City of Palo Alto
“Palo Alto has taken the lead in implementing environmentally sustainable policies at the local level. The city, adjacent to Stanford University, is moving forward to share its experiences with other cities around the world as part of an effort to address the environmental crisis of our time.” -Palo Alto Climate Protection Plan
Beacon Award Accomplishments
About Palo Alto
- Incorporated: April 16, 1894
- Population: 64,403 (2010)
- Location: 35 miles South of San Francisco and 14 miles North of San Jose
- Elevation: 30 feet
- Area: 25.79 square miles
Climate Action Activities
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- ICLEI member
- Created the PaloAltoGreen Program in 2003, the nation’s top-ranked renewable energy program
- Mayor states intention of adopting a Green Ribbon Task Force on Climate Protection for the Palo Alto/ Stanford Community April 2006
- Adopted Green Neighbors Program a project of joint venture with Silicon Valley’s Climate Protection Task Force.
- Adopted a Residential Energy Assistance Program by Gas and Electric Utilities that repairs or replaces furnaces, refrigerators, weather stripping, window caulking, attic insulation, shower heads, and more, saving a total of 11,462 therms of natural gas and 116,588 kilowatt hours of electricity in 2007-08.
- Adopted an ordinance restricting single-use plastic bags on March 30, 2009 in conjunction with a Bring Your Own Bag Campaign
- Adopted a Polystyrene Restriction Ordinance May 11, 2009 to restrict food vendors from providing prepared food in disposable food service containers made from expanded polystyrene or non-recyclable plastic, which came into effect on Earth Day April 22, 2010.
- Approved contract with Carollo Engineers July 26, 2010 to prepare the Long Range Facilities Plan for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP)
- Launched 5% Carbon Reduction Goal by 2012 on October 14, 2010 hosted by several nonprofit conservation groups and organizers of the United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF)
- Approval of the first purchase of the first 600 lights for the LED Streetlight Pilot Project to replace current HPS streetlights.
- Goal of Zero Waste (no waste to landfills) by 2021
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Climate Action Resources
- City of Palo Alto’s Zero Waste Operational Plan, June 2007
- City of Palo Alto Climate Action Protection Plan & Baseline Greenhouse Gas Inventory, adopted December 3, 2007
- City of Palo Alto’s Best Environmental Practices
- City of Palo Alto Environment
- City of Palo Alto Planning Community & Environment Department
- City of Palo Alto Utilities
- City of Palo Alto Zero Waste
- City of Palo Alto LED Streetlight Pilot Project
- Demonstration Assessment of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Roadway Lighting on Residential and Commercial Streets Host Site: Palo Alto
- City of Palo Alto Draft Energy - Compost Feasibility Study June 8, 2011
- City of Palo Alto Plastic Bag Restrictions
- City of Palo Alto Polystyrene Restriction Ordinance In Effect
Video Clips
| Palo Alto Council Member Sid Espinoza on the Beacon Award |
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Spotlight on Land Use, Community Design, and Efficient Transportation
| Spotlight on Engaging the Public & Promoting Community Action |
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| Spotlight on Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy & Green Building |
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The Beacon Award program is sponsored by the Institute for Local Government and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative. SEEC is an alliance between three statewide non-profit organizations and California’s four Investor-Owned Utilities 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 www.californiaseec.org