2021 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PUBLIC HEARING

DECEMBER 14, 2021

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5.02

PROJECT TEAM

Butte CountyPaula M. Daneluk, AICP, Director Development ServicesDan Breedon, AICP, Planning ManagerTristan Weems, AICP, Associate PlannerMichal Hanson, CivicSpark FellowSkyler Kriese, CivicSpark Resilience Fellow (former staff)

PlaceWorksTammy L. Seale, Project Manager

Eli Krispi, Assistant Project Manager

Torina Wilson, Associate

Jessica Robbins, Project Planner

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STAFF RECOMMENDATION

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Adopt the Resolution to approve the 2021 Climate Action Plan (2021 CAP) and the associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Addendum.

EXISTING CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

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Adopted in 2014.

Strategic plan to reduce community-wide and County operations GHG emissions.

Qualified GHG Reduction Strategy per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.

Target of reducing emissions to meet 1990 levels by 2020.

OVERVIEW:2021 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

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2021CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

Updates and expands 2014 CAP to be responsive to updated state regulations and guidance and changing conditions.

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Provides new long-term GHG reduction goals for 2030, 2040, and 2050.

Updates GHG inventories and forecast.

Updates existing and includes new GHG reduction policies to achieve targets.

Provides an implementation and monitoring program.

Includes an environmental review consistent with CEQA Guidelines.

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE• Comprehensive policy document that guides

land use in the unincorporated county.

• The 2040 Update will account for changes in local conditions and changes in State law. Includes: • Safety Element Update – will include climate change

adaptation.• Housing Element Update• New Environmental Justice Element• Conservation Element update for consistency with the

2021 CAP.

• Work on the project initiated in January 2021 and will conclude in Fall 2022.

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Fall 2020 -Winter 2021

Inventory and

Assess

Spring 2021 –Summer 2021

Draft Strategies

Summer – Fall 2021

Prepare Plan

Phases of 2021 CAP Preparation and Timing

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Public Outreach and Engagement

• County staff and advisory body conversations• Community workshop• Stakeholder engagement • Updates to Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors• Online webpage updating

2021 CAP COMPONENTS

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2021 CAP LAYOUT AND CONTENT• Executive Summary• Introduction• Butte County GHG Emissions• GHG Reduction Targets• Existing GHG-Reduction Strategies• New GHG-Reduction Strategies• CAP Implementation Strategy• Glossary• Works Cited

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GHG INVENTORY

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Assessment of GHG emissions attributed to unincorporated Butte County.

Emissions from community-wide activities and County operations.

2006 inventory sets baseline.

2019 inventory shows progress since 2006.

GHG INVENTORY SECTORSCommunity-wide

• Agriculture • Transportation• Residential Energy• Nonresidential Energy• Solid Waste• Off-road Equipment• Water and Wastewater• Land Use and Forestry• Stationary Sources

County operations• Energy• Commute• Fleet• Solid Waste• Water and Wastewater• Refrigerants

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COMMUNITY-WIDE INVENTORY RESULTS

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0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

2006 2019

-13%

MTC

O2e

MTCO2e= Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

743,850 MTCO2e 649,870

MTCO2e

WHAT WE LEARNED

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Sector2006 MTCO2e

2019 MTCO2e

Percentage Change 2006 to

2019

Agriculture 521,650 501,630 -4%

Transportation 264,420 229,110 -13%

Residential energy 133,350 90,730 -32%

Nonresidential energy 58,670 37,350 -36%

Off-road equipment 56,070 59,310 6%

Solid waste 40,830 61,120 50%

Water and wastewater 20,190 16,960 -16%

Total Annual MTCO2e (not including land use and sequestration)

1,095,190 996,210 -9%

Land use and sequestration

-346,340 -346,340 0%

Total Annual MTCO2e (including land use and sequestration)

748,850 649,870 -13%

• Community is using less electricity and natural gas.

• Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increased but emissions decreased due to more fuel efficiency and electric vehicles.

• Agriculture yielded less rice, replaced diesel pumps, and decreased residue burning.

• Water use increased but efficiency in water pumping decreased emissions.

• Waste increased due to post Camp Fire waste in the Neal Road Landfill.

GHG EMISSIONS FORECAST

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Inventoried 2019 GHG emissions were 649,850 MTCO2e, or 8.45 MTCO2e per capita.

This is 13 percent below baseline levels, close to the 2020 GHG emission reduction target.

2006 MTCO2e

“Baseline”

2019 MTCO2e

2030 MTCO2e

2040 MTCO2e

2050 MTCO2e

Inventoried GHG emissions

8.38 8.45 - - -

Forecasted GHG emissions without existing and planned actions

- - 8.93 8.52 8.67

Forecasted GHG emissions with existing and planned actions

- - 8.04 7.11 6.82

STATE GHG REDUCTION TARGETS

• 2030 (SB 32): 40% below 1990 levels.

• 2045 (Executive Order B-55-18, goal): Net carbon neutral.

• 2045 (SB 100): Carbon free electricity.

• 2050 (Executive Order S-03-05, goal): 80% below 1990 levels.

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State Reduction Targets 2021 CAP Reduction Targets*• Reduce 2030 emissions to 6.0 MTCO2e

per capita.• Reduce 2040 emissions to 4.0 MTCO2e

per capita.• Reduce 2050 emissions to 2.0 MTCO2e

per capita.

*Note that the 2021 CAP reduction targets are consistent with state recommendations for local jurisdictions.

STRATEGY SECTORS AND OVERALL GOAL

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CAP Goal:Butte County reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy, transportation, water, waste, and agricultural sources in the unincorporated county 40 percent below 1990 equivalent levels by 2030 and continues to reduce emissions toward carbon neutrality, reducing emissions to at least 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.

Sectors and Number of Strategies• Energy (4)• Water and Wastewater (1)• Transportation and Land Use (4)• Solid Waste (2)• Agriculture (3)• Government Operations (1)

SECTOR-SPECIFIC GOALS

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Energy Sector Goal: Butte County is home to energy efficient and resilient homes, businesses, and operations that rely on carbon free electricity or other low-carbon, clean energy sources.

Water and Wastewater Sector Goal: Homes, businesses, and operations throughout the unincorporated county practice sustainable and efficient indoor and outdoor water use.

Transportation and Land Use Sector Goal: Residents, workers, and visitors rely on a low carbon, connected, and efficient transportation network that provides equitable access to motorized and non-motorized mobility options.

SECTOR-SPECIFIC GOALS

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Solid Waste Sector Goal: Butte County residents, businesses, and visitors minimize waste sent to the landfill.

Agriculture Sector Goal: Butte County is a state leader in maximizing the efficiency and sustainability of natural and working lands countywide.

Government Operations Sector Goal: Butte County is an established leader in rural climate action and GHG reduction.

GHG EMISSION REDUCTIONS AFTER 2021 CAP

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PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT 2021 CAP

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PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING

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• November 18, 2021

• Voted 3-0 (two Commissioners were absent) recommending the adoption of the 2021 CAP by the Board of Supervisors.

• Directed staff to add more information related to recent natural disasters, changes in sequestration potential, and improvements in agricultural practices.

ADDITIONAL REVISIONS

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• Changes made include:• Corrected minor grammatical and punctuation errors.• Expanded discussion on past climate disasters.• Bolstered link between 2021 CAP and other plans related to climate adaptation and resilience.

• Additional discussion on shifts in agricultural practices. • Added text box on Butte County Fire Safe Council and added them to Implementation Table as a partner organization.

• Expanded text box on carbon sequestration and Healthy Soils Program.• Added discussion on how wildfire changes carbon sequestration benefit of natural lands.

ADDITIONAL REVISIONS CONTINUED

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• Changes made include:• Expanded discussion on demographic projections source.• Expanded discussion on per-capita targets. • Added table showing GHG reduction targets from other jurisdictions.• Added action to Strategy 11related to exploring reuse opportunities for cleared forest residue.

• Revised actions of Strategy 13 to clarify rice farming practice shifts.• Noted the difference between lead and supporting departments in the Work Plan.

• Revised lead and supporting departments in the Work Plan. • Added some agency partners/organizations in the Work Plan.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Pursuant to CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, the County completed an Addendum to the 2030 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Addendum includes an analysis of the proposed project, based on Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, and whether the environmental effects from the proposed project would be any different from those disclosed in the Certified EIR.

The Addendum concluded that the proposed project would not result in any new significant impacts or substantially increase the severity of any significant impacts identified in the Certified EIR.

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STAFF RECOMMENDATION

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Adopt the Resolution to approve the 2021 Climate Action Plan (2021 CAP) and the associated Addendum to the General Plan Environmental Impact Report.

QUESTIONS?

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THANK YOU!

Contact information:Tristan Weems, AICP, Associate PlannerTWEEMS@BUTTECOUNTY.NET

Keep up with us through the project website:https://www.buttecounty.net/dds/bccapupdate2020

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