Category Archives: ECOS Updates

SacRT Mobility Hub Implementation Plan application

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) supports the SacRT Mobility Hub Implementation Plan application for the FY2022-23 Planning and Capacity Building grant program. The application is submitted by Civic Thread in partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) and Sacramento Building Healthy Communities (Sac BHC). On October 25, 2023, ECOS submitted a letter of support for this application.

Click here to read our letter of support for this application.

ECOS Climate Committee meeting 12/21/2023

Thursday, December 21, 2023 – 6 PM start (Zoom)
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

6:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions

6:10 PM: Alberto Ayala, Executive Director, Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District (AQMD) – will discuss applying for federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG), and the recent COP28 meeting in Dubai.

  • The AQMD is working with agencies in our 7-county Sacramento region to develop a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) plan to include all desired climate pollution reduction strategies. The CPRG program provides $5 billion in grants to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing GHG emissions, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act; pre-proposals are due Feb. 1. At a recent joint meeting of SACOG, SMUD, SMAQMD, and SacRT boards, Alberto discussed the idea of converting biomass utilization (from agriculture and forest thinnings) to green hydrogen fuel and sequestered biochar.
  • At COP28, the final global agreement calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

7:00 PM: Updates and Announcements

Caltrans started construction on the I-80 Yolo Causeway between Sacramento and Davis. Caltrans released a draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report) for the larger project: adding lanes to the causeway. Comments are due January 5.

Sacramento County: “Notice of Preparation” released for “Subsequent Environmental Impact Report” for a revised Climate Action Plan: January 10 meeting to discuss; comments due Jan. 31. Also, their Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force is preparing to send recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for building electrification, air quality, and transportation.

Sacramento City: moving ahead with existing building electrification, and a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. The City Council voted to move ahead with a Missing Middle Housing approach that would eliminate single-family zoning in its 2040 General Plan.

Click here to view the agenda in PDF.

Reducing Carbon in the Built Environment

ECOS MTG/Board – Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Click here to view the slides from this meeting’s presentation.

LINK to join: ECOS ZOOM 6656164155 or call: 1 669 900 6833, Mtg ID: 665 616 4155

6:00 pm Welcome – Susan Herre, Board President

6:15 pm Presentation and discussion: Reducing Carbon in the Built Environment

7:00 pm ECOS Board Meeting + Annual Elections

8:00 pm Adjourn

REDUCING CARBON IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (Eligible for one hour of continuing education learning units under CA Architects Board – certificates will be issued by ECOS)

Joel Swift AIA will lead the discussion through key concepts and new analytic tools used by engineers, architects, material suppliers and contractors. Chris Chatto AIA will present several projects that illustrate how these tools and concepts can achieve significant reductions in embodied carbon. Ida Clair AIA will discuss how the State of California is including embodied carbon analysis in building codes starting in 2024. Before the session, see the Excerpt from Reducing Carbon in the Built Environment.

50th Anniversary Environmentalist of the Year Awards

We enjoyed a truly memorable evening on December 1, 2023, including a photo array of past awardees, a video on key events that have moved our region toward sustainability, and of course, the presentation of the 2023 Environmentalist Awards to the Natomas Basin Conservancy Boards, River City Waterway Alliance, and Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

Thank you to our sponsors; your support makes it all possible. Thanks to the ECOS events team — you make it happen.

VIDEO: ECOS Past, Present, Future

Photos of Fifty Years of Awardees

History of ECOS

2023 Program Booklet

Photos

ECOS Climate Committee meeting 11/16/2023

ECOS Climate Committee meeting
Thursday, November 16, 2023 – 6 PM start (Zoom)
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

6:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions

6:10 PM: Timothy Irvine-Alavi (Chair, Sacramento County Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force) –
will report on the Task Force’s progress on recommendations to County Supervisors to be presented this winter. These result from their Energy Technical Advisory Panel (especially existing building electrification), their Transportation Technical Advisory Panel, and their Outreach and Education Subcommittee.

6:40 PM: Tamie Dramer (Executive Director, Organize Sacramento) –
will present polling results for a possible November 2024 ballot initiative for affordable housing.

7:00 PM: Updates and Announcements

  1. Caltrans has started construction on the I-80 Yolo Causeway between Sacramento and Davis. On Monday, Nov. 13, Caltrans is scheduled to release a draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report) for the larger project – Adding lanes to the causeway. Let’s discuss possible comments due next month.
  2. Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Plan, Nov. 9 joint meeting SACOG, SMUD, SMAQMD, SacRT boards: to secure $ billions for climate initiatives (like ZEV deployment). Pre-proposal due Feb. 1, 2024 to US EPA. (e.g.: forest biomass conversion to green hydrogen fuel and sequestered biochar)
  3. New ECOS contract with SacRT for Educational Outreach and Communication Support Services

Click here to view the agenda in PDF.