Policies

City of Riverside's Green Action Plan Committee.

Over the past decade, Riverside has taken great strides in becoming a leader in urban sustainability, and as a result, the City has accomplished a long list of green goals. From alternative fueling stations to its many solar rooftops, Riverside is more than just green- it’s emerald. With an eye toward sustainability, clean and green measures now traverse the entirety of the City’s major efforts, influencing infrastructure, planning, and economic development, among others.

In 2005, Mayor Loveridge appointed the Clean and Green Task Force, which charged universities, civic organizations, communities of faith, private and nonprofit business, and local government with the development of a plan to make Riverside more sustainable. By 2007, the Task Force had developed the City’s first Green Action Plan (GAP), which aimed to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and increase access to parks and open space.

In 2009, the GAP was revised to include more ambitious goals and objectives, aligned under eight major sections: energy, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, urban design, urban nature, transportation, water and healthy communities. Riverside’s Green Accountability Performance Committee, the new and expanded form of the previous Clean and Green Task Force, now consists of 40 dedicated volunteers from the public, business and education sectors who serve to monitor achievement of GAP objectives.

Today, Riverside’s achievements under the GAP have established the City as a leader in clean and green living. To learn more about the Green Action Plan’s initiatives click on the categories below:

• Energy

  Under California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS), utilities and electric service providers are now required to increase total procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 33% by 2020. As of 2010, 20% of Riverside’s power was being generated from renewable sources and 36% of power sources were non-greenhouse gas emitting, putting Riverside well on its way to exceeding the RPS objectives. Total solar energy being produced in the City is already near 4.5MW with 392 projects completed to-date.

  Riverside’s GAP includes the following energy goals:

  1. Increase the use of non-greenhouse gas emitting energy by 2020 to 70% with at least 50% coming from renewable sources.
  2. Promote Riverside as a Solar City by installing 20 MW of local photovoltaic installations by 2020.
  3. Based on 2006 reports, reduce the City’s base electrical load by 10% by 2012 and reduce the City’s peak electrical load by 20% by 2020.
  4. Establish the GHG emissions baseline for the City of Riverside in order to meet the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement goal to reduce GHG emissions by 7% below 1990 levels.
  5. Utilizing the City boundaries as defined in 2008; implement a climate action plan to reduce GHG emissions to 7% below the 1990 City baseline by 2012 and 15% below the City baseline by 2020.
• Waste

  In 2007, Riverside exceeded the State’s target waste diversion rate, and the City is well on its way to reducing waste by 75% before 2020.

  Riverside’s GAP includes the following waste goals:

  6. Implement programs to reduce waste, based on the 2007 per capita baseline, by 75% by 2020.
  7. Implement educational programs throughout the community to encourage green practices.
• Urban Design

  In February 2009, the City showed its commitment to green building by implementing a policy for all new municipal facilities in excess of 5,000 square feet to be built to LEED standards. In March 2009, the City adopted an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy, which provides the City with an opportunity to give preference to environmentally superior services and products where quality, function, and cost are equal or better.

  Riverside’s GAP includes the following urban design goals:

  8. Provide incentives to increase green development throughout Riverside annually.
  9. Meet the environmentally sensitive goals of the General Plan 2025 specified in the Mitigation Monitoring Program of the Environmental Impact Report, and the Implementation Plan following the timelines set forth in each.
• Urban Nature

  Riverside’s park system consists of 51 parks totaling 2,500 acres, with the 1,800 acre Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park providing substantial open space for hiking and biking. Riverside intends to increase open space by another 200 acres before 2015, moving the City toward its goal of providing 90% of residents with access to park, recreation or open space within a half mile of their residence. The City is also aiming to increase passive recreation and multi-use trails by 75% before 2015, coordinating trail connections with the County when possible.

  Riverside’s GAP includes the following urban nature goals:

  10. Provide accessible open space to all City residents.
  11. Increase the City’s Urban Forest.
  12. Provide non-accessible open space areas for the protection of natural habitat that also provides green space buffers that add to the City’s viewshed for the enjoyment of all residents.
• Transportation

  A 2008 study measured emissions in the City over the previous two decades, finding that on-road transportation had consistently generated the majority of emissions in Riverside, at 42% in 2007. The City is working to mitigate transportation GHGs with several measures.

  Riverside’s GAP includes the following transportation goals:

  13. Decrease the vehicle miles traveled by 15% by 2015 based on the 2009 baseline.
  14. Reduce mobile sources of pollution by 5% through programs and partnerships.
• Water

  Riverside’s semi-arid climate, unpredictable rainfall and growing population have made water management an increasingly complex challenge in recent years. However, due to the City’s proactive leadership, strategic management of underground wells, increased water conservation, and the construction of the John W. North Water Treatment Facility, Riverside is now water independent. This independence effectively reduces the cost of water for City residents as well as the energy and GHG emissions associated with transporting water from out of the area.

  Riverside’s GAP includes the following water goals:

  15. Reduce water usage by 20% before 2020.
  16. Increase recycled water usage by 30% before 2020, based on the 2008 baseline.
• Healthy Communities

  The City of Riverside is working to create a healthier community through an increase in walking and bike routes; Riverside recently hired a Bicycle Coordinator to assess bikeability in the City and implement the Bike Master Plan. Riverside also offers three farmers’ markets and has developed dozens of community gardens throughout the City through a partnership with local nonprofit Growcology.

  Riverside’s GAP includes the following healthy community goals:

  17. Promote community-based programming with an ongoing comprehensive approach to healthy living for Riverside residents and businesses.
  18. Increase availability of fresh, locally grown food through increase in community farmer’s markets, particularly in under-served areas.