Data Will Be Used to Implement South Bay’s Climate Action Strategies

TORRANCE, CALIF., September 5, 2024 – The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) recently completed a three-year-long review of greenhouse gas emissions for its 15 member South Bay Cities. The findings revealed a 40.7% reduction compared to 2005 levels, with the most significant drops found in commercial energy use at -64.8%, followed by solid waste at -28.5% and residential energy use at -16.9%.  

“How dramatic the reductions were in emissions across all of our cities is staggering,” said David Hines, who collected and analyzed the data as part of a nearly year-long CivicSpark fellowship at the SBCCOG. “There have been significant decreases, especially in buildings. Energy and gas use for commercial, residential and industrial facilities have also substantially dropped.” 

Hines and SBCCOG staff collected and entered figures provided by each city using the ClearPath tool (icleiusa.org/clearpath) from ICLEI – Local Government for Sustainability, which converts statistics into emissions data based on industry protocols. Six emissions sectors were evaluated: transportation, residential, commercial, waster, water/wastewater and fugitive (leaks or other irregular releases of gases or vapors from appliances or other equipment).  

The report attributes the reductions to three main factors: 1) adoption of renewable energy (powered by sources like solar, wind or hydroelectric power, etc.), 2) energy efficiency (improving building insulation, transitioning to LED lights and advancements made in energy-efficient appliances) and 3) electric vehicle adoption. 

“Because the state has implemented laws to regulate transportation and energy use, the state has a cleaner vehicle fleet and energy mix. Utilities must provide more renewable energy generation, instead of buying coal from out of state for example,” said Kim Fuentes, deputy executive director of the SBCCOG. “Because of those two factors we’ve seen huge reductions in GHGs over the last seven years, since our last inventory was completed. Cities are doing their part too—implementing energy efficiency strategies, installing solar and purchasing eclectic vehicles their fleets.” 

SCE renewable energy use totals jumped from 17% in 2005 to 35.1% in 2019. In California, electric vehicle sales went from practically nonexistent in 2005 to more than 200,000 in 2020, making up more than 10% of new car purchases. Source: bit.ly/CaliforniaAutoOutlook 

Additionally in recent years, cities including Carson, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Rolling Hills Estates have joined the Clean Power Alliance (CPA), a community choice aggregator (CCA). A CCA allows local government to procure cleaner power for its community. Through CPA membership, depending on the chosen plan, up to 100% clean power can be purchased by member cities through SCE. Residents of CPA cities are automatically opted in unless they choose to opt out. 

As an example, Hermosa Beach signed on to CPA’s 100% plan. The city also took additional steps toward energy net zero, such as replacing one-third of the city’s government cars with electric vehicles, adding solar roof panels to municipal buildings including the Hermosa Beach Community Center, and converting SCE streetlights to LEDs. It will convert its historic Clark Building from gas to electricity later this year, which will bring the city closer to its 2035 goal. 

How the SBCCOG Became Involved in Climate Action Planning 

Following heightened concern at the state and federal levels of the growing effects of climate change, in 2006 the state passed Assembly Bill 32, requiring California to reduce overall GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. This served as the impetus for the SBCCOG to work with its 15 member cities to complete GHG inventories for 2005 and 2007, paid for by a special assessment. Updates were conducted for 2011 and 2012, funded by Southern California Edison (SCE) and SoCalGas. Using a 2005 baseline carbon footprint, the SBCCOG then worked with individual cities to develop Climate Action Plans (CAPs) to help them set goals and adopt strategies for reducing their GHGs and then developed a subregional CAP for the entire South Bay. 

GHG Goals and Findings 

The goals established by the South Bay CAP were two-fold: 1) reduce emissions by 15% of 2005 levels by 2020 and 2) reduce emissions to 49% of 2005 levels by 2035. Hines’ findings, presented to the SBCCOG in July, reveal that the South Bay has cleared the first goal and is within short reach of the second. The new data will be used to update the South Bay CAP and its progress towards a net zero carbon footprint. 

Since the South Bay CAP adoption, the SBCCOG has worked to implement the plan’s strategies by leveraging partnerships to obtain funding for programs, such as energy equipment upgrades for municipal facilities, residents, businesses and community members. One such partnership is with the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) which promotes energy efficiency in public agencies. Through the SoCalREN, the SBCCOG has employed the help of CivicSpark fellows to catalog energy-using equipment at more than 45 municipal buildings to identify energy-saving opportunities and resources to implement recommended changes. 

To learn more about the SBCCOG’s climate action planning work, visit southbaycities. org/sustainable-south-bay/.. 

ABOUT SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS:  

The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) is a joint powers government agency of 16 cities and the County of Los Angeles which share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of the subregion. Within this structure, cities and Los Angeles County maintain the qualities and characteristics that make them unique and independent, while also coming together collectively to address issues of common interest for a greater good of the communities through fostering cooperation, collaboration and innovation. For more information about the SBCCOG visit http://southbaycities.org