County Adopts Climate Change Plan in Line with State Law

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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors last week adopted plan for addressing climate change that includes evaluating developments based on greenhouse gas emissions, while rejecting a proposal to require big developments to include wiring for electric-car charging stations.

The push for the San Diego County plan was driven in part by Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and an amendment for including greenhouse gas guidelines in the state's Environmental Quality Act, according to Devon Mute of the Department of Planning and Land Use.

Local efforts could reduce greenhouse emissions to a level 17 percent below where it was in 2005, Mute said. Among the initiatives are offering incentives for buying energy efficient appliances, creating energy-saving developments and producing more  renewable energy.

"It's important to know that it's currently written none of these measures are mandates. We believe the emissions reductions in the plan can be achieved through education and incentives," Mute said.

The climate change plan brings the county in line with state environmental law and should benefit San Diego County citizens.

Under the new rules, fewer developments would be subject a full environmental impact report required by state law, Mute said.

Supervisor Bill Horn said he approved the plan only because the state required it.

"I'm not one of those big believers in global warming," he said. "The climate is changing, but I don't think man has anything to do with it."

Supervisor Greg Cox the county should do whatever it can to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse emissions.

"With AB 32, it's not a question of whether we believe in global warming or climate action plans. We need to do this," Cox said.

The board unanimously adopted the plan with the caveat staff continue to work on issues with warehouses whose emission levels do not correspond to their employee base.

The board rejected a recommendation to require big developments to install wiring for electric-vehicle charging stations, agreeing that it should be voluntary.

-City News Service

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