The plan melds public input with staff convictions, management guidance, and council direction. During its year-long development, over 150 people participated in interviews and meetings; 300 action steps were considered and 149 were prioritized and presented. The result of the collaborative process is a three-phase approach to meeting AB 32 goals.
Phase I activities are no-cost and low cost measures, achievable over the next two years. Phase II and III follow, to be completed by 2020.
Phase I measures alone are expected to cut the city’s 2008 baseline emissions by 6%, reversing the growth of greenhouse gases in Palm Desert and completing 17% of the reduction required to achieve AB 32 goals.
Palm Desert’s GHG Inventory was created following the Protocol for Local Governments, using Clean Air and Climate Protection (CACP) software to calculate emissions for a baseline year of 2008. In order to understand its CO2 profile, per capita growth as well as absolute growth was measured.
Cindy Finerty, city mayor, said: ”Over the years Palm Desert has taken many actions for environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and conservation. Now, thanks to the Sustainability Plan and the Greenhouse Gas Inventory, we have an idea of the effect of past efforts and will be able to monitor and measure as we move forward.”
Ted Flanigan, president of EcoMotion, said: ”We created a unique, dynamic decision-making tool for Palm Desert. It lists all recommendations, rated on five variables, allowing the City to rank actions according to changing priorities and to fine-tune as necessary.”
EcoMotion and its principals have worked with Palm Desert on energy issues since 2002. Headquartered in Irvine, California, the company delivers greening solutions to cities, corporations and campuses.
