, and ReNew Water, LLC to undertake a feasibility study and pilot project
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 44 of 57
evaluating advanced water purification treatment systems at the RWQCP to reduce salinity in
recycled water. These projects were started in 2016 and are scheduled for completion in 2017.
Permit Compliance
PWD–Watershed Protection has a robust pretreatment program, Stormwater Pollution
Prevention program for businesses and industry, and residential programs and outreach that
are coordinated to reduce or prevent pollution releases.
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives in 2016:
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome(s)
RWQCP Greenhouse
Gas Reductions
Continue to reduce,
track, and report GHG
emissions associated
with wastewater
treatment.
RWQCP 2016 GHG emissions were
approximately 17,000 metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalents (MT CO2e), representing
more than a 60% reduction since 1990.
2016 was the first full year that the RWQCP
purchased natural gas from the City’s green gas
portfolio. The RWQCP continues to purchase
carbon-neutral power from the City’s electricity
portfolio.
In November 2016, the construction project to
build a new sludge dewatering and loadout
facility was released for contractors to
competitively bid on. This represents the next
step needed to phase out the City’s sewage
sludge incinerators as soon as possible. This is
expected to greatly reduce RWQCP GHG
emissions.
A GHG and Energy Factsheet was updated in
2016 to provide concise information regarding
historical and projected GHG emissions as well
as capture the newly adopted reduction goal of
80% community-wide reduction of 1990
emissions by 2030.
Note: For more information, see the 2017 Clean
Bay Plan available at cleanbay.org.
Recycled Water
Expansion
Promote the use and
expansion of the
RWQCP Recycled Water
Program as a
sustainable and reliable
alternative source of
water.
In 2016, Watershed Protection staff worked
closely with the Santa Clara Valley Water
District, the City of Mountain View, and the
City of Palo Alto’s Utility Department to
identify expansion opportunities for the
RWQCP’s Recycled Water Program.
In 2016, located large source of saline
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 45 of 57
groundwater entering the sewer system on a
large 72-inch interceptor. Leak is scheduled for
repair in 2017.
In 2016, the RWQCP expanded its truck-fill
program to 85 permittees, a 40% increase from
2015
Watershed Protection Staff, in collaboration
with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and
City of Mountain View, have moved forward
with a feasibility study of enhancing the quality
of the RWQCP recycled water by adding an
advanced treatment system such as reverse
osmosis. An advanced treatment system is
expected to significantly decrease recycled
water salinity amongst other water quality
improvements.
Note: For more information, see the 2017 Clean
Bay Plan available at cleanbay.org.
Trash Reduction in
creeks, streets, and
along Bay
Meet Bay Area
Municipal Regional
Permit
performance
guideline of 60%
trash reduction by
2016. Attempt to
meet in 2016 a 70%
trash reduction
requirement set for
July 1, 2017.
Expand Palo Alto’s
Plastic Foam
Ordinance to
prohibited retail
sale or distribution
of plastic foam
products.
The City of Palo Alto not only met the 60%
trash reduction guideline, but also met the 70%
trash reduction requirement one year ahead of
schedule by reducing trash 84% by July 2016.
Trash reduction is currently quantified based
on on-land visual assessments (i.e. monitoring
of trash reduction activity success) and the
success of product bans.
In December 2015, Council expanded the
current plastic foam ordinance to prohibit
retail sale or distribution of foam ice chests,
foodware, packaging materials and egg
cartons. Food service establishments have
been prohibited from using plastic foam since
2010. The ordinance will go into effect on
March 1, 2016.
* More info located in the Long-Term Trash Plan22
and the 2015-16 Stormwater Annual Report23
** For more information, see Section 7 in 2016
22https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/38421
23http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb2/water_issues/programs/stormwater/MRP/2016_AR/Santa_Clara/Palo_Alto_2
015-16_MRP_AR.pdf
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 46 of 57
Clean Bay Plan available at cleanbay.org.
Data:
Figure 1: RWQCP 2016 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Anthropogenic Source (contains estimates
for November & December 2016 natural gas usage; data not available at time of this writing)
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 47 of 57
Figure 2: Historical RWQCP Greenhouse Gas Emissions as Calculated by the Local Government
Operations Protocol, Version 1.1 (2010) (contains estimates for November & December 2016
natural gas usage; data not available at time of this writing)
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Figure 3: Historical Recycled Water Usage.
Figure 4: Historical Active Recycled Water Permits.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Figure 5: Historical Recycled Water Salinity (total dissolved solids).
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives for 2017:
Sustainability Initiative Objective Anticipated Outcome(s)
RWQCP Greenhouse
Gas Reduction
Continue to reduce,
track, and report GHG
emissions associated
with wastewater
treatment.
Develop a sea level rise
policy for the City of
Palo Alto operations.
Track and report GHG emissions to City,
state, and federal agencies.
Update the GHG Factsheet to accurately
disperse information
Continue to make progress in
decommissioning the sewage sludge
incinerators by 2019, including building the
Dewater and Loadout Facility.
Continue to purchase carbon-neutral
electricity and green natural gas for use at
the RWQCP.
Adopt a sea level rise policy in 2017.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 50 of 57
Recycled Water
Expansion
Promote the use and
expansion of the
RWQCP Recycled Water
Program as a
sustainable and reliable
alternative source of
water.
Continue to review and approve permit
applications for use of the truck-fill station.
Promote the Recycled Water Program using
a newly updated factsheet.
Continue to collaborate with other agencies
to evaluate appropriate expansion
opportunities under the Northwest County
Recycled Water Strategic Plan.
Complete the Advanced Water Purification
System Feasibility Study to evaluate
appropriate salinity-reducing treatment
technologies.
Further evaluate and repair the 72-inch
interceptor for saline groundwater
infiltration and corrosion.
Green Stormwater
Infrastructure (GSI)
Establish a new
stormwater
management approach
that considers GSI as a
non-structural tool that
helps to treat and
infiltrate stormwater,
rather than it entering
the City’s conveyance
system to the Bay.
Per the 2015 Municipal Regional Stormwater
NPDES Permit (MRP), a Bay Area-wide permit
issued by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water
Quality Control Board (Regional Board), the
following deadlines must be met:
Complete City-wide GSI Plan framework by
July 1, 2017.
Complete City-wide GSI Plan by July 1, 2019.
Challenges:
Future GHG Reductions: The RWQCP has made large reductions in GHG emissions over
the past 5 years due to incinerator tuning, landfill gas replacement of natural gas in the
afterburner, aeration basin optimization, installation of variable frequency drive lift
pump controls for the trickling filters, as well as purchasing greener energy options.
Ongoing RWQCP optimization will continue, however the major GHG reductions from
optimization projects have already occurred. RWQCP GHG emissions associated with
biological treatment and baylands conversion are expected to gradually increase over
time as water conservation increases and the service area population and economy
grow. Future GHG reductions will be largely contingent on future plans to phase out
sewage sludge incineration expected in 2019, the new biosolids treatment process
expected in 2025, and the availability/quality of landfill gas as a replacement for natural
gas in the incinerator (Figure 6).
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Figure 6: RWQCP GHG Emissions & Projected Future Decreases from Change in Biosolids
Treatment Processes.
Drought and Increased Economic Activity: Drought conditions in the service area have
increased water conservation efforts and significantly decreased flows entering the
RWQCP. Additionally, the recent economic recovery and growth in the service area
increases the daytime population that increases inputs to the RWQCP from toilet
flushing versus more dilute inputs such as showering. Decreased flows combined with
increased daytime populations have a combined impact of increased loads and
concentrations of pollutants such as ammonia and total dissolved solids (salinity).
Higher pollutant loading and concentrations strain the current treatment process that
was originally designed for treating more dilute wastewater. This issue is anticipated to
pose continued challenges with meeting permit limits and internal goals (such as salinity
reduction) should drought become more common with predicted climate change.
Recycled Water: One of the challenges with recycled water is that its quality is very
dependent upon the quality of the wastewater that is sent to the RWQCP for treatment.
Leaky sewer pipes increase the salinity that must be removed at the RWQCP for future
expanded use of recycled water. Locating and subsequently relining these leaky pipes is
challenging and requires not only special evaluations but also cross-departmental
collaboration. Another challenge with the expansion of the RWQCP’s Recycled Water
Program is the required expansion of the recycled water transmission pipelines. Current
pipelines are limited to the area adjacent to the RWQCP. Expanding this pipeline is
expensive and may not be cost effective depending on the expected demand for
recycled water.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI): The City of Palo Alto must adhere to
requirements addressed in the 2015 MRP, which has identified particular activities and
pollutants that the City (in addition to other Bay area cities) must address in order to
manage stormwater discharges into creeks, the Bay, and other waterbodies. In order to
reduce stormwater flows and pollutants to the City’s stormwater conveyance system
(and later into the Bay) as well as erosion of nearby creeks, the MRP requires
municipalities to incorporate, where possible, green stormwater infrastructure features
in the public right-of-way and facilities. The methodology for doing so will be outlined in
a framework that is due to the Regional Water Board on July 1, 2017. In order to
successfully identify an effective, long-term implementation approach, various City
Departments and staff must buy in and take ownership of this new perspective of
stormwater management. This culture shift will take time, energy and resources, though
staff anticipates progress in 2017 due to the City’s successful 2015 GSI project in the
Southgate neighborhood. In addition, the Community Services Department’s parks
maintenance staff, who has been maintaining the Southgate project (with a contractor’s
assistance), has limited funds to maintain additional GSI features. Thus, City staff will
need to be creative in identifying funding sources and partnerships for both
implementation and maintenance of GSI features. Though these sources will not need
to be identified until the 2019 GSI Plan, staff will start to discuss various options in 2017.
# # #
Supplemental Materials:
2017 Clean Bay Plan24
Regional Water Quality Control Website: www.cleanbay.org
24 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1527&TargetID=65
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
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Department Name: Public Works Environmental Services Division, Zero Waste and Landfill
Operations
Background: The City of Palo Alto adopted a Zero Waste policy in 2005. Since then, the City as a
whole has dramatically reduced the amount of material going into landfills. The City now has a
waste diversion rate of 80 percent, up from a 63 percent diversion rate in 2005.
The City’s solid waste related greenhouse gas emissions stem primarily from two sources: (1)
the fugitive emissions from the landfill where materials are buried; and (2) the emissions that
result from having to mine or fabricate new resources (e.g., aluminum, glass, paper, plastic,
etc.) instead of recovering these resources from recycled materials. Programs that have helped
the City progress towards its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals as well as zero waste
goals include: simplifying the residential recycling collection process, collecting and composting
commercial food scraps, and engaging the community with effective zero waste marketing
campaigns.
While economic activity and construction have an impact on the overall amount of material
disposed, Zero Waste programs have helped keep tens of thousands of tons of material out of
the landfill. In 2008, 68,228 tons were disposed in landfills. By 2015, that amount was reduced
to 47,155 tons, a 31% reduction. Many more tons are now recycled or composted at homes,
businesses, and construction sites. The amount of recyclable materials collected and diverted
from the landfill increased from about 13,000 tons diverted in 2008 to 19,232 tons in 2015.
Commercial compost collection, which started in 2009, and single-family residential customers’
compost collection, which began in 2015, diverted over 17,975 tons per year of food scraps and
food soiled paper from the landfill as compared to 11,582 in 2014 – an increase of over 6,000
tons in one year. For new construction, 75 percent of all material must be recycled or reused on
site as part of the City’s Green Building Program put into place in 2013, superseding the
Construction and Demolition Debris Ordinance of 2004.
The Palo Alto Landfill is owned, monitored and maintained by the City of Palo Alto. The
municipal solid waste landfill operated from the 1930’s to 2011 and is now in the post-closure
phase. The long-planned end use of the landfill is parkland. The Environmental Services Division
in the Public Works Department is responsible for the post-closure care of the landfill. By law,
the City is required to monitor the landfill for a minimum of 30 years to assure it does not pose
an environmental hazard resulting from the release of landfill gas or the creation/release of
leachate—the liquid that is created inside the landfill that must be pumped to the Palo Alto
Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) for treatment. Landfill gas is collected and either
combusted in the RWQCP sludge incinerator facility or flared.
Strategy: The zero waste strategy seeks to eliminate the generation of waste wherever
possible, and then manage, through reuse and recycling, the discards that are created. Most
cities tend to focus on “end of pipe” solutions to recover materials for recycling and/or
composting; Palo Alto goes even further by emphasizing the elimination of waste with
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 54 of 57
programs like the food waste reduction program and environmentally preferred purchasing
policies.
For the landfill, staff has pursued two strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: 1)
capping the landfill; and, 2) beneficially reusing the landfill gas.
Goals:
Divert 95% of waste from landfills by 2030, and ultimately achieve zero waste to
landfillsAchieve a 90 percent diversion rate by 2021.
Improve consumption habits and reduce the total amount material sent to the landfill.
Provide local recycling and composting resources.
Finalize landfill closure and conversion to parkland
Maximize the amount of landfill gas sent to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant.
Initiatives and Activities: In April 2016, the City began implementing the first phase of the
Recycling and Composting Ordinance that required all large businesses and institutions, food
service establishments, and multifamily complexes to subscribe to compost services. The City
anticipates that this ordinance will dramatically increase the amount of food scraps composted
and kept from the landfill. Enforcement of second phase of the ordinance began in January
2017 and covers medium sized customers (commercial customers with two cubic yards of
garbage service per week). The third and final phase of the ordinance requires all commercial
customers to subscribe to compost service by January 1, 2018. The ordinance also requires all
residents, businesses, and visitors to their sort waste properly.
The City is also engaged in strategies to reduce waste. The City has partnered with GoBox to
provide an easy to use “to go” container for downtown Palo Alto lunchtime eaters. The City has
also partnered with Rethink Disposables to provide technical support to local restaurants on
how they can save money and reduce their environmental footprint by switching from
disposable food service ware to reusables.
The landfill closure work was completed in November 2015. The closure work included
constructing a new alterative design cap called an evapotranspirative cap. Completion of the
cap is expected to reduce the amount of fugitive landfill gas emissions. In addition the landfill
continues to send landfill gas to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant where it is used in
their incinerator. This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the combustion of
landfill gas.
Top Three Sustainability Initiatives in 2016
Sustainability Initiative Objective Outcome
Food Waste Reduction
program
Deliver outreach messages and
tools to residents and businesses
on how to reduce the amount of
The quantity of waste diverted is
not currently measured by the
City’s implementation partner.
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 55 of 57
food wasted.
Cap the landfill Cap the entire landfill. Expect
fugitive landfill gas emissions to
continue to go down.
The entire landfill has been
capped. The capping work was
completed in November 2015.
Increase beneficial
reuse of landfill gas
Modify controls at the flare
station and incinerator
Better control and metering of
landfill gas to the incinerator
Data:
Annual Diversion Rate, 1995-2014
Historical City of Palo Alto Landfill GHG Emissions, 2005 (baseline) - 2015
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 56 of 57
Overall the trend in the City of Palo Alto GHG emissions is downward. Fluctuations in GHG
emissions are likely the result of closure activities. The closure activities include years of
decreased waste acceptance followed by a year of increased waste placement, expansion of the
gas collection system and completion of cover operations.
Forecast: Solid Waste Related GHG Emissions in metric tons (MT) carbon dioxide equivalents
(CO2e) for the Palo Alto Landfill.
Emissions Source 2017
Emissions
2018
Emissions
2019
Emissions
Palo Alto Landfill GHG emissions during the
year 6,5000 6,5000 6,000
With the completion of the landfill cap and upgrades to the landfill gas collection system the
City expects the Palo Alto Landfill GHG emissions to continue to trend downwards over the next
30 years. The rate of the drop in GHG emissions is difficult to estimate this early in the
completion of the cap but as time goes on the rate should be more predictable.
Trend: Solid Waste Related GHG Emissions in metric tons (MT) carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).
Emissions
Source
2005
Emissions1
(baseline)
2013
Emissions
2014
Emissions
2015
Emissions
(current)
2016
Emissions
(current)
Difference
(current-
baseline)
Percent
Difference
Palo Alto
Landfill
emissions
during the
year2
9,900 5,110 9,427 8,617 6,527 (1,283) -13%
Attachment D: Highlights of Sustainability Initiatives by City Municipal Operations
Page 57 of 57
Life cycle
fugitive
emissions3
2,883 1,931 1,919 1,986 1,850 (1,033) -36%
Landfilling
recyclable
materials3
13,650 8,934 8,892 9,910 9,905 (3,745) -27%
12005 GHG Emissions are baseline calculations.
2Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 40, Part 98, Subpart HH model used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions
produced by Palo Alto Landfill.
3EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM) using CalRecycle landfill data used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions
produced by handling and disposal of City generated solid waste and includes the capture of recyclables at the
Sunnyvale Material Recovery and Transfer Station. The data has been revised to use the latest EPA WARM version
14.
Challenges:
The Regional Water Quality Control Plant incinerator beneficially reuses some but not all
of the landfill gas. The system is still being optimized to increase the amount of landfill
gas the plant can use.
Product design and packaging development is largely outside of the City’s control. The
City has implemented a number of internal programs to reduce packaging and waste
including the banning polystyrene packaging for City purchases, and can further
encourage residents and businesses to join us in these efforts.
The audience with the most control over waste sorting--janitorial and custodial staff--is
difficult to reach, train, and keep informed of new programs. To address this audience,
staff, along with Spanish-language support from the City’s contract trash hauler
GreenWaste of Palo Alto, conducts regular trainings for employees of City facilities.
In keeping with a City-wide “we go first” strategy, the municipal diversion rate should be
equal or higher to the residential and commercial waste streams. Staff is providing
training and improved signage to City departments, and has begun internal
benchmarking to build awareness and engagement.
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organizational Structure
Page 1 of 5
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organization Structure
Shown below is the City’s Sustainability Policy approved by the Council in 2007.
POLICY AND PROCEDURES 5-01/MGR
First adopted in April, 2000
Revised June 18, 2007
CMR: 260:07
SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABILITY
POLICY STATEMENT
It is the intent of the City of Palo Alto to be a sustainable community – one which meets
its current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs. In adopting this policy, the City of Palo Alto accepts its responsibility,
through its operations, programs and services to:
Economy: Maintain a healthy, thriving and well-balanced economy comprising a
blend of large and small business, which encourages the development of
independent businesses and is resilient to the economic changes common to
California’s economy
Social Equity: Continuously improve the quality of life for all Palo Alto
community members without adversely affecting others
Environment: Enhance the quality of the air, water, land and other natural
resources by minimizing human impacts on local, regional and global ecosystems
through greater conservancy, reduced pollution, increased efficiency, and
protection of native vegetation, fish, wildlife habitats and other ecosystems.
In working toward these goals, the City will, when appropriate, align and partner with
community groups, businesses, non-profits, and neighboring communities.
NOTE: Questions and/or clarification of this policy should be directed to the City
Manager’s Office.
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organizational Structure
Page 2 of 5
Organizational Structure to Facilitate Sustainability Actions and to Achieve Goals
City Manager determined that the City’s many cross-departmental environmental sustainability
activities requires a clear organizational structure to succeed. In preparation for the
recruitment of the new position of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), roles and responsibilities
for each part of the organization was established.
Sustainability Board: Comprising of Directors from key departments, will establish the vision
and goals for the overall effort, approve the CSO’s work plan, and identify and approve
resources to complete the work plan tasks.
Sustainability Executive Advisory Group: To solicit input from outside the City, the City Manager
will organize and lead such an ad hoc group, whose membership will include key executives
from Palo Alto institutions, community leaders, and representatives from Stanford and large
companies. The function of the group is to give advice and feedback to the City Manager, get
input from the “real world”, forge and leverage international relationships/partnerships, build
excitement, and model and motivate behavioral changes.
Chief Sustainability Officer: The CSO will report to the City Manager and take direction from the
Sustainability Board. A critical task of the CSO is to develop the long-term sustainability work
plan and prioritize tasks for each fiscal year. The CSO will work with a larger group of
individuals from many City departments to complete the tasks on the work plan. That larger
group, the Sustainability Team, will organize itself into committees to implement the work plan
as prioritized by the CSO. Participants in the Sustainability Team will be embedded in job
descriptions and annual appraisals to ensure that team members understand that the
sustainability work plan tasks are key City priorities. The CSO will also be responsible for
community outreach on sustainability efforts and will act as the co-chair of community based
Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP).
Green Team: This is a long standing individual employee initiative driven team with voluntary
membership. The Green Team includes employees from many work groups and has historically
been project-based with the goal to complete projects and a bias towards action. This group of
engaged employees will be a valuable asset for the CSO to work with as they act as
ambassadors to their own work groups and spread the word on sustainability throughout the
City. Many Green Team members will also be on the Sustainability Team. The CSO will act as
the liaison to the Green Team co-chairs and will convey information to and from the
Sustainability Board.
One of the key tasks for the CSO and the Sustainability Board, the Sustainability Team and the
Green Team is to update the 2007 Climate Protection Plan. In addition, measuring performance
with respect to the goals of the plan must be done on an annual basis.
Attached is the line-diagram of the proposed governance structure.
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organizational Structure
Page 3 of 5
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organizational Structure
Page 4 of 5
City of Palo Alto Sustainability Policies
Since 1991, the Palo Alto City Council, City Manager, and City of Palo Alto Departments have
adopted policies, plans, ordinances, resolutions, and principles that have helped to increase the
sustainability of Palo Alto. In addition, the City of Palo Alto is currently integrating sustainability
principles in the Comprehensive Plan.
Council Policies
Energy Risk Management Policies – October 21, 2002, Revised October 2005
Extended Producer Responsibility Policy – December 2009 (CMR 456:09)
Green Building Policy for City Buildings – April 21, 2003, Revised December 23,
2007 (CMR 436:07)
Integrated Pest Management – October 2001 (CMR 343:01)
Recycled Water Salinity Reduction Policy – December 2009 (CMR 111:10)
Single-Use Plastic Policy – April 2009, Revised September 22, 2016 (CMR 215:09)
Support for Sustainability – April 2000, Revised June 18, 2007 (CMR 260:07)
Council Approved Plans
Baylands Master Plan – 2008
Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan – July 2012
Bicycle Transportation Plan – May 2003
Carbon Neutral Plan for the Electric Supply Portfolio – March 4, 2013 (Staff Report 3550)
Clean Bay Pollution Prevention Plan – 2014
Climate Protection Plan – December 3, 2007 (CMR 435:07)
Disinfection Alternatives Work Plan – August 2005
Gas Utility Long-Term Plan – April 23, 2012 (Staff Report 2552)
Local Solar Plan – April 21, 2014 (Staff Report 4608)
Long Term Energy Acquisition Plan (LEAP) - April 16, 2012 (Staff Report 2710)
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan - 2015 (Staff Report 5969)
Recycled Water Facility Plan – December 2008
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan - November 28, 2016 (Staff Report 7304)
Urban Forest Master Plan – May 11, 2015 (Staff Report 1332)
Urban Water Management Plan (2010) – June 2011
Urban Water Management Plan (2015) - June 2016
Utilities 2011 Strategic Plan – July 18, 2011, Revised August 5, 2013
Zero Waste Strategic Plan – October 2005
Ordinances
Disposable Checkout Bag Ordinance – May 6, 2013 (See website for more
information) (Staff Report 3065)
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Ordinance 5263 - Effective September 2014 through
06/19/2015
Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5383 - Effective 01/01/2017
Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5345 - Effective 09/10/2015 through 12/31/2016
Green Building Ordinance 5393 - Effective 01/01/2017
Green Building Ordinance 5324 - Effective 06/22/2015 through 12/31/2016
Green Building Ordinance 5220 - Effective December 2013 through 06/19/2015
Attachment E: Sustainability Policy and Organizational Structure
Page 5 of 5
Polystyrene Reduction Ordinance – May 11, 2009, Revised April 29, 2010 (See website
for more information) (CMR 201:09) (CMR 206:10)
Recycled Water Infrastructure Ordinance – May 12, 2008 (CMR 203:08)
Sewer Use Ordinance – June 21, 2010 (CMR 252:10)
Smoking Ordinance – October 3, 1995, updated December 5, 2016 (Staff Report 7544)
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Ordinance - January 10, 2011
Resolutions and Adopted Principles
Ahwahnee Water Principles Resolution No. 8560 - 2005 (Modified Ahwahnee Water
Principles)
Bay Friendly Landscaping Resolution – January 22, 2008
Carbon Neutral Plan for the Electric Supply Portfolio Resolution No. 9322 – March 4,
2013
Establishing a Local Solar Plan Resolution No. 9402 – April 21, 2014
Green Business Program Resolution No. 7877 – July 19, 1999
Palo Alto Energy Risk Management Policy Resolution No. 9454 – October 6, 2014
Potential Impacts of Climate Change and Externality Costs Resolution No. 9013 –
December 7, 2009
State and National Extended Producer Responsibility Actions Resolution No. 9017 –
December 14, 2009