The Sonoma County Water Agency works local and national levels to reduce the carbon footprint of its water supply and to improve the overall sustainability of its operations and its community. The Agency aggressively pursues federal and state grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission to fund innovative energy and sustainability projects. The Agency pursues partnerships with research and academic entities as additional funding support for feasibility studies. Policies that the Agency is pursuing include:
- Carbon Free Water by 2015
Since 2006, the pursuit of carbon free water has driven SCWA's major projects and legislative efforts. To meet the goal of carbon free water by 2015, the Agency most notably shifted its business plan to become an energy producer in addition to its primary role as a water provider. SCWA has made innovative use of its legal authority to generate and sell power, allowing the Agency to address both sides of the water-energy nexus. The ability to generate and sell power provides the Agency full control over its energy sources, simplifies data collection, and enables municipal-scale renewable energy projects.
- Annual registration of greenhouse gas emissions in the California Climate Action Registry
SCWA submits annual emissions reports to the California Climate Action Registry (California Registry), an inventory of emissions data from entities across the state. Establishing a carbon inventory, and compiling historical data, allows SCWA to participate in an emerging carbon market and positions the Agency for mandatory reporting in the future under California’s AB 32, which requires regulated entities to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.. Annual calculation of the Agency’s carbon footprint for the CA Climate Action Registry allows SCWA to claim credit for progress it makes towards Carbon Free Water and helps identify new emission reduction opportunities.
- Participation in the Renewable Energy Secure Communities (RESCO) partnership
The Agency has partnered with Los Alamos National Labs, Sonoma County Transportation Authority, the Climate Protection Campaign, and Local Power Inc. to develop a renewable energy portfolio for Sonoma County. The RESCO partnership has received a $1 million grant from the California Energy Commission to complete a characterization of local GHGs and feasibility assessments of various renewable energy technologies.
- Participation in the Climate Protection Campaign
The Climate Protection Campaign is a Sonoma County based organization that works alongside youth and community members, businesses and government to reduce GHG emissions through practical and scientifically supported solutions. The Campaign creates projects to mobilize partners for effective action; works on the local, regional and the state level policies; and assists in the implementation of energy efficiency projects for immediate emissions reductions. The Climate Protection Campaign has a five step approach for realizing its purpose:
- Produce an inventory of Sonoma County’s greenhouse gas emissions-This was completed by the Climate Protection Campaign in 2005.
- Set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target-In 2005, Sonoma County and the nine cities within it adopted the Country’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2015.
- Develop a Community Climate Action Plan to serve as Sonoma County's blueprint for achieving its emissions target-The Climate Protection Campaign completed this Plan in November 2008.
- Implement the Community Climate Action Plan-This challenege is in progress.
- On-going monitoring process to ensure they meet their reduction target-The Climate Protection Campaign conducts annual inventories (2006, 2007) of the County’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Founding member of the Applied Solutions Coalition
The Applied Solution Coalition is a group of counties and cities across the country that works to develop replicable, integrated, and sustainable community infrastructure projects. The Coalition projects aim to achieve the following goals:
- Reduce water use
- Reduce energy use
- Reduce petroleum-based single-car transportation
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Workshops to share best practices and strategies occur annually in member cities around the country. Projects under development are showcased on the Applied Solutions Coalition collaborative website.
