Energy Element

Goal E-1: Create and implement a comprehensive county energy plan.

Objective E-1.1: Integrate energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction into all county planning.

Policy E-1.1a: Create an Energy Department to develop, coordinate, and facilitate countywide energy planning and education.

Policy E-1.1b: Coordinate regional energy planning with state, local governments, college and school districts, and local agencies.

Policy E-1.1c: Provide a forum for involvement of the business community, agriculture, local organizations, and the general public.

Policy E-1.1d: Integrate energy efficiency and conservation measures into all plans for land use, zoning, site design, building, infrastructure, and transportation facilities.

Policy E-1.1e: Reduce peak demand with load management.

Policy E-1.1f: Foster planned development which reduces energy use, including miles driven. These types of development include infill, mixed-use, compact, and transit-oriented.

Goal E-2: Increase energy efficiency & conservation to reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas production.

Objective E2.1: Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas production in county operations.

Policy E-2.1a: Regularly evaluate and update a greenhouse gas reduction plan for all

county operations.

Policy E-2.1b: Perform a life-cycle analysis for all efficiency and conservation measures.

Policy E-2.1c: Efficiency and conservation measures with a computed payback period of

ten years or less shall be undertaken whenever feasible.

Policy E-2.1d: Provide education and promotional materials to county employees to

encourage energy efficiency and conservation.

Policy E-2.1e: All new construction will meet or exceed LEED silver guidelines.

Objective E-2.2: Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas production in the public and

business sectors.

Policy E-2.2a: Provide educational programs and promotions to encourage energy conservation and conservation.

Policy E-2.2b: Provide incentives for projects which exceed title 24 requirements.

Policy E-2.2c: Require all new development and remodeling to include considerations for passive solar heating, passive cooling, daylighting, and solar PV.

Policy E-2.2d: Promote green building practices.

Objective E-2.3: Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas production from transportation sources.

Policy E-2.3a: Promote use of public transit, bicycles, walking, car pooling, and alternative transportation.

Policy E-2.3b: Create land use patterns which reduce travel outside of local community.

Policy E-2.3c: Convert public fleets to biofuels, hybrid, high mileage, and battery vehicles.

Policy E-2.3d: Provide convenient transportation linkages for various modes of travel.

Policy E-2.3e: Require major developments to submit transportation management plans aimed at conserving energy and reducing traffic.

Policy E-2.3f Expand and upgrade bicycle and pedestrian links to important destinations.

Policy E-2.3g: Require bicycle support facilities. where appropriate and encourage them in other public and private uses.

Policy E-2.3h: Promote and support telecommuting.

Policy E-2.3i: Develop programs to remove older, high GHG-emissions vehicles replacing them with low GHG-emission technologies.

Goal E-3: Increase energy supply from renewable sources and increase distributed energy generation.

Objective E-3.1: Increase the development of renewable energy and distributed energy generation systems and facilities.

Policy E-3.1a: Actively encourage and promote the development of renewable energy and distributed energy systems.

Policy E-3.1b: Provide educational programs to promote greater public understanding of renewable energy and distributed generation systems.

Policy E-3.1c: Explore cooperative efforts with other jurisdictions and entities related to renewable energy and distributed generation systems.

Policy E-3.1d: Encourage and promote purchases of renewable energy.

Goal E-4: Increase energy self-reliance moving toward sustainable energy use and production.

Objective E-4.1: Increase local energy supply and distribution opportunities.

Policy E-4.1a: Prepare a detailed analysis of Community Choice Aggregation for Sonoma County.

Policy E-4.1b: Pursue solar, wind, and other non-fossil fuel based technologies for increased applications. Provide incentives when appropriate.

Policy E-4.1c: Encourage increased use of solid waste as an energy source.

Policy E-4.1d: Incorporate energy facility siting policies into the Sonoma County Integrated Development Code which would:

(1)Define small-scale energy facilities as those less than 20 MW, and large-scale energy facilities as those 20 MW or larger.

(2)Allow small-scale renewable energy generation systems and facilities close to the end energy users in all zoning districts where visual and other environmental impacts can be mitigated.

(3)Allow large-scale energy generation facilities in commercial and industrial areas and not in residential, agricultural, and recreational areas.

(4)Avoid energy facilities in designated Biotic Resource Areas, Scenic Resource Areas, and Geologic Hazard Areas.