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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Department of Public Works
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DATE:
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August 19, 2008
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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September 9, 2008
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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James C. Porter, Director of Public Works
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SUBJECT:
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Approval Of The Draft San Mateo County Energy Strategy For Distribution and Comment
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the draft San Mateo County Energy Strategy (Energy Strategy) in its current form for distribution to the cities in San Mateo County for their review and comment.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Responsive, Effective and Collaborative Government.
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Goal (20): Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.
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Goal (22): County and local governments effectively communicate and collaborate in order to develop strategic approaches on issues affecting the entire County.
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This action furthers these commitments through support of a guiding document for cities and the County to collaboratively address energy, water and climate change issues.
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BACKGROUND:
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In late 2005, President of the Board of Supervisors, Jerry Hill proposed the need for a countywide task force to investigate and recommend how best to meet the County’s current and future energy needs.
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The Board report presented at the November 15, 2005 meeting which resulted in the adoption of resolution 067643 authorizing the County to participate in the Sustainable Silicon Valley initiative, recommended that RecycleWorks, as staff for City and County Association of Governments (C/CAG), would bring forward the idea of an energy strategy development process to C/CAG’s committee for discussion.
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In February 2006, the Congestion Management and Air Quality Committee (CMAQ) authorized the creation of an ad hoc energy-working group to develop an energy strategy for San Mateo County. This working group became the Utility and Sustainability Task Force (USTF), an ad hoc committee of the Congestion Management and Environmental Quality Committee (CMEQ) of the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG).
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The USTF, which is comprised of six elected officials and six stakeholder representatives, first met in June 2006 and was chartered to consider the future energy needs of the County and recommend how to address these needs in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner. Work on the Energy Strategy has continued with monthly meetings through November of 2007. The committee now meets quarterly.
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The San Mateo County Energy Strategy document includes five main goals with associated strategies and actions to support them. These goals address renewable energy and energy efficiency, water conservation and new sources of water, collaboration between cities, supporting economic opportunities, leadership and best practices on these issues in the County.
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In an effort being led by Supervisor Mark Church, the County of San Mateo is currently exploring opportunities to install solar generation at some of its facilities to support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to provide renewable energy leadership in San Mateo County. This project will be an important part of the County’s program to support the Energy Strategy.
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DISCUSSION:
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The draft Energy Strategy is nearing completion and is ready for presentation to the San Mateo County, Board of Supervisors and to the Board of C/CAG before it is distributed to the cities in the County.
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The cities will be requested to:
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Review and comment on the goals of the Energy Strategy
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Commit to working collaboratively towards these goals with other cities and the County
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Release energy use information to the County for purposes of tracking energy and CO2 emissions
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Adopt the goals of the Energy Strategy after consideration and incorporation of the comments received from all of the cities and the County.
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The Executive Summary of the Energy Strategy is attached to this report. A complete copy of the Strategy, including the Executive Summary, seven sections that include Background, Context, Findings, Goals, Strategies, Recommended Actions and Next Steps, a Glossary, a Resources section and Appendix with reports, is on file and available for review at the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Office.
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It is recommended that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approve the San Mateo County Energy Strategy in its current draft form for distribution to the cities in San Mateo County for review and comment. The Strategy, along with the comments received, will be brought back to the Board and the cities for eventual adoption.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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There will be no fiscal impact as a result of this action and there will be no net County cost.
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Attachment:
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Energy Strategy Executive Summary
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