Category Archives: ECOS Updates

Climate Rally at Sac City Hall on June 25

ECOS encourages your participation in this rally (with safe distancing).

From the Sacramento Climate Coalition:

The heat this year has already been another brutal reminder that our planet is heating up. The current heatwave, like last summer’s, is worse because of climate change, and is just a foretaste of what the weather will bring going forward. The climate emergency requires an immediate response from our government officials!

Join us Friday, June 25 at 10:30 am to 11:30 am on the patio in front of City Hall, 915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 to demand our elected officials and city staffers use 2030 as their goal for eliminating GHG emissions, as they committed to in 2019 when they adopted the Climate Emergency Declaration. Unfortunately when staff make presentations, and when the Mayor made a recent commitment to start the process of planning for electrification of existing buildings: they use 2045 as the goal. As scientists tell us this is simply not fast enough to avoid the worst of what climate change has in store.

We will have signs and banners and maintain social distancing. But of course you can bring your own signs if you wish. You can learn more about this campaign to get the City to join SMUD and the County for a Carbon Free 2030 at our website’s Take Action page.

Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels

Caltrans Active Transportation Survey (July 16 deadline)

Do you live in any of the following counties: Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba?

If so, please fill out this survey for Caltrans by July 16, 2021.

Your survey response will help Caltrans plan for biking and walking near you. Please click through the following screens to identify concerns that you believe need to be addressed to improve walking and biking on and along State Routes near you.

Take the survey

Photo by PNW Production from Pexels

Sacramento Transportation Priorities Plan

June 2021

Dear City of Sacramento Residents,

As part of its long-term planning, the City of Sac is doing a transportation project to set priorities. It’s really important for people who value clean air and equity, and who are concerned about climate, to weigh in.

How to Participate

Drought Conditions and the Sac Water Forum

On June 1, 2021, Habitat 2020 hosted a presentation/discussion led by Jessica Law, Executive Director of the Sacramento Water Forum.

Jessica’s presentation was focused on the projected conditions of the Folsom Reservoir and the American River as we move through the current drought year and what these conditions portend for the Lower American River, the fisheries in it, and the environment around it. Jessica provided us the results of ongoing analysis done by her consulting staff on water flows and temperatures projected to occur that result from the Bureau’s reservoir operations including their impacts on the fisheries. She also briefed us on discussions she is having with the Bureau and other agencies involved in river operations. finally, Jessica discussed the Folsom Reservoir and American River operations, flows, and temperature objectives the Water Forum is working to have the Bureau and others adopt for this year.

Click here for a video recording of the presentation on Google Drive.

City of Sac’s New Building Electrification Ordinance

On May 31, 2021, ECOS submitted our letter of support for the proposed Sacramento City Council New Construction Electrification Ordinance.

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) urges the Sacramento City Council to support the New Construction Electrification Ordinance. This ordinance is an important first step in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and its passage would show we are serious in adopting the unanimous recommendations of the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change.

Click here to read the letter in full.

City Council Votes June 1

The New Building Electrification Ordinance will be presented at an upcoming City Council meeting.

Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2021 (see the agenda and staff report here*)
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Video Conference (see the meetings page for the link to eComment once the agenda is posted)
Hearing Title: An Ordinance Adding to and Amending Various Provisions of Title 15 of the Sacramento City Code and Adopting Local Amendments to the California Building Standards Code, Relating to Green Building Standards Including Electrification

Comments can be provided via eComment before or during the meeting. You may also call directly into the meeting to provide comments.

What is the New Building Electrification Ordinance?

The City of Sacramento is considering a reach code known as the “New Building Electrification Ordinance” that would establish phased requirements for new construction to be all-electric. A “reach code” is a local code that “reaches” beyond the state minimum requirements for energy use in building design and construction. The Ordinance would make changes to Title 15 (Buildings and Construction Code) of City Code to require all-electric new construction for new buildings that are 1-3 stories when building permits are filed on or after January 1, 2023, and for buildings that are four stories or more when building permits are filed after on or after January 1, 2026. With a few exceptions, new buildings would not include natural gas or propane plumbing and would use only electricity as the sole source of energy.

Consistent with the recommendations of the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change and in response to stakeholder feedback on the feasibility of certain project types, the New Building Electrification Ordinance includes provisions for an infeasibility waiver for the portions of the project where all electric is demonstrated by the project applicant to be infeasible. In addition, the Ordinance includes limited exemptions for cooking equipment in commercial food establishments, for process loads in manufacturing and industrial facilities, and for water heating systems in regulated affordable housing (when virtual net energy metering is not available). The staff report and presentation will also address related key issues, including next steps to develop a strategy for decarbonizing existing buildings.

You are invited to participate in the upcoming public hearing.

Any Questions?

Please visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/SacElectrificationOrdinance to review a summary of the project, community and stakeholder engagement (including videos of eight informational webinars), the Final New Building Electrification Ordinance for City Council’s consideration on June 1, and answers to questions that city staff have heard from the community and stakeholders over the course of the project.

If you have any questions please contact Helen Selph at (916) 808-7852 or HSelph[at]cityofsacramento[dot]org