News from
Councilmember Todd Gloria
City of San Diego District Three
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: December 15, 2015
Contact: Katie Keach, 619-847-8274
San Diego Adopts Aggressive Climate Action Plan
City Commits to 100% Clean Energy by 2035
SAN DIEGO, CA (December 15, 2015) San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria today
announced the City Councils unanimous approval of the Climate Action Plan, which was developed
at his direction starting in 2013. By adopting the Plan, the City committed to using 100% clean energy
by 2035 and several other meaningful and measurable goals.
Less than two years ago, I laid out a vision that San Diego would be a global leader in
addressing the challenge of climate change. The cornerstone of our environmental health
strategy is the Climate Action Plan we adopted today, which will protect public health and put
us on a path to a clean energy future with safe, vibrant and livable neighborhoods, said
Councilmember Gloria.
During his time as Interim Mayor starting in 2013, Councilmember Gloria prioritized the development
of the Climate Action Plan and involved stakeholders from the environmental, technology, and
business communities to ensure it would achieve measurable results.
With five key strategies, the Climate Action Plan comprehensively addresses major environmental
factors like Energy and Water Conservation, Local Clean Energy Generation, Waste Reduction,
Improved Transportation and Climate Resiliency.
A highlight of the Plan is the commitment to use 100% clean energy, making San Diego the largest
U.S. city to adopt such a standard. This is a key strategy to help meet the Plans goal of cutting
citywide carbon pollution by 50% by 2035. The Citys zero waste initiative, pledge to increase
commutes via transit and active transportation, and plan to create a 35% tree canopy will also assist
in achieving demonstrable benefits for residents, businesses, the environment, and neighborhoods.
San Diegos Climate Action Plan is more than a target; it is an implementable plan that will
help preserve and protect our local natural resources and our global community, said
Councilmember Gloria. Global climate change has been worsened by human action, and it is
our responsibility as humans to address it through positive action. I am grateful to Mayor
Kevin Faulconer for supporting this vision and its enactment.
The Climate Action Plan would also provide ancillary benefits to the City of San Diego and its
residents. It has been applauded for furthering San Diegos leadership in clean technology industries,
such as renewable energy, information technology, manufacturing, and waste management while
fostering programs to create well-paying jobs.
The Plan calls for the implementation of the City's General Plan concept of walkable and pedestrianfriendly neighborhoods with a mixture of uses that revitalize existing neighborhoods while retaining
their individual character. It would promote the use of transit and improve accessibility for vulnerable
groups, including the elderly, children, and the economically disadvantaged.
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The Plan also includes details on its implementation and monitoring, including a phased approach to
accomplishing the actions set forth. It will include annual monitoring to ensure the City is meeting its
goals and can adjust to new technology or legislation.
San Diego has been making progress toward sustainability in recent years as the Climate Action Plan
was being developed. San Diego ranked second in 2015 among major U.S. cities for installed solar
panels in the Environment California Research & Policy Centers Shining Cities report. The report
said San Diegos solar stature is largely due to the clear commitment to solar energy from
Councilmember Gloria and other City leaders.
The fact that our City ranks second nationwide in solar proves that this option makes both
environmental and business sense for San Diegans, Councilmember Gloria said.
San Diego is gaining on the lead set by Los Angeles, installing 42 megawatts of solar power during
2014 as compared to L.A.s 38 megawatts over the same time. According to researchers who
examined solar power installations in 65 American cities in nearly every state, San Diego had enough
solar energy online at the end of last year to power more than 32,000 homes.
As a City blessed with abundant sunshine, it makes sense to tap into this natural source of
energy. We are leading by example with our own City buildings, where we approved one
megawatt of solar energy at two City properties, and were looking at installing more solar
resources at all sites where it is appropriate, said Councilmember Gloria.
San Diego also took action to make it easier for San Diego homeowners to install solar panels on their
homes when it implemented a residential PACE financing program in 2014.
In June 2015, the City of San Diego was honored as an Energy Efficiency Grand Champion for
implementing energy efficiency measures and raising the bar on energy saving efforts. The Citys
three-year energy savings were 14,424,554 kilowatt hours (kWh), equivalent to carbon dioxide
emissions from 1,119,215 gallons of gasoline consumed. The City also saved 25,225 therms,
equivalent to carbon sequestered by 3,429 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
Throughout his seven years on the San Diego City Council, Councilmember Gloria has focused on
expanding transportation options throughout the region. He helped craft the recently approved San
Diego Forward: The Regional Plan, which marks a major shift toward funding non-freeway projects. In
the first five years of the plan alone, three out of every four dollars will be spent on transit and active
transportation projects, and neighborhoods will see additional benefit in future years with Bus Rapid
Transit lines, a streetcar, and millions of dollars in projects improving biking and pedestrian facilities.
Making walking and bicycling feel safer can help more people consider active transportation as a
means of getting around. The City Council approved an amendment this year to Council Policy 20007 Marked Crosswalk Criteria at Uncontrolled Locations to incorporate changes in pedestrian safety
practices and technology. The City anticipates installing four times as many crosswalks in the
upcoming year as occurred in previous year. The revised policy also includes the potential for special
crosswalk treatments like flashing beacons and raised crosswalks, and Councilmember Gloria
advocated for additional funding to implement these in appropriate locations.
Councilmember Gloria encourages other cities that share his sustainable vision to look at San Diegos
Climate Action Plan and to implement its strategies.
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