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Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Update

Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Update

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48 registered responses


In regards to Climate Action, what should be the City’s top three priorities? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Provide building and transportation emissions consultations for residents 27.1% 13
Develop major employer custom emissions reduction plans 37.5% 18
Study additional Key Actions needed to fully meet our 80x30 goal 29.2% 14
Study staffing and funding needs 14.6% 7
Accelerate GHG reductions through mandates or price signals 58.3% 28
Study potential funding for post-2025 Key Actions 12.5% 6
Conduct an electrification affordability study 20.8% 10
Study carbon neutrality options 12.5% 6
Other 47.9% 23

In regards to Energy, what should be the City’s top three priorities? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Launch residential programs and incentives for voluntary electrification 59.6% 28
Launch non-residential programs and incentives for electrification 46.8% 22
Enable low-income residents and vulnerable business electrification 29.8% 14
Develop electric rate options that support electrification 46.8% 22
Adopt expanded All-Electric Reach Code 27.7% 13
Conduct a City facilities electrification assessment 10.6% 5
Study reliability and resiliency needs 21.3% 10
Adopt energy benchmarking ordinance 12.8% 6
Other 23.4% 11

What are your top three barriers to electrifying your home?

Response Percent Response Count
Cost: Upfront cost of conversion 63.8% 30
Cost: The cost of electricity is more expensive than the cost of gas 21.3% 10
Cost: The need to upgrade a home’s electrical panel 23.4% 11
Unfamiliarity with what residential electrification conversion means/includes 10.6% 5
Belief that technology will be a lot better in a few years 8.5% 4
Belief that what I do personally with appliances won’t impact climate change 2.1% 1
Inconvenient 2.1% 1
Unwilling to toss out perfectly good appliances 29.8% 14
Concerns about the ability to keep specific gas appliances 10.6% 5
Concerns about electric reliability 17.0% 8
Lack of availability of contractors with expertise 4.3% 2
Lack of time to research electrical appliance options 4.3% 2
Different incentives for owners of rental property 4.3% 2
I rent my current home – would need landlord approval 10.6% 5
Other 34.0% 16

What should be the City’s top three priorities for advancing residential building electrification?

Response Percent Response Count
Reduce upfront costs or otherwise provide meaningful financial incentives 64.4% 29
A strong price signal for carbon e.g., a carbon tax on natural gas usage 42.2% 19
Foster neighbor-to-neighbor conversations 4.4% 2
Pilot programs 6.7% 3
Make the process smoother 24.4% 11
Ensure that everyone, regardless of income, can electrify their homes 33.3% 15
Easy financing options such as on-bill financing (the utility provides a loan for the upgrade, which is then repaid through your electric bill) 20.0% 9
Reduce incentives for non-electric appliances 6.7% 3
Plan for recycling appliances as they are replaced 15.6% 7
Pursue multi-family building electrification 20.0% 9
Invest in programs to reduce vehicular traffic instead, where the climate impact can be much larger 20.0% 9
Provide back-up power to residents 8.9% 4
Other 8.9% 4

In regards to Mobility, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Expand transport options 42.2% 19
Improve Transportation Demand Management for employees and residents 20.0% 9
Implement smart parking infrastructure in public garages and parking fees in Business Districts 26.7% 12
Study land use and transportation 22.2% 10
Expand bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure 66.7% 30
Improve transit and traffic flow 31.1% 14
Disincentivize sole occupant vehicle trips 31.1% 14
Other 37.8% 17

What are the top three reasons, if any, preventing you from purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle for your next vehicle?

Response Percent Response Count
Not enough public charging stations/not enough public fast chargers/no charging stations convenient to me 20.9% 9
Purchase price 30.2% 13
Insufficient driving range 20.9% 9
Don't know enough about EVs to buy one 2.3% 1
Nowhere to charge at home/landlord won't install a home charger 18.6% 8
Long charging times 11.6% 5
Unsure of how possible power outages may affect the ability to charge 4.7% 2
Lack of options among electric vehicle models currently on the market 16.3% 7
Lack of consistent rebate options 11.6% 5
Other 58.1% 25

What should be the City’s top three priorities regarding Electric Vehicles? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Raise awareness of alternative transportation modes, micro-mobility, and EVs 21.3% 10
Expand multi-family and workplace EV charging 59.6% 28
Provide incentives for e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-skateboards 25.5% 12
Improve low-income resident access to EVs and EV charging 40.4% 19
Evaluate electric bill discount for residential EVs 36.2% 17
Study ways to expand EV charging 14.9% 7
Electrify our Municipal Fleet 48.9% 23
Other 14.9% 7

In regards to Water, what should be the City’s top three priorities? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Maximize water conservation and efficiency 62.5% 30
Provide rebates and incentives for home and landscape water conservation 45.8% 22
Build a water reuse project 37.5% 18
Implement green stormwater infrastructure 50.0% 24
Build a salt removal facility 12.5% 6
Develop a One Water Portfolio 6.3% 3
Establish an impervious surfaces baseline and KPI 16.7% 8
Other 29.2% 14

In regards to Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Conduct a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment 46.5% 20
Implement a Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan 72.1% 31
Discuss levee alignment alternatives 16.3% 7
Implement a Foothills Fire Management Plan 30.2% 13
Minimize fire hazards through zoning 16.3% 7
Collaborate on reducing wildfire hazards 23.3% 10
Implement CAL FIRE public education programs 14.0% 6
Coordinate regionally, act locally 34.9% 15
Other 16.3% 7

In regards to the Natural Environment, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Increase Palo Alto's tree canopy 34.8% 16
Maximize biodiversity and soil health 37.0% 17
Implement the Urban Forest Master Plan and Parks Master Plan 21.7% 10
Expand Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) requirements 34.8% 16
Establish an impervious surfaces baseline and key performance indicator (KPI) 8.7% 4
Incorporate green stormwater infrastructure in the Capital Improvement Program 30.4% 14
Ensure no net tree canopy loss for all projects 15.2% 7
Reduce pesticide use in parks and open space preserves 34.8% 16
Enhance pollinator habitats 34.8% 16
Establish a carbon storage of tree canopy baseline and KPI 17.4% 8
Other 15.2% 7

In regards to Zero Waste, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]

Response Percent Response Count
Expand the Deconstruction and Construction Materials Management Ordinance 44.4% 20
Eliminate single-use disposable cups and containers 35.6% 16
Require food waste prevention and food recovery from commercial food generators 46.7% 21
Promote residential food waste reduction 20.0% 9
Provide waste prevention technical assistance to the commercial sector 24.4% 11
Champion waste prevention, reduction, reusables, and the sharing economy 35.6% 16
Evaluate a best practice standard for low carbon construction materials 44.4% 20
Other 17.8% 8
Name not shown in Fairmeadow
March 8, 2022, 10:15 PM
  • In regards to Climate Action, what should be the City’s top three priorities? [choose 3]
    • Other - Encourage more local consumption. 1) Allow residents to dig wells to water their trees and plants and send it back to the ground, i.e., consume the water locally. 2) Generate electricity locally. Expedite all solar installs to reduce grid pressure.
  • In regards to Energy, what should be the City’s top three priorities? [choose 3]
    • Launch residential programs and incentives for voluntary electrification
    • Develop electric rate options that support electrification
    • Study reliability and resiliency needs
  • What are your top three barriers to electrifying your home?
    • Belief that technology will be a lot better in a few years
    • Unwilling to toss out perfectly good appliances
    • Other - All solar installers say that Palo Alto is the worst city to work with because of the nightmarish permit process that is fraught with delays and lack of transparency.
  • What should be the City’s top three priorities for advancing residential building electrification?
    • Reduce upfront costs or otherwise provide meaningful financial incentives
    • Make the process smoother
    • Plan for recycling appliances as they are replaced
  • In regards to Mobility, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]
    • Implement smart parking infrastructure in public garages and parking fees in Business Districts
    • Expand bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
    • Improve transit and traffic flow
  • What are the top three reasons, if any, preventing you from purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle for your next vehicle?
    • Purchase price
    • Insufficient driving range
    • Long charging times
  • What should be the City’s top three priorities regarding Electric Vehicles? [choose 3]
    • Expand multi-family and workplace EV charging
    • Evaluate electric bill discount for residential EVs
    • Study ways to expand EV charging
  • In regards to Water, what should be the City’s top three priorities? [choose 3]
    • Maximize water conservation and efficiency
    • Implement green stormwater infrastructure
    • Other - Encourage wells so that folks can use water from their own land and send it back into their own soil. This will make Palo Alto green. Provide a smooth permit process and reference designs to residents.
  • In regards to Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]
    No response.
  • In regards to the Natural Environment, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]
    • Increase Palo Alto's tree canopy
    • Enhance pollinator habitats
  • In regards to Zero Waste, what should be the City's top three priorities? [choose 3]
    • Require food waste prevention and food recovery from commercial food generators
    • Promote residential food waste reduction
    • Champion waste prevention, reduction, reusables, and the sharing economy
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CLIMATE ACTION

Climate Action refers to the broader goal for the City to reduce GHG emissions 80 percent by the year 2030 and how we're supporting residents and businesses to help us achieve this goal.

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