HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/18/2018 Item 13, Steeb
Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,
The San Luis Obispo Climate Coalition task force commends the bold leadership the city
is taking with its Climate Action Plan. Climate leaders and policymakers alike agree that
the three largest opportunities for carbon reduction come from our power grid, our
vehicles and our buildings. Through the creation of the Central Coast Community
Energy program and our continued promotion of electric vehicle adoption, San Luis
Obispo is making great strides in the first two areas. We are now in a unique position to
also lead in the drive for lower carbon homes.
In their Clean Power and Electrification Pathway plan,SoCal Edison reports that natural
gas fired space and water heating accounts for two thirds of building greenhouse gas
emissions. Communities are recognizing this and, in anticipation of the upcoming 2019
CA building code, are working to craft reach codes that will drive decarbonization in
new residential construction. We in San Luis Obispo, have a unique opportunity to be
among these leading communities in moving toward the reality of low carbon buildings.
We have agreement in principle with the developers of the San Luis Ranch and Avila
Ranch communities to incorporate electric space and water heating solutions into those
two projects should the City choose to incorporate such decarbonization reach
codes. The California Energy Commission, NRDC and Sierra Club are now working with
municipalities in the creation of such reach codes for the 2019 building code update.
PG&E have funded economic justification studies around all-electric options within the
2016 building code and have funds available to help craft and justify such reach codes
for the 2019 code release.
In support of your continued leadership, the SLO Climate Coalition requests that Council
direct staff to include the adoption of a decarbonization reach code among its options
for achieving our carbon reduction goals. The SLO Climate Coalition, NRDC, Sierra Club
and CA Energy Commission are ready to help and look forward to working alongside
San Luis Obispo in this effort.
Thank you,
Erik Steeb
Task Force Member
SLO Climate Coalition
erik@carbonfreeslo.org
310.367.2599