Climate Change Plan Passed by Elk Grove Council

Houses built in Elk Grove in the future will be required to exceed state energy-efficiency standards, as the city moves toward a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

A once-controversial Climate Action Plan sailed through the Elk Grove City Council on Wednesday night, passing unanimously and with little discussion.

The plan, which also adds a Sustainability Elementy to the city's General Plan, seeks to see the levels of greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent lower than they were in 2005 by the year 2020.

It will do so mostly through finding efficiencies in transportation–in 2005, nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions in Elk Grove came from cars and other vehicles.

Through this plan, Elk Grove will expand its public transit services and encourage development near existing transit lines and bicycle routes; it will also seek to bring jobs to Elk Grove to reduce the distance residents have to drive to work.

The Climate Action Plan will also seek to reduce waste produced in the city, encourage the use of reflective paving materials and encourage the use of efficient home appliances.

Elk Grove City Council Member Pat Hume, who previously spoke out against the plan, said changes made since it was last discussed mostly eased his concerns. But he said he was concerned about requiring local home-builders to exceed the state's Title 24 efficiency standards.

"[That is] a slippery slope and I'm going to be watching it very carefully," Hume said Wednesday.

--
Sign up for the free Elk Grove Patch newsletter | Like Elk Grove Patch on Facebook | Follow @ElkGrovePatch on Twitter | Blog for Elk Grove Patch