City of Benicia
“The City of
Benicia is joining an increasing number of California communities
in developing plans to address climate change at a local level.
Although climate change is a global problem, city leaders in the
U.S. and abroad are increasingly recognizing that it will
directly affect their constituents and pose risks to public
health, safety, and welfare. It is also at the local level that
many strategies to both adapt to the changing climate and combat
its progression are best enacted.” - City of
Benicia Climate Action Plan
About Benicia
- Established: 1847
- Population: 26,997
- Location: In the San Francisco Bay Area along the Carquinez Strait in Solano County, East of Vallejo and across the Strait from Martinez
- Elevation: 26 feet
- Area: 15.72 square miles
Climate Action Activities
- ICLEI member
- HEAL Cities Campaign Participant
- Completed Agency and Community Greenhouse Inventory, 2005
- Completed Climate Action Plan, 2009
- Adopted Downtown Historic and Arsenal Conservation plans,1990 and 1993
- Conducted energy audits on city facilities, 2002 and 2003
- Established an Urban Growth Boundary to protect surrounding agricultural lands
- Adopted Downtown Mixed Use Master Plan, 2007
- Developed California Friendly Landscape Contest to promote water efficiency, 2008
- Adopted Tree Ordinance and formally established Tree Committee, 2008
- Designated a tree city by Tree City USA, 2009
- Implemented “Waste in Place Program”
- Worked jointly with Valero Refinery and the Good Neighbor Steering Committee to allocate $14 million to water reuse and water conservation. As of 2009 modifications are being made to also include energy efficiency.
- Initiated Benicia Industrial Park Multimodal Transit Project and Intermodal Facilities project, 2009.
- Adopted a comprehensive renewable energy RFP, May 2009
- Established Community Sustainability Commission in September 2009 to make recommendations for the implementation of the Climate Action Plan.
- Adopted Benicia Capital Improvement Program to improve bicycle and pedestrian network
- Developed Benicia Air Friendly Vehicle Policy for fiscal years 2009-2011
Climate Action Resources
- Benicia Climate Action Plan
- Benicia Climate Action/Sustainability website
- Benicia Downtown Mixed Use Master Plan
- Benicia Water Conservation Website
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership Estuary Report
- Benicia Air Quality Information website
- Benicia Parks and Community Services Department website
- Public Works and Community Development website
The Beacon Award program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Southern California Gas Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison, under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.