City of Santa Clara

Strategy B1: Shift to electric fuels in new and existing buildings to achieve net-zero carbon buildings.

• B-1-1: Electrification incentives & financing
• B-1-2: Electrification outreach for commercial & residential energy upgrades
• B-1-3: Electric panel upgrades upon sale/turnover
• B-1-4: Municipal Electrification Action Plan
• B-1-5: Reach codes for new construction
• B-1-6: Burnout ordinance
• B-1-7: Carbon-neutral data centers

Strategy B2: Improve energy efficiency.

• B-2-1: Municipal energy retrofits
• B-2-2: Free home energy upgrades for qualifying residents
• B-2-3: Energy-efficient and electric-ready building code
• B-2-4: Distributed energy resource pilots
• B-2-5: Energy efficiency incentives

Strategy B3: Maximize renewable energy generation and storage supply.

• B-3-1: SVP Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for carbon-neutral electricity
• B-3-2: City-owned renewable energy projects
• B-3-3: Renewable installations at municipal facilities
• B-3-4: Renewable energy generation & storage on private property
• B-3-5: Local grid resiliency & energy storage on private property
• B-3-6: Alternative backup generators
• B-3-7: Renewable electricity for new data centers

Strategy T1: Transition vehicles to electric alternatives.

• T-1-1: Community EV Blueprint implementation
• T-1-2: EV charging for all new construction
• T-1-3: City Fleet Electrification Plan implementation
• T-1-4: Heavy duty electric trucks
• T-1-5: Municipal charging infrastructure

Strategy T2: Expand clean mobility options and use of non-SOV transportation modes.

• T-2-1: Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plans implementation
• T-2-2: Curb management improvements
• T-2-3: Bike & shared mobility improvements
• T-2-4: Transit gap & improvement study

Strategy T3: Advanced sustainable land use.

• T-3-1: TDM plan requirements
• T-3-2: Sustainable development in underutilized non-residential areas
• T-3-3: Transit-oriented development
• T-3-4: Telework
• T-3-5: Transportation Analysis Policy compliance

Strategy M1: Increase waste diversion.

• M-1-1: Compliance with state solid waste ordinances 
• M-1-2: Waste diversion pricing signals

Strategy M2: Reduce landfilled food waste.

• M-2-1: Technical assistance to top food generators
• M-2-2: Food recovery & donation
• M-2-3: Food recovery organization partnerships

Strategy M3: Enhance sustainable production and consumption.

• M-3-1: Reuse of salvageable building materials
• M-3-2: City property consumption & waste diversion
• M-3-3: Municipal Sustainable Procurement Policy 
• M-3-4: Carbon-smart building materials
• M-3-5: Low-carbon schools

Strategy N1: Increase tree canopy cover

• N-1-1: Right-of-way tree planting
• N-1-2: Private property tree planting support
• N-1-3: Urban Forest partnershipsN-1-4: Tree maintenance, replacement, & plantings

Strategy N2: Enhance ecosystem resilience.

• N-2-1: Carbon farming on open space lands
• N-2-2: Partnerships for compost management
• N-2-3: Sustainable planting guide
• N-2-4: Sustainable Park management 

Strategy N3: Improve water supply and conservation.

• N-3-1: Water conservation rebates
• N-3-2: Fixture replacements
• N-3-3: Water-efficient landscaping requirements
• N-3-4: Community water portfolio diversification
• N-3-5: Recycled water connection requirements

Strategy C1: Improve community resilience.

• C-1-1: Community resilience networks
• C-1-2: Support for people experiencing homelessness.
• C-1-3: Community climate action grant
• C-1-4: Incentives for adaptation upgrades

Strategy C2: Prepare for climate change.

• C-2-1: Climate-resilient land use & development
• C-2-2: On-site & natural stormwater systems
• C-2-3: High-albedo parking lots
• C-2-4: Climate Resilience Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
• C-2-5: Planned retreat strategies

Below is a list of events that occurred during the most recent CAP Update process.

• Spring 2020
  • city staff interviews
  • Stakeholder Focus Groups #1
• Summer 2020
  • Online Survey #1
  • City Council overview of sustainability program
  • Virtual Community Workshop #1
  • Planning Commission Study Session #1
• Fall 2020
  • Planning Commission Study Session #2
  • Online Survey #2
• Spring–Summer 2021
  • City Council Study Session #1
  • City Council Study Session #2
• Fall 2021
  • Draft Cap Public Comment Period
  • Virtual Community Workshop #2
• Spring–Summer 2022
  • Planning Commission Study Session #3
  • Planning Commission Hearing
  • City Council Adoption Hearing

For specific materials, such as staff reports, attachments, survey results, or workshop materials, please contact the Planning Division.

An engagement strategy was developed to ensure community participation throughout the CAP update process. Below are the various activities that have occurred.

• Focus Group Interviews
• Online Survey #1: This was to get the community's feedback to establish Santa Clara’s CAP priorities. We received nearly 400 survey responses.
• Virtual Community Workshop #1: Discussions with the community, including land use and transportation, buildings and energy, materials and consumption, natural systems and water resources, community resilience and wellbeing
• Online Survey #2: This was to understand the community's level of interest and support for various climate action measures to be included in the updated CAP. We received nearly 500 survey responses.
• Virtual Community Workshop #2: an overview of the draft CAP and an opportunity for the community to share their thoughts on the initiatives being proposed

For specific materials, such as presentations or transcripts, please contact the Planning Division.

In what way has the CAP development process prioritized input and ideas from marginalized communities?
The CAP public outreach efforts engaged many individuals, businesses, and community organizations with a variety of interests and perspectives. 

In addition to two public workshops, two online surveys, and outreach to the City’s governing bodies, the consultant team hosted two series of focus groups to conduct targeted outreach to underrepresented and vulnerable groups, including youth, students, schools, housing and health advocates, community-based organizations, and renters.

Does the City intend to use the 2021 CAP in its review and approval (or disapproval) of ministerial or discretionary projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)?
Yes, the CAP underwent the review process to be a “qualified” plan. 

This means that it “qualifies” for a provision in California law that allows project developers to tier their projects off of the greenhouse gas analysis already completed in the CAP when performing their own CEQA analysis. This “CEQA streamlining” is helpful for project developers by making the environmental review process easier for discretionary projects. It also ensures that projects approved in Santa Clara meet GHG reduction goals.

To be a qualified plan, the CAP must be consistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15183.5 (b), adopt the SB 32 GHG reduction target of 40% reduction by 2030, and monitor progress toward it.

Ministerial projects are not subject to the CEQA.

How do we calculate transportation emissions from commuters?
Per the ICLEI Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the community inventory includes 100% of emissions from trips internal to the city, and 50% of emissions from trips that either originate or terminate within the city boundary, including commute trips.

Why are nonresidential natural gas emissions so much lower in 2016 than in 2008?
Nonresidential natural gas emissions are less in 2016 than in 2008 because of incomplete data. In 2016, nonresidential natural gas data did not meet the State’s account aggregation requirements, so were not provided by the utility to protect customer privacy. Aggregation rules are in place to anonymize individual account usage. Therefore, it is likely that natural gas emissions in 2017 were actually higher than shown.

How did the City achieve a 9% reduction in transportation emissions despite population and economic growth?

Transportation emissions likely decreased because of a series of State and Federal transportation policies that set stricter fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles, the adoption of electric vehicles, and an expanded regional public transit system that provides alternatives to the single-occupancy vehicle.

Why don’t data centers get the same carbon-free electricity as homes?
Currently, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) only procures enough carbon-free energy to provide to residential customers. SVP will be exploring the procurement of additional carbon-free electricity in its upcoming Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) update.

Will rates go up with the addition of more carbon-free power?
Rates for all customers will likely increase, but preliminary analysis suggests rates may increase 44-55% over the next 15 years, above the typical 3% rate increase in order to provide 100% carbon free electricity by 2035. That would mean an annual rate increase of about 6%. Rates will be studied further as part of the forthcoming IRP update process.

Since electricity is more expensive than natural gas, will I have to pay more in an all-electric building?
Although electricity is more expensive than natural gas, new electric appliances are more efficient than older natural gas ones and use less energy. New electric technologies, including heat pumps and induction cooktops, are much more efficient than traditional electric resistance heating.

Similarly, the CAP proposes, as part of action B-1-1, that SVP will explore additional incentives to help customers transition to electric appliances, including rebates for wiring and panel upgrades. Additionally, the low-income CARE rates will remain in place for those who qualify.

Will SVP be able to supply additional electricity as vehicles and buildings are electrified?
Yes, current projections indicate there is sufficient wholesale supply and/or conservation opportunities to meet additional vehicle and building electrification. Resource procurement will be studied in more detail as part of the IRP update process.

If trying to save energy, why do buildings leave lights on at night?
The City cannot regulate how people operate their buildings once constructed. However, the City could conduct educational outreach encouraging building owners and tenants to conserve energy by turning off lights when not in use and encouraging the installation of occupancy sensors and other demand management technologies.

What is the City doing to change the car-driven culture and promote socialization in neighborhoods?
The City is implementing the bicycle master plan, has adopted a Vision Zero policy to promote safety, and is considering higher-density development close to transit and amenities. Check out the City’s Transportation Studies and Master Plans to learn more.

What incentives are available for EV purchases?
EV incentives are provided by the State and Federal Governments. Additionally, the cost of used EVs is becoming increasingly affordable.

What is lite level 2?
Automatic Load Management software (ALMS) allows sharing of chargers without requiring upgrading transformers, but ALMS requires all spots to have the same charging equipment.

So, the current thinking is to provide 25% L2 receptacles for 6.6kW charging and 75% NEMA L14-20 receptacles, which is limited to 20 amps at 240V, which, after derating, is 3.8kW or Level 2 Lite. Lower-level 2 charging is also being considered by the California Energy Commission with the proposed language of “Low Power Level 2.

Does the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan include collaborations with neighboring cities?
The VTA bicycle plan defines bicycle corridors and across-barrier connections within Santa Clara County, with Pruneridge being a high priority. The VTA staff and BPAC are also working on regional active transportation plans in conjunction with Caltrans District 4 and others, and work has begun on a county and regional bicycle superhighway network to create and connect very high-quality bicycle facilities regionally.

Check out the City’s Transportation Studies and Master Plans to learn more.

Does the City provide free classes on backyard composting?
The City does offer composting classes and low-cost bins in partnership with the County of Santa Clara. Take a look at their community workshops in your neighborhood.

How effective are the City’s current recycling programs?
The City of Santa Clara provides mixed waste processing, which diverts higher rates of recycling, yard, and food waste from going into the landfill. The City’s diversion rate for residential recyclables is 50%.

Why is composting not listed as a measure?
Composting is already required by SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Act. This is included as part of action M-1-1 Compliance with State Solid Waste Ordinances. This law requires cities to divert 75% of organic material, including food waste, from landfills by 2025.

Cities are required to provide mandatory composting services to all commercial and residential customers, recover edible food waste, and provide education and technical assistance.

Can the planting of lawns be prohibited?
The City is seeking to amend its Water Service and Use Rules and Regulations to set stricter water use standards for new landscapes that would prohibit:

• turf grass
• spray irrigation
• moderate and high water-using plants (as defined by Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Database)

The City encourages/recommends residents to convert existing high-water-use turf to low-water-use landscapes with Landscape Conversion Rebates offered in partnership with Valley Water. The City supplements the rebate amount totaling $3 per square foot for the first 1000 square feet of converted area and $2 per square foot thereafter up to the per-site caps for single and multi-family properties. Learn more about landscape rebates.