Regional Decarbonization Framework

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A Partnership to Move the Region to Zero Carbon Emissions

The global climate is changing and nowhere are the effects felt more acutely than at the local level. The growing economic, social, and environmental impacts associated with a changing climate are causing immediate and long-term damages to our communities, ecosystems, food production, health, safety, jobs, businesses, and our overall quality of life in the San Diego region.

On January 27, 2021, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors approved the development of a Framework for a regional zero-carbon sustainability plan in partnership with the UC San Diego School of

A Partnership to Move the Region to Zero Carbon Emissions

The global climate is changing and nowhere are the effects felt more acutely than at the local level. The growing economic, social, and environmental impacts associated with a changing climate are causing immediate and long-term damages to our communities, ecosystems, food production, health, safety, jobs, businesses, and our overall quality of life in the San Diego region.

On January 27, 2021, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors approved the development of a Framework for a regional zero-carbon sustainability plan in partnership with the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and the University of San Diego (USD) Energy Policy Initiatives Center. The Framework will provide science-based pathways to achieve zero carbon in the region.

In addition, the Framework will foster regional collaboration between public agencies, universities, schools, business, labor, communities, and tribes, as well as leverage resources at the state and federal levels.

The County is proposing a three-pronged regional approach to lower our carbon footprint to zero emissions:

  • Zero emissions of carbon dioxide;
  • Reduction of “super-pollutants” such as black carbon (or “soot”) and ground-level ozone (the main ingredient of “smog”), much of which are directly harmful to human health; and
  • Drawdown of atmospheric pollution through technological and natural means. Nature-based methods for carbon capture and storage include climate-smart practices in forestry and agriculture.

The impacts of climate change in the form of extreme weather events are disproportionately affecting our lowest-income communities and workers. Hence, local policy measures that decarbonize the economy are intended to save lives, benefit underserved and frontline communities, create high-quality green jobs, and ensure economic resilience. The Framework will intentionally address the gaps that exist between the decarbonization goals and existing realities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities in terms of air quality, infrastructure, jobs and housing.

Q&A

Post your questions about the Regional Decarbonization Framework here and staff will answer questions as soon as possible.

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    Hi-what sort of upgrades may the typical residential electrical panel need to accommodate an electric water heater vs. natural gas one? Thinking we may need a panel upgrade and add a solar panel to offset. Thanks!

    steveweihe asked about 1 month ago

    Hi Steve,

    Thank you for your question. The answer is dependent on the building and things like the electrical capacity of the panel, the number of available breakers on the panel, the existing electrical load, and the additional electrical load from the new appliance. There may also be other factors relating to the building's electrical system or wiring. The demands from an electric water heater may or may not be enough to reach the threshold of requiring a panel upgrade, depending on factors specific to your home. There are many resources available online, including resources that provide information on panels and panel upgrades, home energy audits, water heaters, rebates, and incentives. For example, the EnegyStar.gov website has several resources on panel upgrades and water heaters that may be useful: https://www.energystar.gov/products/energy_star_home_upgrade/make_your_home_electric_ready and https://www.energystar.gov/products/energy_star_home_upgrade/super_efficient_water_heater. 

    Additionally, if you have any specific suggestions to share, please feel free to email our team at ZeroCarbon@sdcounty.ca.gov or take a look at the Buildings Special Topic Working Group page, which is a one of five Special Topic Working Groups, and add comments or ideas there. If you are interested in joining the Buildings group, you can register here to access the Buildings page, and any other page, and join in on the conversation about regional building decarbonization implementation. Please reach out to us at ZeroCarbon@sdcounty.ca.gov if you have any questions or if you are unable to register.

    Thank you for your engagement!

    Kind regards,

    The RDF Team


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    Hi, I just reviewed the email sent yesterday by Elise Hanson about the RDF, documents, and upcoming BOS meeting. I'd like someone to walk me through the maps for the elecrification options because I want to understand what those options mean for Borrego Springs. The monthly Sponsor Group meeting is this coming Thursday. Any chance someone could call before then? Rebecca Falk, Chair, 760-331-7526

    rebfalk asked 3 months ago

    Hi Rebecca,

    The Geospatial Analysis of Energy Production (Chapter 2) of the Technical Report is regional in scope to assess the capacity for renewable energy generation, and it is not intended to be used for specific energy siting in any community. There are 9 scenarios in the report that consider various combinations of criteria such as cost and conservation; the authors of RDF Technical Report do not recommend any particular scenario, rather they provide different geospatial results based on the assumptions for each scenario.

    A member of our team can walk you through the energy scenarios. You can also reach us at ZeroCarbon@sdcounty.ca.gov.

    Murtaza

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    I was told there are specific work groups to sign up for. How is this done?

    Pamela Nelson asked 3 months ago

    Yes Pamela, please sign up for the Special Topic Working Groups here: Regional Decarbonization Framework | Engage San Diego County 

    Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any further questions at ZeroCarbon@sdCounty.ca.gov

    Thank you!

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    Have you considered a Decarbonization Framework provided by a concept of solar manufacturing at scale in our desert, using panels products to produce panels that reduce energy footprint, provide jobs and regional income? Perhaps one like https://youtu.be/5Sgmp1aUjnA

    PatAmbre asked 4 months ago

    Thank you for this suggestion, we will include this idea for consideration in implementation. Manufacturing is discussed both in Employment Chapter 6, as well as in Local Policy Opportunity Chapter 8. There is also some background provided on the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020, to provide policy context for ideas such as the one you are presenting. If you are able to participate, please consider registering for the Special Topic Working Group, and select "Electricity" or any other topic of interest to you.

    Here is the link to register:

    Regional Decarbonization Framework | Engage San Diego County

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    The report mentions new research related to the amount of carbon sequestered by various habitat types. But I could not find the detailed calculations that show how much carbon is sequestered- particularly for wetlands. Diane Nygaard

    Diane Nygaard asked 5 months ago

    Hi Dianne,

    The report provides estimates of the carbon flow and sequestration of different types of land uses within San Diego County.

    The detailed estimates of carbon stock and flux multipliers by Holland vegetation class type and the sources are provided in Appendix 5.A (pp. 202-206) in the March draft of the technical report. Please let us know if there is anything else we can locate for you in the report.

    We intend to be posting the final technical report soon, so please check back here: Regional Decarbonization Framework (sandiegocounty.gov) 

    Murtaza

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    Your on-line viewer is a terrible piece of shit. (Please don't tell me that my tax dollars were wasted buying this terrible software.) Where do I download these 3 documents? Would you please send the three documents to me at rcoppock@cox.net .

    Roger Coppock asked 9 months ago

    Hi Roger,

    We apologize that this new Engage tool does not meet your expectations. It is in a testing phase with the project and we would welcome suggestions to improve it. The intent of this tool is to have a community-side conversation that everyone can see and participate in. The document reader within the Engage site was intended to receive public comments during the open comment period from through May 31.

    These documents are posted on our regular RDF project website in the PDF format: Regional Decarbonization Framework (sandiegocounty.gov) 

    Thank you for your interest in this project and please reach out to the project team if you need anything.

    Murtaza

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    I've missed some of the recent sessions. Is there an archive of meeting agendas and related materials that I can access online? Thanks.

    Russ Cunningham asked 7 months ago

    Hi Russ, Thank you for your inquiry. Please see the workshop recordings and presentation materials on our website: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/RDF.

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    why are we allowing so many private small fixed wing air craft in the sky doing nothing but maneuvers regionally and over communities when they add carbon pollution?

    bart asked 9 months ago

    Thank you again for your question. 

    The regional greenhouse gas inventory used as a baseline for local policy opportunities in the technical report includes aviation-related emissions from fuel combustion and off-road transportation. However, the decarbonization pathways in the sector-specific chapters (electricity production, on-road transportation, buildings, and land use) have not analyzed aviation emissions. As such, this needs further policy analysis.

    Regards, 

    County Regional Decarbonization Team


    Greetings. This email is to acknowledge we have received your question and to notify you that a member of the County Regional Decarbonization Framework Team will be responding shortly. 

    Regards, 

    Land Use and Environment Group

    County of San Diego

Page last updated: 21 Nov 2022, 02:30 PM