HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8a. Community Climate Action Plan Progress Report and 2027 Plan Update Study Session Item 8a
Department: Administration
Cost Center: 1005
For Agenda of: 4/7/2025
Placement: Study Session
Estimated Time: 60 minutes
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Chris Read, Sustainability Manager
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT AND 2027
PLAN UPDATE STUDY SESSION
RECOMMENDATION
1. Receive and file the 2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report.
2. Provide strategic direction on the 2027 Climate Action Plan update .
3. Direct staff to join the Local Government Climate Alliance to advocate for pre -
approved positions via the City’s adopted Legislative Action Platform to advance
Council goals related to the Climate Action Plan, and delegate City participation in the
organization to the City Manager or their designee.
REPORT-IN-BRIEF
This Council Agenda Report provides the 2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report1
(Report) and provides background information to support Council’s strategic guidance on
the upcoming 2027 Climate Action Plan update. The Report provides updated
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and forecast snapshots, reports on
implementation progress to date, identifies implementation headwinds and momentum,
and looks ahead to how the City can enable continued emissions reductions in support
of its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035.
The Report finds that while the City has made real progress, emissions reductions related
to natural gas and transportation are falling behind previous projections, and as a result,
the City is not on target to meet original projections. The report also notes that the City is
on track to achieve local reductions con sistent with the state’s 2030 targets, but
projections show implementation of the current CAP falling short of the new legislatively
mandated statewide goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2045
(AB 1279).
1 The progress report covers communitywide greenhouse gas emissions. While this report references the
City’s municipal operations climate action work, known as Lead by Example, it does not go into detail on
Lead by Example, nor does it provide new analysis on Lead by Example. The Lead by Example: A Plan for
Carbon Neutral Municipal Operations progress report was presented to Council in May of 2024, and the
Plan update was adopted by Council in February of 2025. The next progress report for Lead by Example is
scheduled to be presented to Council in 2028.
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Staff conducted community outreach, engaged with stakeholder groups and regional
agency partners, and sought input from technical experts in advance of this Study
Session. This research will support the 2027 Climate Action Plan update (2027 CAP
update) by affirming successful actions that should be continued, identifying actions that
should be modified or tried again, and proposing initial new ideas that could meaningfully
reduce emissions through 2035 and beyond.
Potential actions proposed to be modified or tried again include: (1) re-evaluation of
mobility innovations related to bikeshare, carshare, and micro-transit, (2) enhanced
support for regional transit and EV charging infrastructure, (3) re-evaluation of a large
building energy efficiency program, (4) evaluation of the new single-family Home Energy
Score program, and (5) proactive legislative advocacy. Potential new ideas that could be
considered include: (1) evaluation of bulk purchasing and direct installation programs for
rooftop solar, batteries, and heat pump water heater and HVAC units, and (2) support for
“plug-in” solar and battery energy storage systems.
This Council Agenda Report includes three key questions for Council:
1. Which of the potential actions described above, and summarized below, should be
further evaluated as part of the 2027 Climate Action Plan Update?
2. Does Council want to retain its local 2035 target?
3. Does Council have further direction or feedback on the proposed outreach,
engagement, and plan update approach to the 2027 CAP Update?
Following the Study Session, staff will transition to preparation of the 2027 Climate Action
Plan, which is expected to be presented for Council’s consideration in early 2027.
POLICY CONTEXT
The City’s General Plan includes numerous policies and programs related to clean
energy, energy efficiency in buildings, housing, mobility, transportation, landfilled solid
waste, and natural resource management topics included in the Climate Action Plan. For
brevity, this policy context section references only General Plan policies that directly
mention or are related to climate action planning, including:
Land Use Element of the General Plan Policy 9.4 (Climate Action Plan) - The City
shall maintain and implement its Climate Action Plan to reduce comm unity and
municipal GHG emissions consistent with State laws and objectives.
Conservation and Open Space Element of the General Plan Policy 2.2.1
(Atmospheric Change) - City actions shall seek to minimize undesirable climate
changes and deterioration of the atmosphere’s protective functions that result from
the release of carbon dioxide and other substances.
Housing Element of the General Plan Policy 9.1 - Residential developments
should promote sustainability consistent with the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and
California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24) in their design,
placement, and functionality.
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Circulation Element of the General Plan Transportation Goal 1 – Maintain
accessibility and protect the environment throughout San Luis Obispo while
reducing dependence on single-occupant use of motor vehicles, with the goal of
achieving State and Federal health standards for air quality.
These General Plan policies are implemented as follows:
Resolution 11159 (2020 Series) adopted the Climate Action Plan for Community
Recovery with the goal of community carbon neutrality by 2035 and a sub -goal of
50 percent reduction in emissions from existing buildings by 2030, and
Resolution No. 11381 (2022 Series) reaffirmed these goals and adopted a work
program for fiscal years 2023-27, including Administrative Action 2 (Monitor and
Report Plan Implementation) and Administrative Action 3 (Regularly Update the
Climate Action Plan).
Currently, the Climate Action Plan Update is a work program item in the 2025-27 Financial
Plan’s Major City Goal for Open Space, Climate Action, and Resilience. Action 1.c directs
staff to complete the 2027-2031 Climate Action Plan and GHG Inventory Update by early
2027. Though the Major City Goal Work Program for the 2025-27 Financial Plan
organizes its work into five discrete topic areas (economic resilience, diversity equity and
inclusion, housing, infrastructure and sustainable transportation, and sustainability),
these goals are cross-cutting, and many of the tasks within the goals depend on and
reinforce each other.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of San Luis Obispo has a long history of energy and resource conservation and
has been taking intentional action on these topics since at least the early 1980s. More
recently, in 2017, Council made Climate Action a Major City Goal, and since then, staff
and community members have worked to make substantial greenhouse gas emissions
reductions and advance local climate solutions, while supporting related goals (i.e.,
housing, diversity, equity and inclusion, economic development, and community
resilience).
In 2020, the Council adopted the Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery (CAP),
which set a goal of communitywide carbon neutrality by 2035. The CAP charted a course
for an approximately 70 percent reduction in emissions by 2035, while acknowledging
that the remaining 30 percent had no known reduction pathway and would require
technological breakthroughs, significant new external funding sources, and
unprecedented alignment across federal, state, and regional governments to get to full
carbon neutrality. In adopting a goal of carbon neutrality by 2035, Council acknowledged
the value of having an aspirational goal, despite the uncertainty associated with full
achievement of that goal.
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As outlined in the 2020 CAP, the City commits to providing a progress report to the
community and City Council every four years. These progress reports are scheduled
ahead of each plan update , which also occur every four years. The most recent CAP
update, adopted by City Council on December 13, 2022, is the 2023-27 Climate Action
Plan Work Program.
2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report
The 2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report (Report) (Attachment A) includes
information about the City’s Climate Action Plan, an updated greenhouse gas emissions
inventory and forecast snapshot, and a detailed review of implementation progress from
the 2023-27 Climate Action Plan Work Program. The Report is organized into the
following Chapters:
Chapter 1 - Progress Report Background shares information about the history of
climate action in San Luis Obispo and provides the context for the progress report.
Chapter 2 - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast Snapshots
updates historic greenhouse gas emissions inventories, provides a 2024 inventory
update, and forecasts emissions for 2030, 2035, and 2045.
Chapter 3 - Climate Action Progress by Pillar explains the different sectors of the
Climate Action Plan, reports on implementation progress to date, identifies
implementation headwinds and momentum, and looks ahead to how the City can
support continued emissions reductions in support of its goal of carbon neutrality.
Appendix A - provides detailed information about the implementation status of all
48 actions in the 2023-27 Climate Action Plan Work Program.
GHG Inventory Snapshot
In 2020, the City estimated that approximately 60% of inventoried communitywide
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were from transportation, with nearly 80% of those
emissions attributable to regional travel. The remaining inventoried emissions were from
electricity, natural gas, and landfilled solid waste. The 2020 CAP projected that by 2035,
electricity and organic waste emissions could be nearly eliminated, approximately 50% of
natural gas emissions could be reduced, and roughly two -thirds of transportation
emissions could be reduced.
Updated analysis projects 2035 electricity and solid waste emissions reductions to occur
roughly as projected. However, natural gas and transportation emissions are declining
more slowly than anticipated, and regional travel, where emissions reductions are having
to overcome higher than expected regional growth, remains the largest source of
remaining emissions in the updated 2035 forecast. While the 2020 CAP anticipated that
the City could reduce overall emissions by about 70% by 2035, given these slower than
anticipated reductions in natural gas use and regional transportation emissions, staff
estimate that the City is on track to reduce emissions by about 50% by 2035.
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It should be noted that, as described in Attachment A, the City inventories and forecasts
GHG emissions consistent with guidance provided by the California Air Resources Board.
The GHG emissions sectors included in the City’s inventory are required sectors under
state guidance and exclude optional sectors associated with off-road equipment,
wastewater treatment, and aviation, among other things.2 The “narrow and deep”
approach to pursuing ambitious action (i.e., focusing on deep reductions in the required
emissions sectors only) is consistent with direction Council provided at the December 14,
2022 adoption of the 2023-27 Climate Action Work Program.
Implementation Progress
As part of the progress report, staff reviewed all 48 CAP actions. The City has seen
success in all emissions sectors, with the deepest reductions coming in clean electricity
(via Central Coast Community Energy) and solid waste (via SB 1383 implementation). In
these sectors, early action has driven substantial reductions and set the foundation for
deep reductions through 2035 and 2045.
Even where emissions reductions are falling short, CAP implementation is significantly
reducing emissions relative to “no-action”. Actions ranging from investing in active
transportation infrastructure to supporting low-income energy efficiency upgrades are
driving measurable progress towards carbon neutrality. However, external factors are
playing a larger-than-expected role and are presenting new constraints. For example,
anticipated federal grant funding for a large building energy retrofit program was cancelled
in 2025, leaving commercial natural gas use on track for only modest declines through
2035. Regional growth is also expected to increase regional single-occupancy car trips
into San Luis Obispo through 2035, leading to an increase in regional vehicle miles
travelled (VMT), which is the emissions source that the City has the least ability to
influence. While the City plays an important role in reducing transportation emissions
through strategies like housing production (so people can live closer to where they work),
active transportation, and transit investments, many of the factors that shape how far
people travel in the region are outside the City's control, including the rural nature of the
area, regional economic growth, and jobs and housing production in adjacent
communities. In addition to continued focus on areas the City has direct control over,
enhanced coordination with regional transportation partners will be necessary to address
these trends.
California’s Legislative Climate Targets
The City’s 2035 carbon neutrality goal is a local policy preference, and it sits inside
California’s evolving greenhouse gas emissions legal framework. The City’s climate
action efforts are now informed by two statewide GHG emissions targets that have been
adopted or clarified since the adoption of the 2020 CAP:
SB 32 sets a 2030 regulatory goal to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions
to 40 percent below 1990 levels. Since 2020, new best practices have emerged
on how cities should operationalize this goal and the City’s current analysis finds
2 The Lead by Example Plan provides an estimate of direct emissions from wastewater treatment for
informational purposes. For more information, see the Lead by Example Council Agenda Report at:
https://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=218409&dbid=0&repo=CityClerk&cr=1 .
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that with implementation of the existing CAP, the City is on track to achieve this
goal.
AB 1279 sets a 2045 regulatory goal of achieving net‑zero emissions “as soon as
possible,” and no later than 2045, with at least an 85 percent reduction in emissions
by that date.3 The City’s analysis shows that the implementation of the current
Climate Action Plan puts the City on track for approximately a 75% reduction by
2045, which is nearly consistent with AB 1279’s requirements of an approximately
85% reduction by 2045, but a gap of about 10% remains.
2026 Progress Report Key Findings
Based on the work completed for the Report, staff have identified four key takeaways:
1. The City’s leadership and investments in climate action produce measurable
results, invite outside resources (including over $57 million in external funding for
CAP implementation actions since 2020), and demonstrate the effectiveness of
sustained local leadership.
2. Regional, state, and federal policy changes are introducing new constraints on
local climate progress.
3. Regional vehicle trips and natural gas use in existing buildings remain the most
significant obstacles to achieving Council’s 2035 community carbon neutrality
goal.
4. Persistent local innovation and creativity will be required to reach carbon neutrality.
2027 Climate Action Plan Update
Given the information provided above, a key task of the CAP update is identifying a work
program that puts the City on a trajectory to achieving it’s adopted carbon neutrality target,
in addition to ensuring that the City is on track to reach California’s 2030 and 2045
statewide legislative targets.
To set the stage for the 2027 CAP update, staff prepared comprehensive information on
implementation progress for Council’s consideration, as well as findings from stakeholder
outreach and technical research on how to increase the pace of emissions reductions.4
Staff, with support from participants in the community outreach process, identified which
actions might be paused or continued, as well as which actions merit revisiting that did
not succeed the first time. In addition, some new ideas were considered that could further
reduce emissions through 2035 and beyond. The remainder of this report identifies the
types of actions that could be enhanced, reimagined, or newly proposed as part of the
2027 CAP update.
3 The guidance for establishing an 85% reduction assumes statewide carbon sequestration initiatives
achieving the other 15% as modeled by the California Air Resources Board and included in its 2022
Climate Scoping Plan.
4 Technical analysis conducted ahead of this Study Session includes comparative review of 15 of the most
ambitious and effective Climate Action Plans in California, conversations with staff from cities with similar
carbon neutrality goals throughout the US, review of research prepared for state agencies including the
California Energy Commission, Public Utilities Commission, CalRecycle, and the California Air Resources
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Implementation of Climate Action Plan actions occurs collaboratively across multiple City
departments and divisions. As the 2027 Climate Action Plan Update is developed, staff
will continue to evaluate how proposed actions align with departmental work programs
and operational capacity. The ideas below represent an illustrative but not exhaustive list
of potential actions, and additional analysis and outreach may result in different or
additional recommendations.
Actions to Improve, Expand, or Retry
Based on technical analysis and community feedback, the following actions exemplify the
types of 2020 CAP actions that staff recommends improving, expanding, or retrying.
Actions in this category would be subject to additional analysis prior to inclusion in the
2027 CAP update and fall into three main categories:
1. Transportation
a. Mobility Innovations. There are opportunities to re-evaluate innovative
programs that complement SLO Transit, including the further evaluation of
bikeshare, carshare, and micro-transit programs. Bikeshare and carshare
programs can play an important role in supporting households with one or
zero personal vehicles and in facilitating a transition away from single -
occupancy vehicle travel. Micro-transit, which can take a wide range of
forms, but has typically operated in other California cities like a public ride
share service, can further support transit ridership by providing strategically
targeted service in areas or times where overall fixed-route ridership is low.
To date, neither bikeshare nor carshare programs have demonstrated long-
term viability in San Luis Obispo under a model that requires no financial
contribution from the City. However, conditions may be shifting for
bikeshare, and staff will continue to monitor market developments and
provide updates to the community and City Council as appropriate.
Carshare services remain more challenging to implement under the current
model, but emerging approaches, including the development of
autonomous vehicles, have the potential to disrupt existing business
structures and may improve the feasibility of similar services in San Luis
Obispo in the future.5
Micro-transit is being used in other California cities to serve low-ridership
areas or times. A micro-transit program could potentially enable fixed-route
networks to shift more from coverage to ridership growth. Given the wide
range of program design options and related costs, the viability of a micro-
transit program that would be optimal in San Luis Obispo is currently
unknown. A study is underway to evaluate operational considerations and
constraints of a potential pilot program.
Board, and review of articles by national technical experts at the forefront of issues like clean energy and
mobility.
5 As noted in the 2026 Progress Report, private carshare providers previously shared with staff that the
City lacks the population required to operate a program. Staff are currently reconnecting with providers to
test whether that assumption is true in 2026.
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Staff recommends further analysis and potential inclusion of these actions
in the 2027 CAP due to their ability to reduce vehicle miles travelled (VMT),
support increased transit ridership and transportation mode integration, and
make continued progress on the City’s mode split goals.
b. Regional Transit. Regional transit remains a critical tool for reducing vehicle
miles traveled across San Luis Obispo County and the broader region.
There is a continuing need for increased and stable funding to support
ongoing transit operations. While the City does not directly administer
regional transit, it does have representation on regional transportation
agencies that provide transit service. Staff recommends further analysis
and potential inclusion of actions that support regional transit, as well as
other actions that have the potential to reduce the City’s largest source of
emissions (regional VMT) such as continued support of electric vehicle (EV)
uptake and associated EV charging infrastructure.
2. Existing Buildings – In 2025, staff conducted a Study Session for Council
discussing the different building energy retrofit policy options that are available to
a City for emissions reductions.6 Since then, staff have been implementing
Council’s strategic direction to develop voluntary energy reporting programs as
described below and opportunities for accelerated emissions reductions exist in
the following areas:
a. Large-Building Retrofits: As previously noted, the City had expected to be
competitive for a Department of Energy grant that would have covered the
cost of developing and staffing a large-building retrofit program (commonly
referred to as a “Building Performance Standard”). With the dissolution of
the funding source in 2025, staff pivoted to completing initial tasks that could
be conducted with existing resources, including identifying approximately
100 buildings that exceed 50,000 square feet and approximately 150
buildings between 25,000 and 50,000 square feet. Staff have also set up
the no-cost digital infrastructure that can enable initial voluntary reporting of
energy performance for buildings of this size. Voluntary disclosure can
provide education and awareness about cost savings associated with
retrofits and can connect building owners with rebates and incentives to
complete those retrofits.7 As discussed at the July 2025 Study Session, if
emissions reductions from voluntary disclosure are not sufficient to meet
the City’s goals, the City could consider mandatory reporting or retrofit
requirements. Additional resources would be required to transition to a
mandatory reporting program. Further, any program that requires
mandatory retrofits would need substantial additional resources and
staffing. In the near term, staff anticipates developing relationships with
6 For more information about existing building retrofit policy options and considerations, see the Council
Agenda Packet developed for Council’s July 15, 2025 Study Session on the topic at: https://pub-
slocity.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=20844
7 Examples of current rebates, incentives, and technical assistance for commercial building retrofits
include the 3C-REN Commercial Energy Savings Program, the PG&E on-bill financing program, and the
Central Coast Leaders in Energy Action Program - Energy Advisor Service.
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building owners and sharing resources that support voluntary retrofits as
discussed in the July 2025 Study Session. Staff recommends further
analysis and potential inclusion of a Building Performance Standard action
in the 2027 CAP update that focuses on assessing voluntary disclosure
success and, if needed to reach the City’s goals, identifying and securing
grant funding to support further program development.
b. Single Family Home Energy Disclosure. The City has successfully
advocated to the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) to bring the
statewide Home Energy Score program to San Luis Obispo. The Home
Energy Score provides homeowners with a standardized assessment of
their home's energy performance, rated by a certified, independent
assessor. The assessment evaluates current energy consumption and
associated costs, and produces tailored recommendations for cost-effective
efficiency improvements. As with large-buildings, voluntary disclosure can
provide education and connect homeowners with resources to support
energy retrofits. The program is expected to launch in mid-2026, and staff
will assess its effectiveness in its initial years of operation. A potential action
in the 2027 CAP could direct staff to assess the effectiveness of the
voluntary disclosure program, and if results are insufficient to achieve the
City’s goals, to evaluate the potential costs and benefits of a mandatory
disclosure or retrofit program.
3. Proactive Legislative Action – The 2023-27 CAP Work Program includes an action
to advocate for legislation supporting CAP implementation. The City has since
updated its Legislative Action Platform to reflect local climate priorities and
submitted letters in support of and opposition to state legislation accordingly. To
more effectively influence legislative outcomes, staff recommend joining the Local
Government Climate Alliance (LGCA), a new consensus -based organization
currently hosted by the City of Santa Barbara. An informational sheet about LGCA
is provided as Attachment B. As of March 6, the LGCA has 10 member cities and
counties representing 4% of California's population. Membership provides access
to a lobbyist with deep energy sector expertise and a collective local go vernment
approach to shaping climate-specific legislation, with particular focus on electricity
affordability. Because the LGCA is consensus-based, if the City were a member,
the organization would only formally take a position on legislation if the City a nd all
other LGCA members approve of the position. City staff would use the City's
adopted Legislative Action Platform to evaluate whether to support legislative
positions considered by LGCA. If Council approves joining LGCA and delegates
authority to the City Manager’s designee, it is suggested that the role be staffed by
the Office of Sustainability and Natural Resources. Membership would cost $1,500
annually, which staff believe can be covered by reallocating existing budget from
memberships in lower-impact sustainability-focused professional organizations.
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New Ideas
A recurring theme throughout technical analysis and the outreach conducted to date is a
shortage of new transformative ideas capable of rapidly reducing emissions. This
reinforces the significance of the "Improve, Expand, or Retry" category. Nonetheless,
several new ideas did emerge and are provided below as an example of the types of
things the City could explore as part of the 2027 CAP Update. New ideas include:
1. Energy and Buildings – The City could explore a municipally supported program
for bulk-purchasing and direct installation of solar panels, battery storage, and heat
pumps, modeled on similar programs in Ann Arbor, MI, and Palo Alto, CA. This
program could address two key barriers to building electrification retrofits: price
uncertainty for customers and inconsistent demand for local installers by offering
fixed-price purchasing to property owners and tenants, while providing a reliable
pipeline of work for local installers. Because start-up costs, operating costs, and
staffing needs require further evaluation, a 2027 Climate Action Plan (CAP) action
would likely take the form of directing staff to conduct a n initial feasibility study.
Staff recommends further analysis and potential inclusion of this action in the 2027
CAP because of its potential to make voluntary retrofits more accessible and
reduce the cost and complexity of complying with any future retrofit requirements.
2. Energy and Buildings – There is currently a national movement in support of solar
and battery energy storage systems that can be purchased “off the shelf” and
plugged into standard wall outlets, providing cost savings and resiliency benefits
for community members (renters, mobile and manufactured home resident s, and
apartment occupants, among others) that have not traditionally been able to
benefit from clean energy. The City could play a role in streamlining local rules to
ensure these systems, which are not grid connected, are installed safely with
limited administrative and permitting obstacles. These systems generate local
renewable energy, reduce electricity demand during peak hours, and can increase
the long-term cost effectiveness of efficient electric appliances for consumers. In
addition, new technologies are available that provide low-cost window heat pump
units for zero emissions heating and cooling, and induction cooktops that plug in
to standard outlets, among other things. As over 60% of San Luis Obispo residents
are renters, these off the shelf systems provide a whole new segment of the
community with access to green buildings solutions. The City can also advocate
to regional rebate incentive providers (e.g., 3CE and 3CREN) to provide renter
focused programs. Staff recommends further analysis and potential inclusion of a
“plug in solar” supporting action in the 2027 CAP update because of its potential
to reduce emissions and support issues related to renters’ access to clean energy
and energy affordability.
Updated Ideas and Progress to Carbon Neutrality
Based on initial quantification estimates conducted by staff, should the actions above
prove feasible, it is expected that implementation of the current CAP, together with these
actions, could improve the margin by which the City complies with the statewide 2030
target and put the City on track to achieve the 2045 target. In this scenario, staff forecasts
an approximately 65% reduction in emissions by 2035 relative to baseline, 35% short of
the carbon neutral by 2035 target. Similar to the discussion had in 2020, closing this gap
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would require technological breakthroughs, significant new external funding sources, and
deep alignment across federal, state, and regional governments. Staff recommends that
all of the ideas presented above be further evaluated for potential inclusion in the 2027
CAP and requests that Council flag any actions that they think should not be further
evaluated. Should Council direct staff to continue updating the Climate Action Plan, the
rest of 2026 will be spent evaluating th ese ideas, along with new ideas to further reduce
emissions that might be provided by community outreach or additional technical research.
Additional details about schedule and next steps are provided at the end of this report.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
July 17, 2012 – City Council adopted the community’s first Climate Action Plan.
September 18, 2018 – City Council directed staff to pursue the 2035 carbon
neutrality goal and directed staff to update the Climate Action Plan with strategies
and options to achieve the 2035 goal.
August 18, 2020 – City Council adopted the Climate Action Plan for Community
Recovery, which included the goal of carbon neutrality by 2035.
May 18, 2021 – Staff presented the 2020-21 Climate Action Progress Report to
City Council, which highlighted key Climate Action Plan implementation milestones
achieved in 2020 and 2021.
July 6, 2021, Council adopted Lead by Example: A Plan for Carbon Neutral
Municipal Operations, which identified goals, objectives, and actions for achieving
the City’s municipal operations climate goal.
December 13, 2022 – Council adopted Resolution No. 11381 (2022 Series) and
adopted the 2023-27 Climate Action Plan Work Program, which identified 48 CAP
actions for fiscal years 2023-27.
June 6, 2023 – Council adopted the 2023-25 Financial Plan, prioritizing "Open
Space, Climate Action, and Sustainable Transportation" as a major city goal.
May 21, 2024 - Lead by Example: A Plan for Carbon Neutral Municipal Operations
progress report was presented to Council in May of 2024
February 4, 2025 - Lead by Example: A Plan for Carbon Neutral Municipal
Operations plan update was adopted by Council.
June 17, 2025 – Council adopted the 2025-27 Financial Plan, prioritizing "Open
Space, Climate Action, and Resilience" as a major city goal.
Public Engagement
2026 Progress Report Outreach
Staff have conducted the following public engagement efforts to inform that 2026
Progress Report and to begin looking ahead to the 2027 Climate Action Plan Update. The
engagement conducted for this study session builds on recent engagement efforts
conducted for the “Existing Building Energy Efficiency Retrofit Policy Options” study
session conducted by Council on July 15, 2025, and the “Lead by Example” business
item conducted by Council on February 4, 2025.
Community Roundtables – Staff convened community-based organizations (e.g.,
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ECOSLO, SLO Climate Coalition, the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo,
Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club, etc.), regional public agencies (e.g., SLO
APCD, SLOCOG, Central Coast Community Energy, Cal Poly, etc.), and
community experts for seven roundtable meetings between December and
February. The meetings focused on connecting organizations on t he topic of
Climate Action, providing educational information about the City’s approach to
carbon neutrality, and hosting generative discussions on what actions the City
should stop doing, keep doing, or improve, as well as big new ideas for the City to
consider. In total, over 50 community members and regional agency
representatives participated in the stakeholder forums.
Community Workshops – Staff conducted an in-person communitywide workshop
on March 10 and an on-line communitywide workshop on March 11. The
workshops provided the background and context information in this report and
sought feedback on topics related to GHG emissions reductions goals,
recommendations for improving implementation success, and ideas for achieving
additional emissions reductions. Stakeholder groups were invited to attend,
including the Developers’ Roundtable, local realtors, and Active Transportation
Committee members. In total, 31 community members participated in the
workshops.
Presentations to local organizations - Staff provided an overview of the Progress
Report and highlighted strategic questions that will be presented to Council at the
following meetings:
o Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee (March 5), and
o Climate Coalition Executive Director and Board Chair Meeting (March 9).
The public engagement directed the content of the 2026 Progress Report and this Council
Agenda Report in the following ways:
1. Each of the roundtable meetings provided community members with an exercise
to provide feedback on which CAP actions should be set aside, which actions were
working as currently conceived, which actions should be amended, enhanced, or
tried again. Additionally, participants were asked to share new ideas that might be
included in the 2027 CAP. Combined with technical research. this feedback was
critical in identifying the initial set of actions that could be included in the 2027 CAP,
as described above. The feedback also affirmed that the City’s current approach
to carbon neutrality is supported and that the 2027 Plan Update should look more
like small changes and refinements to the existing plan rather than a
comprehensive rethinking of the City’s approach.
2. In each of the outreach events, staff shared the progress that is expected to be
made by 2035, described the gap between that progress and the 2020 CAP’s goal,
and shared information about the new statewide goal of carbon neutrality “as soon
as possible, but no later than 2045” (AB 1279). Staff tested whether the City should
continue with the 2035 goal given the known gap and the general feedback was
aligned with the sentiment that the value of having an aspirational goal is worth the
uncertainty that comes with it.
3. In each of the outreach events, staff also asked for ideas on how to have an
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excellent community outreach program that supports the 2027 CAP update. Staff
found that community members, community-based organization leaders, and
regional agency staff shared enthusiasm in collaborating on unique, fun,
informational, and effective events.
2027 Climate Action Plan Update Outreach
The outreach described in this report represents the initial phase of engagement and will
be complimented by extensive additional outreach during the CAP update process which
will occur throughout 2026. In addition to standard community workshops, surveys, and
conversations with stakeholders, notable planned outreach events include:
Pop-up outreach efforts at existing neighborhood and community level-events
such as Monday Meetups, Earth Fest, and neighborhood farmers’ markets.
Collaborating with existing community cultural events such as Building a Better
SLO’s lecture series.
Community service events where participants take action to improve their
community while learning about and providing feedback on the 2027 CAP.
Offering presentations and conversations with civil society organization boards
such as the Rotary Club and the Lions Club.
It should also be noted that, consistent with the approach taken in support of the 2020
CAP, staff broadly interprets what “stakeholder” means in the context of climate action
planning and intends to engage with a wide cross-section of the community (e.g., builders,
developers, realtors, mobile home park residents, students, renters, seniors, and non-
English speakers, among others).
CONCURRENCE
The City’s Green Team collaborated on the development of the 2026 Progress Report
and concurs with the content therein.8 This Council Agenda Report also has concurrence
from leadership in Public Works and Utilities, and Community Development.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in
this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines
Sec. 15378. The updated 2027 Climate Action Plan is a “Project” and will be subject to
environmental review prior to being presented to Council for approval. The City adopted
an Initial Study/Negative Declaration in 2021 prior to adoption of the Climate Action Plan
Update, and any subsequent updates require review of this previous document to
determine the appropriate environmental documentation and associated required findings
(i.e., findings of consistency with the adopted IS/ND, Addendum to the IS /ND, or
8 The City’s Green Team is a cross-departmental group of staff that helps coordinate efforts across City
functions. The Green Team enables shared ownership of climate goals, integrates sustainability into day-
to-day operations, and supports an all-City approach to achieving municipal and communitywide
emissions reductions.
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subsequent or supplemental documentation). The City has already retained the services
of an environmental consultant to conduct the environmental review in 2026, ahead of
returning to Council with the plan update in 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2025-26
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $30,000 $ $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $30,000 $ $ $
As anticipated in the 2025-27 Financial Plan, staff have the internal capacity to complete
the Climate Action Plan “in house,” except for environmental review which is anticipated
to cost $30,000. This amount is budgeted and available to cover the scope of work.
The 2027 CAP Update is intended to be presented to Council in early 2027 to inform the
deliberative process being undertaken as part of the 2027-29 Financial Plan and will
provide staff’s recommendation for the tasks required to achieve state GHG reduction
goals and make progress on local GHG reduction goals. The City’s budget development
occurs via a separate process, and inclusion of any projects or programs in the City’s
budget are subject to Council approval. Funding for tasks included in the 2027 CAP
Update would require additional Council deliberation and approval and would not pre-
emptively approve or otherwise imply that they are automatically included in future
budgets.
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL
1. Which of the potential actions described above, and summarized below, should
be further evaluated as part of the 2027 Climate Action Plan Update? The
purpose of this Study Session is to provide strategic direction that will inform
development of the 2027 Climate Action Plan Update. Specific policies, programs, and
implementation strategies will return to Council for consideration as part of the draft
plan. Staff recommends further evaluation of all seven items included below and
requests that Council flag any actions they believe should not be further evaluated for
the 2027 CAP update.
Potential actions proposed to be modified or tried again include:
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1. Re-evaluation of mobility innovations related to bikeshare, carshare, and micro-
transit.
2. Enhanced support for regional transit and EV charging infrastructure.
3. Re-evaluation of large building energy efficiency programs.
4. Evaluation of the new single-family Home Energy Score program.
5. Proactive legislative advocacy.
Potential new ideas that could be considered includ e:
6. Evaluation of bulk purchasing and direct installation programs for rooftop solar,
batteries, and electric heat-pump water-heater and HVAC units.
7. Support for “plug-in” solar and battery energy storage systems.
2. At a minimum, the City will be required to adopt the AB 1279 goal of carbon
neutrality “as soon as possible,” but no later than 2045. Does Council want to
retain its local 2035 target as well?
2.a. If so, is Council comfortable with staff returning with a 2027-31 Climate Action
Plan that does not identify a path to carbon neutrality by 2035, thus retaining the
goal as an aspirational target?
2.b. If not, should staff include recommendations for what “as soon as possible”
could mean in practice?
2.c. Does Council want to retain its existing “narrow and deep” approach to
covered greenhouse gas emissions (focusing on energy, transportation, and
landfilled solid waste)?
3. Does Council have further direction or feedback on the proposed outreach,
engagement, and plan update approach to the 2027 CAP Update?
SCHEDULE AND NEXT STEPS
Staff is prepared to incorporate Council’s strategic direction into the outreach and work
program for the 2027 Climate Action Plan update based on the following schedule:
April-October 2026 – Staff will conduct community outreach and engagement,
conduct technical research, and further evaluate potential CAP actions. The
findings from these efforts will be used to develop the 2027 CAP.
December 2026 – Staff will publish a public review draft of the 2027 CAP.
Spring 2027 – Staff will present the 2027 CAP to Council for approval.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Council could provide strategic direction not included in the “Questions for
Council.”
2. Council could direct staff to cease work on the Climate Action Plan Update
and reprioritize planning efforts to implementation. This alternative would
allow staff to spend more time in 2026 working on CAP implementation actions.
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Staff does not recommend this as the updated Climate Action Plan is an important
tool for ensuring staff work programs are aligned with the City’s needs to achieve
state targets related to SB 32 and AB 1279.
ATTACHMENTS
A - 2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report
B - Local Government Climate Alliance Information Sheet
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
City Council
Erica A. Stewart, Mayor
Michelle Shoresman, Vice Mayor
Emily Francis, Council Member
Jan Marx, Council Member
Dr. Michael Boswell, Council Member
City Management
Whitney McDonald, City Manager
Scott Collins, Assistant City Manger
Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Green Team Contributors
Kiersten Anderson; Volunteer Coordinator, Lucia Baesemann; Sustainability & Natural Resources Analyst, Meg
Buckingham; Solid Waste & Recycling Program Manager, Dan Clancy; Financial Analyst, Jacqui Clark-Charlesworth;
Tourism Analyst, Greg Cruce; Deputy Director, Maintenance Operations, Ethan Estrada; Assistant Planner, Amy
Fletcher; Human Resources Specialist, Benefits, Adam Fukushima; Active Transportation Manager, Adria Griggs; City
Attorney, Nico Gurney; Engineering Technician II, Natalie Harnett; Policy and Project Manager, Alejandro Hernandez;
Facilities Maintenance Supervisor, Bob Hill; Sustainability & Natural Resources Official, Devin Hyfield; Recreation
Manager, Basile Inman; Ranger Service Worker, Juanita Iriarte; Communications Coordinator, Madeline Kacsinta;
Engineer III, Riley Kuhn; Principal Budget Analyst, Chris Lehman; Deputy Director, Wastewater, Joe Little; Emergency
Manager, Teresa McClish; Housing Policy and Programs Manager, Patrick McGrath; WRRF Supervisor, Freddy Otte;
City Biologist, Rachelle Paris; Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator, Matt Pennon; DEI Manager, Chris Read;
Sustainability Manager, Jennifer Rice; Deputy Director, Mobility Services, Keith Schwanemann; Stormwater Program
Manager, Shawna Scott; Assistant Director of Utilities, Jesse Stanley; Transit Coordinator, Whitney Szentesi; Public
Communications Manager, Nick Teague; Water Resources Program Manager, Bryan Treanor; Lieutenant.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROGRESS REPORT SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 2
1. PROGRESS REPORT BACKGROUND ................................................................................ 4
2. GHG INVENTORY AND FORECAST SNAPSHOTS ............................................................. 8
3. CLIMATE ACTION PROGRESS BY PILLAR .......................................................................12
Pillar 1: Lead By Example..............................................................................................12
Pillar 2: Clean Energy Systems .....................................................................................15
Pillar 3: Green Buildingss ..............................................................................................18
Pillar 4: Connected Community .....................................................................................22
Pillar 5: Circular Economy .............................................................................................27
Pillar 6: Natural Solutions ..............................................................................................31
Administrative Actions ...................................................................................................34
APPENDIX A. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX ............................. - 35 -
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PROGRESS REPORT
SUMMARY
Introduction
The City of San Luis Obispo (City) and the community have been working hard to reduce pollution,
create more clean energy, provide more ways to move around the community, and do so in a way
that supports other goals related to housing, diversity, equity, and inclusion, economic
development, and community resilience. In 2020, the City Council adopted the Climate Action
Plan for Community Recovery (Climate Action Plan, or “CAP”) that set forth and established an
ambitious communitywide goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. Consistent with the schedule
adopted with the 2020 CAP, staff provide the City Council and community with a progress report
every four years.
What’s Inside
The 2026 Progress Report (the “Report”) includes information about the City’s Climate Action
Plan, updated greenhouse gas emissions trends, and detailed information about implementation
progress since the adoption of the Climate Action Plan. The Report is organized into the following
Chapters:
1. Progress Report Background shares information about the history of climate action in
San Luis Obispo and provides the context for this progress report.
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast Snapshots updates historic
greenhouse gas emissions inventories, provides a 2024 inventory update, and forecasts
emissions for 2030, 2035, and 2045.
3. Climate Action Progress by Pillar explains the different sectors of the Climate Action
Plan, reports on implementation progress to date, identifies implementation headwinds
and momentum, and looks ahead to how the City can support continued emissions
reductions through 2045.
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Progress Report Summary Findings
Based on the work completed for the Report, staff have identified four key findings:
1. The City’s leadership and investments in climate action produce measurable
results, invite outside resources (including over $57 million in external funding for
CAP implementation actions since 2020), and demonstrate the effectiveness of
sustained local leadership. Staff across City departments and programs are aligned in
advancing CAP strategies and have reduced community emissions in partnership with
local organizations and residents. Our local electricity provider is committed to providing
100% carbon-free electricity by 2030, enabling more homes and vehicles in our
community to transition from fossil fuels and plug into a cleaner grid. The City is investing
in essential active transportation infrastructure, making it safer and more convenient to
walk, bike, and use transit. Citywide organics recycling is reducing emissions from the
landfill, and climate-forward management of City open spaces, parks, and the urban forest
is increasing carbon sequestration.
2. Regional, state, and federal policy changes are introducing new constraints on local
climate progress. While local climate programs and projects are gaining momentum,
factors outside of the City’s direct control are making it more challenging to reduce
emissions. These factors include funding limitations for regional transit and regional low-
carbon mobility options, statewide legislative and regulatory decisions affecting electricity
affordability and clean energy deployment, and significant shifts in federal priorities that
have disrupted the funding landscape for green buildings and low-carbon transportation.
3. Regional vehicle trips and natural gas use in existing buildings remain the most
significant obstacles to achieving Council’s 2035 carbon neutrality goal. The
external challenges described above, combined with higher-than-anticipated regional
growth projections, indicate that there will be more fossil fuel powered buildings and
vehicles in the future than originally forecasted. Without additional intervention, this trend
will widen the gap between current trajectories and adopted targets. The 2027 Climate
Action Plan update can respond directly to these findings and identify practical strategies
to close that gap.
4. Persistent local innovation and creativity will be required to reach carbon neutrality
goals. The City’s role as a leader in local climate action remains clear. Maintaining
momentum will require deliberate policy direction and sustained investment. New tactics
are required for successful collaboration with regional and state partners, including
leadership on regional boards and commissions, and new forms of advocacy on the state
level. Internally, the City will need to find creative solutions to go further with the resources
available, and community organizations will need to continue playing a major role in local
success.
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1. PROGRESS REPORT
BACKGROUND
Background
In 2012, City Council adopted the City’s first Climate
Action Plan (CAP), which established (and achieved) the
goal of reducing greenhouse (GHG) emissions by 15%
by 2020. In 2020, Council adopted a comprehensive
update that included a communitywide goal of carbon
neutrality by 2035. The 2020 CAP set a long-term vision
for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also
helping achieve local resilience, economic development,
housing, and social equity goals. In 2022, Council
adopted the 2023-27 CAP Work Program that reaffirmed
the 2035 carbon neutrality target and refined the City’s
strategies in response to evolving state policy,
implementation experience, and updated emissions data.
This 2026 Climate Action Progress Report (2026
Progress Report) provides a snapshot of the City’s
implementation efforts since adoption of the 2020 CAP
and its subsequent update. The Progress Report
provides findings from an updated greenhouse gas
emissions inventory and forecast, summarizes progress
across each of the six CAP pillars, highlights key
implementation trends, and identifies areas where
additional action may be needed. A detailed, action-by-
action implementation review that reflects work
completed through March 2026 is provided in Appendix
A. This Report is intended to act as a “check-in” in
advance of the comprehensive Community Climate
Action Plan update, scheduled for early 2027.
Climate Action Plan & Progress
Report Development Process
The Climate Action Plan organizes actions into six pillars
that address the City’s primary sources of greenhouse
gas emissions. Implementation follows a regular and repeating cycle of evaluating emissions
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through inventories, advancing priority
actions, monitoring progress, and
adjusting strategies over time. This
approach allows the City to respond to
changing conditions while maintaining
focus on its long-term carbon neutrality
goal.
The planning and implementation of
the Climate Action Plan occurs over
four repeating steps, including
evaluating existing conditions via a
greenhouse gas emissions inventory,
identifying key actions to eliminate
greenhouse gas emissions,
implementing those actions, and
monitoring progress via this progress
report. This cycle is intended to be
completed every four years until the community achieves its goal of carbon neutrality.
The 2026 Progress Report was informed by extensive community outreach including seven
roundtable workshops with community-based organizations and regional public agencies, a
community meeting and webinar, and conversations with boards or committees at numerous
organizations including the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the San Luis Obispo
Climate Coalition.
Green Team
Climate action planning and implementation are
supported by the City’s Green Team, a cross-
departmental group of staff that helps coordinate
efforts across City functions. The Green Team
enables shared ownership of climate goals,
integrates sustainability into day-to-day
operations, and supports an all-City approach to
achieving both municipal and communitywide
emissions reductions.
Local, Regional, Statewide, and National Collaboration
Since the 2020 Climate Action Plan was adopted, City staff have been collaborating with cities
throughout California and the United States to ensure lessons learned in other places allow the
City to do the work as efficiently as possible. Examples of collaboration include:
Green Cities California is a network of around 30 California cities and counties that
collaborate on projects related to local energy reach codes that require buildings to be
more efficient, electric vehicle chargers, and renewable energy, among other things.
Urban Sustainability Network is a network of over 200 U.S. and Canadian cities and
counties that also collaborate on best practices for achieving local climate goals.
February 2026 Green Buildings Stakeholder Forum
Staff from the City’s Green Team
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The Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Climate Compact is an informal working group
comprised of staff from the City of Santa Barbara and the City of San Luis Obispo. Both
cities have carbon neutral by 2035 targets and collaborate on approaches to achieve those
goals.
Photo of 2025 Green Cities California Annual Meeting
Implementation Resources
A central principle of the 2020 CAP is that leadership brings resources, and since 2020, the City
also brought in substantial funding from outside resources to help achieve the actions in the
Climate Action Plan, totaling over $57 million. The amount provided in this section is conservative,
may not be inclusive of all grants or rebates received, and doesn’t account for the grant funded
work completed by community-based organizations and regional public agencies (e.g., 3C-REN,
3CE, and APCD). Table 1 provides a summary of major grants, rebates, and incentives that the
City has received by sector.
Table 1. External Funding for Climate Action Plan Implementation (2020-25)
Sector Total
Lead by Example $11,531,876
Clean Energy and Green Buildings $956,798
Connected Communities (Transportation) $44,159,489
Solid Waste $259,078
Natural Solutions $656,996
Total $57,564,238
Note: the “Lead by Example” total includes $7,332,979 in tax credit funds pending final review by the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) and $76,790 in formula funds committed to the City by the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Disbursements from the Federal Government are delayed in both instances.
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2. GHG INVENTORY AND
FORECAST SNAPSHOTS
GHG Inventory Background
A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory is a measure of GHG emissions that have occurred as the
result of activity in a jurisdiction or a geographic area in a calendar year. Greenhouse gas
emissions are modeled by multiplying data about activity (e.g., the amount of electricity
consumed, the number of miles travelled in fossil fuel powered vehicles, the tons of solid waste
sent to the landfill, etc.) by the greenhouse gas emission content of a typical unit of that activity
(e.g., the average greenhouse gas emissions content per unit of combusted natural gas).
Consistent with California Air Resources Board guidance and related reporting protocols, this
inventory accounts for three common greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH4),
and nitrous oxide (N20). Since methane and nitrous oxide are substantially more potent
greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide (86 and 265 times more potent, respectively), the
emissions modeled from their release into the atmosphere are multiplied by their respective
potential to warm the atmosphere relative to CO2 The reporting unit for greenhouse gas emissions
is “Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalence”, or MTCO2e.
The City’s inventory includes emissions related to electricity and natural gas used in buildings and
facilities (including electricity used to treat and move water), energy used for vehicles, and
pollution for landfilled solid waste. The GHG emissions sectors included in the City’s inventory
are required sectors consistent with California Air Resources Board guidance and do not include
optional sectors associated with off-road equipment, wastewater treatment, and aviation, among
other things. The “narrow and deep” approach to pursuing ambitious action in the required sectors
is consistent with direction Council approved at the December 14, 2022 adoption of the 2023-27
Climate Action Work Program. This section provides a snapshot of the most recent San Luis
Obispo communitywide GHG inventory and forecast work.
The inventories and forecasts are subject to change as the City updates them with best available
data throughout the 2027 CAP update process. In particular, the forecasts are subject to change
as new economic and regional growth forecasts become available. As such, the snapshots
provided in this report are best used as an indicator of the general scale and direction of emissions
through 2045.
GHG Inventory and Forecast Snapshot
According to the City’s current GHG inventory and forecast snapshots, San Luis Obispo’s 2024
GHG emissions decreased by approximately 20% from 2005 levels and are expected to continue
to decrease through 2035. As shown in Table 2, emissions in 2035 are expected to be at 218,810
MTCO2e (approximately 50% below 2005 levels). Chapter 4 provides additional inventory and
forecast detail and findings for each of the inventoried emissions sectors.
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The 2027 CAP will include a technical GHG inventory and forecast memorandum that will provide
extensive detail about the methods and data used to calculate the City’s GHG emissions
estimates.
Table 2 GHG Emissions Inventories and Forecasts, 2005-2045 (MTCO2e).
Sector 2005 2016 2023 2024 2030 2035 2045
%
Change
(2005-
35)
Buildings
(Electricity) 59,580 32,690 75,950 43,690 470 440 390 -99%
Buildings (Gas) 57,120 51,310 58,780 54,170 51,400 39,920 24,300 -30%
Transportation
(Internal Trips) 83,720 67,760 44,800 44,800 40,520 33,160 14,560 -60%
Transportation
(Regional Trips) 191,690 155,140 180,330 180,330 166,740 138,710 62,690 -28%
Solid Waste 47,740 42,630 28,950 29,480 11,100 6,580 3,590 -86%
Total 439,850 349,530 388,810 352,470 270,230 218,810 105,530 -50%
% Change from
2005
-21% -12% -20% -39% -50% -76%
Note: The figures reported in this table reflect the best available analysis as of March 2026.
These numbers may be revised ahead of the 2027 CAP update pending additional data or
updated economic and demographic forecasts.
Local and Statewide GHG Emissions Reduction Goals
The City’s 2035 carbon neutrality goal is a local policy preference that sits inside the California
legal framework related to greenhouse gas emissions. The City’s climate action efforts are now
informed by two statewide GHG emissions targets that have been adopted or clarified since the
adoption of the 2020 CAP:
SB 32 sets a 2030 regulatory goal to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 40
percent below 1990 levels. Since 2020, new guidance on how cities should calculate this
as a local goal has been issued and the City’s current analysis is that with implementation
of the existing CAP, the City is on track to achieve this goal.
AB 1279 sets a 2045 regulatory goal of achieving net‑zero emissions “as soon as
possible,” and no later than 2045, with at least an 85 percent reduction in emissions by
that date.1 The City’s current analysis shows that the implementation of the Climate Action
Plan does not put the City on track to achieve local reductions consistent with AB 1279.
Figure 1 illustrates the GHG emissions provided in Table 2 in relationship to the 2030 target (SB
32), the 2035 target (Council’s adopted goal), and the 2045 target (AB 1279). The gap between
the forecasted emissions and the City’s goals represents the gap that the 2027 Climate Action
Plan needs to address.
1 The guidance for establishing an 85% reduction assumes statewide carbon sequestration initiatives
achieving the other 15% as modeled by the California Air Resources Board and included in its 2022 Climate
Scoping Plan.
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Figure 1. GHG Emissions Relative to State and Local Goals (2005-2045 in MTCO2e)
2005
2016
2018
2023
2024
2030
2035
2045
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
MT
C
O
2e 2030 Target (SB 32)
2045 Target (AB 1279)
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3. CLIMATE ACTION
PROGRESS BY PILLAR
The following section presents progress updates for each of the six Climate Action Plan pillars,
which together organize the City’s approach to reducing community-wide greenhouse gas
emissions. Each pillar summary provides a snapshot of where the City is making progress, where
challenges remain, and how current efforts align with the City’s long-term carbon neutrality goal.
Where this section describes progress on a particular pillar action, the action is identified in
parentheses. More details about each action and the entirety of the 2023-27 CAP Work Program
can be found at the end of this report in the CAP Implementation Matrix (Appendix A).
Each section concludes with a look to the future, reflecting on the remaining emissions-reduction
gap and identifying opportunities, emerging strategies, and policy considerations that may be
necessary to achieve the City’s community carbon neutrality target.
PILLAR 1: LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Pillar Overview
The City of San Luis Obispo is a highly visible
organization whose climate commitments and
results can inspire others to take similar action.
The City is reducing greenhouse gas emissions
across municipal operations (e.g., in City
buildings, facilities, and fleet vehicles), while
also integrating climate action into economic
development, and community partnerships.
The City has adopted a goal of carbon-neutral
operations by 2030, five years ahead of the
community target. By reducing municipal
emissions, the City is demonstrating that carbon
neutrality is achievable and can share lessons
with residents, businesses, and other local
governments.
Since 2021, the municipal operations emissions
reduction strategies have been moved to a
separate planning document: Lead by Example:
Goal
Carbon neutral government operations by
2030
Progress
Projected 84% reduction in covered
municipal operations emissions by 2030
Headwinds
Elimination of federal rebates and
incentives
Fluctuation in the EV truck market
Momentum
Ongoing rebates and incentives from
3CE
Fleet continues to electrify and the
charging depot at the Corp Yard is now
in design
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A Plan for Carbon Neutral Municipal Operations. The plan’s progress report was presented to
Council in May of 2024, and the Plan update was adopted by Council in February of 2025. As
illustrated in Figure 1, the updated Lead by Example Plan reports progress between 2022 and
2024 and forecasts an 84% reduction in municipal operations emissions by 2030.2
Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Figure 2 shows activity data and historical emissions trends for municipal operations from 2022
to 2024, alongside forecasts through 2030. Emissions from City buildings and facilities are
expected to decrease rapidly by 2030 while other sectors, such as employee commute and fleet
face greater challenges and are expected to decrease less rapidly.
Figure 2. Municipal Operations Emissions Inventory (2022-2024) and Forecast (2025-2030)
Implementation Progress
As noted above, the 2025 Lead by Example plan reports that the City is
on track to achieve an 84% reduction in covered municipal operations
emissions by 2030 (for more detail, see the Lead by Example 2025-29
Work Program). In addition to municipal operations decarbonization, the
Lead by Example pillar also includes actions related to community
leadership and partnerships and capacity building.
Visibility and Community Leadership
Leading by Example only works if people are aware of what work is
being completed and why it is a priority. To enhance visibility, the City
created the Sustainable SLO brand, which has been applied to electric
2 The Lead by Example Plan addresses required emissions sectors per the Local Government Operations
Protocol (LGOP), which includes electricity and natural gas consumption, solid waste, and transportation.
The Lead by Example Plan also provides an estimate of direct emissions from wastewater treatment for
informational purposes. For more information, see the Lead by Example Council Agenda Report at:
https://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=218409&dbid=0&repo=CityClerk&cr=1
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
Building & Facility Energy Fleet Employee Commute Solid Waste
MT
C
O
2e
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fleet vehicles, buses, waste infrastructure, and trailheads, among other things. This branding is
supported by ongoing communication through social media, newsletters, and in-person events,
translating technical progress into accessible stories.
Partnerships and Capacity Building
Beyond City operations, the “Lead by Example” pillar emphasizes capacity building and
partnerships. The City has invested in and collaborated with community-based organizations to
expand the reach of climate action, including low-income energy programs delivered through
CAPSLO, urban forestry with ECOSLO and Rotary de T olosa, watershed restoration with Creek
Lands Conservation, sustainable agriculture education with City Farm SLO, and cultural fire and
ecological restoration in partnership with yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe
(Leadership 3.1.A). Through these partnerships, the City can help other organizations make
progress on the community’s climate action goals while benefiting from their unique expertise.
While as a small municipality, the City lacks the capacity and leverage to meaningfully influence
regional workforce efforts, the City benefits from broader efforts led by REACH and the Workforce
Development Board (Leadership 2.2.A).
Reaching Carbon Neutrality
As City operations approach carbon neutrality, the role of Lead by Example will be to maintain
the emissions reduction progress achieved to date, while also investing more time and support
into community organizations that seek to do the same.
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PILLAR 2: CLEAN ENERGY SYSTEMS
Pillar Overview
A carbon-neutral, affordable, and reliable
electricity system is the foundation of the City’s
greenhouse gas reduction strategy. Clean
electricity reduces emissions from current
electricity use and enables a zero-emissions
alternative for fossil-fuel appliances, equipment,
and vehicles.
As illustrated in Figure 2, in 2024, electricity
used in San Luis Obispo generated an
estimated 43,690 MTCO2e, about 12% of total
communitywide emissions. This reflects a 27%
reduction from 2005 levels.
Implementation Progress
Since 2020, the City has pursued a goal of
carbon-free electricity. The Climate Action Plan
primarily advances this goal by supporting
Central Coast Community Energy’s
commitment to provide carbon-neutral electricity by 2030. The Plan also includes strategies to
improve grid reliability, access, and affordability in coordination with PG&E, and to explore
potential decarbonization pilot programs with SoCal Gas.
Clean energy actions focus on transforming the electricity supply that underpins nearly all other
decarbonization strategies. The foundation of local climate action is that the electricity grid will
continue to get cleaner over time, and through efficiency and transitioning from fossil fuel
appliances to electric appliances, the community will reduce and eventually eliminate emissions.
Community Choice Energy Participation
The City continues to support and participate in Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), with
over 96% of local electrical load served by the community choice aggregator (Clean Energy
1.1.A). Since launch, more than $4.1 million in incentives and rebates have flowed back to the
community for electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and building electrification, reinforcing the
local benefits of participation.
After a temporary increase in reported 3CE emissions intensity between 2021 and 2023 driven
by the transition from purchasing carbon credits to the direct investment in new renewable energy
projects, emissions declined in 2024 as new renewable projects came online and reset the
trajectory to carbon neutral electricity by 2030.
3CE is governed by a Policy Board composed of elected officials and an Operations Board
composed of City Managers. The City of San Luis Obispo shares a board seat with the City of
Morro Bay and per a memorandum of agreement between the agencies, alternate representation
every two years. San Luis Obispo represented the seat in 2019 through 2024 and will do so again
in 2027 and 2028.
Goal
100% carbon free electricity by 2020
Progress
27% reduction in electricity emissions since
2005; expected to reach goal by 2030
Headwinds
Federal Regulatory and Financial
Incentive Changes
California Regulatory Changes
Increased Construction Costs
Momentum
3CE’s new renewable energy projects
are coming online
Batteries prices continue to decrease
while making the grid cleaner and more
resilient
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Grid Reliability and Affordability
Grid reliability concerns have shifted over time. Earlier fears related to Public Safety Power
Shutoffs (PSPS) have eased, with no PSPS events affecting the City in recent years (Clean
Energy 2.1.A). Instead, the primary challenge has become the pace of interconnection for new
housing, EV charging, and renewable projects, combined with steep electricity rate increases.
PG&E rates have nearly doubled since 2018, largely due to required and deferred distribution
system maintenance and wildfire mitigation costs, creating affordability concerns as electrification
accelerates.
Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Figure 3 shows activity data and historical emissions trends for the electricity sector from 2005
to 2024, alongside forecasts through 2045. Electricity emissions are forecasted to reach zero by
2030 as 3CE invests in renewable energy projects.
Figure 3. Electricity kWh and Emissions Inventory (2005-2024) and Forecast (2025-2035)
Headwinds and Momentum
The following headwinds emerged since 2020 that have slowed or threaten to slow progress:
Federal Regulatory and Financial Incentive Changes - the elimination of tax credits and
other financial incentives, combined with permitting obstacles makes rapid deployment of
renewables more difficult.
Regulatory Changes - California Public Utilities Commission’s decisions related to PG&E
rates, non-by-passable fees, and resource adequacy, among other things, continue to
make 3CE’s business of providing low-cost clean electricity unnecessarily difficult.
0
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Increased Construction Costs - High material costs, interest rates, and labor costs
translate to higher energy costs.
Despite these challenges, momentum exists for progress, including:
3CE's new renewable energy projects are coming online and the organization continues
to reach new levels of organizational and financial maturity.
Batteries continue to become more affordable, and the California grid has over 17,000
megawatts of battery storage — a 2,100% increase in capacity since 20193.
Statewide clean energy progress continues; in 2025 there were 279 days when 100%
clean energy met or exceeded demand for a portion of that day, with an average of 5.1
hours of 100% clean energy per day (this is a rapid increase from 42 days in 2022, 136 in
2023, and 219 days in 2024)4.
Reaching Carbon Neutrality
Clean electricity remains essential to achieving carbon neutrality and future progress will depend
on affordability as much as supply. Rising rates risk slowing adoption of electric vehicles and
appliances, particularly for low-income households. While the purpose of this report is to provide
a progress report, staff also asked community members and stakeholders during the outreach
component for ideas that might bend the emissions curve towards carbon neutrality. Innovative
new ideas include engaging in legislative advocacy in support of affordable and reliable clean
electricity, as well as creating more accessible pathways for community members to install solar
or battery energy systems at their homes or businesses.
Photo of a geothermal plant near the Mammoth Lakes area that provides clean electricity to 3CE customers
3https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/california-energy-
storage-system-survey
4https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/clean-energy-serving-california/tracking-progress-toward-100-
clean-energy
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PILLAR 3: GREEN BUILDINGSs
Pillar Overview
A carbon neutral San Luis Obispo is one in
which nearly all energy used in buildings and
facilities comes from clean electricity. In 2024,
energy use in buildings and facilities (electricity
and natural gas) generated an estimated 97,860
MTCO2e, about 27% of total communitywide
emissions. This represents a 16% reduction
from 2005 levels.
Since 2020, the City has pursued a goal of
reducing building-related emissions by 50% by
2030. The strategy focuses on two core actions:
1) minimizing emissions from new construction
through building codes and 2) reducing
emissions from existing buildings through
energy efficiency retrofits. Work on existing
buildings also includes supporting voluntary
electrification and evaluating regulations that
would require efficiency upgrades in certain
situations.
CAP Implementation Progress
Low Emissions New Construction
The City has made strong progress reducing
emissions from new buildings. In 2022, the City adopted all-electric requirements for new
construction and implemented them through 2023. After federal law limited local authority to
require electrification, the City shifted to targeted amendments to the California Energy Code that
strongly encourage low- and zero-emissions buildings (Green Buildings 1.1A).
Between 2021 and mid-2025, approximately 79% of permitted buildings reporting energy data
were all-electric. Most of the remaining new buildings had only a single major appliance connected
to natural gas.
Existing Building Energy Retrofits
As anticipated in the 2020 Climate Action Plan, reducing emissions from existing buildings has
been more challenging. Permit data shows early signs of market transformation, with growing
adoption of electric heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, compared to virtually no permits
for these technologies in 2020.
Overall natural gas use has declined only modestly, with a 5% decrease between 2005 and 2024.
During that period, residential gas use decreased by approximately 14% and non-residential use
increased by 8%.
Goal
No net new building emissions from onsite
energy use by 2020; and a 50% reduction in
existing building emissions by 2030
Progress
16% reduction in electricity emissions since
2005; reductions in existing building
emissions are slower than expected.
Headwinds
CPUC regulatory decisions have
devalued solar and increased the cost of
electricity
Momentum
Efficient electric appliances are readily
available to consumers
Relative cost of electricity compared to
natural gas is projected to decrease over
time
Local governments nationwide have
tested viable new ideas for market
transformation
California continues to enforce ambitious
climate policies across regulatory spaces
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As detailed in Appendix A, the City has completed multiple actions to support existing building
retrofits, including:
Piloting high-visibility, equity-focused retrofit projects, particularly in manufactured housing
communities, through partnerships with CAPSLO and the Diversity Coalition. These
efforts provided energy audits, weatherization, heat pump installations, and ongoing
energy coaching, providing information installation cost, feasibility, and utility bill impacts
(Green Buildings 2.1B).
Implementing permitting and process improvements such as permit discounts, rebate
referrals at application, SolarAPP+, and access to technical assistance through 3C-REN’s
Code Coach (Green Buildings 2.1C).
Partnering with 3CE to simplify access to rebates, resulting in more than $1 million in
community rebates since 2020 for building energy efficiency, electrification, batteries, and
all-electric new construction (including ADUs) (Green Buildings 2.1.B).
Advancing regulatory exploration through study sessions on additions-and-alterations
requirements, voluntary time-of-sale energy disclosure, and early evaluation of building
performance standards for large buildings (Green Buildings 2.1E). The City has adopted
energy efficiency requirements for major single-family additions and alterations, plans to
launch a voluntary home energy score program in spring 2026, and has identified the
approximately 100 buildings that exceed 50,000 square feet in floor area and the
approximately 150 buildings that are between 25,000 and 50,000 square feet that could
be included in a large-building energy disclosure program.
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Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Figure 4 shows activity data and historical emissions trends for the buildings sector from 2005 to
2024, alongside forecasts through 2045. Electricity emissions are forecasted to reach zero by
2030 as the grid becomes cleaner, while emissions from natural gas use in buildings are expected
to persist over time.
Figure 4. Green Buildings Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Headwinds and Momentum
While the emissions reductions associated with this sector were always expected to be
challenging, the following headwinds emerged since 2020 that have slowed or threaten to
continue slowing progress.
Changes to California Public Utilities Commission rules have substantially reduced the
value of rooftop solar, which previously had been a key component of cost-effective
electrification.
California Public Utilities Commission’s decisions related to PG&E’s rates and to allowing
PG&E to change certain fees that impact 3CE customers has made it more challenging to
address the price gap between electricity and natural gas in the short term.
Changes to the federal tax code, as well as changes to state rebates and incentives, have
reduced the funding available for energy efficiency retrofits.
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Despite these challenges, some momentum exists for progress, including:
The appliance market has undergone the early phases of transformation, with heat pump
equipment and induction cooking appliances now readily available at retail and distribution
locations.
National innovation continues, with two notable examples being the launching of public
utility in Ann Arbor, MI focused on providing solar and battery systems using local
contractors at a fixed low cost and the emergence of “plug in” solar as a cheap way for
almost every person with an outlet and access to the sun can participate in the clean
energy transition.
The State of California continues to make progress towards its own 2030 and 2045 climate
goals, including through the 2025 California Energy Code that encourages new buildings
to be all-electric and the California Air Resources Board’s Zero-emissions Appliances
rulemaking process that would prohibit natural gas appliances from being sold in California
starting in 2030.
Reaching Carbon Neutrality
Existing buildings represent the second largest remaining emissions gap. Voluntary programs
alone are unlikely to achieve the scale and speed of retrofits required by 2035. Closing this gap
may require new policy tools, such as mandatory energy disclosure, phased performance
standards, or targeted retrofit requirements, paired with robust financial assistance and technical
support. Ensuring affordability
and health benefits, particularly
for low-income households and
renters, will be essential to
maintaining continued progress.
While the purpose of this report
is to provide a progress report,
staff also asked community
members and stakeholders
during the outreach component
for ideas that might bend the
emissions curve towards carbon
neutrality. Innovative new ideas
include engaging in legislative
advocacy in support of
affordable and reliable clean
electricity and evaluating the
feasibility of Ann Arbor’s
Sustainable Energy Utility
model.
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PILLAR 4: CONNECTED COMMUNITY
Pillar Overview
Transportation remains the City’s largest source
of emissions. The City tracks local emissions
from internal trips that originate and end within
City limits, but also takes responsibility for half
of the emissions from regional vehicle trips,
which account for 80% of emissions in this
sector. In 2024, emissions from transportation
generated an estimated 225,130 MTCO2e –
about 63% of total communitywide emissions.
This represents an 18% reduction from 2005
levels.
Since 2020, the City has pursued a goal of
reaching a mode split of 50% (or less) single
occupancy vehicle trips, with the remaining trips
occurring via transit (7%), biking (20%), walking
(12%), and carpool and other (11%). Progress
in this sector looks like a community where
people can comfortably walk, bike, or take
transit for daily trips, and where remaining car
travel increasingly occurs in electric vehicles
supported by convenient, reliable charging. The
City’s strategy for reaching this mode split
includes building active transportation
infrastructure for walking and biking, investing in
innovative transit solutions and models, and
enabling a robust EV charging network, all while
supporting compact development patterns.
CAP Implementation Progress
Mode Shift
As of 2025, surveys show that the City has reached General Plan mode split objectives for walking
and carpooling (including other) but is behind on the percentage of trips taken by bike and transit.
As seen in Table 3, 15% of citywide trips are taken on foot, 12% by biking, 3% by transit, 12%
though carpools and other modes, and 59% in single occupancy vehicles.
Table 3. Progress Towards Mode Split Objectives
Mode 2019 Household
Survey
2024 Household
Survey
2025 Household
Survey 2030 Goal
Walking 11% 15% 15% 12%
Bicycle 16% 11% 12% 20%
Transit 2% 2% 3% 7%
Single-Occupancy Vehicle 61% 62% 59% 50%
Carpool and Other 10% 11% 12% 11%
Goal
Achieve General Plan Mode Split Objective
by 2030; 40% VMT by electric vehicles by
2030
Progress
18% reduction in transportation emissions
since 2005. The City achieved mode split
objectives early for walking and carpooling,
but is behind on increasing transit and bike
use, and on reducing rates of driving alone
Headwinds
SLO Transit and RTA ridership declined
in the early 2020s as a result of the
pandemic
Federal funding priorities have shifted
away from sustainable transportation.
Momentum
Rapid construction of 1/3rd of the Tier 1
active transportation network
SLO Transit ridership increases year after
year and is at 77% of the annual ridership
prior to the pandemic
Internal walking, carpool, and other trips
surpassed the City’s mode split objectives
five years early
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Walking and Biking
The City continues to implement the Active Transportation Plan, prioritizing projects that improve
safety, connectivity, and comfort for people walking and biking (Connected 1.1.A). Since 2021,
the City has completed approximately one-third of the Tier 15 active transportation network. When
including projects that are currently in design or planning, more than 60% of the Tier 1 network is
either complete or actively advancing. Recent investments include the North Chorro
Neighborhood Greenway, shared-use paths on Madonna Road, pedestrian and bicycle
improvements in the Cerro San Luis development, and upgraded crossings on high-profile
corridors.
Together, these projects reduce barriers to short, non-car trips and improve access for all ages
and abilities. As the City’s active transportation network improves, programs like a public
bikeshare program can attract new riders
and audiences to bicycling in SLO. The
City explored launching a bikeshare in
2024, but market changes and funding
risks emerged during the procurement
process that resulted in not selecting a
vendor (Connected 1.2.A). To support
accountability, walking and biking mode
share is now tracked through the biennial
Active Transportation Plan Report Card,
strengthening the link between
infrastructure investment and outcomes
(Connected 2.1.A).
Transit
The City operates SLO Transit in City
limits and the Cal Poly University campus.
Challenges that emerged during the
COVID-19 pandemic, alongside a
nationwide bus operator shortage, made
it difficult for SLO Transit to quickly restore
pre-pandemic service levels. These
headwinds are evident in measurements
of transit service: the number of
passenger-trips per vehicle-service-hour
has decreased by 52% over the last ten
years and by 33% over the last five years.
Despite these challenges, SLO Transit
has steadily recovered. As of 2026, approximately 95% of pre-pandemic service has been
restored, and ridership has increased by double-digit percentages annually for the past four years.
While ridership in FY 2024-25 remains below FY 2018-19 levels, it continues to trend upward as
service improvements are implemented.
5 The Tier 1 network includes the improvements identified with the greatest potential to increase bicycle
and pedestrian mode share.
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Improvements to SLO Transit’s frequency, reliability, fare programs, and rider experience are
being planned through the Transit Innovation Study and Short-Range Transit Plan, with several
pandemic-delayed enhancements scheduled for implementation in 2026 (Connected 4.2.A).
These improvements include improved fixed route services under a forthcoming new contract for
transit operations and maintenance services, which will go into effect in July 2026.
As existing diesel buses are a local source of pollution, the City is transitioning to zero-emission
transit vehicles with two electric buses in operation and eight additional buses are planned to
enter service in 2026 (Connected 4.1.A). Once in operation, approximately half of the transit fleet
will be electric, reducing tailpipe emissions while improving rider comfort. This transition to a zero-
emission fleet is aligned with state law that requires transit agencies to fully transition to zero-
emission technologies by 2040.
As the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (RTA) serves transit users travelling in and out
of San Luis Obispo, the City is working with RTA to make transfers to local SLO Transit buses as
seamless as possible, including by implementing a new Open-Loop or “Tap2Ride” payment
system, which is scheduled to launch in Spring 2026. Staff continue to monitor opportunities for
regional collaboration and are currently coordinating on tools such as the Mobility Wallet Pilot
Program to expand access to transit and shared mobility for low-income residents throughout the
region (Connected 2.2.A).
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Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Parking Policy
City-owned EV charging has expanded from two chargers in
2019 to 27 in 2026, with 49 additional chargers added in 2026
(Connected 3.1.A). Installations prioritize public facilities and
locations that serve residents without home charging.
Land Use and Infill Development
Implementation of Housing Element programs, flexible
downtown density policies, and missing-middle housing
incentives continue to support compact development
patterns. Infill housing development has progressed at a
steady rate, providing additional housing units in existing City
neighborhoods, leading to shorter trip lengths and improving
the viability of walking, biking, and transit. Growth in Specific
Plan areas has provided housing development in new areas
of the City, with associated infrastructure improvements that
promote multimodal transit and pedestrian connectivity
(Connected 5.1.A, 5.1.B).
Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Figure 5 shows activity data and historical emissions trends for the transportation sector from
2005 to 2024, alongside forecasts through 2045. While VMT remains high through 2045,
emissions are expected to decrease over time as zero emissions vehicles become common and
the average vehicle becomes more fuel efficient.
Figure 5. Connected Community Emissions Inventory and Forecast
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Headwinds and Momentum
Transportation remains one of the most challenging sectors for achieving carbon neutrality. The
following challenges have emerged in this sector:
Given the City’s role as job center, the City’s job-housing imbalance, and the region’s
development pattern of geographically isolated communities, reducing vehicle trips across
the county remains a challenge.
Local and regional transit ridership levels remain below pre-pandemic levels. SLO Transit
ridership in FY 2024-25 remains 33% below FY 2018-19 levels; however, ridership has
increased by double-digit percentages each year for the last four years.
The City’s ability to offer community new sustainable ways of getting around, including
bikeshare, carshare, and microtransit, is dependent on successful public-private-
partnerships. Shifts in market conditions for bikeshare and carshare operators have thus
far prevented launch of a zero-cost solution in the City of San Luis Obispo.
Opportunities include:
EV adoption is growing rapidly. Residents purchased more than 11,000 electric vehicles
in SLO County through 2025. EVs accounted for 24%, 22%, and 22% of all light-duty
vehicle sales in the County in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively.
SLO is encouraging compact development patterns. Land use decisions will remain a
powerful long-term lever. Continued infill development near jobs, schools, and transit
corridors is essential to reducing car dependence over time.
Reaching Carbon Neutrality
While the purpose of this report is to provide a progress report, staff also asked community
members and stakeholders during the outreach component for ideas that might bend the
emissions curve towards carbon neutrality. Innovative new ideas include stepping up regional
leadership for sustainable mobility. Advancing sustainable regional transportation solutions
requires regional coordination with SLOCOG, RTA, Cal Poly, and neighboring jurisdictions to
complete strategic investments across central coast communities. Additionally, micromobility and
microtransit could reduce vehicle trips while also enabling SLO Transit to make service changes
that increase headways on main routes. Near-term opportunities may allow for a fresh look at
shared bicycle and on-demand transit programs.
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PILLAR 5: CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Pillar Overview
The Circular Economy pillar has delivered some
of the City’s most consistent and measurable
emissions reductions, driven largely by state
policy alignment and strong local
implementation. This pillar is currently narrowly
focused on the emissions that result from
organic waste decomposing in the landfill and
releasing methane, which is a potent
greenhouse gas. The City benefits from a
special composting facility, called an anaerobic
digester. The City sends its organic waste to this
facility, where it becomes organic compost and
methane biogas that generates enough
electricity to power around 600 homes. In 2024,
emissions from organic waste generated an
estimated 29,480 MTCO2e, about 8% of total
communitywide emissions. This represents a
38% reduction from 2005 levels.
Since 2020, the City has pursued a mid-term
goal of 75% diversion of landfilled organic waste
by 2025, and with the ultimate goal of 90%
diversion by 2035. This means that the
overwhelming majority of residential food scraps and yard waste, as well as organic waste from
large generators like local restaurants, groceries, commercial kitchens, large events, and
multifamily properties need to be properly sorted and sent to the digester.
CAP Implementation Progress
SB 1383 Compliance and Enforcement
In 2022, the City adopted an ordinance requiring organic waste subscription for all residential and
commercial customers. Since implementing organic waste collections citywide, the City, in
coordination with the SLO County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), has carried
out inspection, monitoring, and targeted education programs to meet the requirements of SB 1383
(Circular Economy 1.1.A). Outreach has focused on commercial generators, multifamily
properties, and food-generating businesses, with an emphasis on technical assistance and
corrective action rather than penalties. As of 2024, compliance issues have been resolved through
education, automatic service enrollment, and follow-up monitoring, keeping the City in good
standing with CalRecycle’s requirements.
Organic Waste Diversion and Processing
Organic waste diversion continues to be supported by education and regional infrastructure,
notably the Kompogas anaerobic digestion facility, which converts organic waste into renewable
energy and compost (Circular Economy 1.1.B). The City exceeded its SB 1383 organic
Goal
75% diversion of landfilled organic waste by
2025; 90% diversion by 2035
Progress
Emissions from organic waste have reduced
38% since 2005
Headwinds
Large events, multi-family housing,
mobile home parks, and large employers
have high rates of contamination
Momentum
Organics recycling is rolled out Citywide.
By implementing SB 1383, the City is
reducing landfilled organics
Local partnerships recover significant
amount of edible food
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procurement target by ~43% in 2024 through a combination of compost application, renewable
natural gas use, and mulch projects. These actions reduce methane emissions while supporting
soil health and local reuse markets.
Edible Food Recovery
The City has benefits from collaborations between the IWMA and local food recovery
organizations that are expanding edible food recovery to reduce waste and alleviate hunger
(Circular Economy 1.2.A). The SLO Food Bank is the local party responsible for edible food
recovery coordination and reporting. The SLO Food Bank manages two food rescue
programs: the Glean Program that rescuers a fresh produce in partnership with local farms and
community residents, and the Grocery Rescue Program that rescues edible food directly from
markets and connects charitable agencies with near-date food from grocery chains and local
markets. Due to the efforts of the SLO Food Bank and IWMA, there is greater awareness of these
programs among food generators and stronger redistribution networks serving food-insecure
residents.
Photo courtesy of the SLO Food Bank
Education, Outreach, and Contamination Reduction
The IWMA provides free kitchen pails and commercial internal organics collection containers to
support residents and businesses in properly separating organic waste. The City and IWMA have
conducted additional outreach to businesses, homeowner’s associations, and property
managers, particularly in multifamily and mobile home communities where contamination rates
tend to be high (Circular Economy 1.1.C, 1.3.A). Updated signage, site visits, and direct outreach
have improved sorting behavior over time. Despite this, contamination remains higher than other
customer segments. In rental units, ongoing education is especially needed given high turnover.
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Waste Prevention and Reuse
While most progress to date has focused on diversion, the City has continued to explore
opportunities for upstream waste reduction, including reuse initiatives, deconstruction practices,
and education around consumption and material use (Circular Economy 2.1.A). These efforts
remain smaller in scale but are increasingly important.
Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Figure 6 shows activity data and historical emissions trends for the waste sector from 2005 to
2024, alongside forecasts through 2045. As organic waste is forecasted to comprise a decreasing
share of total landfilled waste through 2045, emissions from the waste sector are expected to
decrease substantially over time.
Figure 6. Solid Waste Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Headwinds and Momentum
There are many challenges in reducing landfilled organic waste and more broadly achieving a
circular economy. These include:
Behavior change takes time, and proper usage of the green organics bin still needs work.
The City and IWMA will continue to update signage, conduct site visits, and have direct
engagement to improve sorting behavior over time.
Multi-family housing, mobile home parks, and large employers struggle to sort organics
and have high rates of contamination. Shared waste services that serve these customers
still need updated infrastructure and consistent waste-stream education. Ongoing
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30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Annual Tons Total Emissions
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outreach will remain essential as the community grows and turns over, particularly in
multifamily housing and the commercial sector.
Large events generate significant amounts of unsorted waste. Events are high-volume
waste generators and continue to have elevated contamination rates despite City
requirements and improved outreach and education.
Despite these challenges, the City continues to adapt and find opportunities to improve the sector.
For example:
The City has made significant progress rolling out organics recycling Citywide and all
businesses and residents in San Luis Obispo are equipped with green carts. By
implementing SB 1383, the City is making strides reducing landfilled organics.
The City is ahead of schedule on achieving the compost procurement targets set by SB
1383.
The SLO Food Bank, in partnership with IWMA and local food generators, has significantly
expanded edible food recovery capacity and participation.
Reaching Carbon Neutrality
Regional coordination and state policy evolution will continue to shape the City’s ability to deepen
emissions reductions in this sector. While the purpose of this report is to provide a progress report,
staff also asked community members and stakeholders during the outreach component for ideas
that might bend the emissions curve towards carbon neutrality. Innovative new ideas include
partnering with IWMA and local businesses on a “bring your own reusables” campaign, tracking
reductions in single-use food ware, and expanding refill station education to improve participation
in reuse and recycling systems – all of which are aligned with recently adopted state law SB54
that is focused on Reuse and Refill.
More broadly, achieving the 2035 carbon neutrality goal will increasingly depend on waste
prevention, not just proper sorting. This may require greater emphasis on reuse, repair, and
reduction strategies and support for circular business models.
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PILLAR 6: NATURAL SOLUTIONS
Pillar Overview
Natural Solutions actions involve protecting
open spaces, restoring creeks, supporting
healthy soils, and a growing urban forest that
can store carbon while providing shade, habitat,
flood protection, and recreational benefits.
These actions can sequester carbon while also
advancing biodiversity, wildfire resilience, water
quality, and community well-being. As the City’s
future projections anticipate significant GHG
emissions into the future, natural climate
solutions are one way to get to carbon neutrality
faster. In 2024, carbon sequestration activities
in open spaces, parks, and the urban forest
sequestered an estimated 390 MTCO2e, which
is less than one percent of total communitywide
emissions.
Since 2020, the City has learned a lot about the
practical feasibility of carbon sequestration
through compost application-based carbon
farming activities and tree planting. These
learnings have shifted the City’s goals
somewhat to focus more on regenerative
grazing and riparian restoration.
CAP Implementation Progress
Land Conservation
The City continues to protect and expand open
space properties as part of the San Luis Obispo
Greenbelt Protection Program. Since 2020, the
City has inaugurated Righetti Hill Open Space, completed the on-site conservation easement at
San Luis Ranch that permanently protects prime farmland, and completed permanent open space
easements that protect both wetland habitat areas and the “upper terrace” at Froom Ranch where
numerous rare and sensitive status species occur, including the state and federally endangered
Chorro Creek bog thistle (Natural Solutions 1.1.A).
Regenerative Land Management
The City manages open space lands to preserve and expand existing carbon stocks while
improving ecosystem health. The City has applied compost to rangelands, expanded regenerative
grazing, installed beaver dam analogs, and planted trees and riparian shrubs to improve soil
health, reduce wildfire risk, and support carbon sequestration. These stewardship activities are
often implemented through grant-funded projects and partnerships (Natural Solutions 1.1.B). In
partnership with the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe, the City has supported
Goal
Increase Carbon Sequestration on the San
Luis Obispo Greenbelt and Urban Forest
through compost application-based carbon
farming activities and tree planting; ongoing
through 2035
Progress
The City’s increased implementation of
climate-smart land management practices
has increased annual carbon sequestration
by an estimated 390 MTCO2e.
Headwinds
Climate change threatens existing carbon
stored in living landscapes
Quantitative verification of natural climate
solutions is still an emerging practice
Momentum
Continued investment in the City’s
Greenbelt Protection Program enables
growth of open space network
Strong partnerships are the foundation of
success for planting trees, restoring
creeks, reviving cultural burns, and other
natural solutions successes
The City continues learning through each
pilot project, refining staff’s approach for
future land management decisions
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cultural burning and native grassland restoration,
integrating traditional ecological knowledge into land
management while advancing climate and resilience
goals.
Urban Forestry and Tree Canopy Expansion
Urban forestry remains a highly visible component of
Natural Solutions. Through Keys for Trees, volunteer
events, grant-funded projects, and private plantings,
over 6,000 trees have been planted on both private
properties and public land toward its goal of 10,000
trees by 2035 (Natural Solutions 2.1.A). The City also
continues to maintain a healthy urban forest so that
existing carbon stocks stored in trees’ living tissues are
resilient to present and future climate hazards. Tree
planting efforts prioritize shade equity, climate
resilience, and long-term survivability, with increasing
attention to species selection and maintenance.
Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast
Figure 7 shows historical carbon sequestration trends for the natural solutions sector from 2022
to 2024, alongside forecasts for carbon sequestration through 2045. As carbon sequestration
practices are expected to scale across open space lands and private property through 2045,
annual sequestration will increase over time.
Figure 7. Natural Solutions Sequestration Inventory and Forecast
-1200
-1000
-800
-600
-400
-200
0
2022 2025 2030 2035 2045
MT
C
O
2
e
(
S
e
q
u
e
s
t
e
r
e
d
)
Year
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Headwinds and Momentum
Challenges:
Wildfires and climactic changes are increasingly threatening local ecosystems. The
carbon stocks stored in City open spaces are vulnerable to climate-related disasters like
wildfires, droughts, and floods, even with investments to strengthen resilience.
The science and quantification methods that underly natural solutions are still developing.
Accurate models (and field measurements) of how various land management practices
are impacting carbon stores in the landscape are limited and are an evolving practice.
Current areas of momentum in the Natural Solutions sector include:
The City continues to make progress on protecting land within the City’s Greenbelt through
direct purchases and conservation easements.
The City has developed strong partnerships with nonprofits, volunteers, and regional
agencies, as well as external grant funding to expand and maintain a resilient network of
Open Space properties and Urban Forestry network. Project implementation relies heavily
on these partnerships and external grant funding to expand capacity, reduce costs, and
align local efforts with regional conservation and climate priorities.
The City is invested in learning and adaptive management, and by completing a carbon
farming study and piloting carbon sequestration practices, such as "beaver dam analogs"
in Dry Creek, good fire application, compost application, tree plantings, and regenerative
grazing the City has amassed practical knowledge to guide future efforts.
Reaching Carbon Neutrality
Natural solutions provide important co-benefits but
it’s likely that priorities will increasingly shift toward
protecting existing carbon stocks, improving long-
term maintenance and survivorship, and integrating
natural solutions with wildfire risk reduction and
water resilience strategies. Continued access to
state and federal funding will be essential to
sustaining stewardship activities, particularly as
climate stressors such as drought and extreme heat
intensify. While the purpose of this report is to
provide a progress report, staff also asked
community members and stakeholders during the
outreach component for ideas that might bend the
emissions curve towards carbon neutrality.
Innovative new ideas included expanding natural
solutions projects on private lands and connecting
greenbelt projects with funding via a prospective
regional mitigation bank.
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ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS:
Pillar Overview
Administrative actions establish the governance, coordination, and accountability needed to
implement the Climate Action Plan across all pillars.
CAP Implementation Progress
Climate Governance and Coordination
The City has embedded climate action into core administrative functions through
interdepartmental coordination and leadership oversight, with the Office of Sustainability providing
centralized tracking and technical support (Admin 1.1.A). This structure ensures climate
considerations are integrated into capital planning, land use decisions, transportation
investments, and municipal operations.
Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability
Ongoing monitoring and reporting remain central to implementation. The City maintains
greenhouse gas inventories, implementation tracking tools, and public-facing progress reports,
enabling transparency, accountability, and course correction over time (Admin 1.2.A).
Funding and Grant Leveraging
The City has successfully leveraged state and federal grants to advance CAP implementation
across multiple pillars, including transit electrification, EV infrastructure, building retrofits, urban
forestry, and land stewardship (Admin 2.1.A). External funding has expanded capacity while
minimizing impacts to local resources.
Community Engagement and Policy Alignment
Administrative actions emphasize equitable community engagement through partnerships with
community-based organizations and alignment with City policy f rameworks such as the General
Plan, Housing Element, and Capital Improvement Program (Admin 3.1.A, Admin 4.1.A). These
efforts support consistent, coordinated, and adaptive climate action implementation.
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APPENDIX A. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX
The table below provides an overview of actions committed to in the 2023-27 Climate Action Plan Work Program (2023-27 CAP). The table provides implementation details for each action including the original 2020 CAP action description
language, the 2023-27 CAP updated task description, the City department responsible for leading initiation and implementation, the status of the action, and a report on general progress. The “Current Status” column indicates the
implementation progress of each specific task identified in the 2023-27 CAP. It does not reflect the level of emissions reductions achieved. Instead, it shows the City’s progress in advancing the associated program, project, or work effort.
The status categories are defined as follows:
On Track – action has been initiated as anticipated in the schedule defined by the 2023-27 CAP. In some cases, action implementation is complete, and in others the action is ongoing.
Behind – action is not being implemented at the speed anticipated in the 2023-27 CAP, but is still a strategic priority for the City.
On Hold – action has encountered uncertainties or barriers resulting in the need for a new or altered strategic approach.
Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Leadership
1.1
Adopt a
municipal
carbon
neutrality plan
in 2021.
Leadership
1.1.A: Implement
the 2023-25
actions in the
Lead by
Example
municipal carbon
neutrality plan
and complete a
focused plan
update for 2025-
30.
Leadership
1.1.A: Implement
2025-27 actions
in the Lead by
Example
municipal carbon
neutrality plan.
Administration,
Public Works
Summer
2023
Lead by
Example
progress
report and
plan update
which
projects an
84%
reduction in
covered
municipal
emissions
by 2030.
On
track
In 2021, the City adopted Lead by Example: A Plan for Carbon Neutral City Operations, which identified the projects, policies, and
programs required to reduce municipal emissions to carbon neutral by 2030. The City adopted a work program update in 2025; at
which point staff estimated that at full implementation of the actions included in the Lead by Example 2025-29 Work Program, the
City would achieve an 84% reduction in covered greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 relative to 2022. The City has embedded Lead
by Example throughout its plans and operations, including via projects prioritized in the Capital Improvement Program. Notable Capital
Improvement Projects in the City’s current Capital Improvement Program include:
Level 2 and level 3 charging depot at the City’s Corporation Yard
Ongoing purchase of electric fleet vehicles
Design work in support of electrification retrofits at the SLO Swim Center and City Hall
Electrification retrofit work at the Ludwick Community Center
These capital projects are accompanied by a range of programs and policies that support low emission employee commutes,
substantial reductions in the amount of organic waste sent to the landfill, and zero-emissions new municipal buildings and facilities.
Leadership
1.1.B: Brand
Lead by
Example
projects with the
Sustainable SLO
emblem and
develop a
complementary
educational and
awareness
campaign.
Leadership
1.1.B: Continue
telling the City’s
Lead by
Example story
with the
Sustainable SLO
emblem and
“best practice”
outreach efforts.
Administration Summer
2023
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
Sustainable SLO is a city-wide campaign aimed at fostering a relationship between community members and the actions the City is
taking to reach carbon neutrality. The Sustainable SLO mark has been added to nearly all of the electric and hybrid fleet vehicles,
trash and recycling bins, and electric buses to increase public awareness of the City’s investment s in a sustainable future. In
coordination with physical branding, staff utilize multiple platforms, such as the City’s social media accounts, email newsletters, and
in-person events to inform the public about climate action related news or resources. Going forward, the City will continue to brand
new assets with the Sustainable SLO mark, as directed by the City’s amended brand guidelines. The City will also regularly
communicate with the public about environmental and climate issues using the Sustainable SLO brand.
Leadership
2.1
Include carbon
neutrality,
social equity,
and a focus on
developing a
green local
economy in
the updated
Economic
Development
Strategic Plan.
Leadership
2.1.A: Support
implementation
of the green
economy and
social equity
portions of the
Economic
Development
Strategic Plan.
Leadership
2.1.A: Continue
to support
implementation
of the green
economy and
social equity
portions of the
Economic
Development
Strategic Plan.
Administration Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The 2023 Economic Development Strategic Plan established City goals and actions at the intersection of economic development and
climate action. Staff from the Office of Sustainability and Natural Resources and the Office of Economic Development coordina te
regularly to implement this work. A key action is ongoing sup port for the San Luis Obispo County Green Business Network , hosted
by ECOSLO. City staff helped launch the program locally and continue to support it by referring businesses through the City’s
Business W elcome Program. In 2026 there are 36 certified green businesses in San Luis Obispo County with 151 businesses in the
certification process. In 2026, three City facilities (City Hall, 919 Palm Street, and 879 Morro Street) were certified as green businesses
by ECOSLO.
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Leadership
2.2
Research
methods to
support local
contractors
and labor.
Leadership
2.2.A: Support
regional efforts
to develop the
workforce
required to
implement the
Climate Action
Plan.
Leadership
2.2.A: Continue
to support
regional efforts
to develop the
workforce
required to
implement the
Climate Action
Plan.
Administration Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
hold
Staff have had a limited role in developing a regional green workforce. Since adoption of the 202 3-27 CAP Work Program, staff have
concluded that, as a small municipality, the City lacks the capacity to meaningfully influence regional workforce efforts. Th e original
premise, that meeting climate goals and capturing related economic benefits required local gre en workforce training, has not held in
practice. Contractor capacity to install clean energy equipment has not been a primary barrier to adoption.
Regional workforce efforts continue through other entities. The Tri-Counties Pre-Apprenticeship Building and Construction Trades
Training Program includes green construction in its Multi-Craft Core Curriculum and is supported by the Workforce Development
Board. The City also maintains annual agreements with REACH, the region’s economic development organization, to support
workforce initiatives focused on cleantech, energy, building design, and construction. City leadership and staff participate in the
REACH Council and related working groups.
Leadership
3.1
Create a
formal
approach to
support and
empower
community
collaboration
for climate
action.
Leadership
3.1.A: Continue
to support and
empower
community
collaboration for
climate action.
Leadership
3.1.A: Continue
to support and
empower
community
collaboration for
climate action.
Administration Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The City has invested in a wide range of organizations for the purpose of supporting local community-based organizations and their
capacity to support climate actions. Key organizational relationships include:
Climate Coalition of San Luis Obispo: the City has a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the Climate Coalition and
provides funding to assist with hosting community events including Earth Fest and National Drive Electric Week.
Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo: The City has identified, applied for, and received grant funds in the total
amount of over $350,000 that have been allocated directly to CAPSLO’s low-income energy efficiency programs.
Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo County: The City has worked to identify, apply for, and receive grant funds in the total
amount of nearly $200,000 that have been passed through directly to DCSLO to provide community outreach and energy bill
technical assistance.
Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo: the City provides funding via Keys for Trees and external grants to support
volunteer tree plantings and creek clean ups.
Creek Lands Conservation: the City partnered with Creek Lands on the SLO Creek Resiliency and Rewi lding Plan and is
actively seeking grant funding to implement restoration projects that increase our watershed’s resilience to climate change.
City Farm SLO: the City leases prime agricultural property to City Farm, a nonprofit that provides educational services to the
community about sustainable agriculture while addressing food insecurity by growing food for the food bank.
yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region: the City has partnered with ytt to
return traditional ecological knowledge and practices on City Open Space properties, including cultural fire. The City and yt t
have successfully partnered on a grant to restore perennial grasses at Johnson Ranch Open Space.
Rotary de Tolosa: the City partners with the Rotary de Tolosa to plant trees on City properties and maintain them over time.
Clean
Energy 1.1
Launch
Monterey Bay
Community
Power and
achieve a 98%
participation
rate while
advocating for
programs that
support equity
and achieve
maximum
local benefit.
Energy 1.1.A:
Continue to
support Central
Coast
Community
Energy’s 100%
renewable by
2030 goal and
continue to
advocate for
equitable
decarbonization
programs.
Energy 1.1.A:
Continue to
support Central
Coast
Community
Energy’s 100%
renewable by
2030 goal and
continue to
advocate for
equitable
decarbonization
programs.
Community
Development
Ongoing CCCE
participation
rate – 96%
of electrical
load and
accounts.
On
track
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) adopted an ambitious procurement target in 2021 to achieve 100% renewable and carbon
free energy through direct investment in projects by 2030. To do so, the agency sold many of its “carbon free attributes” whi ch had
previously allowed it to report very low emissions, similar to how other utilities, including PG&E, are able to report very-low emissions.
As a result, 3CE’s electricity emissions intensity increased substantially in 2021 through 2023 as the new projects were bid,
constructed, and brought on to the grid. With major projects now operating, the emissions intensity fell in 2024 and 2025, putting the
agency back on the trajectory towards carbon neutrality.
Participation remains high, with 96.87% of total electrical load and 96.2% of electrical acco unts in the City participating in 3CE and
$4.1 million in direct incentives and rebates coming back to the community and City for investments in electric vehicles, charging
infrastructure, and building electrification in alignment with the City’s and community’s carbon neutrality goals.
The City supports and influences 3CE through representation on 3CE’s boards. The City and Morro Bay share a Policy Board seat
and an Operations Board seat. 2025 was the first year that the City did not serve on either of the Boards, with Morro Bay representing
both cities in 2025 and 2026. The City will resume its role on the boards in 2027.
Clean
Energy 2.1
Work with
MBCP and
PG&E to
develop a
regional grid
reliability
strategy.
Energy 2.1.A:
Continue to
monitor and
support CCCE
and PG&E’s grid
reliability work.
Energy 2.1.A:
Continue to
monitor and
support CCCE
and PG&E’s grid
reliability work.
Administration Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
In the early 2020s, with the advent of Public Safety Power Shutoffs, the concerns around overall grid reliability were very high. Since
adoption of the CAP update in 2023, according to PG&E’s reports, the City has not experienced a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
Localized distribution grid outages occur occasionally as the result of inclement weather or accidents; however, these remain minor
and relatively undisruptive. Two other electricity service concerns have emerged since 2020:
1. New housing, electric vehicle charging, and renewable energy projects are experiencing significant delays in grid
interconnection, impacting project viability and investment.
2. The substantial increases in PG&E electricity rates since 2018 that have occurred primarily as the result of increased
preventative and deferred distribution grid maintenance costs and wildfire mitigation and response costs being embedded
into electricity rates.
As California’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depends on plugging in buildings, cars, and transportation sy stems into a
clean electricity grid, it is important for these assets to be connected to the grid in a predictable and timely manner, and for electricity
prices to maintain parity with natural gas.
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Clean
Energy 3.1
Partner with
SoCal Gas to
research
options for
reducing
greenhouse
gas emissions
associated
with the
existing
natural gas
grid.
Energy 3.1.A:
Continue to
explore
opportunities to
partner with
SoCal Gas on
innovative
decarbonization
pilot projects that
are aligned with
the Climate
Action Plan.
Energy 3.1.A:
Continue to
explore
opportunities to
partner with
SoCal Gas on
innovative
decarbonization
pilot projects that
are aligned with
the Climate
Action Plan.
Administration Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
SoCal Gas provides gas distribution and transmission grid maintenance as standard practice and have access to infrastructure in the
public right of way via their franchise agreement with the City. In 2020 and 2021, staff worked with SoCal Gas’s project development
team to identify potential “biogas to grid” projects in the region. SoCal Gas’s team were not able to identify any projects. Due to staff
turnover at SoCal Gas, there has been less direct contact than in previous years. The utility has held webinars about energy efficiency
programs, and the City intends to participate where beneficial so long as the programs don’t unnecessarily prolong or reinves t in
fossil fuel infrastructure.
Green
Buildings
1.1
Adopt and
implement the
Clean Energy
Choice
Program for
New Buildings
and review
opportunities
for
improvement
in the 2022
code cycle.
Green Buildings
1.1.A: Support
Clean Energy
Program for New
Buildings with
ongoing access
to technical
assistance.
Green Buildings
1.1.A: Monitor
Clean Energy
Program for New
Buildings
Implementation
and consider
local
amendments to
the California
Energy Code
concurrent with
the 2025
triennial code
cycle if
necessary.
Administration,
Community
Development
Ongoing Number of
all-electric
new
buildings;
number of
customers
assisted:
All-electric
buildings
accounted
for 79% of
new building
permits
On
track
Since 2020, the City has adopted numerous local amendments to the California Energy Code, including: (1) electric preferred new-
building requirements (2020), (2) mandatory all-electric new building requirements (2022) (note: the 2022 requirements were nullified
following a change in federal law interpretation), and (3) energy efficient new building requirements (2023). In the 2022 code Cycle,
the City enforced local amendments as follows:
Ordinance 1730 (2023 Series) required additional energy efficiency measures for residential and non-residential new
construction and encourages the installation of high-efficiency electric appliances.
Ordinance 1736 (2024 Series) required major additions and alterations to existing single-family residential buildings to install
certain energy efficiency measures in the existing building.
Ordinance 1730 and 1736 provided local amendments to the 2022 California Building Standards Code and as such were no longer
enforceable once that code sunset on December 31, 2025. For the subsequent 2025 building code cycle, which will hold for six years
due to state legislation, the City adopted Ordinance 1752 (2025 Series) to update and extend the energy efficient major additions
and alterations policy (Ordinance 1736). Council provided direction to staff to return with additional potential local amendments to the
California Energy Code in 2026.
Together with updates to the California Building Standards Code that aim to reduce emissions, these local amendments have
significantly contributed to the City’s climate action progress. Between 2021 and June of 2025, of the over 700 building permits issued
by the City (including single-family, multi-family, and non-residential buildings) that collected energy utility data, 79% were all-electric.
Green
Buildings
2.1
Conduct
comprehensiv
e retrofit
program study
and develop
and implement
a strategic and
equity-focused
building retrofit
program by
2021.
Green Buildings
2.1.A: Expand
high visibility
pilot projects.
Green Buildings
2.1.A: Assess
the value of
continued pilot
projects and
either continue
pilot projects or
consider
transitioning
resources to an
equity fund that
supports low-
income and/or
hard to reach
(e.g., rentals)
residential
retrofits.
Administration Summer
2023
Number of
buildings
retrofitted: 0
On
track
The City worked with HASLO and no-cost technical experts to design zero-emission water heating and HVAC retrofit projects at two
local properties. Staff leveraged grant funding, public programs, and City time to develop permit -ready plan sets. HASLO ultimately
determined that site conditions made the projects too complex and chose not to proceed. Remaining grant funds were reallocate d to
CAPSLO to support low-income weatherization and water heater upgrades in mobile and manufactured homes through the Buildings
Up project described below.
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Green Buildings
2.1.B: Create an
equity focused
“Green and
Healthy
Buildings”
service to
educate the
community and
connect low-
income building
owners with
resources,
incentives,
financing, and
contractors.
Green Buildings
2.1.B: Review
service
effectiveness
and expand to
include
additional
project types
and income
levels, if
feasible.
Administration,
Community
Development
Fall
2023
Number of
customers
served: 4
mobile
homes; with
funding
secured for
25
additional
installations
in 2026
On
track
Staff, in partnership with Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo County and Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo, was
awarded two rounds of the Department of Energy’s Building Upgrade Prize to research the feasibility of electrification in mobile and
manufactured homes and to design a concierge service that helps low-income residents electrify their homes and access rebates
and incentives. The project focused on manufactured housing because it is a source of naturally occurring owner-occupied affordable
housing in San Luis Obispo.
After extensive stakeholder outreach, the team began a 12-month Technology Demonstration to research the cost-effectiveness and
feasibility of green and healthy building upgrades in manufactured housing and to pilot potential features of a future concierge service
with residents living in Chumash Village, a manufactured housing community in San Luis Obispo . Through the pilot, a total of four
residents received an energy audit, weatherization upgrades, and some combination of a new electrical panel, heat pump water
heater, and/or heat pump HVAC system from CAPSLO. Over the next 12 months, the team monitored their energy use and bill
impacts of switching from natural gas to electric. The team also provided supportive services including a monthly bill protection
program, on-call energy coaching and troubleshooting for their new appliances, and quarterly home comfort check -ins to better
understand the participants’ needs, concerns, and experience with their home upgrades. In parallel, staff met with representatives
from Central Coast Community Energy, Tri-County Regional Energy Network, and the California Energy Commission to advocate for
incentives that support home energy upgrades in manufactured housing.
In October of 2024, the City was also selected to participate in the National League of Cities’ Healthy Housing Innovation Co hort.
Staff from the Office of Sustainability and the Community Development Department partnered to deliver another round of stakeholder
outreach, this time to professionals in the fields of affordable housing and public health. This outreach resulted in the des ign and
delivery of a Green and Healthy Homes Resource fair. City staff planned and hosted the fair alongside stakeholders in Silver City
Mobile Home Lodge, and the event successfully connected residents with local health, safety, and climate resources.
In November 2025, staff, in partnership with Diversity Coalition, CAPSLO, and SLO Climate Coalition, were selected for a TECH
QuickStart Scaling Fund grant. The grant will fund the expansion of the pilot program initially offered to Chumash Village to a broader
subset of manufactured housing communities. Diversity Coalition and SLO Climate Coalition will conduct outreach to additional
manufactured housing communities to share resources and solicit additional program participants. CAPSLO will complete up to 25
additional heat pump upgrades in local manufactured homes, and Diversity Coalition will trai n SLO Climate Coalition staff to expand
their Home Energy Advising Service to include manufactured housing and integrate the services tested in the technology
demonstration, such as energy coaching and home comfort check -ins.
Green Buildings
2.1.C: Establish
“Green and
Healthy
Buildings” permit
streamlining
program.
Green Buildings
2.1.C: Continue
working to
minimize
regulatory
barriers to
electrification
retrofit projects.
Administration,
Community
Development
Winter
2024
# of permits
processed
through
program:
The number
of permits
streamlined
is extensive
due to the
City’s
approach,
making this
action
infeasible to
track
numerically
with existing
systems
On
track
Staff reviewed a number of opportunities to streamline permitting of green and healthy building improvements, and implemented the
following enhancements to the process:
The City provides a discount for permits associated with green and healthy buildings, including solar, windows, and heat
pump water heater and HVAC systems.
The City connects project applicants with rebate programs at time of permit submittal.
The City’s Climate Action Plan allows for new development projects that require CEQA review to illustrate consistency with
the CAP and forgo environmental review for greenhouse gas emissions impacts.
The City processes solar building permits through Solar App+, which provides on demand, next -day permits.
The City received the “Gold” designation via the SolSmart program, which awards the distinction based on achieving national
best practices for solar permitting.
The City provides access to 3C-REN’s “Code Coach” program, which provides no-cost technical assistance to community
members that are working to comply with the California Energy Code.
Additionally, staff will continue to monitor emerging best practices, including on-demand permitting for heat-pump hot water heaters,
and pursue additional improvements to the permitting process as capacity allows.
Green Buildings
2.1.D: Facilitate
access to low
interest
financing for
retrofit projects.
Green Buildings
2.1.D: Review
financing
support
approach and
modify as
necessary.
Administration Summer
2023
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
Behind Staff have reviewed a wide range of financing models, but none have yet proved viable for a city the size of San Luis Obispo to
administer and operate. Statewide and regional programs do exist, however, including GoGreen Financing, a state financing program
that connects building owners to lower interest finance through regional credit unions for certain clean energy and energy efficie ncy
projects. Community Choice Aggregators in other regions of California including Peninsula Clean Energy and San Jose Clean Energy
have also launched zero interest, on-bill loans to help qualified community members access water heating, HVAC upgrades, and
energy efficiency improvements. City staff has advocated to Central Coast Community Energy to develop a regional program of this
nature, but to date, the agency has declined.
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Green Buildings
2.1.E: Develop
an equitable
framework for
requiring
electrification
retrofits and
develop cost
effective building
electrification
policies for
additions and
alterations.
Green Buildings
2.1.E: Use the
foundational
research and
community
outreach
conducted in
2023-25 to
identify whether
additional
disclosure or
retrofit
requirements are
needed, and if
so, develop and
adopt these
requirements.
Administration Summer
2023
Number of
buildings
retrofitted:
As of 2026,
the
Additions
and
Alterations
Reach Code
has been
applied to a
small
number of
building
permits. An
exact
number was
not available
at the time
of this
report’s
publishing.
Behind On July 15, 2025, staff conducted a study session with City Counc il about recent progress supporting efficiency and electrification
retrofits in existing buildings, and the policy options available for future consideration. At the study session (Council Agenda Report
linked here), staff shared that while the emissions from energy use in buildings in San Luis Obispo is decreasing, the reductions are
not occurring at the rate required to achieve Council’s time b ound goals. Staff also shared updates and received strategic direction
on the following:
Additions and Alterations Reach Code: Staff presented the existing single-family building additions and alterations progress
to date and sought strategic direction on next steps. Council directed staff to update the reach code, which they subsequently
adopted via Ordinance 1752 (2025 Series) in November of 2025.
Time-of-Sale Energy Disclosure: Staff received strategic direction from Council to coordinate and launch a voluntary pilot
program in San Luis Obispo called the “Home Energy Score”. The program, provided by the statewide implementer of the
Home Energy Score, is expected to launch in Spring of 2026, with no-cost training to local home inspectors and real estate
professionals, as well as subsidies for homeowners or home sellers that would like to provide a score for their home.
Building Performance Standard: Staff have conducted extensive research on the feasibility of establishing a building
performance standard in San Luis Obispo. The process of establishing a building performance standard begins with requiring
energy disclosure from applicable buildings, before ultimately setting targe ts for efficiency improvements in those buildings
over time. While enforcing a building performance standard would be staff intensive and likely require external funding, staff
have identified a viable path to adopting and enforcing an energy benchmarking (e.g., disclosure) program for large buildings.
Staff have already identified approximately 100 buildings that exceed 50,000 square feet and approximately 150 buildings
between 25,000 and 50,000 square feet. Staff verified current building use type for eac h and organized them into a database
to allow for sorting and identifying buildings that could qualify. A preliminary process for receiving disclosed building ene rgy
use data has been created and staff will begin engaging with local building owners and businesses willing to champion
voluntary energy use disclosure to further inform program design.
Connected
1.1
Establish a
consistent
method for
tracking and
reporting
mode split
metrics.
Connected
1.1.A: Conduct
the Household
Transportation
Survey every
other year to
track and report
on mode split
metrics.
Connected
1.1.A: Continue
to conduct the
Household
Transportation
Survey every
other year to
track and report
on mode split
metrics.
Public Works Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report; Up-
to-date
mode split
metrics and
additional
data can be
found in the
Active
Transportati
on Plan
biennial
status report
On
track
Mode share metrics are reported in the City’s Biennial Active Transportation Plan (ATP) Report Card. The 2025 ATP Report Card
reports mode share from the 2025 Household Transportation Survey with the following results:
Walking - 15%
Bicycle - 12%
Transit - 3%
Single-Occupancy Vehicle - 59%
Carpool and other - 12%
The City’s overall target is for 50% of trips to come from modes other than single-occupancy vehicles, and these updated numbers
show good progress towards that target. While staff use the Citywide Household Travel Survey as the primary data source for deriving
mode share estimates, the Report Card also presents multimodal data trends from the US Census Department’s American
Community Survey and latest trends in auto/bicycle/pedestrian volumes on primary transportation routes and annual SLO Transit
Ridership data. The City’s Active Transportation Portal web page provides additional information on current mode share trends.
Connected
1.2
Research and
develop an
approach to a
“Mobility as a
Service”
platform for
people to
easily use all
modes of low
carbon
mobility in the
City.
Connected
1.2.A: Taking
direction from
the Transit
Innovation
Study, pursue
the development
of a regionally
integrated
"Mobility as a
Service"
platform.
Connected
1.2.A: Update
the Mobility as a
Service platform
as necessary.
Administration,
Public Works
Fall
2023
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
hold
While the City has not developed a Mobility as a Service platform, SLOCOG is advancing the concept in a narrowed way through
their forthcoming Mobility Wallet Pilot Program. Whereas a “Mobility as a Service” platform would serve users as they move around
using multiple modes of transportation in a single trip (for example: using bikeshare to travel to the bus stop to commute via transit),
the Mobility Wallet pilot being led by SLOCOG is an electronic or card-based system that would distribute $1.047 million in Low
Carbon Transit Operations Program funding to eligible SLO County constituents as pre -loaded debit cards restricted for transit use
on both RTA and SLO Transit’s systems. The initial program will be focused on transit services only, but the goal is to expand the
Mobility Wallet to include other services like bike lockers and other forms of public transit as they become available.
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Connected
2.1
Complete
Active
Transportation
Plan and
begin
implementatio
n immediately.
Connected
2.1.A: Continue
to implement the
Active
Transportation
Plan.
Connected
2.1.A: Continue
to implement the
Active
Transportation
Plan.
Public Works Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The City adopted the Active Transportation Plan in February 2021 and has since rapidly implemented active transportation projects
across the community. Projects completed since the adoption of the 2023-27 CAP Work Program include the North Chorro
Neighborhood Greenway, shared use paths on Madonna Rd and in the Cerro San Luis Development, and new crossing
improvements at South/King and Sydney/Johnson. As of 2026, the City has completed 31% of the City’s Tier 1 active transportation
network, with more projects on the way at Higuera, Tank Farm, South Brood, and Prado. More information about the implementation
of the Active Transportation Plan can be found in the 2025 ATP Report Card.
Connected
2.2
Launch micro
mobility
program by
2021.
Connected
2.2.A: Reassess
the viability of
launching a
Micro Mobility
Program and
launch if
feasible.
Connected
2.2.A: If viable,
continue to
operate and
expand the
Micro Mobility
Program.
Administration,
Public Works
Summer
2023
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
hold
On May 7, 2024, City Council authorized the release of a request for proposals (RFP) for a community bikeshare program. The RFP
was for a bikeshare pilot with 100 bikes with docks sited in the downtown core and Cal Poly campus. The RFP also specified that the
program be operated at no cost to the City and low impact to Public Works staff. During the RFP process market conditions shifted
and the bidding vendors updated their proposals to require substantial external funds to sustain operations and as a result, a vendor
was not selected. Staff continues to monitor market conditions and better under stand potential service providers. Should a viable
program be possible that meets the operational needs of the City, staff could return with an updated RFP to re-test market conditions.
Connected
3.1
Establish a
policy and
strategic
approach to
leveraging
existing and
new parking
garages for
downtown
residential and
visitor serving
uses and to
allow for
further
implementatio
n of the
Downtown
Concept Plan.
Connected
3.1.A: Establish
a policy that
addresses the
distribution of
Level 2 and
Level 3 chargers
in parking lots
and garages.
Connected
3.1.A: Continue
to implement the
parking lot and
garage policy
and pursue
updates if
necessary.
Administration,
Public Works
Winter
2024
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
hold
At the time of adopting the 2022 CAP, staff were concerned about the lack of Level 3 chargers at City parking lots and garages and
included this action to develop a policy requiring more Level 3 chargers. As electric vehicle adoption rates have increased a nd
charging behavior has been observed, staff have determined that Level 2 chargers are the appropriate infrastructure for public parking
garages and have deemed the development of a new policy unnecessary. The City continues to deploy new charging infrastructure
in public lots and garages, including 41 new Level 2 EV spaces in the Cultural Arts District Parking Structure and 8 privately operated
Level 3 charging ports at various public lots, with 8 more scheduled for installation in 2026. The City also developed an updated rate
structure that will better support charger availability, as well as ongoing maintenance, replacement, and expansion of EV infrastructure
in the future.
Connected
3.1.B: Pursue
parking
programs, rules,
and regulation
that can reduce
vehicle miles
travelled and
support
alternatives to
vehicle
ownership.
Connected
3.1.B: Continue
to pursue
parking
programs, rules,
and regulation
that can reduce
vehicle miles
travelled and
support
alternatives to
vehicle
ownership.
Administration,
Community
Development,
Public Works
Spring
2024
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The City has advanced its efforts to reduce vehicle miles traveled and support alternatives to vehicle ownership through severa l key
actions. The Parking Fund purchased and installed 22 new BikeLink lockers in the downtown core, expanding secure bike storage
facilities for people who bike to downtown San Luis Obispo. The SLO Transit Downtown Access Pass program, funded by the City’s
Parking Fund, has grown to 68 active users in 2025, nearly doubling the 2024 total of downtown employees using SLO Transit.
Additionally, in 2023 the City created the Mobility Division, integrating Parking, Transit, and Active Transportation under one structure
to improve coordination, develop multimodal solutions, and balance competing priorities.
Connected
4.1
Develop
transit
electrification
strategic plan
and begin
implementing
in 2020.
Connected
4.1.A: Continue
to electrify the
SLO Transit bus
fleet.
Connected
4.1.A: Continue
to electrify the
SLO Transit bus
fleet.
Public Works,
Administration
Ongoing # of electric
buses;
percentage
of fleet
electrified: 8
/ ~50%
On
track
As of early 2026, there are two electric SLO Transit buses in service. Six more electric transit buses are scheduled to enter service
Spring 2026 and an additional two electric buses should be in service by Fall 2026. This will bring the total number of electric buses
in the SLO Transit fleet to 10, comprising around 50% of the total fleet of 19-20 vehicles. This progress aligns with the City’s Zero-
Emission Bus Roll Out Plan, which provides a strategy to reaching California’s Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) fleet regulation goal of
100% zero-emission buses by 2040, while also avoiding early retirement of conventional buses. With the adoption of 2025 Short-
Range Transit Plan update, Council approved the refurbishment of up to five diesel -powered buses to accelerate the implementation
of service expansion recommendations. These refurbishments will delay SLO Transit’s transition to 100% zero-emission
technologies; however, the City will remain compliant with California’s ICT mandates. By 2030, staff anticipates that 80% of the fleet
will be zero-emission assuming state and federal funding for zero-emission buses continues be available. Additionally, the Short-
Range Transit Plan provides a holistic approach to improving SLO Transit’s vehicles and infrastructure including reinvestment in
existing buses and critical on-board technology upgrades. These two plans work together to provide the best experience for SLO
Transit users in the short term while advancing the long-term goal of 100% zero-emission buses in the long term.
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Connected
4.2
Shorten transit
headways
through
accelerated
implementatio
n of the
existing Short-
Range Transit
Plan.
Connected
4.2.A:
Incorporate
recommendation
s from the
Transit
Innovation Study
into the Short-
Range Transit
Plan and begin
implementation
immediately.
Connected
4.2.A: Continue
to implement the
Short-Range
Transit Plan.
Public Works
Fall
2023
Annual
transit
system
headways
On
track
The Transit Innovation Study (TIS) provides recommendations to improve SLO Transit into the future. In January, 2024, Council
reviewed a draft of the Transit Innovation Study and directed staff to finalize the report and begin implementation. In March 2025, the
City published the Transit Innovation Implementation Progress Report. Specific TIS recommendations were further analyzed and
incorporated into the Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) update process, which was adopted by Council in April 2025. Not all TIS
recommendations were analyzed in the SRTP or included as recommended actions. Details on implementation progress for the high
and medium priority TIS recommendation are presented below in ranked priority order. The TIS recommendations that were further
analyzed in the SRTP are identified in this broader list.
1. Enhanced fixed route services (TIS) Fixed route recommendations (SRTP)
o Reinstate services to pre-pandemic levels.
Reinstatement of pre-pandemic service levels is scheduled to take place Spring 2026.
o Increase Route 4A/B service, operate “B” Routes on weekends, increase service frequency on Routes 2A/B,
provide academic service year-round, and provide new service to Avila Ranch area
Fixed route SRTP recommendations will be implemented under a new contract for transit operations and
maintenance services (assuming funding and vehicles are available to operate service). The new contract is
expected to go into effect on July 1, 2026. Implementation of the SRTP recommendations will be phased in during
the contract term and coordinated with the new contractor.
2. Pursue open-loop payment system (TIS)
SLO Transit is partnering with SLOCOG, RTA, and California’s Department of Transportation on this project with the goal
of implementing the new payment system by April 2026. The new system includes a payment option that will limit what
riders pay to the max daily and max monthly rates.
3. Fare changes for students, seniors and low-income riders (TIS)
In February 2025, Council approved making the discounted K-12 15-ride pass a permanent program. SLO Transit,
SLOCOG, and RTA considered a one-year fare free pilot program but, by federal law, it would also mean that the County’s
paratransit services would also have to be free. There was not enough funds available to cover both fixed-route and
paratransit. Instead, SLOCOG is using the funds on a Mobility Wallet Pilot Program (see Connected 4.1.A).
4. Replace Computer-Aided Dispatch and Automated Vehicle Locator (CAD/AVL) system of fixed route vehicles (TIS)
The CAD/AVL system connects with other technologies such as onboard voice annunciators, passenger counters, security
cameras, and real-time passenger information displays. Replacing the CAD/AVL system will enhance scheduling accuracy,
Connected
4.3
Explore
additional
innovative
transit options
in the 2022
Short-Range
Transit Plan
(e.g., on-
demand
deviated
routes, electric
fleet
expansion,
micro transit,
Bus rapid
transit, transit
signal priority).
This action will
be addressed by
Connected
4.2.A.
This action will
be addressed by
Connected
4.2.A.
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Connected
4.4
Assess
feasibility of a
“free to the
user” transit
ridership
program.
This action will
be addressed by
Connected
4.2.A.
This action will
be addressed by
Connected
4.2.A.
service monitoring, reporting, and rider communication. Funding from state and federal grants is expected to fully cover the
cost, with installation anticipated in Spring 2026.
5. Upgrade automatic passenger counters (TIS)
Installation of automatic passenger counter technology is scheduled to occur in Spring 2026 along with the implementation
of a new CAD/AVL system.
6. Enhance real-time passenger information
Immediate improvements to real-time passenger information will occur once a new CAD/AVL system is installed. Staff
updated SLO Transit’s bus stop inventory in August 2025, and bus stop conditions along with ridership data will be used to
identify locations to install additional amenities like real-time information signs.
7. Replace and improve camera systems
$750,000 in state grant funding has been approved for improved camera systems and are currently available for project
related costs.
8. Explore institutional partnerships
In November 2025, the City partnered with Rideshare’s Know How to Go campaign to sponsor the Holiday Trolley. The
sponsorship covers the costs of fares allowing riders to use the service at no cost. Ridership of the Holiday Trolley was
over 1,000 riders compared to less than 250 the prior year when there was no sponsorship of the cost. Remaining
sponsorship funds are being used to cover fares for the Farmers’ Market Trolley service which operates every Thursday.
Future partnerships are being explored to offer discounted or free fare rides on other SLO Transit services including the
Mobility Wallet Pilot Program previously discussed.
9. Install lighting, shelters, and bike parking at applicable bus stops (TIS)
An update to SLO Transit’s bus stop inventory was completed in August 2025. The updated inventory will be used to
develop a multiyear improvement plan for all bus stop amenities. Staff is also working to replace the twelve remaining old
style bus shelters with new shelters per the City’s Engineering Standards by June 2027.
10. Expand the Downtown Access Pass (TIS)
The application process was streamlined in fall 2024, and expansion of the program’s geographic area is a
recommendation in the Short-Range Transit Plan.
11. Pursuing microtransit mobility services (TIS) Microtransit pilot program (SRTP)
Microtransit will be pursued as a “turnkey” option through a third-party contractor. There is a microtransit feasibility study
underway in FY25-26, which will determine how a microtransit program could be implemented in SLO including possible
service alternatives.
12. Launch a bikeshare program
See Connected Community 2.2.A.
Connected
5.1
Complete the
2019-21
Housing
Element of the
General Plan
Update and
Flexible
Zoning
Connected
5.1.A: Continue
to implement the
Housing
Element of the
General Plan.
Connected
5.1.A: Continue
to implement the
Housing
Element with a
special focus on
reaching the
City’s RHNA
goals.
Community
Development
Ongoing Housing
production
by income
(per
Regional
Housing
Needs
Allocation)
On
track
Implementation of the Housing Element includes removing barriers to housing production, meeting the State's Regional Housing
Needs Allocation of 3,354 housing units from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2028, and diversifying housing options for all
with a focus on infill development. Since the adoption of the 6th Cycle Housing Element, the City has updated zoning standards that
approve objective design standards, allow housing in more zoning districts, incentivize more below-market-rate housing, and expand
housing projects eligible for ministerial permits. As of the end of 2025, the City has far exceeded its 1,406 housing unit allocation for
“Above Moderate” housing units by permitting 2,478 housing units. For below market rate ("affordable") housing units, the City has
permitted 719 housing units with 1,229 units still needed to meet the 6th Cycle RHNA allocation by the end of the 2028 calendar
year. Of the remaining below market rate allocation, 39% of the units must be reserved for Very Low and Extremely Low Incomes ,
21% for Low Incomes, and 40% for Moderate Incomes.
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
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Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Requirements
for Downtown.
Connected
5.1.B: Conduct
“Missing Middle”
housing pilot
program along
major urban
corridors.
Connected
5.1.B: Continue
to support
“missing middle”
housing along
major urban
corridors.
Community
Development
Spring
2024
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The City's goals to foster "missing middle" housing have been reshaped through state housing legislation since 2019. Instead of a
stand-alone ordinance to widen housing opportunities along specific corridors, the City has leveraged a series of state laws and
programs to expand missing middle housing opportunities and is incorporating missing middle housing as a priority in Specific Plan
updates. Examples of missing-middle aligned regulations and programs include:
Density Bonus Law implementation provides incentives for smaller units as higher densities are achieved for infill lots. The
majority of all housing projects over 10-units utilize the City's Density Bonus incentives.
The inclusionary housing in-lieu fee is based on square footage. As a result, smaller units have lower fees, which incentivizes
smaller infill development.
The Downtown Flexible Density Program developed through the State SB2 Grant programs removes density requirements
for units less than 600 square feet downtown.
Expanded opportunities for ministerial review and greatly reduced fees for ADUs and JADUs have resulted in approximately
80-100+ permits issued annually.
The City's updated Subdivision Ordinance allows flexible lot design for R-1 districts and implements a streamlined processes
for urban lot splits allowed through SB 9 and SB 684.
Updated zoning regulations and the Airport Area Specific Plan implement state law by allowing more mixed-use housing
within Service Commercial and Manufacturing districts.
The City is currently updating the Margarita Area Specific Plan to incentivize missing middle housing opportunities.
Connected
6.1
Develop and
begin
implementing
electric
mobility plan
to achieve a
goal of 40%
electric vehicle
miles traveled
(VMT) by
2035.
Connected
6.1.A: Enable
the installation of
publicly
accessible EV
chargers on
public property
to meet
community
need.
Connected
6.1.A: Continue
to expand EV
charging on
public property.
Administration,
Public Works
Ongoing # EVs
registered in
county:
11,000
# public
chargers in
City: over
250+
# publicly
available
chargers on
City
property: 68
On
track
Publicly accessible EV charging on public property has expanded since 2020. Locally, the network grew from two public charger s in
2019 to a combined 27 today, including 19 standard ports intended for multi-hour use and eight fast chargers for short stops.
Additional projects scheduled for 2026 will add 41 more standard chargers at the Cultural Arts District Parking Garage and ei ght fast
chargers at Railroad Square and the Calle Joaquin Park-and-Ride, for a total of 76 public chargers. These public chargers supplement
an expanding network of private and residential charging already operating in the community. Additionally, in February 2026, the City
updated EV charging rates in paid parking lots to a structure designed to balance affordability and availabilit y for users while covering
operational costs, utility expenses, and equipment maintenance.
Connected
6.1.B: Support
publicly
accessible EV
chargers on
private property.
Connected
6.1.B: Continue
to support the
installation of
publicly
accessible EV
chargers on
private property.
Administration,
Community
Development,
Public Works
Ongoing # of EV
chargers on
private
property:
over 250
publicly
accessible
and 400
non-
accessible
charging
ports
(estimates)
On
track
Statewide, California’s public charging ports grew from 41,947 in 2019 to 178,549 in 2024, a more than fourfold increase.
Using the best available public data, the number of publicly accessible EV charging ports within San Luis Obispo city limits has
increased steadily over the same period. Estimates indicate roughly 109 public ports in 2020, rising to about 130 in 2021, 154 in
2022, 183 in 2023, and 217 in 2024. By 2025, the total is estimated at approximately 258 public ports, more than doubling loc al public
charging capacity since 2020. This growth is in addition to privately accessible chargers on private property. City permitting records
show roughly 400 private charging heads in use, a conservative estimate that excludes charging equipment installed as part of larger
development projects, unpermitted chargers, or lower-level chargers that do not require permits.
This rapid expansion in charging infrastructure aligns with continued growth in EV ownership. According to California Energy
Commission and DMV data, residents purchased more than 11 ,000 electric vehicles in San Luis Obispo County through 2025. EVs
accounted for 24%, 22%, and 22% of all light-duty vehicle sales in the County in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively. With the
elimination of federal tax credits, continued growth local adoption of EVs and EV chargers will face new headwinds. However, durable
local and regional rebates exist, including 3CE’s Electrify Your Ride, which since 2020, has issued over $2.2 million in reba tes for
electric vehicles and home charging projects in the city.
Page 246 of 251
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
PAGE - 44 -
Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Connected
6.1.C: Assess
the viability of
launching a
publicly
accessible EV
carshare
program and
launch if
feasible.
Connected
6.1.C: Continue
to support a
publicly
accessible EV
carshare
program.
Administration,
Public Works
Winter
2024
# carshare
sites: 0
# vehicles in
operation: 0
# annual
trips made
by carshare
vehicle: 0
On
hold
Based on conversations with vendors in the early 2020s, the launch and operation of a stand-alone carshare program was identified
as prohibitively costly in a low density and small community like San Luis Obispo. The City is currently working to understand how
these conditions may have changed over the last several years and is currently engaging directly with Zipcar, Cal Poly’s car share
program provider to learn more. Beyond that, there are no active tasks to further evaluate or pursue car share in the City’s current
work program.
Connected
6.1.D: Deploy
EV charging
infrastructure in
low-income and
underserved
areas.
Connected
6.1.D: Continue
to support the
installation of EV
chargers in low-
income and
underserved
areas.
Administration,
Community
Development,
Public Works
Summer
2023
# of EV
chargers in
underserved
areas: the
City hosts 4
charging
ports in
disadvantag
ed areas as
defined by
SLOCOG
Behind The City was supported HASLO’s participation in a regional grant for EV chargers at multifamily properties. This HASLO project,
when complete, will install 32 new level 1 chargers across 4 HASLO properties in San Luis Obispo (and a total of 54 chargers across
7 sites county wide). Additionally, the City has heard from community members that the Level 3 EV chargers installed at Johnson
Park have provided nearby multifamily tenants with an accessible charging option near their homes. Staff have sent informatio n about
grant programs that provide charging at multi-family properties to property managers, but there has been little interest in pursuing
these projects.
Going forward, the City will continue to prioritize providing low-income and underserved areas with access to EV charging, and in
particular finding solutions for the 60% of San Luis Obispo residents who are renters. Future strategies include continuing t o connect
multifamily property owners with regional technical assistance providers and EV charging incentives, as well as ongoing expansion
of EV charging infrastructure on public lots and providing information about available chargers to low -income community members
(e.g., the CADPS parking structures’ Level 2 chargers are also intended for overnight use by downtown residen ts).
Circular
Economy
1.1
Adopt an
ordinance
requiring
organic waste
subscription
for all
residential and
commercial
customers by
2022.
Circular
Economy 1.1.A:
Implement an
inspection and
enforcement
program to
ensure
compliance with
SB 1383
requirements.
Circular
Economy 1.1.A:
Maintain
compliance with
SB 1383
inspection and
enforcement
requirements.
Utilities Ongoing # Notice of
Violations
issued
annually
(beginning
in 2024): 15
On
track
The Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) has established an SB 1383 inspection program that provides as -needed
education and outreach to any premises found out of compliance through site visits or complaints. Enforcement guidelines were
adopted under City Ordinance 1706, which grants the City’s Code Enforcement Team the authority to require corrective action for
non-compliant premises. Under this process, the IWMA conducts the initial site visit or outreach, and if non-compliance persists
without voluntary remediation, the case is referred to the City’s Code Enforcement Team for follow-up. Since implementation, the
IWMA has conducted fifteen SB 1383-related complaint investigations, all of which were successfully resolved through IWMA
outreach and education.
Circular
Economy 1.1.B:
Comply with SB
1383
procurement
requirements for
recycled organic
waste and
paper.
Circular
Economy 1.1.B:
Maintain
compliance with
SB 1383
procurement
requirements.
Utilities,
Finance
Ongoing Quantity of
organic
materials
procured
annually:
over 5,000
tons
On
track
The City continues to maintain compliance with SB 1383’s organic waste and recycled-content paper procurement requirements. The
IWMA tracks and reports the annual procurement target on a countywide basis for all member agencies. Compliance is achieved
through eligible organic and paper purchases, application of compost and mulch, and the renewable electricity and other benef icial
byproducts generated by the Kompogas anaerobic digestion facility. In 2024, the City procured 5,255.93 tons of organic waste, which
is 143% of the SB 1383 organic procurement target. The City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Team and Purchasing Team provide
education and outreach to staff on SB 1383’s procurement requirements, and supply the IWMA with the necessary documentation
to support ongoing compliance.
Circular
Economy 1.1.C:
Collaborate with
the IWMA to
educate the
public on waste
minimization and
the proper
sorting and
disposal of
organic and
recyclable
products.
Circular
Economy 1.1.C:
Continue to
collaborate with
the IWMA to
educate the
public on waste
minimization,
and the proper
sorting and
disposal of
organic and
recyclable
products.
Utilities Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The City and IWMA continue to collaborate on waste-minimization and proper-sorting outreach through social media posts, in-person
events, presentations, and newsletters. In addition, the IWMA has developed short educational v ideos on waste reduction, which
have been shared on social media platforms and broadcast on local television. Further outreach materials are being developed by
the IWMA, Science Discovery, and City staff to expand community awareness and engagement.
Page 247 of 251
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
PAGE - 45 -
Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Circular
Economy
1.2
Develop and
implement
program to
increase
edible food
rescue by
20%.
Circular
Economy 1.2.A:
Monitor and
support IWMA
programs that
aim to increase
edible food
rescue.
Circular
Economy 1.2.A:
Continue to
monitor and
support IWMA
programs that
aim to increase
edible food
rescue.
Utilities Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The IWMA manages edible food recovery requirements countywide on behalf of member agencies, all of which have maintained full
compliance. The City continues to monitor and support the IWMA’s food recovery tracking efforts and maintains a strong working
relationship with the region’s primary food rescue organization, the SLO Food Bank . Since, July 2023 to October 2025, 1.7 million
pounds of edible food was recovered in the City of San Luis Obispo.
Circular
Economy
1.3
Develop and
implement a
waste stream
education
program for
HOA/Property
Managers and
the
commercial
sector.
Circular
Economy 1.3.A:
Partner with the
IWMA on waste
stream
education and
outreach for
HOA/Property
Managers, as
well as major
employers and
institutions.
Circular
Economy 1.3.A:
Continue
partnering with
the IWMA on
waste stream
education and
outreach for
HOA/Property
Managers, as
well as major
employers and
institutions.
Utilities Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
In partnership with the City, the IWMA develops and provides outreach to commercial businesses, major employers and instituti ons,
HOAs, and Property Managers. As a college town, it was recognized that Property Managers require more proactive support due to
high contamination rates and frequent tenant turnover. In response, City staff expanded outreach to multi -family properties through
email communication and as-needed on-site visits.
Mobile home parks with shared waste services were additionally identified as key stakeholders needing updated and consistent
waste-stream education, prompting increased engagement efforts. This work also aligns with the 2025 –27 Major City Goal, which
prioritizes enhanced outreach to both multi-family and mobile home park communities. Large employers and institutions are also
offered opportunities for on-site presentations to strengthen compliance and reduce contamination.
Circular
Economy
2.1
Update the
Municipal
Code solid
waste section
and bin
enclosure
standards.
Complete. Complete. Utilities N/A N/A On
track
City Council adopted Ordinance 1706 to update Sections 8.04 and 8.05 of the Municipal Code to align with the requirements of
Senate Bill 1383, supporting the City’s continued efforts to divert food and organic waste.
In January 2024, the Trash Enclosure Design Guidelines were updated and posted to the City’s website. The City partners with San
Luis Garbage throughout the permitting process to ensure that new and redeveloped sites include adequate capacity and service
levels for the proper collection and diversion of trash, recycling, and organic materials.
Circular
Economy
2.2
Develop and
expand
funding for a
Solid Waste
section in the
Utilities
Department.
Circular
Economy 2.2.A:
Support
innovative
organic waste
collection
systems for
high-volume and
hard-to-reach
waste
generators.
Circular
Economy 2.2.A:
Continue to
support
innovative
organic waste
collection
systems for
high-volume and
hard-to-reach
waste
generators.
Utilities Winter
2024
Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
Events and multi-family complexes have been identified as high-volume waste generators with elevated contamination rates. The
City provides Special Event Waste Reduction Guidelines to all permitted events, and the event application and contract clearly outline
the City’s organic waste diversion requirements and local sustainability ordinances. Multi-family complexes receive additional
education and outreach support, including recurring resource emails to property managers and opportunities for on -site presentations
to improve compliance and reduce contamination.
Circular
Economy 2.2.B:
Build
relationships
with local and
regional waste
industry
stakeholders.
Circular
Economy 2.2.B:
Convene a
Circular
Economy
Stakeholder
Forum to gather
key stakeholders
and inform future
Circular
Economy
actions.
Utilities,
Administration
Ongoing Qualitative
tracking in
CAP
progress
report
On
track
The City continues to develop relationships with local industry stakeholders such as industry leaders, local advocates, non -profits,
educators, practitioners, and implem enters in the local and regional waste industry. A Circular Economy Stakeholder Forum will be
facilitated with these stakeholders to develop implementable and impactful actions for the forthcoming Climate Action Plan update.
Page 248 of 251
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
PAGE - 46 -
Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Natural
Solutions
1.1
Conduct
Carbon
Farming Study
and Pilot
Project in
2021. If
feasible, begin
implementatio
n by 2023.
Natural
Solutions 1.1.A:
Make progress
on protecting
land within the
City’s
Greenbelt
through direct
purchases and
conservation
easements.
Natural
Solutions 1.1.A:
Continue to
make progress
on protecting
land within the
City’s Greenbelt
through direct
purchases and
conservation
easements.
Administration Ongoing Number of
acres
protected
On
track
Staff actively pursue priority land conservation opportunities in ac cordance with Council direction.
The City received a dedication of Righetti Hill within the Orcutt Area Specific Plan and the Natural Resources Program, along with
the Ranger Service staff, worked to establish a new open space and trail system. The Righet ti Hill Open Space Conservation Plan
was adopted by Council in 2023 and trail system and trailhead improvements were completed in 2025.
Natural
Solutions 1.1.B:
Expand climate
resilience and
carbon
sequestration
practices to
additional
properties and
sites in the City
and broader
Greenbelt.
Natural
Solutions 1.1.B:
Maintain and
continue to
apply climate
resilience and
carbon
sequestration
practices to
properties in the
SLO Greenbelt.
Administration,
Parks and
Recreation
Fall
2023
Number of
projects
completed;
acres
receiving
treatment/s;
estimated
carbon
sequestered
On
track
The City continues to apply innovative climate-informed land stewardship practices across the SLO Greenbelt, and staff continue to
actively pursue external funding to expand these efforts. At Johnson Ranch the City has installed 30 "beaver dam analogs" in Dry
Creek to retain water longer into the dry season, improve groundwater recharge, and improve steelhead habitat. This grant -funded
project is also on track to plant over 300 native riparian plants and trees, and regenerate native perennial bunchgrasses. Additional
restoration projects include regenerative grazing with goats, sheep, and cattle. The City continues to invest in regenerative contract
grazing at select properties and is continually improving cattle grazing agreements and infrastructures to promote regenerative
outcomes. Together these restoration activities can sequester carbon while making San Luis Obispo and its open spaces more
resilient to the impacts of climate change.
The City also continues to partner with the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini to revive traditional ecological knowledge on City Op en Space
properties including the use of cultural fire (with burns occurring in June 2024, November 2025, and December of 2025). Good fire
reduces fuel loads and decreases the likelihood of catastrophic future wildfires. Tin ɨtyu "Good Fire" can also enhance and maintain
biodiversity and restore perennial bunch grasses that store more carbon than invasive annual grasses.
The City also continued to support and partner with City Farm SLO to deliver sustainable agriculture education for students and the
community, while producing healthy local food. In early 2022, a 40-year lease extension was granted to City Farm SLO reflecting the
successful long-term partnership and City Farm SLO’s plans for significant capital improvements at the property. City Farm SLO was
awarded a $200,000 grant from the California Farmland Conservancy Program for site access improvements and enhancement s
along Prefumo Creek, which was completed in 2024, and in 2025 an additional 1.5 acres of farmland was added to the lease area .
The City will continue to further augment this effort with in-kind services and support as part of the Major City Goal work program.
Natural
Solutions
2.1
Prepare the
City’s first
Urban Forest
Master Plan
by 2021 and
plant and
maintain
10,000 new
trees by 2035.
Natural
Solutions 2.1.A:
Adopt and
implement the
Community
Forest Plan and
make significant
progress on the
10 Tall goal of
planting and
maintaining
10,000 new
trees by 2035.
Natural
Solutions 2.1.A:
Continue
implementing
the Community
Forest Plan and
make significant
progress on the
10 Tall goal of
planting and
maintaining
10,000 new
trees by 2035.
Administration,
Public Works
Summer
2023
Number of
trees
planted
On
track
Over 6,000 new trees have been planted by the City, community partners, volunteers, and community members in both private and
public spaces, in support of the City’s 2035 goal of planting 10,000 new trees. The City also continues to maintain a healthy urban
forest so that existing carbon stocks stored in trees’ living tissues are resilient to present and future climate hazards.
Through the intradepartmental "Keys for Trees" program in partnership with ECOS LO, the Tourism Business Improvement District
(TBID) allocates 1% of their assessment of all hotel revenue in the City towards planting trees in San Luis Obispo. Keys for Trees
plants roughly 40 trees per year in City parks, open space, and other locations .
Staff have continued to work with ECOSLO and Rotary de Tolosa to implement tree planting, as well as community volunteers. Ar bor
Day events resulted in new trees planted at French Park, along the Railroad Safety Trail, and at Santa Rosa Park, as well as providing
new community relationships and educational opportunities. Staff also began cataloging where new oak trees can be planted and
have begun installation of oak trees to expand the current oak forest in several City open space properties, such as Terrace Hill and
Cerro San Luis. These projects were completed in collaboration with Rotary clubs, volunteers, and the California Conservation Corps.
The North Chorro Greenway project, funded in part by a State of California Urban Greenways grant, installed 60 new street trees.
Administrat
ive Action 1
Implement
Climate Action
Plan with an
equity lens.
Implement Climate Action Plan with
an equity lens.
All
Departments
Ongoing Inclusion of
equity lens
in
implementati
on project
plans
On
track
Staff are committed to integrating equity considerations into all implementation projects on an ongoing basis. The primary way the
City has centered equity in its climate work is through the internal requirement that all implementation action project plans include a
detailed description of how the project will include meaningful equity considerations. This has ensured that equity stays top of mind
in project implementation. Tangible results of this approach include:
Pursuing grant funds that provide administrative resources to local diversity focused non-profits.
Focusing on providing affordable air conditioning to low-income homeowners as a primary benefit of electrification.
Piloting building retrofit projects focused on affordable housing developers.
Restoring pre-COVID SLO Transit service levels.
Increasing access to safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
Supporting tribal-led cultural burns and the return of ancestral stewardship practices on City open space.
Enacting procedural equity throughout the CAP Volume 3 update and related stakeholder engagement processes.
Page 249 of 251
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CAP PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2026
PAGE - 47 -
Foundational
Action
Action
Description 2023-25 Task 2025-27 Task Responsible
Department
Start
Date
Progress
Tracker Status July 2023 – March 2026 Action Progress
Administrat
ive Action 2
Monitor and
report Plan
implementatio
n.
Monitor and report Plan
implementation.
Administration,
All
Departments
Fall
2024
Biennial
GHG
emissions
inventory
update and
City Council
update
On
track
This progress report is the outcome of Administrative Action 2.
Administrat
ive Action 3
Regularly
update the
CAP.
Regularly update the Climate Action
Plan.
Administration Winter
2026
CAP Update
in 2027
On
track
Staff will be returning to City Council in early 2027 to present a comprehensive update to the community Climate Action Plan. This
progress report supports the 2027 CAP update process.
Administrat
ive Action 4
Ensure
transparency
by reporting
GHG and
climate action
information to
public
disclosure
programs.
Ensure transparency by reporting
greenhouse gas and climate action
information to public disclosure
programs.
Administration Summer
2023
State,
national,
and
international
disclosure
platforms
On
track
The City reports on a wide range of greenhouse gas emissions and resilience efforts to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) on a
biennial basis. The City received “A-List” status, the highest grade for a disclosing City, in 2021 and 2023. The City received an A- in
2025 (with the minus coming because the City did not have an aggressive enough 2030 target). The City will submit for scoring again
in 2027.
Administrat
ive Action 5
Develop
mitigation
program for
new
development
to illustrate
consistency
with the CAP.
Complete Community
Development
N/A N/A On
track
The mitigation program was developed as part of the 2020 CAP via local California Environmental Quality Act thresholds of
significance for greenhouse gas emissions and a related Climate Action Plan consistency checklist. The thresholds and checkli st
were intended to apply to development projects that required CEQA review and that resulted in mitigated negative declarations or
full environmental impact reports. According to staff’s records, there have been seven projects since 2020 that have been rev iewed
against this standard. All of these projects chose zero operat ional emissions via high-efficiency electric appliances and systems.
It should be noted that state law has substantially reduced the number of projects required to undergo environmental review, which
means fewer projects will be required to illustrate consistency with the CAP’s local GHG emissions thresholds moving forward.
Fortunately, the 2025 California Energy Code will be in place through 2031 and heavily incentives new buildings to be mostly-electric.
Administrat
ive Action 6
Pursue grants
opportunistical
ly and
strategically.
Pursue grants opportunistically and
strategically.
Administration Ongoing Number of
grant
applications;
total funds
received
On
track
Since 2023, the City has pursued dozens of grants related to support community climate action solutions for green buildings, transit,
active transportation, solid waste, and natural solutions. Additionally, the City has brought in approximately $15.5 milli on since 2020
to implement the Lead by Example pillar of the CAP which focuses on carbon neutrality projects at City facilities. Successful external
funding, including grants, rebates, incentives, and tax refunds across all CAP pillars s are estimated to exceed $57 million since 2020.
Administrat
ive Action 7
Engage in
legislative and
regulatory
advocacy.
Engage in legislative and regulatory
advocacy.
Administration Ongoing Update
annual
Legislative
Action
Platform
On
track
Since 2020, the City has included a sustainability and energy plank in the annual Legislative Action Platform and has submitted letters
in support of legislation that is supports and advances the City’s climate work. In 2025, the City participated more directly in legislative
advocacy around AB 130, which would have precluded the City from adopting energy efficiency reach codes. Due to direct advocacy
with legislators and collaboration with aligned organizations including CalCities, the final legislation included an exemption that allows
the City to continue adopting and enforcing energy reach codes.
Page 250 of 251
The Local Government Climate Alliance (LGCA) unites California
cities and counties to advocate for bold, equitable climate policies
at the state level. LGCA leverages joint advocacy, knowledge sharing,
and collective influence to accelerate action and deliver benefits to
local communities across California.
VALUE PROPOSITION
Local governments lack a powerful voice in Sacramento to advocate for the nuanced and often
technical climate solutions that are needed to reach local climate goals and keep communities safe.
Existing municipal lobbyists are often underinformed about climate issues, and are necessarily spread
thin across topical issues to represent the totality of local government priorities. LGCA will bring the
focus and expertise necessary to advance impactful equitable climate solutions in California’s crowded
advocacy space.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
To drive the impactful, equitable, and scalable solutions needed to significantly accelerate statewide
climate action, deliver lasting benefits to local communities, and meet climate goals ahead of
California’s 2030 and 2045 targets, LGCA will work to:
1. Expand cities’ authority for local climate action and securing funding.
2. Accelerate affordable access to clean electricity, electrified transportation, zero-emission
buildings, and low-carbon industry.
3. Remove barriers for local clean energy and climate strategies.
4. Ensure retraining, wage protection, and community reinvestment as cities and counties phase
out fossil fuels.
5. Invest in wildfire prevention, water security, coastal resilience, habitat restoration, and urban
greening, using nature-based solutions when possible.
6. Improve housing affordability, air quality, public transit access, public health and safety, and local
economic development.
GOVERNANCE
The General Assembly of Core Members, Partners, and Affiliates will meet every other month, and will
be led by a Chair and Vice Chair. Committees include an elected Executive Steering Committee (meets
monthly) and a Policy Advisory Committee (meets monthly) and topic-specific subcommittees. Core
Members commit to attending monthly Policy Advisory Committee meetings. The full General Assembly
will meet at least once annually. Equity is embedded in all decisions.
● Core Members: Cities/counties, full voting rights.
● Observing Members: Cities/counties, limited participation, non-voting.
● Affiliates: Regional agencies, nonprofits, academics, tribal governments (advisors).
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Local Government (by population) Affiliate (by employee count)
< 50,000: $1,500 1-20: $1,500
50,000 - 150,000 $4,500 20+: $2,500
150,001 - 500,000 $6,500
500,001+ $8,000
LGCA membership will consider a jurisdiction’s population size and ability to pay and will make
accommodations wherever practicable. This flexible approach recognizes that every city and county
has different resources, priorities, and constraints, while ensuring we can sustain strong, coordinated
climate advocacy together. The City of Santa Barbara will serve as LGCA’s initial fiscal sponsor, with
alternative sponsorship options to be explored in future years.
Page 251 of 251
Climate
Action Plan
2026 Progress Report and
2027 CAP Update
City Council
April 7th, 2026
2
Recommendation
1.Receive and file the 2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report.
2.Provide strategic direction on the 2027 Climate Action Plan update.
3.Direct staff to join the Local Government Climate Alliance to advocate for
preapproved positions via the City’s adopted Legislative Action Platform to
advance Council goals related to the Climate Action Plan, and delegate City
participation in the organization to the City Manager or their designee.
Background
Policy Context
•Conservation and Open Space Element of the
General Plan Policy 2.2.1 (Atmospheric Change) -
City actions shall seek to minimize undesirable
climate changes and deterioration of the
atmosphere’s protective functions that result from the
release of carbon dioxide and other substances.
•Land Use Element of the General Plan Policy 9.4
(Climate Action Plan) - The City shall maintain and
implement its Climate Action Plan to reduce
community and municipal GHG emissions consistent
with State laws and objectives.
4
Climate Action History
•SLO residents have a long history of prioritizing
conservation.
•Since 2014, SLO’s Climate Action Plan has
implemented General Plan LUCE and COSE
policies.
•The City adopted a carbon neutrality goal and
contemporary CAP in 2020 (reaffirmed in 2022).
•Open space and climate action both selected as a
top priorities by residents at the 2025 community
forum leading to adoption of related MCG.
5
6
•Carbon neutral by 2035
•Pursue an electricity system without
greenhouse gas emissions
•Reduce energy use, and replace fossil
fuels with electricity
•Keep organic waste out of the landfill
Community Climate Action Plan
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS 8
Climate Action Plan Pillars
Climate Action Plan Update Timeline
8
2026
Progress
Report
10
2026 Progress Report
Technical Research
•State reports
•Academic research
Comparative Analysis
•Review of 15 contemporary CA CAPs
•Interviews with staff at other climate leadership cities/counties
Stakeholder Outreach
•Four roundtables with 50+ stakeholders
•Two community workshops
•Presentations to community organizations
11
2026 Progress Report
As directed in the 2025-27 Major City Goal Work Program, staff
presents this Climate Action Plan (CAP) progress report in advance of
the full 2027 CAP update. It contains:
1.Greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast snapshot
2.Progress updates for all six CAP pillars
3.Summary of findings from community outreach and technical
research
4.Detailed implementation progress report matrix for every action in
the 2023-27 CAP Work Program
Natural Gas
Transportation
(Local VMT)Organic Waste
CAP Implementation Progress (2035)
Electricity Transportation (Regional VMT)
Electricity Organic WasteElectricityOrganic Waste
blue = 2035 “no-action” emissions by
sector
yellow = projected 2035 emissions
reductions from 2020 CAP
12
blue lines = updated 2035 emissions
reductions forecast
Remaining
Emissions19Updated 2035 Emissions Reduction Forecast
Remaining Emissions
Gap from 2020 CAP
Target
2005
2016
2018 2024
2030
2035
2045
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
20
0
5
20
0
7
20
0
9
20
1
1
20
1
3
20
1
5
20
1
7
20
1
9
20
2
1
20
2
3
20
2
5
20
2
7
20
2
9
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SB 32
AB 1279
California’s Legislative Climate Targets
“Carbon Neutral by 2035” sits
alongside two legislatively mandated
state targets:
•SB 32 – Reduce to 40% below 1990
GHG Emissions Levels by 2030.
•AB 1279 – Achieve net-zero
greenhouse gas emissions as soon as
possible, but no later than 2045, and
achieve and maintain net negative
greenhouse gas emissions thereafter.
MT
C
O
2e
Emissions
projected
assuming
2020 CAP
Key Findings
14
City leadership and investments produce measurable results, invite
outside resources, and demonstrate the effectiveness of sustained local
commitment.
Regional, state, and federal policy changes are introducing new
constraints on local climate progress.
Regional vehicle trips and natural gas use in existing buildings remain the
most significant obstacles to achieving Council’s 2035 community carbon
neutrality goal.
Persistent local innovation and creativity will be required to reach carbon
neutrality.
2027
CAP
Update
Climate Action Plan Update Timeline
16
Collaborating on the Future of Climate Action
17
February 2026 Green Buildings
Stakeholder Forum
Outreach informed the progress report and
daylighted ideas about where to go next.
•4 community roundtables convened 50+ participants
who provided feedback on what should be set aside,
which actions are working as conceived, what should
be amended or tried again, and if any new ideas
should be included in the 2027 CAP.
•2 community workshops with 31 participants shared
recommendations for improvement and ideas for
additional emissions reductions.
•2 presentations to local organizations elevated
opportunities for collaboration.
Essential Ongoing Actions EXPAND / TRY AGAIN NEW IDEAS
1.Decarbonizing municipal operations and “Leading by
Example”
2.Supporting 3CE in providing clean energy and
community programs
3.Existing voluntary and mandatory zero emissions
buildings work
4.Connecting community members with EV and charger
rebates; supporting new installations
5.Implementing the Active Transportation Plan
6.Electrifying the bus fleet and returning to pre-pandemic
service levels
7.“Missing middle” supportive policy and programs and
Housing Element implementation
8.Enforcing SB1383
9.Conserving land, planting trees, and implementing
regenerative stewardship practices
1.Building and energy
disclosure and retrofit policies
2.Mobility innovations that
support one or no car
households
3.Sustainable regional
transportation solutions
4.Regulatory and legislative
advocacy
•Evaluation of bulk
purchasing and direct
installation programs for
rooftop solar, batteries, and
electric heat-pump water-
heater and HVAC units.
•Support for “plug-in” solar
and battery energy storage
systems.
What We’ve Learned and Heard So Far
18
19
Actions to Improve, Expand, or Retry
Transportation:
•Mobility Innovations: Bikeshare, carshare, and micro-
transit could complement SLO Transit and reduce
single-occupancy vehicle trips. Staff recommends
further analysis.
•Regional Transit: Regional transit is a critical tool for
reducing countywide VMT; the City should continue
supporting stable transit funding and EV uptake
through its representation on regional transportation
agencies.
20
Actions to Improve, Expand, or Retry
Proactive Legislative Action:
Local Government Climate Alliance (LGCA): Staff
recommends joining the LGCA to efficiently
advocate for climate-supportive state legislation.
•LGCA provides access to a lobbyist with deep
energy-sector expertise.
•As a consensus-based organization, LGCA would
only take positions aligned with the City's existing
Legislative Action Platform.
•LGCA membership could make the City's building
and transportation electrification work more
affordable and feasible for the community.
21
Actions to Improve, Expand, or Retry
Existing Buildings:
•Large-Building Retrofits: Staff is developing the
infrastructure for voluntary energy disclosure for
~250 large buildings, with a potential path to
mandatory reporting if voluntary efforts fall short.
•Single Family Home Energy Disclosure: The
Home Energy Score program (via BayREN) is
expected to launch locally in mid-2026, offering
voluntary disclosure and retrofit connections to
homeowners; staff will assess effectiveness
before recommending mandatory measures.
22
New Ideas
Existing Buildings
•Evaluation of bulk purchasing and direct
installation programs for rooftop solar,
batteries, and electric heat-pump water-
heater and HVAC units could address cost
and demand barriers to building
electrification retrofits.
•Support for safe “plug-in” solar and battery
energy storage systems could expand
clean energy access for the 60%+ of SLO
residents who are renters, mobile home
residents, or apartment dwellers.
Progress Towards Carbon Neutrality
2005
2016
2018 2024
2030
2035
2045
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
SB 32
AB 1279
Possible
additional
reductions from
initial “New and
Improved” actions
MT
C
O
2e
Emissions
projected
assuming
2020 CAP
24
2027-31 Climate Action Plan
The 2027 CAP will be presented to Council in early 2027 to inform the
deliberative process being undertaken for the 2027-29 Financial Plan.
•The 2027 CAP will provide staff’s recommendation for the tasks required
to achieve state GHG reduction goals and Council’s local GHG reduction
goals.
•The City’s budget development occurs via a separate process, and
inclusion of any projects or programs in the City’s budget are subject to
Council approval.
•Funding for tasks in the 2027 CAP Update will require additional Council
deliberation and approval. The 2027 CAP will not preemptively approve or
otherwise imply that tasks are automatically included in future budgets.
25
2027 CAP Outreach
In addition to standard community workshops and surveys,
notable planned outreach events include:
•Community service events where folks can take action while
learning about and providing feedback on the 2027 CAP.
•Collaborating with existing community cultural events such as
Building a Better SLO’s lecture series.
•Pop-up outreach efforts at Monday Meetups, Earth Fest,
neighborhood farmers’ markets, and more.
•Offering presentations and conversations with civil society
organization boards.
Staff will engage with a wide cross-section of the community (e.g.,
builders, developers, realtors, mobile home park residents, students,
renters, seniors, and non-English speakers, among others).
Schedule and Next Steps
April-October 2026 – Staff will
conduct community outreach and
engagement, conduct technical
research, and further evaluate
potential CAP actions. The
findings from these efforts will be
used to develop the 2027 CAP.
December 2026 – Staff will
publish a public review draft of
the 2027 CAP.
Spring 2027 – Staff will present
the 2027 CAP to Council for
approval.
26
Questions
for Council
28
Questions for Council
Question 1 - Which of these potential actions should be further evaluated as part of the
2027 Climate Action Plan Update?
1.Re-evaluation of mobility innovations related to bikeshare, carshare, and microtransit.
2.Enhanced support for regional transit and EV charging infrastructure.
3.Re-evaluation of large building energy efficiency programs.
4.Evaluation of the new single-family Home Energy Score program.
5.Proactive legislative advocacy.
6.Evaluation of bulk purchasing and direct installation programs for rooftop solar, batteries,
and electric heat-pump water-heater and HVAC units (new).
7.Support for “plug-in” solar and battery energy storage systems (new).
29
Questions for Council
Question 2 - At a minimum, the City will be required to adopt the AB 1279 goal of carbon
neutrality “as soon as possible,” but no later than 2045. Does Council want to retain its local
2035 target as well?
2.a. If so, is Council comfortable with staff returning with a 2027-31 Climate Action Plan that does
not identify a path to carbon neutrality by 2035, thus retaining the goal as an aspirational target?
2.b. If not, should staff include recommendations for what “as soon as possible” could mean in
practice?
2.c. Does Council want to retain its existing “narrow and deep” approach to covered greenhouse
gas emissions (focusing on energy, transportation, and landfilled solid waste)?
Question 3 - Does Council have further direction or feedback on the proposed outreach,
engagement, and plan update approach to the 2027 CAP Update?
30
Recommendation
1.Receive and file the 2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report.
2.Provide strategic direction on the 2027 Climate Action Plan update.
3.Direct staff to join the Local Government Climate Alliance to advocate for
preapproved positions via the City’s adopted Legislative Action Platform to
advance Council goals related to the Climate Action Plan, and delegate City
participation in the organization to the City Manager or their designee.
THANK YOU!
ADDITIONAL SLIDES
FleetLead by Example
GOAL
Carbon neutral government operations by 2030.
PILLAR 1
34
PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE
Climate action is visible in daily City operations—electric vehicles, energy-efficient public
buildings, and infrastructure investments that make low-carbon solutions familiar and trusted.
Municipal Decarbonization Planning – Emissions
reduction goals are embedded into the City’s capital
planning, budgeting, and departmental work programs.
In 2025, City Council adopted the 2025–29 LBE Work
Program. At full implementation, municipal GHG
emissions would reduce by ~84% by 2030.
Low-Carbon Capital Investments – Progress includes
electrification of the municipal vehicle fleet, installation
of EV chargers, and electrification retrofits at various
City facilities.
Visibility and Community Leadership – The
Sustainable SLO mark is displayed on electric fleet
vehicles, buses, and waste infrastructure to help
residents connect everyday services to climate action.
Educational Sustainable SLO content is shared
regularly with the community on social media, emails,
webpages, and newsletters.
Partnerships and Capacity Building – The City
invests in and collaborates with local organizations to
expand the reach of climate action while centering
equity and local expertise.
Lead by Example
PILLAR 1
35
The City is projected to reduce covered municipal
emissions by 84% by 2030. The remaining 16% comes
from a number of natural gas appliances and gas
vehicles that will be operational beyond 2030.
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
35
Sector Emissions Inventory and Forecast (2020-2032)
Please note – inventory and forecast subject to change based on data revisions
Clean Energy Systems
GOAL
100% carbon free electricity by 2020.
PILLAR 2
36
PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE
Electricity becomes a clean, reliable foundation for daily life—powering
homes, vehicles, and businesses with minimal emissions.
Community Choice Energy Participation –
The City participates in Central Coast
Community Energy (3CE), resulting in more
than $4.1 million in incentives and rebates
flowing back into the community for electric
vehicles, charging infrastructure, and building
electrification.
Renewable Procurement and Emissions
Trends – 3CE remains on a path toward very
low emissions in the early 2030s.
Grid Reliability and Affordability – The
primary challenge with grid reliability is
interconnecting new housing, EV charging,
and renewable projects, combined with
electricity rate increases.
Clean Energy Systems
PILLAR 2
37
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
Electricity kWh and Emissions Inventory and Forecast (2025-2035)
Please note – inventory and forecast subject to change based on data revisions
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5
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6
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kWh MTCO2e
FleetGreen Buildings
GOAL
1. No net new building emissions from onsite energy use by 2020;
2. Fifty percent reduction in existing building emissions by 2030.
PILLAR 3
38
PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE
Buildings will increasingly use clean electricity instead of natural gas. New
buildings are all-electric and energy-efficient by default, while existing homes and
workplaces become healthier, more comfortable, and cheaper to operate as they
transition off fossil fuels.
Low Emissions New Construction
Low Emissions New Construction – In 2022, the City
adopted all-electric requirements for new construction.
In response to changes in federal law, the City shifted
its approach and made amendments to the California
Energy Code that strongly encourage low- and zero-
emissions buildings. Between 2021 and mid-2025,
about 79% of permitted new buildings were all-electric.
Existing Building Energy Retrofits – the City has:
1.Support energy efficiency retrofits in manufactured
housing communities.
2.Provided permit discounts, rebate referrals,
SolarAPP+, and access to technical assistance.
3.Partnered with 3CE to simplify access to rebates,
resulting in more than $1 million in community
rebates for building retrofits since 2020.
4.Adopted energy efficiency requirements for major
single-family additions and alterations
5.Development of a “covered buildings list” for a
potential benchmarking or Building Performance
Standard Program
6.Launched a Home Energy Score program in March
2026
Green Buildings
PILLAR 3
Natural gas use has declined by slightly since 2005
(with reductions in residential and growth in non-
residential). Projected emissions reductions are mostly
from CCCE’s increasingly carbon-free electricity. By
2035, remaining emissions are expected to come solely
from natural gas use.
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
39
Building Energy Emissions – GHG Inventory and Forecast (2005-2035)
Please note – inventory and forecast subject to change based on data revisions
FleetConnected Community
GOAL
Achieve General P lan M ode S plit Objective by 2030; 40%
VMT by electric vehicles by 2030.
PILLAR 4
40
PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE
A connected community is built and developed so people can comfortably walk, bike, or take
transit for daily trips, and where remaining car travel increasingly occurs in electric vehicles
supported by convenient, reliable charging.
Active Transportation & Mode Shift – 31% of the Tier 1
network is complete. Priority corridors include Higuera,
Tank Farm, Foothill, South Broad, and Prado, as
identified in the 10-year CIP.
Transit Service & Electrification - Two electric buses
are in service, with eight more arriving in spring 2026
(50% of the fleet). Pre-pandemic service levels are nearly
restored, with additional service, fare, and rider
experience improvements as resources allow.
Micromobility & Emerging Transportation Options –
Bikeshare, carshare, and micro-transit rely on private
operators. Staff are defining the conditions needed for
successful public-private partnerships in SLO.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure & Parking Policy – 76
public EV chargers are active in City parking facilities. A
public-private partnership provides 16 DC fast chargers
at no cost to the City. Citywide, there are an estimated
250+ public charging heads and 400 permitted chargers
in private homes.
Land Use & Infill Development – Flexible downtown
density and City land use regulations continue to support
compact, infill development.
Connected Community
PILLAR 4
41
Transportation is the City’s largest source of emissions, with
regional trips accounting for 80% of the sector. Total vehicle
miles traveled are projected to increase through 2035 due to
regional population growth.
IMPLEMENTATION
PROGRESS
41
Transportation Emissions Inventory and Forecast (2005-2035)
Please note – data, inventory, and forecast subject to change based on data revisions
Mode 2025 Survey 2030 Goal
Walking 15% 12%
Bicycle 12%20%
Transit 3%7%
Single-Occupancy Vehicle 59%50%
Carpool and Other 12% 11%
Progress Towards Mode Split Objectives
Fleet
Circular Economy
GOAL
75% diversion of landfilled organic waste by 2025;
90% diversion by 2035
PILLAR 5
42
PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE
Materials are kept in use through reuse, repair, recycling, organics collection and
recovery, edible food recovery, and proper sorting becomes a routine part of daily
life for residents and businesses.
SB 1383 Compliance & Enforcement – The City
continues implementing SB 1383, focusing on
technical assistance and corrective actions to
support better sorting from commercial properties,
multifamily properties, and food-generating
businesses. The City exceeded its SB 1383 organic
waste procurement target by 43% in 2024 via
compost application, renewable natural gas use, and
mulch projects.
Edible Food Recovery – The City partners with
IWMA, SLO Food Bank, and San Luis Coastal
Unified School District to continue expanding and
strengthening existing local food recovery networks.
Education, Outreach, & Contamination
Minimization – The City and IWMA provided direct
engagement to businesses, homeowners
associations, and property managers.
Waste Prevention and Reuse – The City is
exploring opportunities for waste reduction, including
reusable container initiatives, deconstruction
practices, and expanded local repair café programs.
Circular Economy
PILLAR 5
43
The City is ahead of schedule on complying with
statewide recovered organic waste procurement
requirements, resulting in steadily reduced
emissions. Achieving carbon neutrality will require
ongoing compliance with state law alongside greater
emphasis on reuse, repair, and reduction strategies.
IMPLEMENTATION
PROGRESS
43
Circular Economy Emissions Inventory and Forecast (2009-2035)
Please note – inventory and forecast subject to change based on data revisions
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Ax
i
s
T
i
t
l
e
Annual Tons Total Emissions
FleetNatural Solutions
GOAL
Increase Carbon Sequestration on the San Luis Obispo
Greenbelt and Urban Forest through compost application-
based carbon farming activities and tree planting; ongoing
through 2035
PILLAR 6
44
PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE
Protected open spaces, restored creeks, healthy soils, and a growing urban forest store carbon
while providing shade, habitat, flood protection, and recreational benefits.
Land Conservation & Stewardship – The City
continues to protect existing and new Open Space
properties, effectively maintaining the carbon stocks in
those landscapes.
Regenerative Land Management - The City has
expanded creek restoration, regenerative grazing, and
vegetation management practices, along with
partnering with yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern
Chumash Tribe on cultural burns to improve soil
health, reduce wildfire risk, and support carbon
sequestration.
Urban Forestry & Tree Canopy Expansion – In
partnership with local nonprofits and community
volunteers, the City has planted over 6,000 trees to
reach its goal of 10,000 trees by 2035.
Natural Solutions
PILLAR 6
45
570 tons of carbon could be sequestered
annually in 2035 through regenerative
grazing, tree planting, and the application of
compost to private lands in the SLO
Greenbelt.
IMPLEMENTATION
PROGRESS
45Please note – inventory and forecast subject to change based on data revisions
Natural Solutions Forecast (2022-2045)
-1200
-1000
-800
-600
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0
2022 2025 2030 2035 2045
MT
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)
Year
FleetAdministrative
Actions
46
INTERNAL PROCESSES THAT ADVANCE CLIMATE ACTION
1.Implement Climate Action Plan with an equity lens
2.Monitor and report Plan implementation
3.Regularly update the Climate Action Plan
4.Ensure Transparency by Reporting Greenhouse Gas and Climate Action Information to Public Disclosure Programs
5.Develop Mitigation Program for New Development to Illustrate Consistency with the Climate Action Plan
6.Pursue grants opportunistically and strategically
7.Engage in legislative and regulatory advocacy