2024 Sacramento County Climate Action Plan and SEIR

On July 15, 2024, Sacramento County published the 2024 CAP and the Draft Subsequent EIR. The new documents are available on the CAP webpage: https://planning.saccounty.gov/PlansandProjectsIn-Progress/Pages/CAP.aspx

In support of the 2024 CAP, Sacramento County has prepared a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) to analyze the potential impacts of the 2024 CAP. The Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft SEIR is available below. Public comments on the 2024 CAP and the Draft SEIR will be accepted until August 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

The County’s goal is to complete the CAP and its associated SEIR as quickly as possible while ensuring compliance with applicable CEQA statutory timelines for public input and review.

During the 45-day public review period, staff will present the 2024 CAP to the Sacramento County Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force on August 8, 2024 and the Sacramento Environmental Commission on August 19, 2024.

Airport South Industrial Project: The position of ECOS, July 31, 2024

On July 31, 2024, ECOS submitted a letter to Sacramento-area Elected Officials, Executive and Planning Staff regarding our position on the proposed Airport South Industrial Project for the parcel south of I-5 in Natomas Basin.

Below is an excerpt.

This project would require annexation of farmland into the City and construction of all infrastructure. It will cause great harm to the integrity of the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan, existing preserves, wildlife, and to the Natomas community and school children. It should not be approved.

Click here to read the letter in full.

Review by experts of the Airport South Industrial Project

Sierra Club, Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk and ECOS submitted expert opinions to the City of Sacramento and LAFCo on the draft Environmental Impact Report for the Airport South Industrial Project. The legal opinions are those of Patrick Soluri, Soluri Meserve, a Law Corporation, expert comments on transportation issues prepared by Daniel Smith (Exhibit 1) and expert comments on biological resource issues prepared by Shawn Smallwood, PhD (Exhibit 2).

Click here to view the letter in full.

ECOS Talk with Orville Thomas, CEO of California Mobility Center 8/7/2024

ECOS Mtg/Board

Join local environmentalists Wednesday, August 7, 2024 as we talk with Orville Thomas, the new CEO of the California Mobility Center. Thomas joins ECOS to talk about building a Clean Energy, Power, and Zero-Emission Innovation Hub in Sacramento and how that will reshape California’s push towards its climate goals. The Mobility Center concept would construct an almost 200,000 square foot research, development, innovation, and workforce development space in partnership with Sacramento State, SMUD, UC Davis, and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

Orville’s talk will be 6:05 to 7:00 pm including Q&A. ECOS Board meeting to begin at 7 pm, following the presentation.

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

ECOS Climate Mtg re Sac County CAP, Aug 14, 2024

Please note this is a change from the regularly scheduled Climate Committee meeting on Thursday Aug 15.

Wednesday, Aug 14, 2024, 6pm

Featuring Todd Smith, Planning Director, Sacramento County

2024 Draft Climate Action Plan and related Draft Subsequent EIR

Sacramento County has revised its 2022 Climate Action Plan (CAP) to address public comments, and for consistency with new statewide actions. It also includes a new greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory.

Todd Smith, Sacramento County’s Planning Director, will explain how this CAP identifies ways to meet the State’s 2030 and 2045 GHG emissions reduction targets.

Background: ECOS (along with Sierra Club and 350 Sacramento) had expressed concerns about the 2022 CAP, including lack of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The County has now prepared a Subsequent EIR to analyze the potential impacts of the 2024 CAP. The County will accept public comments on the 2024 CAP and the SEIR until August 29.

Public comments on these documents are due Aug 29, 2024.

Links to documents:
2024 Climate Action Plan
Climate Action Plan Draft SEIR
https://planning.saccounty.gov

To join the meeting on Aug 14, 2024

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

SB 867, Allen. Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024

July 10, 2024

This bill would, if approved by the voters in November, authorize the issuance of $10 billion in State General Obligation bonds to finance projects for to improve the climate resiliency of California.

It would provide funding for safe drinking water, drought, flood, and water resilience, wildfire and forest resilience, coastal resilience, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions, climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands, park creation and outdoor access, and clean air programs. Bonds will also be provided for projects that promote sustainable agriculture, protect biodiversity, and increase outdoor access. This bill reflects the need for comprehensive funding that reflects the many ways climate change is affecting our lives. By investing in our collective future now, we will protect public health and promote environmental stewardship for future generations.

In the Sacramento region, SB 867 will provide specific funding for urgently needed measures — $150M to improve levees and flood protection in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; $50M dollars for the Wildlife Conservation Board to support salmon reintroduction to the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds; $21M for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. These measures will help protect one of the most impacted ecosystems in our state, in addition to benefits Sacramento may receive from bonds that are allocated more broadly.

Click here to read the ECOS letter thanking Assemblymember Kevin McCarty.

Click here to read the ECOS letter thanking Assemblymember Angelique Ashby.

APA Speaker Series (2024)

Presented by Sacramento Valley Section APA (American Planning Association) and Caltrans

DO THE RIGHT THING

As planning, design, and community development professionals, most of us chose our professions because we want to “Do the Right Thing.” But when you’re working to solve complicated, multi-faceted challenges like climate change, the housing crisis, and structural inequities, with many stakeholders and limited resources and power, determining what that right thing is can be hard to define. And once defined, it can be even harder to implement. By bringing together diverse perspectives from various disciplines, industries, and backgrounds, this Speaker Series will explore this notion of what it means to “do the right thing,” how there isn’t one right answer, and how we can use these ideas to connect to a sense of purpose, challenge the norm, and collectively work towards a common goal.

All sessions will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Please check in prior to 9:30 a.m.
Join us for networking after each session from 11:30 to Noon
West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento
Free parking at 1271 West Capitol Avenue (behind Walgreens)
A Live Streaming option is available for all sessions at the same price as attending in person.

Click here to view the speaker series flyer.