Visit us on the web! You'll find case studies, issues of the month, workshop materials, archived newsletters and updates on local government activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Contra Costa County
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Join Our Mailing list!
info@cccclimateleaders.org
Contact us:
925.631.0597
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The 4CL Program offers:
Quarterly workshops for education and networking opportunities
Monthly newsletters for environmental updates, pertinent local information, and interesting upcoming events
Ongoing website containing the CCC city environmental developments, archived newsletters, and other educational resources
www.cccclimateleaders.org
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Thank you to our sponsors!
PG&E
QUEST
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Newsletter Contributors:
Content:
Heather Cleveland
4CL Consultant
Contributor:
Christina Bay
4CL Consultant
Editor:
Katherine Bracken
4CL Volunteer
Contributing editors:
Lynda Deschambault
Executive Director 4CL
Sophie Damerel
4CL Consultant
Newsletter articles are collected from a variety of sources and are cited via a website reference when applicable
To add content or events to our next monthly newsletter, please send an email to
info@cccclimateleaders.org
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EBEW News
East Bay Energy Watch
2012 is the Year of Benchmarking!
The first stage of AB 1103 and 531 are to take place in 2012 after a postponement in compliance. AB 1103 mandates the disclosure of a building's energy performance to potential buyers. To see more about the scheduled implementation set by the bill, click here.
Energy Budget well spent in California
California proves again to be a leader in energy efficiency among states. CA spends more money than any other state on electric efficiency, put toward making effective programs, policies, utility funds, building energy codes, transportation, and state government initiatives. This has been proven effective with California ultimately using only 6.9% of the nation's total electricity in 2011!
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Funding
Climate Showcase Communities Program
EPA's Climate Showcase Communities Program helps local and tribal governments pilot innovative, cost-effective, and replicable community-based greenhouse gas reduction projects. Your community can learn from these pilot projects and replicate their successes.
Collaborative Public Sector Clean Energy Procurement Project
The Contra
Costa Economic Partnership hosted an informational meeting for public agencies to discuss the opportunity and benefits of a regional collaborative procurement process. The informational meeting covered a variety of topics related to installing solar power on public agency facilities, including details about the process, background on the successful Silicon Valley Collaborative Renewable Energy Procurement (SV-REP) Project. For more information visit:
DOI WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for FY 2012
Application Due: January 19, 2012 DOI invites eligible entities to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with the Bureau of Reclamation on projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency, benefit endangered and threatened species, facilitate water markets, or carry out other activities to address climate-related impacts on water or prevent any water-related crisis or conflict. click here for further information
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Local City News
Climate Action Plan Task Force Charter Adopted by Council
On November 30, the Moraga Town Council continued its previous discussion from November 9 on how to best form a Climate Action Task Force. The Town will form a Task Force to begin what is expected to be an 18 month process to prepare a Climate Action Plan for the Town as mandated by state law. The Council voted 4-1 to have staff return in January with a staff recommended list of 13 Task Force members for Council endorsement.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported directly from large facilities and suppliers across the country are now easily accessible to the public
You can access the data at: http://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/main.do The site allows you to search by City or by County. A quick search of two of the cities our county finds:
Martinez : Air products 810,000 MT C02e; Martinez Cogen 14,000 MTMT C02e; and Shell oil has 410,00MT C02e; from its hydrogen production and more than 3 million MT C02e; This information can be used by communities to identify nearby sources of GHGs, help businesses compare and track emissions, and provide information to state and local governments.
State and local officials interested in additional information about developing and implementing cost-effective climate and energy strategies that help further environmental goals and achieve public health and economic benefits may visit:
Cities sign up in droves for Bay Area transit plan meetings
The residents in your cities have been signing up for workshops on a plan for Bay Area development and transportation to reduce greenhouse gases . At this point there are long waiting lists for residents in your city who are anxious to take part in the planning process.
click here for further information
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Other City News
Public hearing Wednesday for Vallejo's Climate Action Plan
Following a year and a half of work, Vallejo's final plan to reduce carbon emissions will be subject of a public hearing Wednesday by the city planning commission.
Comment on the draft Climate Action Plan
Interested residents can comment on the county's draft Climate Action Plan, which addresses greenhouse gas emissions in Napa County through 2020, in a few ways.
Read more:
Sunbury Generation Plant Confirms Planned Conversion to Natural Gas
SHAMOKIN DAM -- Sunbury Generation, one of the oldest coal-fired power plants in the nation, will soon be generating more electricity by burning natural gas.
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Legislation
Several San Mateo County cities join forces to draft uniform law banning plastic bags
The Cities of San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Foster City and Millbrae have joined a "working group" formed by San Mateo County to craft an ordinance that could be uniformly adopted by the different municipalities, Board of Supervisors President Carole Groom said Tuesday. Other cities have expressed interest in joining as well.
US solar installations grow 140%
Much of the growth in solar installations is due to the Department of Treasury's 1603 program, which is set to expire on 31 December unless Congress extends it. California regained a substantial share of overall solar PV installation in Q3 2011 with 44%; the next 6 largest state markets combined comprised 45% of quarterly installations. Read more to see what your city can learn about tax incentives for installing solar panels.
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Impacts
In Internal Canadian Documents, a Warning on Oil Sands
Internal government documents show that Canada's scientific and environmental bureaucracy does not share the Conservative government's view that oil sands projects in Alberta have relatively little negative impact on the environment.
New Discovery Promises Efficient Way to Recycle Carbon Dioxide Pollution
Scientists in the United States say they have discovered a new, inexpensive way to remove excess carbon dioxide, or CO2, from the atmosphere, as well as from large industrial exhaust sources, such as factory smokestacks.
It's Organic, but Is It Natural?
How far is food traveling to get to your city's grocery stores? Local farmers markets can help your residents support local farmers, and also reduce the miles the food travels. Plus there is an an argument for eating local and in season.
Food miles - the carbon dioxide emissions produced by food transport - constitute only a small fraction of the total emissions related to food production. Still, there's a bit of cognitive dissonance in eating an organic tomato that was grown in a desert in Mexico and then flown 3,000 miles so we can feel good about eating "natural" foods.
click here for more information
The city of Portland's farmers markets concludes that their average food comes within 50 miles:
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Economics
Carbon Trust's 'Empower' Tool to Boost Employees' Green Engagement
The company will today launch the so-called "Empower" tool, which can be downloaded by public bodies and businesses free of charge.
The interactive application allows employees to take a virtual tour of a typical office building to learn how to make environmental improvements, such as turning off unused equipment or avoiding unnecessary corporate travel.
How Lifecycle Cost Analysis Can Make a Better Case for Green Building
By incorporating lifecycle cost analysis, or LCCA, to compare different types of systems over the lifetime of a building, businesses can make financial decisions that are good for the bottom line and the environment. The price of new equipment is an easily comprehensible but incomplete cost. LCCA also accounts for future costs By adding in maintenance, energy use, tax incentives or rebates, and any salvage value. It also can cover replacement cost.
click here for further information |
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Upcoming Events
EPA Webinar on Communities and Clean Energy,
January 18 2012, from 1:00-2:15 PM (EST)
Communities across the country are increasingly investing in clean, local sources of energy-be it solar, wind, geothermal or biomass-or purchasing electricity from renewable sources through their utilities. Clean energy has many benefits: protection against volatile electricity prices, improved air quality, and lower climate impacts.
Green Rheem Movie : Bag It!
Tuesday January 17th 6PM
Rheem Movie Theater, Moraga
Save the Date! Join Generation Green for a great evening at the historic Rheem movie theatre. "Think Global: Eat, Drink and Shop Local!" Featuring local wines and food samples at 6pm, film at 7pm and then stay for the shorts and discussion after the movie!
Deciding how to Quantify Emissions Reductions from Clean Energy-Webinar by EPA
January 30th 2:00-3:00PM (EST)
This Webinar will cover different approaches to quantifying emissions reductions from energy efficiency and renewable energy, and how to choose the best method for your state's needs. For registration information please visit:
http://www.epatechforum.org
Benchmarking in Portfolio Manager for State and Local Governments and EECBG Recipients-Webinar by Energy Star January 24th 2:00-3:15PM (EST)
Review EPA's online energy management tool, Portfolio Manager, which enables you to track the progress of energy efficiency efforts and compare the energy use of your buildings with that of peer buildings across the country. Attendees will learn how to measure and track energy use and carbon dioxide emission reductions to establish baseline energy use, prioritize investments, set goals, and track improvements over time. http://www.energystar.webex.com
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