City of Santa Cruz
“Through
measures already implemented, the City of Santa Cruz generates
energy from renewable sources that do not contribute to global
warming through the emission of greenhouse gases equivalent to
33% of energy used by the City; combined with 13% renewable
energy purchased from PG&E, this jumps to over 40%. As more
measures are implemented, the City of Santa Cruz will become less
dependent on energy sources that cause environmental
degradation.” -City of Santa Cruz Website
About Santa Cruz
- Incorporated: March 31, 1866
- Population: 56,124 (2008)
- Location: 72 miles south of San Francisco on the northern edge of Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz County
- Elevation: 36 feet
- Area: 15.6 square miles
Climate Action Activities
- ICLEI member
- U.S. Conference of Mayor Climate Protection Agreement Signatory
- Joined Cities for Climate Protection, April 1998
- Established the Climate Action Program, 2007
- Established Climate Change Compact (partnership with UC Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County), 2007
- Completed Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, February 2010
- Completed Climate Action Plan, September 2010
- Adopted “Green Building Regulations“, November 2005
- Adopted “Residential Green Building Program“, August 2008
- Established “Clean Ocean Business” program
Climate Action Resources
- Climate Action Program webpage
- Greenhouse Gas Inventories
- Climate Action Plan
- City of Santa Cruz Environmental Programs
- City of Santa Cruz Green Building Program
- “Santa Cruz Fights Global Warming” (list of the City’s key initiatives)
- City of Santa Cruz Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Projects
- Climate Action Planning & the General Plan webpage
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.
cities across the
country, Santa Cruz is struggling to maintain its small-town
character despite enormous growth pressures.With few new
development sites left, the city has turned to its primary asset
for help – its single-family neighborhoods, where it is allowing
property owners to develop accessory dwelling units, commonly
known as a “granny flat.
