“The County’s ongoing, bold commitment to climate protection flows from the Board’s goal to reduce the County’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2015.” – Sonoma County website

About Sonoma County

• Established: 1850
• Population: 484,470 (as of 2008)
• Location: 55 miles north of San Francisco
• Elevation: ranges from sea level to 4480 feet
• Area: 1,575 square miles

Climate Action Activities

• ICLEI member (current as of May 2011)
• Greenhouse gas inventory in progress, completion expected December 2011
• Climate action plan for agency operations completed 2006
• Community climate action plan in progress, completion expected December 2011
• Sonoma County Energy Watch Program (in partnership with PG&E) provides technical assistance, services, and rebates to municipalities, non-profits, small businesses, and special districts to decrease utility costs by reducing electrical and gas consumption.
• Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (a Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE program) provides property owners with energy improvement financing paid back through the property tax system.
• Comprehensive Energy Project provides cash-neutral energy efficiency measures for county owned buildings, including lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, water retrofits, and installation of a 1.4 MW fuel cell cogeneration power plant.
• Installed 750kW photo-voltaic solar array providing 80% of the electricity for the County’s Juvenile justice Center
• Established green fleet policy and green fleet procurement program
• Composting program at detention facilities diverts food waste and is part of jail industries training program
• Established green leasing policy whereby the County, as a major leaser of commercial real estate, uses that market advantage to improve environmentally-friendly leased property

Climate Action Resources

• Sonoma County climate protection actions
• Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA)
• “Sonoma County Recognized as National Leader on Climate Action” August 26, 2011