HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.30.2024 Butte County Board of Supervisors embraces UNs Climate Action PlanFrom:lance dreiss
To:Senator.Dahle@senate.ca.gov; Assemblymember.Gallagher@assembly.ca.gov; District Attorney;
davidhollister@countyofplumas.com; pcbs@countyofplumas.com; Durfee, Peter; sheriff@pcso.net; Kimmelshue,
Tod; Pickett, Andy; Angela Casler; Connelly, Bill; Ring, Brian; JULIE THREET; Waugh, Melanie; Ritter, Tami;
Teeter, Doug; Clerk of the Board; Congressman Doug LaMalfa; Stephens, Brad J.
Subject:Butte County Board of Supervisors embraces UNs Climate Action Plan
Date:Tuesday, April 30, 2024 5:05:31 PM
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Public Record
https://www.buttecounty.net/DocumentCenter/View/2255/2021-Butte-County-Climate-Action-Plan-
CAP-PDF?bidId=
diana dreiss
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 14, 2021
BUTTE COUNTY
2021 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
December 2021
Prepared for:
County of Butte
25 County Center Drive
Oroville, California 95965
Prepared by:
This project primarily was funded by the
Senate Bill 2 Planning Grants Program.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
B OARD OF S UPERVISORS
Bill Connelly - District 1
Debra Lucero - District 2
Tami Ritter - District 3
Tod Kimmelshue - District 4
Doug Teeter - District 5
P LANNING C OMMISSION
Tammy Flicker - District 1
Peter Hansen - District 2
Henry Schleiger - District 3
Rocky (Daniel) Donati - District 4
Ruby Roethler - District 5
C OUNTY S TAFF
Paula M. Daneluk, AICP – Director of Development Services
Pete Calarco – Assistant Director of Development Services
Dan Breedon, AICP – Planning Division Manager
Tristan Weems, AICP – Associate Planner
Michal Hanson – Administrative Analyst
Skyler Kriese – CivicSpark Fellow 2020 to 2021
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Table of Contents || Page i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Abbreviations .....................................................................................................................v
Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................ES-1
Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast ......................................................................................... ES-1
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies ............................................................................................. ES-5
Plan Implementation ......................................................................................................................... ES-10
Introduction .............................................................................................................................1
Butte County’s Geography ........................................................................................................................ 1
Climate Change Globally and in Butte County ....................................................................................... 3
Regulatory Framework ............................................................................................................................ 19
Climate Action Plan Preparation ............................................................................................................ 23
What’s Next In this CAP ........................................................................................................................... 28
Butte County GHG Emissions ................................................................................................29
Background and Methodology ............................................................................................................... 29
Units of Measurement ............................................................................................................................. 30
Emission Factors ....................................................................................................................................... 30
GHG Emissions Inventories ..................................................................................................................... 32
GHG Emissions Forecast ......................................................................................................................... 54
GHG Reduction Targets .........................................................................................................65
Background ............................................................................................................................................... 65
2014 CAP GHG Reduction Targets ......................................................................................................... 65
2021 CAP GHG Reduction Targets ......................................................................................................... 66
Existing GHG Reduction Strategies ......................................................................................73
Calculating Credit ..................................................................................................................................... 73
Progress Towards 2021 CAP GHG Reduction Goals ............................................................................ 74
New GHG Reduction Strategies ............................................................................................77
Progress to Targets ............................................................................................................................... 106
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page ii || Table of Contents
CAP Implementation Strategy ............................................................................................109
Implementing the Climate Action Plan ............................................................................................... 109
Implementing the 2021 CAP in Other Planning Documents ........................................................... 110
Implementation Strategies .................................................................................................................. 110
Work Plan ............................................................................................................................................ 112
Glossary .................................................................................................................................129
Works Cited ..........................................................................................................................131
Appendices
Appendix A – Technical Appendix
Appendix B – Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Tables
Table ES-1. Butte County Community-wide GHG Emissions between 2006 and 2019 ............ ES-2
Table ES-2. Butte County Community-wide GHG Emissions Forecast 2006 to 2050 by Sector ES-4
Table ES-3. Butte County Historic and Projected Future Per-Capita GHG Emissions ............... ES-5
Table ES-4. List of 2021 CAP GHG Reduction Strategies ................................................................ ES-6
Table ES-5. GHG Reduction Progress with Butte County 2021 CAP Implementation
(MTCO2e per capita) ........................................................................................................ ES-8
Table ES-6. List of Implementation Strategies ............................................................................... ES-10
Table 1. Summary of GHG Emissions Risk to California ................................................................. 6
Table 2. Major Recent Regional Wildfires ....................................................................................... 10
Table 3. Change in Emissions Factors between 2006 and 2019 ................................................. 31
Table 4. Change in Global Warming Protocols by Greenhouse Gas ........................................... 33
Table 5. Original 2006 and Revised Baseline Inventory Results .................................................. 34
Table 6. Proportions of Annual GHG Emissions by Sector in 2006 and 2019 ........................... 36
Table 7. Percentage Change in Community GHG Emissions between 2006 and 2019
by Sector ............................................................................................................................... 38
Table 8. Community Agriculture Activity Data and GHG Emissions ........................................... 40
Table 9. Community Transportation Activity Data and GHG Emissions .................................... 41
Table 10. Community Residential Energy Activity Data and GHG Emissions .............................. 42
Table 11. Community Nonresidential Energy Activity Data and GHG Emissions....................... 43
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Table of Contents || Page iii
Table 12. Community Solid Waste Activity Data and GHG Emissions .......................................... 44
Table 13. Community Off-road Equipment Activity Data and GHG Emissions ........................... 44
Table 14. Community Water and Wastewater Activity Data and GHG Emissions ...................... 45
Table 15. Proportions of Annual County Operations GHG Emissions by Sector ........................ 49
Table 16. Percent Change in Total County Operations GHG Emissions between 2006 and
2019 by Sector ..................................................................................................................... 50
Table 17. County Operations Energy Activity Data and GHG Emissions ...................................... 51
Table 18. County Operations Employee Commute Activity Data and GHG Emissions ............. 52
Table 19. County Operations Fleet Activity Data and GHG Emissions ......................................... 52
Table 20. County Operations Solid Waste Activity Data and GHG Emissions ............................. 53
Table 21. County Operations Water and Wastewater Activity Data and GHG Emissions ......... 54
Table 22. Butte County Community-wide Demographic Projections ........................................... 57
Table 23. Butte County Community-wide GHG Forecasted Emissions ........................................ 58
Table 24. Potential Annexations in Butte County ............................................................................ 60
Table 25. Butte County Community-wide Forecasted GHG Emissions with Annexations ......... 61
Table 26. County Operations Demographic Projections ................................................................ 62
Table 27. Butte County’s County Operations GHG Emissions ....................................................... 63
Table 28. Butte County’s Adopted GHG Emission Reduction Targets and Equivalent
Emissions .............................................................................................................................. 65
Table 29. Regional GHG Emission Reduction Targets ..................................................................... 68
Table 30. Butte County’s Per-Capita GHG Targets and Reach Goals ............................................ 69
Table 31. Butte County’s Per-Capita GHG Reach Goal Calculation Approach ............................. 70
Table 32. Butte County Historic and Projected Future Per-Capita GHG Emissions ................... 76
Table 33. Strategy 1 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 80
Table 34. Strategy 2 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 82
Table 35. Strategy 3 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 83
Table 36. Strategy 4 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 84
Table 37. Strategy 5 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 86
Table 38. Strategy 6 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 88
Table 39. Strategy 7 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 90
Table 40. Strategy 8 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 92
Table 41. Strategy 9 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................... 93
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page iv || Table of Contents
Table 42. Strategy 10 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................. 94
Table 43. Strategy 11 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................. 96
Table 44. Strategy 12 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................. 97
Table 45. Strategy 13 GHG Reductions ............................................................................................. 99
Table 46. Strategy 14 GHG Reductions .......................................................................................... 101
Table 47. Strategy 15 GHG Reductions .......................................................................................... 104
Table 48. Progress Toward GHG Emission Targets and Goals (MTCO2e per capita) .............. 106
Table 49. Strategy Implementation Table ...................................................................................... 115
Figures
Figure 1. Butte County Planning Area ................................................................................................ 2
Figure 2. The Greenhouse Effect ......................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3. Global Temperature Increase .............................................................................................. 5
Figure 4. PM2.5 Levels Before, During, and After the 2018 Camp Fire ....................................... 11
Figure 5. Five-Step Climate Action Planning Process ..................................................................... 24
Figure 6. Gap Between Forecasted Emissions and Reduction Targets ........................................ 71
Figure 7. Progress Toward Targets and Goals with BCE (MTCO2e per capita)......................... 107
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
List of Abbreviations || Page v
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
°C degrees Celsius
°F degrees Fahrenheit
AB Assembly Bill
BCAG Butte County Association of Governments
BCAQMD Butte County Air Quality Management District
BCE Butte Choice Energy
Caltrans California Department of Transportation
CAP Climate Action Plan
CARB California Air Resources Board
CCA community choice aggregation
CDBG Community Development Block Grant
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CH4 methane
CNG compressed natural gas
CO2 carbon dioxide
CO2e carbon dioxide equivalent
EIR Environmental Impact Report
EOP Emergency Operations Plan
EV electric vehicle
GHG greenhouse gas
GWP global warming potential
HERO California Home Energy Retrofit Opportunity
HVAC heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
kWh kilowatt-hour
LCFS Low Carbon Fuel Standard
LGOP Local Government Operations Protocol
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page vi || Table of Contents
LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
MTCO2e metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
MMTCO2e million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
MPO metropolitan planning organization
N2O nitrous oxide
PACE
PG&E
Property Assessed Clean Energy
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
PHEV plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles
PV photovoltaic
RPS Renewables Portfolio Standard
RTAC Regional Transportation Advisory Committee
PSPS Public Safety Power Shutoff
SB Senate Bill
TCRE Transient Climate Response to Cumulative Carbon Emissions
TDM transportation demand management
U.S. EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
VMT vehicle miles traveled
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Executive Summary || Page ES-1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP) is Butte County’s strategic plan to reduce greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions in the unincorporated county. The 2021 CAP allows Butte County (County)
decision makers, staff, and the community to understand the sources and magnitude of local
GHG emissions, reduce GHG emissions, and prioritize steps to achieve reduction targets.
The 2021 CAP is an update of the 2014 CAP, providing updated information, an expanded set of
GHG reduction strategies, and a planning horizon out to 2050. The 2021 CAP contains an
inventory of the community’s GHG emissions from the agriculture, transportation, energy, solid
waste, off-road equipment, water and wastewater, and stationary source sectors. The 2021 CAP
also includes informational GHG emissions from the land use and sequestration sector and the
wildfire and controlled burn sector. The 2021 CAP also presents a work plan and monitoring
program for the County to track progress over time.
The 2021 CAP allows community members, County staff and officials, and other stakeholders to
understand the County’s existing planning efforts and strategies to achieve its GHG reduction
goals. It builds on several earlier efforts, including General Plan 2030, the 2014 CAP, and several
other local accomplishments to date.
GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY AND FORECAST
A GHG inventory is a summary of the GHG emissions generated by activities that take place
within a community. The GHG emissions inventories and forecasts lay the groundwork for the
2021 CAP, which seeks to align the County’s GHG reduction efforts with state-recommended
targets. The County is committed to reducing emissions to 6.0 metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent (MTCO2e) per person by 2030 and 2.0 MTCO2e per person by 2050 with an interim
target of 4.0 MTCO2e per person by 2040.
The 2021 CAP contains GHG inventories for community-wide and County operations sources.
Both the community-wide and County operations GHG inventories include the years 2006 and
2019. The 2006 GHG inventories were updated to take into account the latest science in GHG
accounting, new best practices, and updated emissions factors. The community-wide inventory
assesses emissions produced by the agriculture, transportation, energy, solid waste, off-road
equipment, water and wastewater, and stationary source sectors, as well as emissions
associated with wildfires and controlled burns and emissions reductions attributable to
biomass sequestration.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page ES-2 || Executive Summary
The County operations inventory assesses emissions produced by the energy, employee
commute, fleet, solid waste, water and wastewater, and refrigerant sectors.
As shown in Table ES-1, GHG emissions declined by 13 percent between 2006 and 2019 when
accounting for GHG reductions from biomass sequestration. In the base year of 2006, Butte
County emitted approximately 748,850 MTCO2e (8.38 MTCO2e per person). By 2019, total GHG
emissions decreased to approximately 649,870 MTCO2e (8.45 MTCO2e per person).
Table ES-1. Butte County Community-wide GHG Emissions between
2006 and 2019
Sector 2006 MTCO2e 2019 MTCO2e
Percentage
Change 2006
to 2019
Agriculture 521,650 501,630 -4%
Transportation 264,420 229,110 -13%
Residential energy 133,350 90,730 -32%
Nonresidential energy 58,670 37,350 -36%
Off-road equipment 56,070 59,310 6%
Solid waste 40,830 61,120 50%
Water and wastewater 20,190 16,960 -16%
Total Annual MTCO2e
(not including land use and sequestration) 1,095,190 996,210 -9%
Land use and sequestration -346,340 -346,340 0%
Total Annual MTCO2e
(including land use and sequestration) 748,850 649,870 -13%
Informational Items
Stationary sources* 3,960 — —
Wildfire and controlled burns** 8,280 15,730 90%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
*Stationary source data for 2019 was not provided at the time the inventory was completed.
**Wildfires in 2006 include the Skyway, Woodleaf, and Philbrook fires. The wildfires counted in 2019 include the
Swedes and the Forbestown fires.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Executive Summary || Page ES-3
Although total community-wide emissions decreased 13 percent from 2006 to 2019, the
number of residents in the unincorporated area decreased 14 percent because of annexations
and migrations from wildfires. As a result, per-capita emissions increased slightly from 2006 to
2019 because the decrease in the population of the unincorporated area was larger than the
decrease in total emissions attributed to the unincorporated area.
A GHG emission forecast uses estimates of future community population and job growth to
predict how emissions would grow over time if no action is taken at the federal, state, or local
or regional level to reduce them. The 2021 CAP includes a GHG forecast for the calendar years
2030, 2040, and 2050, relying on growth assumptions from the US Census, the California
Department of Finance, and the Butte County Association of Governments. Note that the Butte
County Association of Governments projections include consideration of population
distribution because of the recent wildfires. As shown in Table ES-2, Butte County’s GHG
emissions are expected to increase by approximately 15 percent between 2006 and 2050 if no
action is taken to reduce emissions.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page ES-4 || Executive Summary
Table ES-2. Butte County Community-wide GHG Emissions Forecast 2006 to 2050 by Sector
2006 2019 2030 2040 2050 Percentage Change
2006 to 2050
Residential energy 133,350 90,720 119,070 127,760 137,140 3%
Nonresidential energy 58,670 37,350 38,180 41,520 45,160 -23%
Transportation 264,420 229,110 261,560 298,740 341,330 56%
Solid waste 40,830 61,120 65,820 72,580 79,070 94%
Water and wastewater 20,190 16,960 19,190 20,540 21,980 9%
Agriculture * 521,650 501,620 501,620 501,620 501,620 -4%
Off-road equipment 56,070 59,310 118,510 77,290 83,350 49%
Total (without land use and sequestration) 1,095,190 996,190 1,123,950 1,140,050 1,209,650 10%
Land use and sequestration ** -346,340 -346,330 -346,330 -346,330 -346,330 0%
Total (with land use and sequestration) 748,850 649,860 777,620 793,720 863,320 15%
Informational Items
Stationary sources 3,960 108,259 108,259 108,259 108,259 -
Fires *** 8,280 15,730 - - - -
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Note: Data shown for 2006 and 2019 reflect GHG emissions inventories and are provided as a reference to see change over time. The data shown for 2030, 2040, and
2050 are GHG emission forecasts that predict future emissions. The forecast numbers for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are based on projections from the 2019 inventory.
* GHG emission projects for the agriculture and for the land use and sequestration sectors remains constant due to the variable nature of each sector and the activities
within them. For example, annual amount of agricultural burning is highly variable, impacting overall GHG emissions from the agriculture sector and activities such as
restoration efforts. As reliable forecasts of county-specific agricultural activity are not available, these emissions are held constant.
** The forecast assumes that new development in unincorporated areas will take place on infill sites or on previously developed land, such as reconstruction following
wildfires, and that development occurring on previously undeveloped land will occur after annexation to an incorporated community. As a result, the forecast does not
assume a change in the average annual amount of carbon sequestered by natural lands.
*** Due to significant uncertainty about the amount of fire in any given year, emissions from fires are not forecasted.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Executive Summary || Page ES-5
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION STRATEGIES
To evaluate the County’s current progress toward meeting its emissions reductions targets, this
2021 CAP acknowledges the County’s existing climate policies and programs, planned future
actions, and actions already and soon-to-be implemented at the state level and estimates GHG
emissions reductions associated with the implementation of these actions. As shown in Table
ES-3, with the implementation of existing state and local programs, the community’s GHG
emissions are projected to be at:
10 percent below 2006 baseline levels by 2030, or 8.04 MTCO2e per capita.
16 percent below 2006 baseline levels by 2040, or 7.11 MTCO2e per capita.
14 percent below 2006 baseline levels by 2050, or 6.82 MTCO2e per capita.
Table ES-3. Butte County Historic and Projected Future Per-Capita
GHG Emissions
2006
MTCO2e
“Baseline”
2019
MTCO2e
2030
MTCO2e
2040
MTCO2e
2050
MTCO2e
Inventoried GHG emissions 8.38 8.45 - - -
Forecasted GHG emissions without
existing and planned actions - - 8.93 8.52 8.67
Forecasted GHG emissions with
existing and planned actions - - 8.04 7.11 6.82
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Note: Existing and planned actions include anticipated annexations. Although GHG emissions declined from 2006 to
2019, the unincorporated population declined by a greater percent, hence per-capita emissions increased over this
period.
While implementation of existing state and local actions will help the county meets its GHG
reduction targets, these actions are insufficient on their own. Thus, the 2021 CAP identifies
future strategies that, if implemented, will allow the community to achieve its emissions-
reductions targets. Refer to Table ES-4 for a list of the 2021 CAP strategies, explained in more
detail in Chapter 5.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page ES-6 || Executive Summary
Table ES-4. List of 2021 CAP GHG Reduction Strategies
2021 CAP GHG Reduction Strategies
Strategy 1: Continue efforts to promote energy conservation and efficiency opportunities for
all residents, building/property owners, and renters in the unincorporated county, including
support and promotion of programs for lower- income and disadvantaged populations.
Strategy 2: Continue efforts to promote energy conservation and efficiency opportunities for
all nonresidential uses in the unincorporated county, including County facilities, office space,
commercial space, and industrial space.
Strategy 3: Work with property owners and property management groups to increase overall
building electrification and adoption of modern, efficient appliances in residential rental
properties.
Strategy 4: Support efforts to increase renewable and carbon-free energy generation,
including wind, solar, and biomass, and to ensure customer access to such renewable energy.
Strategy 5: Continue efforts to promote water conservation for all residents,
building/property owners, and businesses in the unincorporated county, including support
and promotion of programs for lower-income and disadvantaged populations, and large
water users.
Strategy 6: Pursue Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies, implemented
through local land use decisions and through partnerships with local employers, that reduce
vehicle miles traveled (VMT) countywide.
Strategy 7: Prioritize bicycling and walking as safe, practical, and attractive travel options
countywide.
Strategy 8: Reduce carbon emissions from transportation by facilitating a transition to
efficient or clean-fuel vehicles.
Strategy 9: Encourage hybrid and clean-fuel construction and landscaping equipment
countywide.
Strategy 10: Reduce the amount of solid waste sent to local landfills through innovative
programs and partnerships.
Strategy 11: Reduce emissions from disposal and decomposition of organic waste.
Strategy 12: Work to reduce GHG emissions associated with agricultural equipment, in
partnership with regional partners, agencies, and members of the agricultural community.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Executive Summary || Page ES-7
2021 CAP GHG Reduction Strategies
Strategy 13: Track trends in agricultural operations and encourage existing and new farming
techniques that reduce GHG emissions from crop cultivation.
Strategy 14: Work with farmers and local and regional agencies to explore techniques to
maximize carbon sequestration of the county's natural and working lands.
Strategy 15: Implement projects and programs to reduce GHG emissions associated with
Butte County operations.
The County’s goal is to reduce GHG emissions from energy, transportation, water, solid waste,
and agricultural sources in the unincorporated county 40 percent below 1990 equivalent levels
by 2030 and continue to reduce emissions toward carbon neutrality, reducing emissions to at
least 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. Each sector then has its own individual goal, as
follows:
Energy goal: Butte County is home to energy-efficient and resilient homes, businesses, and
operations that rely on carbon-free electricity or other low-carbon, clean energy sources.
Water and Wastewater goal: Homes, businesses, and operations throughout the
unincorporated county practice sustainable and efficient indoor and outdoor water use.
Transportation and Land Use goal: Residents, workers, and visitors rely on a low carbon,
connected, and efficient transportation network that provides equitable access to
motorized and non-motorized mobility options.
Solid Waste goal: Butte County residents, businesses, and visitors minimize waste sent to
the landfill.
Agriculture goal: Butte County is a state leader in maximizing the efficiency and
sustainability of natural and working lands countywide.
Government Operations goal: Butte County is an established leader in rural climate action
and GHG reduction.
Collectively, the strategies in the 2021 CAP achieve significant GHG emission reductions. If these
strategies are implemented to the level specified in the 2021 CAP, and if Butte Clean Energy
(BCE) is enacted, Butte County is projected to achieve its state-recommended GHG reduction
targets.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page ES-8 || Executive Summary
At current projections, the 2021 CAP sets Butte County on a path to achieve the County’s
targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050 with the implementation of BCE. It is likely that there will be
new technologies, policies and regulations, and personal and economic behaviors and
preferences, and other factors that will emerge in future years and contribute to additional
GHG emission reductions in a way that cannot be accurately forecasted in the 2021 CAP. Future
updates to Butte County’s CAP will be able to more accurately assess emerging trends, along
with any unexpected changes in GHG emissions, and will revise Butte County’s GHG emission-
reduction strategy, as appropriate. Table ES-5 and Figure ES-1 show progress toward Butte
County’s GHG reduction targets and reach goals.
Table ES-5. GHG Reduction Progress with Butte County 2021 CAP
Implementation (MTCO2e per capita)
2030 2040 2050
State-recommended target 6.0 4.0 2.0
Local reach goal - 3.6 1.2
Emissions with 2021 CAP implementation, without BCE 6.04 4.00 1.98
Emissions with 2021 CAP implementation, with BCE 5.95 3.94 1.98
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Executive Summary || Page ES-9
Figure ES-1. Progress Toward Targets and Goals with BCE
(MTCO2e per capita)
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
2006 2019 2030 2040 2050
MT
C
O
2e
p
e
r
c
a
p
i
t
a
Baseline emissions
Forecasted emissions
Emissions with existing and planned actions
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page ES-10 || Executive Summary
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Implementing the 2021 CAP will require County leadership to put the strategies identified in the
2021 CAP into effect and report progress. To ensure that the implementation process is
efficient and transparent, this 2021 CAP includes a work plan that identifies responsible
departments, partners, time frames, and relative costs associated with each strategy.
Implementation strategies are shown in Table ES-6.
Table ES-6. List of Implementation Strategies
2021 CAP List of Implementation Strategies
Implementation Strategy 1: Monitor and report progress toward 2021 CAP target
achievement on an annual basis.
Implementation Strategy 2: Continue collaborative partnerships with agencies and
community groups that support implementation of the 2021 CAP.
Implementation Strategy 3: Secure necessary funding to implement the 2021 CAP.
Implementation Strategy 4: Continue to update the community-wide and County
operations GHG emissions inventories and evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of the
2021 CAP every five years.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Introduction || Page 1
INTRODUCTION
A Climate Action Plan (CAP) functions as a blueprint for cities and counties to reduce their
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. Many jurisdictions across
the state, nation, and the globe are prioritizing climate action and ensuring their day-to-day
activities and future planning efforts consider changing climate conditions and the opportunity
to lessen contributions to those changes and the impacts from them. This chapter will
introduce Butte County, provide an overview of climate change from a global to a local level,
describe the regulatory framework, and describe climate action planning in Butte County.
BUTTE COUNTY’S GEOGRAPHY
Butte County lies in north-central California at the
northeastern end of the Sacramento Valley and
extends into the Northern Sierra Nevada foothills
and mountains that rise to the east of the
Sacramento Valley floor. Elevations range from
approximately 60 feet in the southwest corner of
the county, adjacent to the Sacramento River, to
8,100 feet in the northeast corner, near Butte
Meadows. The total land area of Butte County is
approximately 1,680 square miles (1,073,000
acres)1 and can be divided into three general
topographical areas: a valley area, a foothill region east of the valley area, and a mountain
region east of the foothills. These topographic areas comprise approximately 45 percent, 23
percent, and 31 percent, respectively, of the county’s land.2
Butte County is a rural community, with most of the county’s lands used for agriculture, open
space, and public uses. Urban land constitutes a proportionally small share of total land area in
the county. In 2021, incorporated areas of the county accounted for only 3.7 percent of all
county land3 and developed land within those incorporated areas occupied 72.9 square miles
or 4.3 percent of all county land.4 Approximately 14 percent of the land in Butte County is
owned by federal agencies, largely the U.S. Forest Service, which owns and manages Lassen
and Plumas National Forests, along with some land owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land
Management. These lands, along with bodies of water, and incorporated lands, are shown in
Figure 1.5
Aerial view of Butte County
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 2 || Introduction
Figure 1. Butte County Planning Area
Source: Butte County, 2012; PlaceWorks, 2021
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Introduction || Page 3
CLIMATE CHANGE GLOBALLY AND IN BUTTE COUNTY
Overview of Climate Change
Climate is the long-term average of weather conditions, such as temperature and precipitation.
While it is normal for Earth’s climate system to experience long-term shifts in these average
conditions, human activity is causing global climate change at a much faster pace than has
occurred in the past. These activities, predominately the burning of fossil fuels, emit heat-
trapping gases called GHGs that build up in the atmosphere. As GHG levels increase, Earth’s
atmosphere traps more heat, triggering changes in the global climate system that may have
serious and potentially catastrophic impacts on people, physical assets, and natural systems.
To fully understand global climate change, it is important to recognize the naturally occurring
“greenhouse effect” and to define GHGs that contribute to this phenomenon. The temperature
on Earth is regulated by this greenhouse effect, which is so named because the Earth’s
atmosphere acts like a greenhouse, warming the planet in much the same way that an ordinary
greenhouse warms the air inside its glass walls. Like glass, the gases in the atmosphere let in
light yet prevent heat from escaping. This process is shown on Figure 2.
Figure 2. The Greenhouse Effect
Source: Climate Central6.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 4 || Introduction
GHGs are naturally occurring gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
and nitrous oxide (N2O) that absorb heat radiated from the Earth’s surface. GHGs are
transparent to certain wavelengths of the Sun’s radiant energy, including visible light, allowing
sunlight to penetrate deep into the atmosphere or all the way to Earth’s surface. Clouds, ice
caps, and particles in the air reflect about 30 percent of this radiation, but oceans and land
masses absorb the rest (70 percent of the radiation received from the Sun) before releasing it
back toward space as infrared radiation. GHGs and clouds effectively prevent some of the
infrared radiation from escaping; they trap the heat near Earth’s surface where it warms the
lower atmosphere. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Sixth Assessment
Report 7 states that if this natural barrier of atmospheric gases was not present, the heat would
escape into space, and Earth’s average global temperatures could be as much as 61 degrees
Fahrenheit (°F) cooler.
In addition to natural sources, human activities are exerting a major and growing influence on
the climate by changing the composition of the atmosphere and by modifying the land surface.
Particularly, the increased consumption of fossil fuels (e.g., natural gas, coal, gasoline) has
substantially increased atmospheric levels of GHGs. The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report
summarizes the most recent scientific understanding of global climate change and projects
future conditions using the most comprehensive set of recognized global climate models. The
report, released in 2021, considers all impacts that human activities have on global
temperature, and states that “it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the
atmosphere, ocean, and land” and that “human-induced climate change is already affecting
many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe.”8 The Sixth Assessment
Report projects five different temperature scenarios, all of which project 2021–2040
temperatures 2.16°F to 3.2°F warmer than the 1986–2005 average temperature, and potentially
over 10.26°F by 2100 under the highest emissions scenario.
As noted in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, if trends remain unchanged, continued GHG
emissions above current rates will induce further warming changes in the global climate system
and pose even greater risks than those currently witnessed. Figure 3 shows the effects of
additional warming on global temperatures. Given the scientific basis of climate change and
expected trends, the challenge remains to prepare for and mitigate climate change through
deliberate global and local action.
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Figure 3. Global Temperature Increase
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2019.
The information presented in Figure 3 includes information from ESMs and EMICs, which are various types of
climate models, of which, includes the CMIP5. This figure also includes reference to Transient Climate Response to
Cumulative Carbon Emissions (TCREs) ranges, which indicates how much temperatures could change per unit of
emissions.
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Climate Change Impact to California
In California and western North America, observations of the climate have shown:
A trend toward warmer temperatures with an increase in extremely hot days and nights.
Increase in the area burned by wildfires.
A smaller fraction of precipitation falling as snow.
An increase in frequency of drought and an increase in consecutive dry years.
A shift (5 to 30 days earlier) in the timing of spring flower blooms.
Overall, California has become drier over time, with five of the eight years of severe to extreme
drought occurring between 2007 and 2016, and unprecedented dry years in 2014 and 2015.
Statewide precipitation has become increasingly variable from year to year, with the driest
consecutive four years occurring from 2012 to 2015.
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report estimates that even with aggressive global action to
dramatically reduce GHG emissions by 2025 and achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2055,
global surface temperatures at the end of the twenty-first century are likely to result in 2.5 °F of
warming relative to the timeframe between 1850 and 1900. With less aggressive global action,
temperatures at the end of the twenty-first century are likely to be warmer, potentially as high
as 7.9°F if no significant action is taken. Consequently, some impacts from climate change are
now considered unavoidable. Table 1 summarizes global climate change risks to California.
Table 1. Summary of GHG Emissions Risk to California
Impact Category Potential Risks
Land use and
population growth
Increased property damage/destruction, injury, and loss of life in
hazard-prone areas.
Economic impacts from increased insurance and reconstruction costs.
Equity and social
vulnerability
Increased air pollution in frontline communities.
Higher costs of water.
Compounded risk from existing inequities.
Public health and
wellbeing
Increased risk of harm from extreme heat.
Air quality impacts from wildfire smoke.
Increased spread of vector-borne diseases.
Higher stress and mental trauma from extreme events, economic
disruption, and residential displacement.
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Impact Category Potential Risks
Water infrastructure
Reduced water availability from drought and low snowpack levels.
Loss of reservoir capacity from higher runoff.
Damage to water systems from natural hazards.
Energy systems
Higher energy demand placing stress on delivery infrastructure.
Damage to electrical grid from natural disasters.
Reduced hydropower from drought.
Damage to fossil fuel refineries and pipelines.
Transportation
infrastructure
Increased damage to roads and railways, causing delays and reducing
safety.
Inundation of transportation infrastructure in low-lying areas.
Greater wildfire impacts on transportation infrastructure.
Agriculture
Water shortages and higher temperatures make some crops and
livestock less viable.
Increased development pressure from relocation.
Biodiversity and
ecosystems
Increased levels of water pollution from higher runoff and warmer
temperatures.
Population decline and shifts in distribution.
Increased physiological stress on plants and animals.
Interruptions in life cycles.
Greater spread of invasive species.
Forest health
Increased heat and drought stress.
Damage from wildfire, increasing risk of forest ecosystems
transitioning to shrubs or grasslands.
Increased pest activity.
Ocean and coast
Damage to fisheries from warmer temperatures and ocean
acidification.
Loss of coastal ecosystems from sea-level rise.
Potential loss of nutrient upwelling.
Sources: California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, Statewide Summary Report: 2018 9
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Climate Change Impact to Butte County
Although much of the attention to the topic of climate change is global in scale, it is important
to realize that climate change affects every
community at the local level, including Butte
County. Potential consequences of climate
change for unincorporated Butte County include
more frequent and intense instances of several
natural hazards:
Agricultural pests and diseases
Drought
Extreme heat
Human health hazards
Severe wind
Severe storms
Wildfire
Climate change is currently affecting Butte
County and is projected to lead to more severe
conditions in the future. In recent years, Butte
County has been affected by several significant
natural disasters that are linked to climate
change.
In February 2017, heavy rainfall in the Feather
River Basin caused a significant amount of water
inflow into Lake Oroville in Butte County, which
impounds the Feather River. Staff at the
Department of Water Resources, which operates the Oroville Dam, ordered water to be
released from the dam but noticed disturbances on the spillway on February 7. When the
release was halted, staff noticed that sections of the spillway had eroded away. As water
continued to flow into Lake Oroville, staff resumed the water release from both the main
spillway and the emergency spillway, but erosion continued at a faster-than-expected rate. This
created concerns that the weir at the top of the emergency spillway would collapse, causing
sudden and substantial flooding for downstream communities. On February 12, incident
commanders ordered the evacuation of approximately 188,000 people living in the inundation
zone of the dam, including Biggs, Gridley, and parts of Thermalito. Although no collapse
occurred, the water further damaged the main spillway and eroded the bare slope of the
Smoke from the Camp Fire above the Upper Ridge.
Photo from the California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection.
Burn area in Lower Paradise Pines
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December 2021
Introduction || Page 9
emergency spillway, forcing extensive repair
activities.10 Climate change is expected to lead to
an increase in intense storms, creating more
heavy rainfall events like those that brought on
the Oroville Dam crisis.
Although wildfires naturally occur in the Butte
County landscape, climate change has brought
warmer temperatures and drought conditions
that have ravaged forested land within the
county, creating ideal conditions for major
wildfires. In recent years, the 2018 Camp Fire,
2020 North Complex Fire, and 2021 Dixie Fire
have all affected Butte County. These fires were
fueled by dry timber and extreme winds, which
not only burned wildland areas, but also traveled
into the wildland-urban interface, destroying
homes, and causing fatalities. Increases in the
frequency and intensity of wildfires are expected
as a result of climate change.
The Camp Fire began on November 8, 2018, near
the unincorporated community of Pulga in the Feather River Canyon, sparked by Pacific Gas
and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) electrical transmission line, and rapidly spread west toward the
town of Paradise and the Upper Ridge. The fire
destroyed most of Paradise and the
unincorporated community of Concow, as well as
causing significant damage to the
unincorporated communities of Magalia and
Pulga. Although the smallest of the three recent
major fires, it killed more people (most of whom
were senior citizens) and destroyed more
structures than any other fire in California’s
recorded history by far.11
The main spillway at Oroville Dam in operation on
February 10, 2017. The erosion damage to the spillway is
clearly visible. Photo from the California Governor’s Office
of Emergency Services.
Damage from the North Complex Fire. Photo from the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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The North Complex Fire began on August 17,
2020, when lightning strikes sparked several
wildfires in the Plumas National Forest in Butte
and Plumas Counties. Although most of these
fires were extinguished, two of them were still
burning in early September when the fires
merged and grew rapidly from strong winds.
The resulting combined blaze sparked
evacuations around Lake Oroville and in the
Feather River Canyon.12
The Dixie Fire started on July 13, 2021, in the
Feather River Canyon near the community of
Cresta. Although it caused little damage in Butte
County, it grew into the single largest wildfire in California’s recorded history, burning over
963,000 acres. It caused extensive damage to several communities in nearby counties, including
destroying most of the town of Greenville in Plumas County.13
Table 2 shows the acres burned, structures destroyed and damaged, and fatalities caused by
these recent major wildfires in and surrounding Butte County.
Table 2. Major Recent Regional Wildfires
Fire Name Acres Burned Fatalities Structures
Destroyed
Structures
Damaged
Camp Fire 153,336 * 87 14,500 589
North Complex Fire 318,935 † 16 2,455 113
Dixie Fire 963,309 1 1,329 95
* Includes 141,271 burned acres in unincorporated Butte County
† Includes 150,715 burned acres in unincorporated Butte County.
This includes total damage and harm from each wildfire. The North Complex and Dixie summaries include damage
that occurred outside of Butte County.
Sources:
Butte County District Attorney, The Camp Fire Public Report: A Summary of the Camp Fire Investigation, June 16,
2020, https://www.buttecounty.net/Portals/30/CFReport/PGE-THE-CAMP-FIRE-PUBLIC-
REPORT.pdf?ver=2020-06-15-190515-977
U.S. Forest Service, Plumas National Forest. 2020. North Complex. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6997/,
accessed February 18, 2021.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 2021. 2020 Fire Siege.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/hsviuuv3/cal-fire-2020-fire-siege.pdf.
Firefighters construct a firebreak to try and slow the
spread of the Dixie Fire. Photo from the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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In addition to the direct risk of property damage and destruction, injury, and death from
wildfires, they can contribute to poor air quality, even in communities far away from the burn
site. Smoke from wildfires contains very small particles, known as PM2.5, which can be inhaled
deep into peoples’ lungs and create acute respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and
pneumonia as well as chronic conditions. Smoke from fires that burn in developed areas may
also contain particles of toxic materials such as lead. During the Camp Fire, concentrations of
PM2.5 in Chico reached over 412 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) of air 14 (anything over 250
µg/m3 is considered hazardous). Figure 4 shows the concentrations of PM2.5 in various locations
during the Camp Fire and normal conditions. The dark blue line in this figure represents PM2.5
levels in Chico.
Figure 4. PM2.5 Levels Before, During, and After the 2018 Camp Fire
Source: California Air Resources Board. Note that this figure shows PM2.5 monitoring stations by location and the “SDP”
location refers to the Sacramento Del Paso monitoring station.
The global impacts and risks explained previously will affect economic systems throughout
California, with likely ramifications to Butte County. To refrain from action is costly and risky;
the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment, released in 2018, estimates that no action to
address the potential impacts of climate change will lead to statewide economic losses of “tens
of billions of dollars per year in direct costs” and “expose trillions of dollars of assets to
collateral risk.”
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The County prepared a Climate Change Vulnerability
Assessment in 2021, which looks at how people, structures,
natural systems, and other community assets may be
affected by climate change. Out of the 71 populations and
assets Butte County analyzed, 50 are highly vulnerable to
at least one hazard condition. Wildfire is responsible for
the highest vulnerability scores, followed by severe storms,
severe wind, and extreme heat. Some of the key findings of
the assessment include:
Populations and assets in the eastern portion of the
county are most vulnerable to wildfires and
populations in the western portion of the county are
most vulnerable to severe storms.
Outdoor workers and low-resourced ethnic minorities
are the most vulnerable populations, and highly
vulnerable to all climate change hazards.
Electrical transmission infrastructure and energy
delivery services are highly vulnerable to damage or
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events from
extreme heat, severe wind, severe storms, and wildfire.
Energy delivery services are a key supporting factor for
everyday activities, economic drivers, and key services.
Water and wastewater serving both the county and other areas of California can be
disrupted from drought, severe wind, severe storms, and wildfire.
Major roads, highways, and single-access roads can become impassable because of severe
wind, severe storms, and wildfire, isolating populations in remote areas of the county and
disrupting services to those areas.
Recreation infrastructure and recreation on regional, state, and federal land can be
disrupted by all climate change hazards.
Agriculture is the most vulnerable economic driver in Butte County.
Conifer forests and open water ecosystems are the most vulnerable ecosystems.
The 2021 CAP focuses on reducing GHG emissions so that Butte County can reduce its
contributions to climate change and decrease the risk of harm from these events. However,
efforts are also needed to protect people and assets in the community from harm, since, as
previously stated, some level of climate change is already unavoidable, and Butte County has
already experienced significant harm from disasters that are linked to climate change. The
The Butte County Fire Safe
Council (BCFSC), formed in 1998,
provides wildfire preparedness
education and assistance in
coordination with local, state,
and federal fire agencies
throughout Butte County. BCFSC
is a non-profit community
organization, consisting of local
councils and representatives of
public and private stakeholders,
funded by grants and community
donations. The BCFSC mission is
to provide safety in Butte County
through wildfire hazard
education, mitigation, and
wildfire recovery with a vision of
creating communities resistant
to the devastating impacts of
wildland fires.
Butte County
Fire Safe Council
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County’s General Plan and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) will help to improve adaptation
to climate change.
Climate Action Planning in Butte County
Climate action planning in Butte County, like in many other communities, occurs in two areas:
(1) GHG emission-reduction (climate mitigation) and (2) climate adaptation and resiliency.
Climate mitigation is the reduction of GHGs from sources within the County’s control and
influence. Climate adaptation activities include increasing resilience to the hazards posed by the
changing climate, such as sea-level rise, wildfires, extreme weather, and drought.
Climate Mitigation in Butte County
The 2021 CAP serves as the County’s strategic plan to reduce GHG emissions that cause climate
change in the unincorporated county. The 2021CAP is an update of the 2014 CAP to ensure the
document is responsive to current State of California guidance and best practices. The 2021
CAP includes the following:
Long-term GHG reduction goals for 2030 and 2050.
Past and current GHG inventories and forecast.
GHG reduction strategies to achieve 2030 and 2050 reduction goals.
An implementation program.
Climate action is not only about reducing GHG emissions, but also contributing towards the
County’s mission of providing high-quality services and facilities to its residents in an equitable,
sustainable, transparent, responsive, and friendly manner to foster an inclusive, safe, and
healthy community now and in the future. The County’s climate action strategies not only result
in a reduction of GHG emissions countywide, but they increase overall sustainability and quality
of life in the county by facilitating increased access to transportation and services, upgrades to
infrastructure that build resiliency for the entire community, energy independence and
affordability, and supporting broader economic development initiatives.
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2014 Climate Action Plan
In 2014, the County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2014
CAP to reduce GHG emissions in a manner consistent with
California guidelines and regulations at that time. The 2014
CAP describes specific strategies, actions, and cost-effective
opportunities for the agricultural community, existing and
future residents, businesses, and development projects. The
2014 CAP also outlines ways to increase economic, social, and
environmental resiliency under a changing climate. The 2014
CAP serves as a qualified GHG reduction strategy under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The strategies and
actions in the 2014 CAP simplify development review, provide
greater consistency between county agriculture, sustainability,
and renewable energy programs, and sets a work program for
the County.
A key component of the 2014 CAP is to establish a baseline of community and County
operations GHG emissions to measure future changes against and to inform actions the
community could take in the coming years to reduce such emissions. To track the future
progress of strategies, the County developed the 2006 community-wide and 2006 government
operations inventories using data from everyday activities such as the electricity used in homes,
miles traveled in vehicles, and natural gas used in government facilities to estimate GHG
emissions. The 2006 baseline was selected for consistency with state guidelines and the
General Plan 2030. This baseline information revealed the major sources of emissions caused
from community activities and provided a basis of comparison for the 2014 CAP and future
assessment reports. The 2014 CAP also includes GHG emissions forecasts for both community
and government operations activities, which project anticipated GHG emissions for the years
2020 and 2030.
In response to the findings of the Inventory, the 2014 CAP adopted a GHG reduction target of
15 percent below the baseline 2006 GHG emission levels by 2020. The County chose this
reduction target to affirm the County’s commitment to developing and measuring GHG
reduction strategies and to remain consistent with the state-recommended reduction target of
15 percent below present levels by 2020, which is the local equivalent of the state’s own
adopted reduction target of reducing emissions to 1990 levels.
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The 2014 CAP included 33 strategies to reduce community GHG emissions. These strategies
were developed through work with County government staff, the community, and the Board of
Supervisors. Measures addressed GHGs from agriculture, energy use, transportation, land use,
water, solid waste, off-road equipment, and activities that the County government undertakes.
The County implemented these strategies through a work plan that included inter-
departmental County projects and programs and in conjunction with partner agencies and
community organizations. County staff documented progress towards achieving the goals in
the 2014 CAP through monitoring reports in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Natural disasters in Butte
County, such as the damage to the Oroville Dam spillway, multiple wildfires, and the COVID-19
pandemic shifted County priorities and resources that limited staff’s availability to prepare CAP
monitoring reports in 2018, 2019, or 2020.
2021 Climate Action Plan
As a continuing leader in climate action planning, the County prepared this 2021 CAP to update
the community’s strategic path to reducing GHG emissions. Specifically, this 2021 CAP does the
following:
Identifies and updates the sources of GHG emissions within both the unincorporated
county and the operation of the County government, and estimates how these emissions
may change over time, as presented in Chapter 2.
Identifies GHG reduction targets, as presented in Chapter 3.
Provides information on existing and planned local and state initiatives (see Chapter 4) for
various sectors to meet or exceed the state targets of reducing emissions 40 percent below
1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 consistent with the direction
of the State of California via Assembly Bill (AB) 32 and Governor’s Executive Order S-03-05
and California Public Resources Code Section 21083.3.
Provides substantial evidence that the emission reductions estimated in the 2021 CAP, in
addition to the existing and planned local and state initiatives presented in Chapter 4, are
feasible, as presented in Chapter 5 and the supporting technical appendix included in this
document as Appendix A.
Serves as the programmatic tiering document for the purposes of CEQA for use by projects
for review of climate change impacts. If a proposed development within unincorporated
Butte County is consistent with the emission-reduction strategies included in the 2021 CAP
and the programs are developed as a result of the 2021 CAP, the project would have a less-
than-significant impact on climate change and emissions consistent with the direction of the
California Attorney General (Climate Change, CEQA, and General Plans, Revised March 6,
2009) and California Public Resources Code Section 21083.3. The CEQA Guidelines
encourage the adoption of policies or programs as a means of addressing comprehensively
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the cumulative impacts of projects (see CEQA Guidelines, Section 15064, subd. (h)(3), 15130,
subd. (c)). The County conducted an environmental review of this 2021 CAP and prepared
an Addendum to the County’s General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) summarizing
the results of the environmental review.
Provides an implementation program in Chapter 6, including a direction to update the
community’s GHG inventory and 2021 CAP every five years or more frequently as needed to
respond to changes in science; effectiveness of emission reduction strategies; and federal,
state, regional, or local policies to further strengthen the County’s response to the
challenges of climate change.
Adaptation and Resiliency in Butte County
Another priority to addressing climate change, and one of Butte County’s most important roles,
is to prepare for and respond to various hazards that threaten human life, property, and
environmental integrity regardless of the current state of GHG emissions released community-
wide. While the reduction of GHG emissions can lessen the impacts of climate change, the
damage done by human activities to date are already causing impacts to the climate in the
county, and therefore, the community must engage in adaptation planning to ensure the
community is resilient to hazards.
Hazards are natural or human-caused events or physical conditions that have the potential to
cause fatalities, injuries, property and infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, damage to the
environment, interruption of businesses, or other types of harm or loss. They range from
everyday occupational hazards, including simply driving to work, to infrequent natural or
climate change-related disasters, such as large floods or wildfires. Rising temperatures and
changes in precipitation patterns from climate change will increase the frequency and intensity
of many natural hazards.
The 2014 Butte County Climate Action Plan provided adaptation strategies to help increase
resilience to these hazards. However, new state laws require the Safety Element of the General
Plan to be updated to include an evaluation of vulnerability to climate change hazards and
adaptation measures to address those vulnerabilities in the goals, policies, and actions. The
County prepared a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in 2020, as part of the 2040
General Plan Update. To be consistent with state law, and to ensure that climate adaptation is
addressed as comprehensively as possible in the County’s long-term planning documents, most
information and strategies related to climate adaptation have been removed from the CAP and
included in the General Plan. The 2021 CAP includes a summary of expected climate change
impacts, a discussion of recent climate change-related hazards, and strategies that help to
improve climate adaptation as a benefit of reducing GHG emissions.
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Planning for climate change-related hazards largely occurs through several short- and long-
range planning documents, including the County’s General Plan, LHMP, Emergency Operations
Plan (EOP), and 2014 CAP. These documents each serve a specific purpose and are described
herein.
General Plan 2030
The Butte County General Plan 2030 provides direction on how
the County will fulfill its community vision and manage its
future growth over a 20-year period. The General Plan
represents the basic values, ideals, and aspirations of the
community, and addresses all aspects of development,
including land use, circulation and transportation, open space,
natural resources and conservation, public facilities and
services, safety, and noise. Several of these General Plan
elements are relevant to climate change. The Butte County
General Plan 2030 primarily addresses climate change and
climate adaptation in the Health and Safety Element, which
provides information about risks in the unincorporated county from natural and human-made
hazards and includes goals, policies, and actions designed to protect the community and its
property from hazards, including those induced by climate change. The Health and Safety
Element is largely informed by a Vulnerability Assessment that identifies unique vulnerabilities
in Butte County and informs policies to protect those vulnerabilities. Other elements in the
General Plan include policies and actions that peripherally impact climate adaptation and
resilience, such as:
The Land Use Element, which encourages development around transit to reduce vehicle
miles traveled (VMT).
The Housing Element, which encourages the development of energy-efficient housing for all
populations in the county, including vulnerable or marginalized residents.
The Agriculture Element, which addresses sustainable agricultural practices to ensure
success of the industry in the county.
The Water Resources Element, which addresses water supply and quality.
The Circulation Element, which accounts for vulnerabilities and needed improvements to
the county’s transportation system.
The Public Facilities and Services Element, which identifies important public service
infrastructure in the county that may be vulnerable or need improvements.
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Each of these elements plays a role in enhancing the overall sustainability and resilience of the
community.
The General Plan references the 2014 CAP, recognizing the County’s climate action planning
efforts must be updated on a more regular basis than the General Plan to be responsive to
changing regulations, guidance, technology, best practices, and science. This 2021 CAP serves
as an update that ensures Butte County is operating under a CAP that is up to date with
changed regulations, guidance, technology, best practices, and science. Note that at the time of
publication of this 2021 CAP, the County was in progress with an update to the Butte County
General Plan 2030, with an anticipated adoption date in late 2022. This 2021 CAP will be
incorporated into the General Plan Update, as applicable.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
The LHMP is meant to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to
people and property from hazards in the community through
short-term actions, such as projects and programs. The LHMP
demonstrates the community’s commitment to reducing risks
from future hazard events and is a tool to help decision
makers direct mitigation activities and resources. The LHMP is
multi-jurisdictional in that it includes each incorporated city,
various unincorporated communities, and important facilities
and districts in the planning process to ensure cross-
collaboration. The content of the LHMP includes an
identification assessment of hazards within the county, goals
to mitigate those hazards, and strategies on how to implement and accomplish each goal. The
Butte County LHMP was most recently updated in 2019.
Emergency Operations Plan
The Butte County Operational Area EOP serves as the official
emergency plan for Butte County. It includes planned
operational functions and the overall responsibilities of each
County department in addressing emergency situations. The
EOP is designed to focus on potential large-scale disasters,
rather than daily emergencies that are regularly handled by
local law enforcement and protection agencies. The EOP
defines the County’s planned response to emergency
situations associated with natural disasters, hazardous
materials incidents, and terrorism defense operations.
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2014 Climate Action Plan
The 2014 CAP is an implementation mechanism of the County’s General Plan that was adopted
in 2010, providing strategies to reduce GHG emissions, address climate change adaptation, and
improve quality of life in the county. Chapter 5 of the 2014 CAP provides a list of adaptation and
resilience measures to address vulnerabilities created or worsened by climate change. Each
adaptation strategy includes a set of actions to implement the strategy. These strategies include
the following:
Adapt to increasing wildfire frequency and severity.
Prepare for changing precipitation patterns and reduced water supply.
Anticipate increases in flooding frequency and severity.
Prepare and quickly respond to more frequent and intense extreme heat events.
Enhance the economic viability of local agriculture in a changing climate.
Support resilient ecosystems.
Sustain a thriving economy that capitalizes on changing conditions.
Account for climate change effects in existing government operations.
Work with partners to prepare for climate change.
When approved by the County Board of Supervisors, this 2021 CAP will replace the 2014 CAP,
and climate change-related adaptation and resilience will be addressed by the 2040 General
Plan.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
State of California Regulations
California law first directly addressed climate change in 1988, when AB 4420 directed state
agencies to prepare a GHG inventory and study the impacts of climate change. Since then,
California has adopted several laws to assess climate change, analyze GHG emissions and their
effects, reduce emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Many of these laws
and associated regulations affect local governments, although only some create specific
requirements for individual communities. These laws and associated regulations are briefly
summarized here.
Executive Order S-03-05 and Assembly Bill 32: California Global Warming Solutions
Act of 2006
In 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-03-05, which established
the first statewide GHG reduction goals for California: reduce emissions to 2000 levels by 2010,
2021 Climate Action Plan
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reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and reduce emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by
2050.
AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, was approved by the legislature and signed
by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2006. The landmark legislation required the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) to develop regulatory and market mechanisms to reduce GHG
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, codified in Executive Order S-03-05. AB 32 also directed CARB
to identify early action items that could be quickly implemented, to develop a scoping plan to
identify the most technologically feasible and cost-effective strategies to achieve the 2020
target, and to create and adopt regulations requiring major emitters to report and verify their
emissions.
The Climate Change Scoping Plan (Scoping Plan), adopted in 2008 and updated in 2014 and
2017, employs a variety of GHG reduction strategies that include direct regulations, alternative
compliance mechanisms, incentives, voluntary actions, and market-based approaches like a
cap-and-trade program. The plan identifies local governments as strategic partners to achieving
the state goal and translates the reduction goal to a 15-percent reduction of “existing”
emissions by 2020. Although “existing emission levels” is not formally defined by the Scoping
Plan, state, regional, and local agencies interpreted it as referring to emissions occurring
between 2005 and 2008.
Senate Bill 375: Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008
In 2008, Senate Bill (SB) 375, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, was
adopted to connect the GHG emissions-reductions targets established in the 2008 Scoping Plan
to local land use decisions that affect travel behavior. Its intent is to reduce GHG emissions
from light-duty trucks and automobiles (excludes emissions associated with goods movement)
by aligning regional long-range transportation plans, investments, and housing allocations to
local land use planning to reduce VMT and vehicle trips. Specifically, SB 375 required CARB to
establish GHG emissions-reduction targets for each of the 18 metropolitan planning
organizations (MPOs). The Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) is the MPO for
Butte County and its jurisdictions. Pursuant to the recommendations of the Regional
Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC), CARB adopted per-capita reduction targets for each
of the MPOs rather than a total magnitude reduction target. The reduction targets for BCAG are
6-percent reduction in per-capita vehicle-related emissions for 2020 and 7 percent for 2035,
relative to 2005 levels.
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December 2021
Introduction || Page 21
Executive Order B-30-15
Executive Order B-30-15, signed April 29, 2015, sets a goal of reducing GHG emissions within
California to 40 percent of 1990 levels by year 2030. Executive Order B-30-15 also directs CARB
to update the Scoping Plan to quantify the 2030 GHG reduction goal for the state and requires
state agencies to implement strategies to meet the interim 2030 goal as well as the long-term
goal for 2050 in Executive Order S-03-05. It also requires the Natural Resources Agency to
conduct triennial updates of the California adaption strategy, Safeguarding California, to ensure
climate change is accounted for in state planning and investment decisions.
Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 197
In September 2016, SB 32 and AB 197 were signed into law, making the Executive Order goal
for year 2030 into a statewide mandated legislative target. AB 197 established a joint legislative
committee on climate change policies and requires CARB to prioritize direct emissions
reductions rather than the market-based cap-and-trade program for large stationary, mobile,
and other sources. Executive Order B-30-15 and SB 32 required CARB to prepare another
update to the Scoping Plan to address the 2030 target for the state. On December 14, 2017,
CARB adopted the 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan Update (2017 Scoping Plan) to address
the 2030 target for the state. The 2017 Scoping Plan establishes a new emissions limit of 260
million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) for the year 2030, which
corresponds to a 40-percent decrease in 1990 levels by 2030.
Executive Order B-55-18
In 2018, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-55-18, which established an additional
statewide goal of achieving carbon neutrality (no net GHG emissions) by 2045. Under this goal,
any GHGs that are emitted by California must be fully offset by other activities by 2045. While
this goal does not yet have the force of law, it does indicate the direction that the state is
moving in and may be a reference point for future legislative action.
Other state-level climate action measures include Title 24 energy-efficiency standards for new
and significantly renovated buildings, the Renewable Portfolio Standards, Clean Car Standards,
Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and Innovative Clean Transit Regulations.
California Environmental Quality Act
CEQA requires that many proposed development projects conduct an environmental review to
identify how the project may impact the environment. SB 97 directed the Governor’s Office of
Planning and Research to amend the CEQA Guidelines to address GHG emissions, requiring
proposed projects to analyze their GHG emissions and contribution to climate change. The
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 22 || Introduction
Office of Planning and Research adopted the CEQA Guidelines in December 2009, and they
went into effect March 18, 2010. The guidelines include provisions for local governments to use
adopted plans for the reduction of GHG emissions to address the cumulative impacts of
individual future projects on GHG emissions (see CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5(b)(1)).
Consistent with the CEQA Guidelines, lead agencies may use adopted GHG reduction plans to
assess the cumulative impacts of discretionary projects on climate change. In addition, the
guidelines provide a mechanism to streamline development review of future projects.
Specifically, lead agencies may use adopted plans consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section
15183.5 to analyze and mitigate the significant effects of GHGs under CEQA at a programmatic
level by adopting a plan for the reduction of GHG emissions. Later, as individual projects are
proposed, project-specific environmental documents may tier from and/or incorporate by
reference that existing programmatic review in their cumulative impact analysis.
A project-specific environmental document that relies on this 2021 CAP for its cumulative
impact analysis must identify specific GHG reduction strategies applicable to the project and
demonstrate the project’s incorporation of the strategies. Project applicants and County staff
will identify specific strategies applicable to each project during project review. If applicable
strategies are not otherwise binding and enforceable, they must be incorporated as mitigation
strategies for the project. If substantial evidence indicates that the GHG emissions of a
proposed project may be cumulatively considerable, notwithstanding the project’s compliance
with specific strategies in this 2021 CAP, an EIR must be prepared for the project.
The 2021 CAP meets the requirements of the CEQA Guidelines and commitments through the
following:
Quantifies emissions, both existing and projected over a specified time period, resulting
from activities within a defined geographic area.
Builds off of the 2014 CAP’s established GHG reduction targets by establishing two new
targets.
Identifies and analyzes the emissions resulting from specific actions or categories of actions
anticipated within the geographic area.
Specifies strategies or a group of strategies, including performance standards that, if
implemented on a project-by-project basis, substantial evidence demonstrates they would
collectively achieve the specified emissions level.
Establishes a mechanism to monitor the 2021 CAP’s progress toward achieving specific
levels and to require amendments if the 2021 CAP is not achieving those levels.
Includes an environmental review of the 2021 CAP in the form of an Addendum to the
General Plan EIR.
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December 2021
Introduction || Page 23
Butte County Air Quality Management District
The Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) is the local air district responsible
for local air quality regulation in Butte County. The BCAQMD’s primary responsibility is to
regulate stationary sources and develop plans to achieve and maintain air quality standards.
CARB and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have authority over controlling
emissions from mobile sources. The BCAQMD has authority over air quality matters in Butte
County; it is now an independent special district under California law.
BCAQMD’s mission to improve air quality includes adopting and enforcing rules and regulations
to attain and maintain air quality standards, issuing permits for and inspecting stationary
sources of air pollutants, responding to citizen complaints, monitoring air quality and
meteorological conditions, awarding grants to reduce mobile emissions, implementing public
outreach campaigns, assisting the County and cities in addressing climate change, and updating
and evaluating consistency with the Northern Sacramento Valley Air Quality Attainment Plan.
The stationary “direct” sources of air contaminants over which the BCAQMD has permit
authority include, but are not limited to, power plants, gasoline stations, dry cleaners, internal
combustion engines, agricultural burning, and surface coating operations. BCAQMD does not,
however, exercise permit authority over “indirect” emission sources. Indirect sources are
contributors to air pollution and include facilities and land uses that may not emit significant
amounts of pollution directly themselves, but are responsible for indirect emissions, such as:
Motor vehicle trips attracted to or generated by a land use.
On-site combustion of natural gas and propane for heating.
Architectural coatings (paints, stains) and consumer products.
Landscape maintenance.
The BCAQMD works with BCAG to ensure a coordinated approach in the development and
implementation of transportation plans throughout the county. This coordination ensures
compliance with pertinent provisions of the Clean Air Act and California Clean Air Act, as well as
with related transportation legislation.
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN PREPARATION
The County prepared this 2021 CAP using an iterative five-step process, as illustrated in Figure
5. The County started this process through preparation and implementation of the 2014 CAP,
relying on lessons learned and changes in science and best practices to inform the 2021 CAP.
Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 fulfill steps one through three and provide a structure to complete steps
four and five. Step four will occur after adoption of the 2021 CAP. Step five is essential to
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 24 || Introduction
ensuring successful implementation of the 2021 CAP to determine if additional strategies are
needed.
The County initiated this 2021 CAP in 2020 after securing grant funding to cover the majority of
the costs. County staff hired the consultant firm PlaceWorks to help complete the 2021 CAP,
which included updating past GHG inventories, preparing 2019 GHG inventories, preparing the
GHG forecast, and drafting goals, strategies, and actions with County staff.
Figure 5. Five-Step Climate Action Planning Process
The County led a collaborative process to guide preparation of the 2021 CAP. Opportunities for
public participation included a community workshop, stakeholder engagement, and updates to
the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. These focused efforts built upon a
broader-based General Plan 2030 Update outreach process and the outreach process for the
Upper Ridge Community Plan and other long-range planning efforts led by the County
concurrent with the 2021 CAP update. The County recognizes that ongoing public involvement
is critical to develop a plan that responds to community priorities, is responsive to the
unincorporated county’s diverse geography and range of communities, and that builds and
nurtures partnerships necessary to implement it.
1.
Inventory
Emissions
2.
Establish a
Reduction
Target
3. Adopt
Strategies
to Achieve
Target
4.
Implement
Strategies
5. Evaluate
and
Report
Progress
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Introduction || Page 25
Community Workshop
The County hosted a virtual community workshop on
February 18, 2021, to raise awareness and help inform
members of the community about the 2021 CAP project,
share initial results of the technical analyses completed,
review progress in implementing the 2014 CAP, and to begin
brainstorming on GHG reduction strategies. The workshop
included a presentation and a small group discussion that
allowed for an interactive and in-depth exploration of specific
sectors, including energy, transportation, waste, agriculture,
water, and wastewater.
Most workshop participants chose to provide suggestions to
the County regarding steps to reduce GHG emissions and
most expressed support for the County’s 2021 CAP while providing constructive feedback to
increase success of reducing GHGs in the future. Common feedback by workshop participants
included mentioning the severity of financial barriers to taking individual climate action, lack of
individual and community education, and desires to be proactive and ensure the County is a
leader in climate action and sustainability, largely due to the ongoing climate hazards the
county has been facing. More detail on input received in the community workshop can be
found in Appendix B-1.
Stakeholder Outreach
The County led two outreach activities targeted to county stakeholders - a virtual workshop and
one-on-one meetings with individual stakeholders. The general purpose of the stakeholder
outreach was to engage with community groups of different sectors to understand their role,
how they may contribute to or alleviate the effects of climate change, and how they can help
the County implement the 2021 CAP.
Stakeholder Workshop
The County hosted one virtual stakeholder workshop on June 9, 2021, to raise awareness and
inform community stakeholders about the 2021 CAP, share initial results of the technical
analyses, and to begin brainstorming and get feedback on GHG reduction strategies related to
specific sectors in the unincorporated county. The County promoted the workshop through
targeted outreach to community stakeholders, including those in the environmental field,
representatives from utility companies, business representatives, higher education
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December 2021
Page 26 || Introduction
organizations, the building industry, tribal communities/nations, and various Chambers of
Commerce. Approximately 15 stakeholders participated in the workshop, representing various
organizations and agencies including the University of California, Davis, Cooperative Extension,
Butte County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, an
independent farmer, and the City of Chico, among others.
Engagement with stakeholders in the workshop occurred
through small group discussions. Participants were
organized into one of three breakout rooms depending on
their sector of interest they indicated when they registered
for the workshop. There were three groups organized into
the following sectors: (1) energy, water, and wastewater; (2)
transportation, land use, and waste; and (3) agriculture.
Each group was given a list of example climate action
strategies or ideas related to the sector of the group they
were placed into. Stakeholders were then asked to discuss
what their organization or business can do to support the
strategies, if there are any barriers to supporting those
strategies, and if there are any considerations or
implementation ideas the County should consider while
moving forward to draft the 2021 CAP. Most workshop
participants chose to provide suggestions to the County
regarding steps to reduce GHG emissions, along with
barriers to implementation. Feedback from stakeholders in
the workshop largely stressed existing programs that help
reduce GHG emissions. Stakeholders also discussed various limitations to implementing GHG
reduction strategies, including impacts from past wildfires, limited water sources, and lack of
financial incentives. Refer to Appendix B-2 for more information on the stakeholder workshop.
Stakeholder One-on-One Discussions
Individual one-on-one discussions occurred with several stakeholders in the county, including
the Farm bureau, the Butte County Agricultural Commissioner, the Department of Water and
Resource Conservation, and the City of Chico. Each stakeholder group had the same pre-
determined list of questions; however, during each discussion, stakeholders were able to
provide input as they felt comfortable and as they saw necessary. The majority of feedback
highlighted the important role that partnerships between the County and local organizations
and agencies play. Stakeholders also stressed the significance of the agricultural sector in the
county and the limitations that the sector can face when trying to reduce emissions, largely
The agricultural community is
one of the groups on the front
lines of experiencing the effects
of climate change and also has
the ability to help significantly
reduce Butte County’s GHG
emissions. During this workshop,
agricultural stakeholders shared
several climate-positive changes
the agricultural community has
made, including the carbon
sequestration benefits of new
orchards, converting rice dryers
to more energy-efficient and low-
carbon models, the use of
composted organic material for
mulch, and the installation of
solar panels at agricultural
facilities.
Agriculture Sector
Climate Benefits
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Introduction || Page 27
including financial limitations. Refer to Appendix B-2 for more detailed information on the one-
on-one stakeholder meetings.
Discussions with County Staff
Engagement with County staff is integral to the process of developing and vetting climate action
strategies because the County is the ultimate implementing agency of the 2021 CAP.
Interdepartmental engagement was necessary to ensure that the strategies included in this
2021 CAP are attainable and that the County departments responsible for implementing each
strategy are able to do so. Members of the 2021 CAP project team consulted with staff from
multiple County departments to discuss past 2014 CAP implementation and barriers to such
implementation. The expertise of staff from these departments helped confirm appropriate
and feasible strategies and actions.
Discussions with Advisory Bodies
After community and stakeholder engagement, the County prepared the 2021 CAP Public
Review Draft. The County released the Public Review Draft 2021 CAP and the associated
Addendum to the General Plan EIR in October 2021. The Butte County Planning Commission
held a public hearing of the Public Review Draft 2021 CAP and associated Addendum to the
General Plan EIR on November 18, 2021. During the public hearing, the County Planning
Commission directed staff to add content to the 2021 CAP to highlight the recent climate
disasters in the county, including wildfires and damage to the Oroville Spillway; additional
discussion on agriculture and the recent shifts in agricultural practices that benefit the climate;
and revisions to better describe the link between the 2021 CAP and other planning documents,
specifically regarding climate adaptation and resiliency.
Following the Planning Commission’s review and recommendation to the Board of Supervisors,
County staff revised the 2021 CAP based on public comment and direction from the Planning
Commission. The Board of Supervisors reviewed and adopted the 2021 CAP and the associated
Addendum to the General Plan EIR during a public hearing on December 14, 2021. The Board
did not have any revisions to the 2021 CAP.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 28 || Introduction
WHAT’S NEXT IN THIS CAP
The following chapters of the 2021 CAP provide details of the community’s GHG emissions and
strategies to increase reduce emissions. The remainder of this 2021 CAP includes the following:
Chapter 2, Butte County GHG Emissions, describes the results of the GHG inventories
conducted for Butte County, as well as estimates for the county’s GHG emissions in 2030
and 2050. This work provides a foundation that allows the community to see how its
emissions have changed over time and chart progress toward state and local emissions
reduction targets, informing emissions reduction strategies.
Chapter 3, GHG Reduction Targets, outlines the GHG emission reduction targets established
by the State, by the Scoping Plan, and the ultimate GHG reduction targets chosen by County
staff. This chapter sets the foundation to determine where the County is at in their efforts to
reduce GHG emissions and how much more the 2021 CAP needs to accommodate.
Chapter 4, Existing GHG Reduction Strategies, outlines the existing and planned local and
state initiatives that give the County credit for GHG reductions.
Chapter 5, New GHG Reduction Strategies, outlines the new 2021 strategies that go beyond
existing and planned local and state initiatives by which the County can reach their
established GHG emission reduction targets. This includes goals, strategies, and actions,
their associated GHG emissions, and benefits they provide other than reducing GHG
emissions.
Chapter 6, CAP Implementation Strategy, outlines the path the County will take to
implement the 2021 CAP, along with prioritization.
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 29
BUTTE COUNTY GHG EMISSIONS
BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY
GHG emissions are generated by various activities that are largely commonplace in daily life.
Some daily activities release GHG emissions in the location of the activity, such as gases
released anytime an internal combustion engine car is driven. On the other hand, some
activities cause GHG emissions to be released elsewhere, such as someone using non-
renewable or non-carbon-free electricity to power their home, which generates GHG emissions
in the location of the power plant that supplies the power, and not in the home itself. Butte
County must consider the GHG emissions caused by activities attributed to the community,
including GHG emissions generated both inside and in some cases as described herein, outside
its jurisdictional boundaries.
The County has two types of GHG inventories: (1) community-wide inventories and (2) County
operations inventories.
A community-wide GHG inventory identifies GHG emissions that result from activities of
unincorporated county residents, employees, visitors, and other community members.
Examples include residents driving cars, homes using water, and businesses using
electricity.
A County operations GHG inventory summarizes emissions that are a direct result of County
government operations. Examples include electricity and water used in County buildings or
the fuel used for County vehicles.
A series of guidance documents, called protocols, provide recommendations on how to
adequately assess GHG emissions. The project team prepared the new GHG inventories and
updates to past GHG inventories consistent with the guidance in widely adopted, standard
protocol documents. These protocols provide guidance on what activities should be evaluated
in the GHG inventories and how emissions from those activities should be assessed. Using
standard methods also allows for an easy comparison of GHG emission levels across multiple
years and communities.
The community-wide GHG inventory uses the United States Community Protocol for
Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (U.S. Community Protocol), which
was first developed in 2012 and updated most recently in 2019. The California Governor’s
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December 2021
Page 30 || Butte County GHG Emissions
Office of Planning and Research encourages cities and counties in California to follow the
U.S. Community Protocol for community-wide GHG emissions.
The County operations GHG inventory relies on the Local Government Operations Protocol
(LGOP), which was first developed in 2008 and was updated in 2010. The LGOP is a tool for
accounting and reporting GHG emissions of local government (municipal) operations and is
used throughout California and the United States. The LGOP includes guidance from several
existing programs as well as the state’s mandatory GHG reporting regulations.
A third protocol, the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Global
Protocol) was first developed in 2014 and is intended for use in preparing international
community-scale GHG inventories. It is largely consistent with the U.S. Community Protocol,
although it contains additional guidance and resources to support a wider range of activities
that may be found in other countries.
GHG inventories are estimates of GHG emissions based on these standard methods and
verified datasets. While they are not direct measurements of GHG emissions, the use of the
standard methods identified in the protocols, in combination with accurate data from
appropriate sources, allows GHG inventories to provide reliable estimates of local emission
levels.
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
These GHG inventories assess emissions in a unit called carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e),
which is a combined unit of all GHGs analyzed in the inventory. As different GHGs have
different effects on the processes that drive climate change, CO2e is a weighted unit that
reflects the relative potency of the different GHGs. These inventories report amounts of GHGs
in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e), equal to 1,000 kilograms or approximately 2,205 pounds.
EMISSION FACTORS
These emissions are calculated by using data on GHG generating activities in combination with
emission factors. An emissions factor describes how many MTCO2e are released per unit of an
activity. For instance, an emissions factor for electricity describes the MTCO2e produced per
kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity used, or an emission factor for on-road transportation
describes the MTCO2e produced per mile of driving.
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 31
Consistent with the protocol guidance, the County calculated GHG emissions using data on
GHG generating activities in combination with emission factors. An emissions factor describes
how many MTCO2e are released per unit of an activity. For instance, an emissions factor for
electricity describes the MTCO2e produced per kWh of electricity used, or an emission factor for
on-road transportation describes the MTCO2e produced per mile of driving. Table 3 shows the
emissions factors for 2006 and 2019. Some sectors, including agriculture and off-road
emissions, are calculated using formulae or models and do not have specific emission factors.
Table 3. Change in Emissions Factors between 2006 and 2019
Sector Unit 2006 2019 Percentage
Change Source
Electricity Per kWh 0.000208 0.000108 -48% PG&E
Natural gas Per therm 0.005323 0.005323 0% US Community
Protocol
Propane Per gallon 0.005844 0.005644 -3% US Community
Protocol
On-road
transportation
(light duty)
Per mile 0.000661 0.000356 -46% California Air
Resources Board
On-road
transportation
(heavy duty)
Per mile 0.001562 0.001154 -26% California Air
Resources Board
On-road
transportation
(combined)
Per mile 0.001202 0.000755 -37% California Air
Resources Board
Solid waste
(municipal solid
waste)
Per ton 0.293000 0.286000 -2% CalRecycle
Solid waste
(alternative daily
cover)
Per ton 0.246000 0.246000 0% CalRecycle
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GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORIES
Updates to Existing Inventories
As part of the preparation of the 2014 CAP, the County, its regional partners, and technical
consultants prepared community-wide and County operations GHG inventories for the
calendar year 2006. As part of preparation of the 2014 CAP, the County prepared a GHG
inventory for the year 2006 to serve as a baseline year for emission reductions, as this was
considered a year with good data availability at the time, consistent with State guidance, and
without any unusual factors that might affect GHG emissions.
Since the 2006 inventory was prepared, new datasets have become available. These datasets
include revised numbers for previous years, including 2006. Recommended analysis methods
have also changed, in response to increased scientific awareness and evolving best practices.
As part of the 2021 CAP process, the County revised the 2006 community-wide and 2006
County operations GHG inventories to use consistent and current methods and data sources
while preserving the 2006 GHG inventory baseline.
One major edit to the 2006 GHG inventories was to revise the global warming potentials (GWPs)
used in all inventories to account for the relative difference in potencies of different GHGs.
These numbers have changed as the science of GHGs have advanced. Butte County’s
inventories used GWPs from the IPCC’s Second Assessment Report, released in 1995. At the
time the 2006 inventory was initially prepared, the Second Assessment Report values were the
most widely used. As part of the preparation of the 2021 CAP, the County and its technical team
updated the 2006 inventories to use the GWPs from the most recent IPCC report available at
the time, which was the Fifth Assessment Report, released in 2013, and now commonly used to
show consistency with the best available science. The Fifth Assessment Report values most
accurately show the impacts of methane, which were largely understated in previous studies.
Table 4 shows the differences in GWPs by gas.1
1 Note that the inventories included in this 2021 CAP were updated or completed prior to the release of
the IPCC Sixth Climate Assessment Report and therefore this 2021 CAP includes GWPs from the IPCC
Fifth Climate Assessment Report
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 33
Table 4. Change in Global Warming Protocols by Greenhouse Gas
Gas Second Assessment Report
GWP
Fifth Assessment Report
GWP
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 1 1
Methane (CH4) 21 28
Nitrous oxide (N2O) 310 265
Because of these changes, the inventory results presented in this 2021 CAP will be different
than those cited in the 2014 CAP. These changes resulted in increases in emissions between the
original and the updated 2006 inventory in the agriculture, residential energy, nonresidential
energy, solid waste, off-road equipment, and water and wastewater sectors, as noted below.
Increases in the agriculture sector are largely due to new methods for quantifying
agricultural emissions.
Increases to the solid waste sector are from changes in method and the inclusion of landfill
emissions, which were previously treated as an informational item.
Increases to the water and wastewater sector are because of revised datasets that more
accurately reflect water use conditions in Butte County.
The change to off-road equipment emissions is from adding in types of off-road equipment
that had previously been excluded, although there were no other changes to the method
used. The off-road equipment subsectors originally included in the 2006 inventory were
only lawn and garden and construction and mining equipment. The revisions to the 2006
inventory added emissions related to equipment used for entertainment, industrial, light
commercial, logging, oil drilling, pleasure craft (personal watercraft), recreation, and
refrigerated transport.
The changes to emissions from residential and nonresidential energy sectors are the results
of PG&E providing updated energy use data, which differed from the original data.
In addition to these universal edits, the County made the following changes:
Adjusted the methodology and data used to calculate emissions from the agriculture sector
to reflect current practices, primarily for emissions from enteric fermentation associated
with livestock, fertilizer, manure, and rice harvesting.
Added emissions associated with land use and sequestration, and with wildfire and
controlled burns as informational items.
Revised the data used to calculate water and wastewater emissions, using adjusted datasets
built on the 2019 water and wastewater figures, which are more accurate than the
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December 2021
Page 34 || Butte County GHG Emissions
estimated data used in the 2006 inventory. The 2006 wastewater emission calculations have
also been updated to use current recommended methods.
Revised 2006 natural gas and electricity figures following updated data from PG&E.
Table 5 compares the original 2006 inventory, excluding informational items, to the updated
inventory results.
Table 5. Original 2006 and Revised Baseline Inventory Results
Sector Original Inventory
Results
Updated Inventory
Results
Percentage
Change
Agriculture 390,400 521,650 34%
Transportation 265,450 264,420 Less than -1%
Residential 150,630 133,350 -11%
Nonresidential 61,450 58,670 -5%
Off-road equipment 17,360 56,070 223%
Solid waste 13,980 40,830 192%
Water and wastewater 12,360 20,190 63%
Total Annual MTCO2e 911,630 1,095,190 20%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Community-wide GHG Inventory
A community-wide GHG inventory identifies GHG emissions that result from activities of
residents, employees, and other community members. An update was prepared to the 2006
community-wide inventory and a new inventory was prepared for the calendar year 2019. The
community-wide GHG inventory assessed GHG emissions from the following 10 categories of
activities, known as sectors.
Agriculture includes GHG emissions from various agricultural activities, including
agricultural equipment, crop cultivation and harvesting, and livestock operations.
Transportation includes GHG emissions created by driving on-road vehicles, including
passenger and freight vehicles.
Residential energy includes GHG emissions attributed to the use of electricity, natural gas,
and propane in residential buildings.
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 35
Nonresidential energy includes GHG
emissions attributed to the use of electricity
and natural gas in nonresidential buildings,
including buildings and facilities at
agricultural operations.
Solid Waste includes the GHG emissions
released from trash collected in the
unincorporated areas of Butte County, as
well as collective annual emissions from
waste already in place at the Neal Road
Landfill.
Off-road equipment includes GHG emissions from equipment that does not provide on-
road transportation (excluding agricultural equipment), such as tractors for construction or
equipment used for landscape maintenance.
Water and wastewater accounts for the electricity used to transport every gallon of water
or wastewater to incorporated county residents and businesses, as well as direct emissions
from the processing of waste material.
Land use and sequestration includes GHG emissions absorbed and stored in trees and
soils on locally controlled lands as part of healthy ecosystems and released into the
atmosphere from development of previously undeveloped land.
Stationary sources are those emitted at large industrial sites, commercial businesses,
warehouses, or power plants. This is an informational sector that is not included in the
community-wide total.
Wildfire and controlled burns include emissions released as a result of wildfires and
controlled burns. This is an informational sector that is not included in the community-wide
total.
As shown in Table 6, the agriculture sector has remained the largest source of GHG emissions
in unincorporated Butte County, increasing slightly from 48 percent of total GHG emissions in
2006 to 50 percent of total GHG emissions in 2019. The transportation sector has remained the
second-largest source of GHG emissions between 2006 and 2019 and decreased slightly from
24 percent of total GHG emissions in 2006 to 23 percent of the total share of GHG emissions in
2019.
Residential and nonresidential energy made up 12 and 5 percent of total community-wide 2006
GHG emissions, respectively. By 2019, the residential and nonresidential energy sectors both
declined in total share of GHG emissions, making up 9 and 4 percent of total community-wide
emissions.
Rice processing facility
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December 2021
Page 36 || Butte County GHG Emissions
GHG emissions from off-road equipment and solid waste increased between 2006 and 2019,
while GHG emissions from water and wastewater declined slightly. The off-road equipment
sector increased from 5 to 6 percent of total community-wide GHG emissions from 2006 to
2019. Similarly, the solid waste sector accounted for 4 percent of total community-wide GHG
emissions in 2006, increasing to 6 percent in 2019. The water and wastewater sector remained
at 2 percent of the community-wide total.
Table 6. Proportions of Annual GHG Emissions by Sector in 2006 and 2019
Sector 2006
MTCO2e
2006
Proportion
of Total
2019
MTCO2e
2019
Proportion
of Total
Agriculture 521,650 48% 501,630 50%
Transportation 264,420 24% 229,110 23%
Residential energy 133,350 12% 90,730 9%
Nonresidential energy 58,670 5% 37,350 4%
Off-road equipment 56,070 5% 59,310 6%
Solid waste 40,830 4% 61,120 6%
Water and wastewater 20,190 2% 16,960 2%
Total Annual MTCO2e
(not including land use and sequestration) 1,095,190 100% 996,210 100%
Land use and sequestration -346,340 — -346,340 —
Total Annual MTCO2e
(including land use and sequestration) 748,850 649,870
Informational Items
Stationary sources* 3,960 <1% — —
Wildfire and controlled burns** 8,280 — 15,730 —
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Note: The 2019 proportion of total percentages do not include emissions as a result of the land use and sequestration
sector.
*Stationary source data for 2019 was not provided at the time the inventory was completed and is therefore not
included.
**Wildfires in 2006 include the Skyway, Woodleaf, and Philbrook fires. The wildfires counted in 2019 include the
Swedes and the Forbestown fires.
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 37
As shown in Table 7, the sectors that experienced the largest decrease in annual GHG
emissions were residential and nonresidential energy, which reduced by 32 and 36 percent,
respectively. The energy sector decreased because of less electricity use in both residential and
nonresidential development, a substantial increase in renewable and carbon-free sources of
electricity, and a decline in residential natural gas use, as shown by data from PG&E. However,
there was an increase in emissions associated with residential propane use and nonresidential
natural gas use.
The sector to experience the next-largest decrease was transportation, with a 13-percent
decline in GHG emissions. Despite VMT increasing 15 percent between 2006 and 2019,
emissions decreased largely because of more fuel-efficient vehicles and a wider adoption of
electric vehicles, as reported by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and as
shown in Table 3.
Emissions from the agriculture sector decreased by approximately 4 percent between 2006 and
2019. While most agricultural activities saw some change between 2006 and 2019, the largest
changes appear from decreases in rice growing acreage, changes in the amount of soil
amendments, decreases in residue burning, and replacing older diesel irrigation pumps.
Water and wastewater emissions also declined from 2006 to 2019. Although water use
increased during this period, increases in clean electricity supplies resulted in less GHG
emissions from the energy needed to move and process water, decreasing the overall
emissions from the water and wastewater sector.
The off-road equipment and solid waste sectors experienced
an increase in GHG emissions. Emissions from off-road
activities rose by 6 percent, while emissions associated with
the solid waste sector increased by 50 percent. The increase
in solid waste is primarily the result of a larger-than-normal
amount of waste generated by the community as a result of
clean-up activities from the 2018 Camp Fire. The modest
increase in off-road equipment is likely because of the
purchasing and use of more off-road equipment (such as
lawn mowers and other gardening equipment) as the
unincorporated county population has grown since the 2006
inventory year.
Emissions associated with wildfires increased by 90 percent
between 2006 and 2019; however, these emissions are not accounted for in the final total of
annual community-wide emissions and are noted for informational purposes only. This change
Wildfires are predominately a
natural process, as their growth
is not a human-caused activity.
As a natural process, GHG
emissions from wildfires are
considered “biogenic”, meaning
that they occur naturally, and so
are not included in the
community total.
Why are wildfire
emissions not
accounted?
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December 2021
Page 38 || Butte County GHG Emissions
is because of an increase in acreage burned in wildfires, along with an increase in controlled
burn activity, which rose substantially from 2006 to 2019 as a wildfire management strategy.
Increases in the amount of electricity from renewable or carbon-free sources played a
significant role in how Butte County’s GHG emissions changed from 2006 to 2019. Most sectors
that involve electricity use experienced a decline in emissions because of this change. PG&E’s
sources of electricity released 51 percent fewer GHG emissions per unit of electricity used in
2019 than they did in 2006.
Community-wide GHG emissions from each individual sector are described in more detail in the
next section.
Table 7. Percentage Change in Community GHG Emissions between
2006 and 2019 by Sector
Sector 2006
MTCO2e
2019
MTCO2e
Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Agriculture 521,650 501,630 -4%
Transportation 264,420 229,110 -13%
Residential energy 133,350 90,730 -32%
Nonresidential energy 58,670 37,350 -36%
Off-road equipment 56,070 59,310 6%
Solid waste 40,830 61,120 50%
Water and wastewater 20,190 16,960 -16%
Total Annual MTCO2e
(not including land use and sequestration) 1,095,190 996,210 -9%
Land use and sequestration -346,340 -346,340 0%
Total Annual MTCO2e
(including land use and sequestration) 748,850 649,870 -13%
Informational Items
Stationary sources* 3,960 — —
Wildfire and controlled burns** 8,280 15,730 90%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
*Stationary source data for 2019 was not provided at the time the inventory was completed and is therefore not
included.
**Wildfires in 2006 include the Skyway, Woodleaf, and Philbrook fires. The wildfires counted in 2019 include the
Swedes and the Forbestown fires.
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 39
Agriculture Emissions
As shown in Table 8, GHG emissions associated with the
agriculture sector decreased by approximately 4 percent
between 2006 and 2019. This overall decrease is the result of
several factors, including a decline in the use of agricultural
diesel pumps, declines in emissions from manure
management, decreases in the amounts of lime and urea
applied, and an 8-percent decrease in GHG emissions
associated with rice cultivation. Energy use at agricultural
buildings and facilities is included in the nonresidential
energy sector.
As shown in Table 8, GHG emissions in some sub-sectors did
increase, including those associated with fertilizer, which
increased by 15 percent, likely from changes in the mix of
crops kept in the county. Emissions associated with residue
burning on agricultural land are because of a change in the
method of emissions calculations and a difference in
available data.
Lundberg Family Farm has a
dedicated commitment to
working for the environment and
reducing GHG emissions through
general farming, storage,
transport, packaging, processing,
retail, and consumption.
Lundberg Family Farms has
committed to working toward
improvement across 11 action
categories from land use and
organic farming practices to
energy generation, focusing on
five main sectors: waste, soil,
energy, packing, and policy
engagement. Every year,
progress toward achievement of
their environmental goals is
summarized in an annual
Sustainability Report.
Lundberg Family Farm
Rice field flooded with water
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December 2021
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Table 8. Community Agriculture Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data
Diesel pumps (number of pumps) 490 320 -35%
Enteric fermentation (number of
livestock) 15,790 14,550 -8%
Fertilizer (tons) 19,700 22,700 15%
Lime (tons) 7,030 750 -89%
Manure (number of livestock) 17,620 16,300 -7%
Pesticides (pounds) 9,770 1,520 -84%
Agriculture residue burning * — — —
Rice (acres) 105,670 96,770 -8%
Urea (tons) 4,880 2,860 -41%
Agricultural equipment* — — —
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Diesel pumps 28,060 18,810 -33%
Enteric fermentation 14,960 14,570 -3%
Fertilizer 74,400 85,760 15%
Lime 2,920 310 -89%
Manure 5,700 4,760 -16%
Pesticides 10 Less than 10 -85%
Agriculture residue burning 36,440 44,310 22%
Rice 281,310 257,620 -8%
Urea 3,570 1,900 -47%
Agricultural equipment 74,280 73,580 -1%
Total Annual MTCO2e 521,650 501,620 -4%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
*Activity data for agricultural residue burning and equipment are not available.
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December 2021
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Transportation Emissions
Butte County community members drove approximately 464.3 million vehicle miles in 2006,
increasing to approximately 533.6 million vehicle miles in 2019. The VMT in 2006 resulted in
GHG emissions of approximately 264,420 MTCO2e, which dropped to approximately 229,100
MTCO2e in 2019, a 13-percent decrease. Although vehicle miles increased between 2006 and
2019, total emissions decreased because of increasingly fuel-efficient vehicles, along with a
wider adoption of electric vehicles. The average vehicle in Butte County emitted 33 percent
fewer GHG emissions in 2019 than in 2006. Table 9 provides a breakdown of the activity data
and emissions for on-road transportation by each individual year included in the updated
community inventory.
Table 9. Community Transportation Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data (VMT)
On-road transportation 464,302,670 533,626,990 15%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
On-road transportation 264,420 229,110 -13%
Total Annual MTCO2e 264,420 229,110 -13%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Residential Energy Emissions
Butte County’s GHG emissions from residential energy totaled approximately 90,720 MTCO2e in
2019, compared to 133,350 MTCO2e in 2006, a decline of 32 percent. Residential electricity and
natural gas GHG emissions decreased largely because of a decrease in overall use, while
residential electricity also experienced a decline due to cleaner sources of electricity, supported
by State programs that require that PG&E source an increased amount of its electricity from
renewable sources. Table 10 provides a breakdown of the activity data and GHG emissions for
residential energy.
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December 2021
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Table 10. Community Residential Energy Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data
Residential electricity (kWh) 322,460,310 253,167,490 -21%
Residential natural gas (therms) 5,887,630 5,140,530 -13%
Residential propane (gallons) 5,960,640 6,371,650 7%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Residential electricity 67,170 27,390 -59%
Residential natural gas 31,340 27,370 -13%
Residential propane 34,840 35,960 3%
Total Annual MTCO2e 133,350 90,720 -32%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Nonresidential Energy Emissions
Butte County’s GHG emissions from nonresidential energy
totaled approximately 37,350 MTCO2e in 2019, compared to
58,670 MTCO2e in 2006, a decline of 36 percent. The
decrease is primarily driven by a large decline in electricity
use, coupled with increasing supplies of cleaner electricity as
a result of State programs that create a further reduction in
electricity-related emissions. However, using PG&E’s revised
energy use numbers for 2006, natural gas use and related
emissions increased 33 percent from 2006 to 2019. This may
be a result of increased heating demand in nonresidential
buildings or increases in industrial activity, although other
less-apparent factors may also be involved. Note that
agriculture-related energy emissions are included in the
nonresidential energy emissions data. Table 11 provides a
breakdown of the activity data and GHG emissions for
nonresidential energy.
The electricity and natural gas
energy use figures in the
residential and nonresidential
energy use sectors are reported
by PG&E. These numbers reflect
the amount of electricity and
natural gas sold by PG&E to
residents, businesses, and other
energy customers in the
unincorporated area. Customers
who install solar panels or other
renewable energy systems
generally purchase less electricity
from PG&E, causing a reported
reduction in the amount of
electricity used in Butte County.
This is partly why residential and
nonresidential energy use fell
from 2006 to 2019.
Solar Panels and
Energy Use
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 43
Table 11. Community Nonresidential Energy Activity Data and
GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data
Nonresidential electricity (kWh) 203,365,720 153,391,250 -25%
Nonresidential natural gas (therms) 2,925,420 3,897,830 33%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Nonresidential electricity 43,100 16,600 -61%
Nonresidential natural gas 15,570 20,750 33%
Total Annual MTCO2e 58,670 37,350 -36%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Solid Waste Energy Emissions
Unincorporated countywide GHG emissions
associated with solid waste includes municipal
solid waste thrown away by community
members, alternative daily cover applied at
landfills, and emissions associated with all waste
in place at the Neal Road Landfill. Note that
“waste in place” refers to waste that is
accumulated and in a permanent location at the
Neal Road Landfill. Alternative daily cover is
defined as the cover material other than earthen
material (dirt or soil) that is placed on the surface of solid waste in landfills at the end of each
operating day to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging.
Emissions increased by 50 percent from population growth and accumulation of waste in the
landfill over time. Debris from the 2018 Camp Fire additionally resulted in a higher proportion
of waste in place at the Neal Road Landfill, increasing landfill and solid waste emissions. Table
12 presents solid waste emissions data for each year.
Waste Management truck at the Neal Road Landfill
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December 2021
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Table 12. Community Solid Waste Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data (Tons)
Solid waste 66,530 101,000 52%
Waste in place 2,624,150 4,758,220 81%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Solid waste 19,500 28,820 48%
Waste in place 21,330 32,300 51%
Total Annual MTCO2e 40,830 61,120 50%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Off-road Equipment Emissions
According to data shown in Table 13, emissions from off-road equipment in the county
increased approximately 6 percent between 2006 and 2019, from 56,070 MTCO2e in 2006 to
59,310 MTCO2e in 2019. This increase is likely due to the purchase and use of more off-road
equipment (such as lawn mowers and other gardening equipment) as the county’s population
has grown since the 2006 inventory year.
Table 13. Community Off-road Equipment Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Off-road equipment 56,070 59,310 6%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 45
Water and Wastewater Emissions
Emissions associated with the water and wastewater sector
are counted in indirect or direct emissions. Indirect water
emissions refer to emissions created by the electricity
required to treat and move water to where it is used.
Indirect wastewater emissions refer to electricity needed to
move wastewater to water treatment facilities, and to
process and discharge it. Direct wastewater emissions refer
to emissions produced directly by decomposing materials in
wastewater. GHG emissions from water and wastewater
consumption in the unincorporated county decreased
between 2006 and 2019. Indirect water GHG emissions
decreased by 44 percent while emissions from wastewater
decreased by 3 percent. The emissions data in Table 14
shows an increase in emissions from water use and direct
wastewater. This is despite an increase in total water use
from 2006 to 2019, likely as a result of a growing population.
The decrease in emissions from indirect water use is linked
to cleaner sources of energy being used to treat and move
water supplies. The slight decline in wastewater-related
emissions is a result of a slight estimated decrease in the
number of properties using septic tanks.
Table 14. Community Water and Wastewater Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data (Million Gallons) *
Indirect water 18,250 19,850 9%
Indirect wastewater 10 10 <1%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Indirect water 6,450 3,640 -44%
Indirect wastewater 10 10 Less than 1%
Direct wastewater 13,730 13,310 -3%
Total Annual MTCO2e 20,190 16,960 -16%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
*Activity data for 2006 direct wastewater was not provided.
The Farm Bureau tracks annual
water use in the county and
assesses change over time. In
February 2021, the Bureau
adopted the 20-Year Land and
Water Use Change in Butte
County (1999-2019), which found
that groundwater used for
agriculture in the county has
decreased 17 percent since
1999. This is largely due to:
Reduction in irrigated acreage.
Increase in walnut orchards,
which use less water than stone
fruit or almond orchards.
More water-efficient irrigation
systems being installed in new or
retrofitting orchards.
Butte County Farm
Bureau Water
Management
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 46 || Butte County GHG Emissions
Stationary Sources Emissions
Stationary source data in 2006 reflected a total of 3,960
MTCO2e resulting from this sector. Stationary source sector
data were not available for 2019 and is therefore not
included in this report.
Land Use and Sequestration
GHG emissions from land use and sequestration can be
either positive (a source of emissions) or negative (removing
emissions from the atmosphere, creating what is known as
an emissions “sink”). Natural lands and street trees absorb
carbon, storing it in wood, plants, and soil. As a result, when
natural land is preserved or when more street trees are
planted, emissions from this sector are negative because
GHGs are being removed from the atmosphere. However,
developing natural lands or converting them to a different
form (for example, replacing forests with crop land) or
removing street trees causes carbon to be released, creating
GHG emissions.
This sector includes emission sources and sinks from three
types of activities: sequestration of GHG emissions in locally
controlled forested lands, sequestration of GHG emissions
in street trees in urbanized unincorporated areas, and
emissions caused by permanently removing vegetation from
natural lands or farmlands as a part of development.
In accordance with the US Community Protocol and
associated guidance documents, the sequestration benefits
in this sector do not include trees used for agriculture, such
as fruit and nut trees, in the total. However, fruit and nut
orchards in Butte County do help to sequester carbon. Studies indicate that many trees achieve
their highest sequestration potential at around 15 to 20 years of age, although this varies
significantly by species and location, and cutting down trees before they achieve this age causes
a loss of most or all sequestration benefits. Similarly, very old trees that grow very slowly may
absorb less carbon annually than younger species, although these old trees may have a
significant amount of carbon stored in their biomass. The sequestration benefits from Butte
Carbon sequestration is the
process of capturing and storing
atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Carbon sequestration largely
occurs through biological means
that absorb carbon such as trees,
soil, the ocean, and grasslands.
Carbon sequestration in Butte
County largely occurs on forested
land, through healthy soils, and
through orchards of fruit and nut
trees.
The Healthy Soils Program, run
through the California
Department of Food and
Agriculture, provides financial
assistance for the
implementation of agricultural
management practices that
sequester carbon while
improving soil health. It offers up
to $250,000 for three-year
projects. By the end of 2020, the
program has provided over $42
million to 640 projects. Butte
County community members
have received 33 awards (the fifth
highest of any county in
California), totaling almost $2
million.
Carbon Sequestration
and Healthy Soils
Program
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 47
County’s fruit and nut orchards is an estimated
5,770 MTCO2e annually, with most sequestration
potential coming from walnut and almond trees.
Emissions and sequestered amounts remained
constant in both years for all three activities.
Locally controlled forests and street trees have
not had their sequestration capabilities changed
by human activities during the inventory period.
While there was some development activity that
caused a loss of sequestered GHG emissions,
records of when the development specifically occurred are not available, and so the GHG
emissions have been assigned equally to both inventory years, hence the lack of changes.
These emissions do not include any changes in sequestration potential as a result of fire
activity.
Wildfire and Controlled Burns
Emissions associated with wildfires and controlled burns in 2006 totaled 3,630 MTCO2e, rising
in 2019 to a total of 15,730 MTCO2e. This increase of 11 percent is the result of natural variation
in wildfire patterns. Controlled burn activity increased substantively from 2006 to 2019 as a
result of increased fuel-control efforts. However, wildfire emissions are not calculated in the
totals presented in this 2021 CAP and are for
informational purposes only.
Wildfires can create emissions that exceed the
human-caused sources of GHG emissions that
are counted in the community GHG inventory.
Although the wildfires in 2006 and 2019 were
small, other years have produced much larger
wildfires with much greater GHG emissions.
CARB researchers estimated that the 2018
Camp Fire produced approximately 3.6 million MTCO2e 15 and the 2020 North Complex Fire
generated approximately 10.9 million MTCO2e across all burnt areas,16 some of which include
unincorporated Butte County. Although emission estimates are not yet available for the 2021
Dixie Fire, they are likely to be tens of millions of MTCO2e given the size of the fire.
Burn area near Central Skyway
Orchard trees
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December 2021
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When a forest burns, the carbon stored in the burned biomass is released into the atmosphere,
creating emissions. Intense fires that reach very high temperatures, which are expected to
become more common as a result of climate change, can burn larger, more mature trees that
are relatively unharmed by smaller fires. As a result, these intense fires can release more
carbon than a lower-temperature fire that burns the same acreage.
Under normal conditions, a forest will regrow after a fire, allowing the young trees and other
plants to rapidly sequester carbon as they mature. In the long run, this cycle of fire and
regrowth leads to a relatively balanced system. However, the more frequent and intense fire
regime that is expected under climate change, particularly in combination with more frequent
drought and extreme heat events, can make it harder for forests to regrow. This increases the
chance that forested land will convert to grasslands or shrublands, which sequester much less
carbon per acre.
County Operations GHG Inventory
The County operations inventory is treated separately from the community-wide inventory.
Some sources of emissions in the County operations inventory are not included in the
community-wide inventory. For example, energy use at County facilities in the City of Oroville is
included in the County operations inventory, but not in the unincorporated community-wide
inventory because that focuses on activities in the unincorporated area. In this example, the
energy use at the County facility in Oroville would be included in the nonresidential energy
sector of the City of Oroville’s GHG inventory. Other sources of emissions are included in both
the community-wide and County operations inventories, such as the decomposition of waste at
the Neal Road Landfill facility. However, since the inventories are not combined, these common
sources of emissions are not counted twice in any one place. The two inventories are not added
together or combined in any way to determine the “total” emissions.
The County operations GHG inventory assessed six sectors, as follows:
Energy includes the GHG emissions of electricity and natural gas used to power County
buildings, facilities, and operations.
Commute covers GHG emissions that result from the total annual miles that County staff
drive to get to and from work.
Fleet includes the GHG emissions released by County vehicles based on the total gallons of
fuel used.
Solid Waste accounts for the GHG emissions released from the collection of trash at County
buildings and facilities, as well as emissions from waste in place at the County-operated
Neal Road facility.
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Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 49
Water and Wastewater accounts for the energy used to transport and process the water
used and the wastewater generated at County buildings and facilities.
Refrigerant includes the amounts of refrigerants used to refill air conditioners in County
buildings and vehicles.
The proportion of each sector’s contribution to annual County operations GHG emissions is not
fully consistent between the years 2006 and 2019. As Table 15 illustrates, the highest emitter of
GHG emissions by County operations remained solid waste between 2006 and 2019, increasing
from 55 percent in 2006 to 71 percent in 2019. The reasons for these shifts are described in
more detail in Appendix A, Technical Appendix, of this 2021 CAP.
Employee commutes accounted for the second-highest proportion of emissions at 18 percent
in 2006, later declining to only 12 percent in 2019. Energy accounted for the third-highest
source of emissions in 2006, decreasing from 15 percent in 2006 to 6 percent of emissions in
2019, largely due to more renewable and carbon-free sources of energy. Emissions from the
fleet sector decreased slightly, accounting for 12 percent of emissions in 2006 and 11 percent in
2019. Emissions from water and wastewater increased very slightly due to the same factors.
Note that no refrigerant data was reported for 2006.
Table 15. Proportions of Annual County Operations GHG Emissions by Sector
Sector 2006 Proportion of Total 2019 Proportion of Total
Energy 15% 6%
Commute 18% 12%
Fleet 12% 11%
Solid Waste 55% 71%
Water and wastewater Less than 1% Less than 1%
Refrigerant — Less than 1%
As shown in Table 16, annual County GHG emissions increased by 17 percent between 2006
and 2019. The largest decrease in emissions came from the energy sector at 55 percent. The
decrease in energy is partly due to switching to more efficient appliances, such as LED light
bulbs, as well as the use of increasingly more renewable and carbon-free sources of electricity,
as previously shown in Table 3. The commute sector also decreased in emissions by 22 percent,
largely due to an increase in fuel-efficient vehicles and a decrease in County employees (2,267
in 2006 compared to 2,129 in 2019). Emissions from water and wastewater declined due to a
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December 2021
Page 50 || Butte County GHG Emissions
decrease in County employees and an increase in the amount of renewable and carbon-free
sources of electricity used to move and process water and wastewater. GHG emissions from
the fleet sector increased by 13 percent, which could be due to changes in County vehicle fleet
mix despite overall increase in vehicle fuel efficiency and may also be linked to changes in fleet
vehicle use or policies. Solid waste GHG emissions increased by 51 percent due predominantly
to an accumulation of waste in place at the Neal Road Landfill because of cleanup activities
from the 2018 Camp Fire.
Table 16. Percent Change in Total County Operations GHG Emissions
between 2006 and 2019 by Sector
Sector 2006 MTCO2e 2019 MTCO2e Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Energy 5,900 2,640 -55%
Commute 6,850 5,330 -22%
Fleet 4,550 5,140 13%
Solid waste 21,340 32,310 51%
Water and wastewater 90 60 -33%
Refrigerants* — 20 —
Total 38,730 45,500 17%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
*Refrigerant activity data for 2006 was not available.
County operations GHG emissions from each individual sector are described in more detail in
the Appendix A, Technical Appendix, of this 2021 CAP.
Energy Emissions
As shown in Table 17, GHG emissions from County
operations energy use totaled 2,640 MTCO2e in 2019, a
decrease of 55 percent from 2006 levels. GHG
emissions associated with building and facility electricity
use, building and facility natural gas use, and electricity
used for public lighting all decreased during this same
period, by 62, 48, and 88 percent, respectively. This is
primarily due to PG&E increasing its share of renewable
sources of electricity along with County energy Solar shade at County facility parking lot
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 51
conservation and efficiency efforts. A decrease in kWh for building and facilities and public
lighting (e.g., streetlights, traffic signals, and outdoor lighting at County-owned public facilities)
is because of more energy-efficient appliances such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) and LED lighting.
Table 17. County Operations Energy Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019
Percentage
Change 2006
to 2019
Activity Data
Building and facility electricity use (kWh) 13,310,570 9,607,510 -28%
Public lighting electricity use (kWh) 329,530 80,580 -76%
Building and facility natural gas use (therms) 577,560 298,240 -48%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Building and facility electricity use 2,750 1,040 -62%
Public lighting electricity use 3,070 1,590 -48%
Building and facility natural gas use 80 10 -88%
Total Overall Emissions 5,900 2,640 -55%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Employee Commute Emissions
Commute GHG emissions are calculated in VMT, representing the annual miles driven by
County employees to get to and from work. The data come from surveys of County employees
conducted in 2006, which were then aggregated to 2019 based on the change in employees.
Employee commutes were aggregated in place of conducting a new employee commute survey
because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As shown in Table 18, annual GHG
emissions from the commute sector decreased from 6,850 MTCO2e in 2006 to 5,330 MTCO2e in
2019, a 22-percent reduction. The drop in GHG emissions is driven by a decline in overall
employee commute VMT along with increasingly fuel-efficient vehicles.
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Table 18. County Operations Employee Commute Activity Data and
GHG Emissions
Sector 2006 2019 Percentage Change 2006
to 2019
Activity Data (VMT)
Commute trips 15,800,790 14,839,930 -6%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Commute trips 6,850 5,330 -22%
Total Overall Emissions 6,850 5,330 -22%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Fleet Emissions
Fleet data includes the gallons of gasoline and diesel associated with the County’s vehicle fleet.
The County does not have any electric vehicles in its fleet; therefore, electric vehicles are not
included in Table 19. Overall fleet GHG emissions increased from 4,550 MTCO2e in 2006 to
5,140 MTCO2e in 2019, an increase of 13 percent. This increase is due at least in part to the fact
that the 2019 GHG inventory included emissions from County off-road equipment, whereas the
2006 inventory did not.
Table 19. County Operations Fleet Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Sector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data (Gallons)
Fleet 471,730 566,800 20%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Fleet 4,550 5,140 13%
Total Overall Emissions 4,550 5,140 13%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
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Solid Waste Emissions
As shown in Table 20 County GHG emissions related to solid waste increased by 51 percent
between 2006 and 2019. The primary reason for this increase is an increase in the amount of
waste deposited at the Neal Road Landfill due to clean-up activities from the 2018 Camp Fire.
As this facility is under County jurisdiction, changes in emissions are part of the County’s
government operations emissions profile. There was a slight decline in the amount of waste
produced as part of County government activities, which is likely due to a lower number of
County employees (2,267 in 2006 compared to 2,129 in 2019).
Table 20. County Operations Solid Waste Activity Data and GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data (Tons)
Solid waste 20 19 -5%
Waste in place 2,624,150 4,758,220 81%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Alternative daily cover/
Municipal solid waste Less than 10 Less than 10 -9%
Waste in place 21,330 32,300 51%
Total Overall Emissions 21,340 32,300 51%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
* Activity data for the landfill subsector was not available.
Water and Wastewater Emissions
Water and wastewater GHG emissions decreased
33 percent from 2006 to 2019, as shown in Table
21. This is partially the result of fewer County
employees in 2019 than in 2006, which resulted in
reduced water use. Additionally, as sources of
electricity became more renewable from 2006 to
2019, this resulted in a decrease in the GHG
emissions associated with the energy needed to
move and process water and wastewater. Oroville Reservoir
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Table 21. County Operations Water and Wastewater Activity Data and
GHG Emissions
Subsector 2006 2019 Percentage Change
2006 to 2019
Activity Data (Million Gallons)
Indirect water use 41 39 -5%
Indirect wastewater* 16 15 -6%
Emissions (MTCO2e)
Indirect water use 20 10 -50%
Indirect wastewater 10 Less than 10 -61%
Direct wastewater 60 50 -17%
Total Overall Emissions 90 60 -33%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
*Emissions data for direct wastewater is not available for 2006.
Refrigerant Emissions
GHG emissions associated with refrigerants were not reported in 2006. In 2019, a total of 30
pounds of refrigerant was used for a total of 20 MTCO2e.
GHG EMISSIONS FORECAST
The County prepared GHG emissions forecasts for community-wide emissions and County
operations emissions for the years 2030, 2040, and 2050. These inventories are built off of the
2019 GHG inventories and serve as the foundation for the identified GHG emissions-reduction
targets discussed later in this chapter. These forecasts use demographic projections to predict
how an increase in populations and jobs in the county will contribute to an increase in
emissions over time. The demographic data used to project emissions are described under the
community-wide and County operations GHG forecast sections that follow.
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Community-wide GHG Forecast
The community-wide forecast includes a projection of emissions from activities engaged in by
residents of the community, such as driving a car, using power in their homes, or using water.
The community-wide forecast of GHG emissions is based on the results of the 2019 community-
wide GHG emissions inventory, combined with Butte County’s 2019 and future demographic
projections. Table 22 shows the demographic projections used to prepare the community-wide
GHG emissions forecast. These demographic projections are for the unincorporated county,
which excludes incorporated areas, such as the cities of Chico, Oroville, Gridley, Biggs, and the
Town of Paradise. Note that the existing demographic numbers come from the US Census and
California Department of Finance while the demographic projections come from BCAG. These
projections were used as the foundation of the forecast because they reflect work done by
BCAG to assess how the population of the county has shifted following recent climate disasters
such as wildfire.
The forecast assumes that each person in the
unincorporated county will continue to contribute the same
amount of GHG emissions to the community total, so that
the amount of GHG emissions changes proportionally to the
projected change in community demographics. Table 23
shows forecasted community-wide GHG emissions.
Relative to 2006 levels, unincorporated county GHG
emissions are expected to increase 10 percent by 2050
when not accounting for emission changes from land use
and sequestration. When accounting for land use and
sequestration, GHG emissions would increase by 15 percent
between 2006 and 2050. However, although GHG emissions
when accounting for land use and sequestration would
increase 15 percent over this period, these emissions
remain below where they would be without the reductions
afforded by land use and sequestration. These increases
assume that no action is taken at any level, including by
state, regional, and local agencies.
BCAG is an organization made up
of Butte County and the five
incorporated communities in the
county. It is the organization
responsible for projecting
population changes in Butte
County and fairly allocating the
region’s projected housing needs
to individual jurisdictions. The
population projections used in
the 2021 CAP were developed in
2020 and are the same that are
used to conduct housing
planning in Butte County.
In addition to these duties, Butte
County is also responsible for
planning for and securing funding
for transportation projects in
Butte County and administering
the B-Line public transit service.
Butte County Association
of Governments
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The solid waste and off-road equipment sectors show a significant increase in GHG emissions
from the 2006 levels. This is primarily due to the 2018 Camp Fire. For solid waste-related GHG
emissions, the 2018 Camp Fire resulted in a large increase in the tons of solid waste disposed of
at the Neal Road Landfill, as a result of fire cleanup activities. This caused a significant increase
in landfill-related GHG emissions, which will continue in future years as the debris from the
2018 Camp Fire slowly decomposes. The forecast assumes that the large increase in solid waste
tonnage in 2019 was a one-time event rather than a future trend, and the forecast of future
emissions in this sector is based on a multi-year average from 2015 to 2018 rather than the
2019 point-in-time data.
Additionally, GHG emissions in the off-road equipment sector saw a large increase after 2019
due to the beginning of post-Camp Fire reconstruction efforts. The increased construction
activity related to rebuilding is responsible for the large increase in off-road equipment GHG
emissions seen in the 2030 forecast, and while the projected emissions decline after 2030,
continued population growth is expected to keep off-road equipment GHG emissions well
above 2006 levels.
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Table 22. Butte County Community-wide Demographic Projections
2006 2019 2030 2040 2050
Percentage
Change
2006 to 2019
Relevant Sectors
Population 89,410 76,930 85,490 91,460 97,830 9% Off-road equipment
Households 34,980 29,510 37,530 40,370 43,410 24% Residential energy, off-
road equipment
Residents per
household 2.56 2.61 2.28 2.27 2.25 -12% None
Jobs 7,740 14,050 14,180 15,440 16,820 117% Nonresidential energy,
off-road equipment
Vehicle miles
traveled 464,302,670 533,627,000 613,632,270 705,759,230 811,857,710 75% Transportation
Service
population* 97,150 90,980 99,670 106,900 114,650 18%
Solid waste, water and
wastewater, off-road
equipment
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Demographic numbers are from US Census, the Department of Finance, and the Butte County Association of Governments, adjusted to account for proposed
annexations. Vehicle miles traveled are derived from the Butte County Association of Governments Regional Travel Demand Forecasting Model, adopted in 2020.
* Service population is the sum of populations and jobs.
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Table 23. Butte County Community-wide GHG Forecasted Emissions
2006 2019 2030 2040 2050 Percentage Change
2006 to 2050
Residential energy 133,350 90,720 119,070 127,760 137,140 3%
Nonresidential energy 58,670 37,350 38,180 41,520 45,160 -23%
Transportation 264,420 229,110 261,560 298,740 341,330 29%
Solid waste 40,830 61,120 65,820 72,580 79,070 94%
Water and wastewater 20,190 16,960 19,190 20,540 21,980 9%
Agriculture * 521,650 501,620 501,620 501,620 501,620 -4%
Off-road equipment 56,070 59,310 118,510 77,290 83,350 49%
Total (without land use and sequestration) 1,095,190 996,190 1,123,950 1,140,050 1,209,650 10%
Land use and sequestration ** -346,340 -346,330 -346,330 -346,330 -346,330 0%
Total (with land use and sequestration) 748,850 649,860 777,620 793,720 863,320 15%
Informational Items
Stationary sources 3,960 108,259 108,259 108,259 108,259 -
Fires *** 8,280 15,730 - - - -
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Note: Data shown for 2006 and 2019 reflect GHG emissions inventories and are provided as a reference to see change over time. The data shown for 2030, 2040, and
2050 are GHG emission forecasts that predict future emissions. The forecast numbers for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are based on projections from the 2019 inventory.
* GHG emission projects for the agriculture and for the land use and sequestration sectors remains constant due to the variable nature of each sector and the activities
within them. For example, annual amount of agricultural burning is highly variable, impacting overall GHG emissions from the agriculture sector and activities such as
restoration efforts. As reliable forecasts of county-specific agricultural activity are not available, these emissions are held constant.
** The forecast assumes that new development in unincorporated areas will take place on infill sites or on previously developed land, such as reconstruction following
wildfires, and that development occurring on previously undeveloped land will occur after annexation to an incorporated community. As a result, the forecast does not
assume a change in the average annual amount of carbon sequestered by natural lands.
*** Due to significant uncertainty about the amount of fire in any given year, emissions from fires are not forecasted.
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Annexations
If any land currently in the unincorporated county is annexed during the forecast period, GHG
emissions associated with the annexed area would be assigned to the jurisdiction that has
annexed the land. As a result, annexations would cause a decrease in GHG emissions for
unincorporated Butte County. County staff have spoken with individual jurisdictions and
identified potential annexations that may occur by 2030. Table 24 shows these annexations,
including the potential land acreage and dwelling units in the potential annexation areas.
Because of the decrease in dwelling units, jobs, and other land use and demographic indicators,
these annexations would cause future GHG emissions to be lower than those reported in Table
23. This includes land that is currently designated as agriculture or open space. As these lands
are annexed and move from the unincorporated county to incorporated communities, both the
emissions from agriculture and the emission sequestrations from open space decline as a
result. However, because of the relatively small size of the areas proposed for annexation, the
annexations do not have a substantial impact on total GHG emissions. Assuming all the
annexations listed in Table 24 occur by 2030, unincorporated county GHG emissions are
projected to increase to approximately 9 percent above 2006 levels by 2050 when not
accounting for emission changes from land use and sequestration, and to 13 percent when
accounting for these changes. Table 25 shows the results of the inventory with effects of
annexation.
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Table 24. Potential Annexations in Butte County
Community Annexation
Existing
Dwelling
Units
Non-
residential
Acres
Existing
Jobs *
Agricultural
Acres
Agricultural
Jobs **
Open
Space
Acres
Biggs Phased Annexation Plan 28 *** - - 577.6 1 -
Chico
Island Annexation Plan 535 - - - - -
Valley’s Edge - - - - - 1,448
North Chico 630 146 175 1,480 1 13
Gridley No planned annexations
Oroville No planned annexations
Paradise No planned annexations
Total 1,193 146 175 2,057 2 1,461
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
* Jobs are estimated using the average in the unincorporated county of approximately 1.2 jobs per acre of nonresidential non-agricultural land.
** Agricultural jobs are estimated using estimated average in the unincorporated county of 1 job per 990 agricultural acres. According to data from the Employment
Development Department, agricultural jobs make up 3.47% of the region’s jobs, which translates to approximately 490 jobs in unincorporated Butte County in 2019.
Geospatial analysis indicates approximately 483,000 acres of agricultural land in unincorporated Butte County, leading to a ratio of 1 agricultural job per 990 acres.
Note that this acreage includes pastureland, fallow land, and all other land not designated as residential, commercial, public, resource conservation, or timber. Some
agricultural areas will have a significantly higher number of jobs per acre.
*** Estimated based on aerial photography of the proposed annexation area.
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Table 25. Butte County Community-wide Forecasted GHG Emissions with Annexations
Sector
2006
INVENTORY
MTCO2e*
2019
INVENTORY
MTCO2e*
2030
MTCO2e
2040
MTCO2e
2050
MTCO2e
Percentage
Change
2006 to 2050
Residential energy 133,350 90,720 115,370 124,100 133,450 0%
Nonresidential energy 58,670 37,350 37,820 41,140 44,740 -24%
Transportation 170,310 229,110 250,990 269,200 288,720 52%
Solid waste 40,840 61,120 64,990 71,750 78,250 92%
Water and wastewater 20,190 16,960 18,580 19,930 21,370 6%
Agriculture 521,650 501,620 499,560 499,560 499,560 -4%
Off-road equipment 56,070 59,310 117,380 76,140 82,250 47%
Total (without land use and sequestration) 1,095,190 996,190 1,104,690 1,101,820 1,148,340 9%
Land use and sequestration -346,330 -346,330 -345,010 -345,010 -345,010 Less than 1%
Total (with land use and sequestration) 748,860 649,860 759,680 756,810 803,330 13%
Informational Items
Stationary sources** 3,960 - - - - -
Fires † 8,280 15,730 - - - -
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
2006 GHG emissions are provided as a reference to see change over time. The forecast numbers for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are based on projections from the 2019
inventory.
* Data shown for 2006 and 2019 reflect GHG emissions inventories and are provided as a reference to see change over time. The data shown for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are
GHG emission forecasts that predict future emissions. The forecast numbers for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are based on projections from the 2019 inventory.
** Due to limited data availability, stationary source emissions are not available for 2019.
† Due to significant uncertainty about the amount of fire in any given year, emissions from fires are not forecasted.
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County Operations Demographic Projections
The County operations forecast of GHG emissions is based on the results of the 2019 County
operations GHG emissions inventory, combined with Butte County’s 2019 and future
demographic projections. While 2019 is the base year for the forecast projections, the 2006
GHG inventory is the baseline inventory for the entire 2021 CAP and its targets. Table 26 shows
the number of anticipated employees per year that were used to prepare the County
operations GHG emissions forecast.
Table 26. County Operations Demographic Projections
2006 2019 2030 2040 2050
Percentage
Change
2006 to 2050
County employees 2,270 2,130 2,250 2,350 2,460 8%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
County employee numbers are from County reports.
Relative to 2006 levels, the County’s operational
GHG emissions are expected to increase 67
percent by 2050. These increases assume that
no action is taken at any level, including by
state, regional, and local agencies. The forecast
assumes that each County employee will
continue to contribute the same amount of
GHG emissions to the County total, so that the
amount of GHG emissions increases
proportional to the projected increase in County
employees. Table 27 shows forecasted County operations GHG emissions.
Butte County government campus
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December 2021
Butte County GHG Emissions || Page 63
Table 27. Butte County’s County Operations GHG Emissions
2006
INVENTORY
MTCO2e*
2019
INVENTORY
MTCO2e*
2030
MTCO2e
2040
MTCO2e
2050
MTCO2e
Percentage
Change
2006 to
2050
Energy 5,900 2,640 2,790 2,910 3,050 -48%
Commute 6,850 5,330 5,630 5,880 6,160 -10%
Fleet 4,550 5,140 5,430 5,670 5,940 31%
Solid waste 21,340 32,310 40,050 44,990 49,550 132%
Water and
wastewater 90 60 60 70 70 -22%
Refrigerants** - 20 20 20 - -
Total 38,730 45,500 53,980 59,540 64,770 67%
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
* Data shown for 2006 and 2019 reflect GHG emissions inventories and are provided as a reference to see change over
time. The data shown for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are GHG emission forecasts that predict future emissions. The forecast
numbers for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are based on projections from the 2019 inventory.
** Due to limited data availability, refrigerant emissions are not available for 2006.
Similar to the community-wide forecast, the solid waste sector saw unusually high 2019 activity
data because of debris from the 2018 Camp Fire deposited at the Neal Road Landfill facility.
This caused a significant increase in landfill-related GHG emissions, which is reflected in the
Solid Waste sector for County operations since the County operates this facility. The forecast
assumes that the large increase in solid waste tonnage in 2019 was a one-time event rather
than a future trend, and the forecast of future emissions in this sector is based on a multi-year
average from 2015 to 2018 rather than the 2019 point-in-time data. However, since the waste
has already been deposited in the landfill, it continues to result in high GHG emissions through
2050 as it slowly decomposes.
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GHG REDUCTION TARGETS
BACKGROUND
Establishing GHG emission reduction targets is a key component of each CAP to ensure that a
jurisdiction has a number to strive towards as they implement GHG reduction strategies. The
strategies and actions adopted as part of a CAP are often written in a manner that is
quantifiable, to ensure that each action the jurisdiction takes can be measured for its
performance in advancing that jurisdiction to their adopted GHG emission reduction goal.
Jurisdictions can choose to adopt GHG emission reduction targets that match state guidance or
can elect to increase reduction targets to accelerate action at a local level.
2014 CAP GHG REDUCTION TARGETS
Butte County’s 2014 CAP established a GHG emission reduction target of 15 percent below
2006 levels by 2020, consistent with the guidance for local governments in the first Climate
Change Scoping Plan. Table 28 shows these targets and their equivalent emissions. The
reduction target was also projected to reflect the timeline of the Butte County 2040 General
Plan, resulting in an additional reduction target of 42 percent below 2006 levels by 2030, which
uses the 15-percent reduction target by 2020 as an interim target. However, the 2014 CAP’s
reduction target is less stringent than the updated 2030 reduction target proposed under
Executive Order S-03-05.
Table 28. Butte County’s Adopted GHG Emission Reduction Targets and
Equivalent Emissions
Target MTCO2e
2006 levels 748,850
2020 Target: 15% below 2006 levels (equivalent to 1990 levels) 636,520
2030 Target: 42% below 2006 levels (or approximately 32% below 2020 target) 434,330
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
These targets are based on Butte County’s 2006 community-wide emissions total of 748,850 MTCO2e. These emission
totals include the emissions sequestered in natural lands and the reduction in emissions from annexation of
unincorporated land.
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As stated in Chapter 2, the County updated its 2006 community-wide GHG emissions inventory
as part of this 2021 CAP, using new datasets and current best practices to ensure the amount of
2006 community-wide emissions were as accurate as possible. This update concluded that
unincorporated community-wide GHG emissions in 2006 were 748,850 MTCO2e, as shown in
Table 28.
As shown in Table 6, community-wide GHG emissions totaled 649,870 MTCO2e in 2019, a 13-
percent reduction in GHG emissions between 2006 and 2019. Further, Table 16 indicates that
GHG emissions from County operations increased by approximately 17 percent between 2006
and 2019, climbing from 38,730 MTCO2e to 45,500 MTCO2e.
The decrease in community-wide emissions was substantial but fell short of the 2014 CAP’s goal
of reducing GHG emissions 15 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. Emissions from County
operations rose by 17 percent instead of decreasing as targeted by the 2014 CAP. This is largely
due to unique circumstances in Butte County that create barriers to achieving GHG reduction
targets. For instance, debris from catastrophic wildfires are deposited into the Neal Road
Landfill, located in the county, which significantly increases the emissions generated from the
solid waste sector, as discussed further in Chapter 2.
The 2021 CAP does not contain an inventory for the calendar year 2020 as a way of confirming
the County’s progress toward the 2020 target in the 2014 CAP. This is partially due to the timing
of the 2021 CAP process, but also because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly
altered behavior and GHG emissions starting in March 2020. The impacts of the pandemic
mean that 2020 and 2021 GHG inventories are likely not representative of “normal” GHG
emissions, and so are less useful in showing long-term reductions.
2021 CAP GHG REDUCTION TARGETS
State Targets and Recommendations
As stated in the Regulatory Framework in Chapter 1 of this 2021 CAP, the state has set GHG
reduction targets to:
Reduce 2030 emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels, codified into law by SB 32 in 2016.
Achieve carbon-neutral emissions by 2045, established (and not yet codified into law) by
Executive Order B-55-18.
Reduce 2050 emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels, established (and not yet codified into
law) by Executive Order S-03-05.
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The Scoping Plan, also described in the Regulatory Framework section of Chapter 1, provides
recommendations for local plan-level GHG reductions, expressed in per-capita form. Per-capita
targets establish a level of GHG emissions by a certain year per person, either for every resident
(most common use of per capita) or for every resident plus everyone who works in the
community (referred to as service population). These targets are usually expressed as a
numeric level of GHG emissions per person (for example, 4 MTCO2e per resident). Unlike
absolute targets, the total level of GHG emission reductions specified by per-capita targets
varies depending on the level of future demographic change. The Scoping Plan recommends
per-capita targets as follows:
Reduce 2030 emissions to 6.0 MTCO2e per capita.
Reduce 2050 emissions to 2.0 MTCO2e per capita.
These targets are based on the state targets and goals in SB 32 and Executive Order S-03-05,
discussed previously. California’s statewide target of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030
translates to 260 million MTCO2e. The state is projected to be home to approximately 44 million
residents in 2030, resulting in an average of approximately 6.0 MTCO2e per person. Similarly,
the statewide goal of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 translates to 86 million MTCO2e.
California is projected to have approximately 49 million residents in 2050, resulting in an
average of approximately 2.0 MTCO2e per person.
Since the statewide per-capita targets are based on the statewide GHG emissions inventory that
includes all emissions sectors in the state, the Scoping Plan notes it is appropriate for local
jurisdictions to derive evidence-based local per-capita targets based on local emissions sectors
and population projections that are consistent with the framework used to develop the
statewide per-capita targets. The resulting GHG emissions trajectory should show a downward
trend consistent with the statewide objectives.
Butte County Targets
As shown in the GHG Emissions Forecast section of Chapter 2, GHG emissions from community-
wide activities and County operations are anticipated to increase as the county continues to
grow. Table 6 shows community-wide emissions forecasted to increase 13 percent by 2050
relative to 2006 levels (when accounting for emission reductions associated with land use and
sequestration) while Table 27 shows that GHG emissions from County operations are projected
to increase 67 percent. These emissions, which are considered a “business-as-usual” scenario,
would not meet the targets set in the 2014 CAP and would not meet current minimum state
targets. Further, these forecasted emissions would not meet the established GHG reduction
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targets in this 2021 CAP, as shown on Figure 6. Table 29 shows GHG emission reduction targets
in other regional communities.
Table 29. Regional GHG Emission Reduction Targets
Community 2030 Target 2035
Target
2040
Target
2045
Target
2050
Target
Chico
45% below 1990
levels (2.76
MTCO2e per
resident)
- - Net carbon
neutral -
Davis * - - Net carbon
neutral - -
Placer County 6.0 MTCO2e per
resident - - - 2.0 MTCO2e
per resident
Sacramento
County *
4.8 MTCO2e per
resident - - - -
Shasta County -
49% below
baseline
levels
- - -
Yuba City -
49% below
baseline
levels
- - -
* At the time of writing, these targets are part of in-progress climate action planning projects that have not yet been
adopted.
The per-capita targets discussed previously (6.0 MTCO2e per person by 2030 and 2.0 MTCO2e
per person by 2050) are relevant and appropriate for Butte County, and are the targets set
forth in this 2021 CAP. The County is also setting forth an interim target of 4.0 MTCO2e per
person by 2040.
In addition to these targets, the Scoping Plan notes it is appropriate for local jurisdictions to
derive evidence-based local per-capita targets based on local emissions sectors and population
projections that are consistent with the framework used to develop the statewide per-capita
targets. The resulting GHG emissions trajectory should show a downward trend consistent with
the statewide objectives.
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The County established additional per-capita GHG reduction “reach goals” for the target years
2040 and 2050 that are meant to encourage greater reductions. These reach goals follow the
process used by the State to calculate its per-person recommended targets. The State
calculated these targets by calculating the GHG emission levels of the absolute targets and then
dividing these levels by the statewide population projections. The 1990 emissions level, and by
extension the per-capita targets that are ultimately derived from them, include all sources of
GHG emissions in California. The County intends to continue using the GHG emission reduction
targets in the 2021 CAP to streamline the environmental review process for new development
projects. However, some of the sources of California’s GHG emissions, such as petroleum
refining and oil/gas extraction, do not occur in the county, and therefore not using these GHG
emission sources as a foundation for the County’s GHG emission-reduction efforts allow for the
preparation of locally appropriate reach goals. Table 30 shows a comparison between the
State-recommended targets that serve as Butte County’s minimum reduction targets and the
adjusted reach goals.
Table 30. Butte County’s Per-Capita GHG Targets and Reach Goals
2006 2019 2030 2040 2050
Community-wide GHG emissions
(MTCO2e, absolute) 748,860 649,850 763,830 779,480 848,610
Residents 89,410 76,930 85,490 91,460 97,830
Community-wide GHG emissions
(MTCO2e, per-capita) * 8.38 8.45 8.93 8.52 8.67
GHG target (MTCO2e, per-capita) - - 6.0 4.0 2.0
Reach goal (MTCO2e, per-capita) - - 6.0 3.6 1.2
* Although total community-wide emissions decreased 13 percent from 2006 to 2019, the number of residents in the
unincorporated area decreased 14 percent due to annexations and migrations from wildfires. As a result, per-capita
emissions increased slightly from 2006 to 2019.
The County determined appropriate per-capita GHG emission reduction reach goals by taking
the State per-capita targets and removing sectors that are not applicable to the community, as
shown in Table 31.
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Table 31. Butte County’s Per-Capita GHG Reach Goal Calculation Approach
2030 2040 2050
Absolute emissions level, applicable
sectors only †
268.5 million
MTCO2e ‡
162.75 million
MTCO2e
57 million
MTCO2e §
Statewide population projections 43,939,250
residents
46,508,166
residents
49,077,081
residents
Absolute emissions level, applicable
sectors only, translated to per-
capita levels
6.0 MTCO2e
per person ǁ
3.6 MTCO2e
per person
1.2 MTCO2e
per person
State forecasting does not include GHG projections for 2040. The values shown here are linear interpolations between
the 2030 and 2050 values.
† This excludes the oil and gas refining and petroleum extraction sectors. See Appendix A for details on how these
levels are established.
‡ From the Pathways scenario in the Scoping Plan.
§ Estimated by reducing all sectors of the state’s 1990 GHG emissions inventory by 80 percent. ǁ The calculation yields 6.1 MTCO2e per person, but it is rounded down to 6.0 to maintain consistency with Scoping
Plan guidance. This is because the absolute emission level of applicable sectors does not factor in anticipated reductions
from the cap-and-trade program.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
GHG Reduction Targets || Page 71
Figure 6. Gap Between Forecasted Emissions and Reduction Targets
Figure 6 shows the County’s baseline emissions, forecasted emissions, and emissions target,
revealing a reduction gap to be addressed by this 2021 CAP. It is important to note that the
County and its community can work to achieve and exceed these GHG reduction targets and
that these targets serve as a foundation for emission reductions as mandated by state
regulations. The County is committed to pursuing more aggressive GHG emissions reduction
opportunities, as feasible, and as they may arise, which may allow for a more rapid decrease in
community-wide GHG emissions. Chapters 4 and 5 detail how the County will reduce emissions
to achieve its targets.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2006 2019 2030 2040 2050
MT
C
O
2e
p
e
r
c
a
p
i
t
a
Baseline Forecasted emissions Emissions target
Emissions to be reduced by existing
and new GHG reduction strategies
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Existing GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 73
EXISTING GHG REDUCTION STRATEGIES
There are several ways in which GHG emissions, as discussed in Chapters 1 through 3, can be
reduced over time. States, counties, cities, regional agencies, non-profit organizations,
businesses, and each individual can work together or separately to run projects and programs
that either reduce GHG emissions before they are released, or to work towards sequestering
carbon once it is in the atmosphere. This chapter explores initiatives that local and state
agencies are undertaking to reduce GHG emissions in and around Butte County. Chapter 5 will
discuss new GHG reductions strategies that are specific to Butte County.
CALCULATING CREDIT
This 2021 CAP uses a process called quantification to determine the amount of GHG emissions
reduced by each strategy. The foundation for the quantification calculations is the baseline
GHG inventories and forecast. Activity data from the inventory, such as VMT or kWh, are
combined with participation rates and data about the reduction in activity data from each
action to calculate the GHG reduction benefit of each strategy. This approach ensures that the
GHG reductions from the 2021 CAP strategies are tied to current and future activities that are
actually occurring in the community.
Calculations for reduction in activity data come from tools and reports provided by government
agencies; these agencies include the U. S. EPA, the California Energy Commission, CARB, the
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, the United States Department of Energy,
and local air districts. If accurate data are not available through these sources, the
quantification uses case studies from comparable communities and applicable scholarly
research.
The project team was able to identify GHG reductions for most of the strategies in this 2021
CAP. However, there are a few that do not have a specific reduction level due to missing data or
the lack of a reliable method. These efforts are still expected to reduce GHG emissions, but the
level cannot be accurately determined. These strategies are labeled as “supportive.”
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
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Renewable Energy Emissions Reductions in 2050
Strategies that only reduce electricity use or increase renewable electricity supplies will show
zero GHG reductions in 2050. This is because all electricity sold in California must be carbon-
free by 2045, as required by the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). Since there will
already be no emissions from electricity use in 2050, the County cannot count additional
reductions associated with electricity in this year. This 2021 CAP already credits reductions from
the RPS as an existing state program.
Local renewable energy systems and energy-efficiency strategies will continue to provide
several co-benefits to the community, including lower electricity bills and increased resiliency
against power disruptions, even if there are no measurable additional GHG reductions.
PROGRESS TOWARDS 2021 CAP GHG REDUCTION GOALS
To understand the level of action necessary to achieve the County’s reduction targets, this 2021
CAP analyzes existing, planned, and future actions. By first looking at past accomplishments,
the County can understand progress achieved and outstanding opportunities while looking at
state initiatives, which may result in further GHG reductions on a local level. Existing and
current efforts provide a foundation for this 2021 CAP. The GHG reductions from past and
current activities help inform the creation of new GHG reduction strategies to reduce GHG
emissions even further. These new strategies can further close the gap between projected GHG
emission levels and the reduction targets, and guide development and implementation of
future programs. Together, these efforts serve as the County’s multipronged strategy to achieve
reduction targets.
State Initiatives to Reduce GHG Emissions
California has adopted and committed to implementing policies to decrease GHG emissions
statewide, including from several of the major GHG emission sectors present in Butte County.
Many of these policies are identified in California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan, which was
originally adopted in 2008 in response to the California Global Warming Solutions Act. As
mentioned in the Regulatory Framework section in Chapter 1, the Scoping Plan outlines several
regulatory and market-based solutions to achieving California’s GHG emission reduction goals.
Successive updates to the Scoping Plan in 2014 and 2017 revised these state actions and
identified additional opportunities for GHG emission reductions, as applicable.2
2 The California Scoping Plan was undergoing an update at the time of this 2021 CAP publication.
Release of the updated Scoping Plan is anticipated to be released in 2022.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Existing GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 75
While the Scoping Plan and related documents lay out
several policies to reduce GHG emissions, the 2021 CAP
focuses on the strategies that have most direct and apparent
benefits to Butte County. This 2021 CAP includes an
assessment of the county’s community-wide local GHG
emission reduction benefits from these efforts, allowing the
community to receive “credit” for the state’s efforts. These
efforts are:
The RPS that requires increases in renewable electricity
supplies.
The Clean Car Standards that require increased fuel
efficiency of on-road vehicles and decreased carbon
intensity of vehicle fuels.
The updated Title 24 building energy-efficiency standards
that require new buildings to achieve increased energy-
efficiency targets.
The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that mandates
reduced carbon intensity of fuels used in off-road
equipment.
The Innovative Clean Transit Regulations, or zero-emission
bus mandates, requiring public transit buses to reduce and
ultimately eliminate tailpipe emissions.
Local Initiatives to Reduce GHG Emissions
Unincorporated community-wide GHG emissions are further reduced through local initiatives.
There are three local efforts that are expected to reduce GHG emissions:
Rooftop solar installations.
Adoption of electric vehicles.
Increased capture of landfill gases at the Neal Road Landfill.
As with the state-level policies, the 2021 CAP assesses the strategies that have the most direct
and apparent benefit to the county’s GHG emissions. The County and local partners have
programs that contribute to reduce GHG emissions but the data to assess these reductions is
not available. This includes improvements to agricultural practices, such as the use of more
energy-efficient rice dryers, efforts to improve the sequestration potential of soils, and
adoption of more fuel-efficient agricultural equipment. The County and local partners have also
California updates the statewide
Building Standards Code (Title
24), including energy efficiency
standards, every three years.
This CAP was prepared with the
2019 standards in effect. The
next update, the 2022 standards,
goes into effect on January 1,
2023. According to the California
Energy Commission’s impact
analysis of the 2019 standards, a
single-family home built to the
2019 standards uses almost 80
percent less electricity and 10
percent less natural gas than one
built to the previous 2016
standards. Businesses also see
significant savings under these
updated standards, including
using 11 percent less electricity
and saving over $18,000 over the
lifetime of the building in lower
energy bills.
Title 24 Standards
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December 2021
Page 76 || Existing GHG Emission Strategies
completed other efforts, which are not listed here,
that may not directly reduce GHG emissions in a
measurable way but still contribute to progress on
overall climate action.
Wrap Up of Progress Towards GHG
Reduction Goals
As part of the 2021 CAP, the County updated the
2006 GHG emissions inventory to be consistent with
current guidance and best available data, prepared GHG emissions inventories for the year
2019, and forecasted GHG emissions for 2030, 2040, and 2050. Based on the work completed
to date, the county’s emissions are expected to change as follows.
Inventoried 2019 GHG emissions were 649,850 MTCO2e, or 8.45 MTCO2e per capita. This is
13 percent below baseline levels, close to the 2020 GHG emission reduction target.
Forecasted GHG emissions, factoring in GHG emissions reductions from existing and
planned state, regional, and local efforts, are estimated to be:
10 percent below 2006 baseline levels by 2030, or 8.04 MTCO2e per capita.
16 percent below 2006 baseline levels by 2040, or 7.11 MTCO2e per capita.
14 percent below 2006 baseline levels by 2050, or 6.82 MTCO2e per capita.
Table 32 shows unincorporated county historic and projected future GHG emissions, revised as
part of this 2021 CAP.
Table 32. Butte County Historic and Projected Future Per-Capita
GHG Emissions
2006
MTCO2e
“Baseline”
2019
MTCO2e
2030
MTCO2e
2040
MTCO2e
2050
MTCO2e
Inventoried GHG emissions 8.38 8.45 - - -
Forecasted GHG emissions without
existing and planned actions - - 8.93 8.52 8.67
Forecasted GHG emissions with
existing and planned actions - - 8.04 7.11 6.82
All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not equal the sum of individual rows.
Note: Existing and planned actions include anticipated annexations. Although GHG emissions declined from 2006 to
2019, the unincorporated population declined by a greater percentage, hence per-capita emissions increased over this
period.
Sierra Nevada Brewing campus solar panels
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
New GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 77
NEW GHG REDUCTION STRATEGIES
A central goal of the 2021 CAP is to achieve additional GHG reductions to work toward the
County’s 2030 and 2050 reduction targets, recognizing that the reduction strategies in the 2014
CAP are insufficient to meet these reductions. To identify these additional reductions, the 2021
CAP project team began with the GHG reduction strategies in the County’s 2014 CAP. Some of
these strategies have been fully implemented and do not need to be carried forward into the
2021 CAP. Others are still applicable and can be revised or expanded to achieve additional GHG
reductions. There are also opportunities to add entirely new strategies to address new and
emerging issues not covered in the 2014 CAP.
The project team based the revised and new GHG reduction strategies on several sources,
including:
Past and recent GHG inventories and forecast.
The existing and planned state, regional, and local accomplishments.
Discussions with County staff to identify past successes and challenges, plans and
opportunities, and goals and priorities related to GHG reduction efforts.
Conversations and feedback from community stakeholders, partner agencies, and local
organizations.
Comments and results from various community outreach techniques, including community
workshops and online surveys.
Based on the results of this process, the project team outlined several goals that guide strategy
and action language. A total of 6 sector-specific goals were identified, with a total of 15
strategies split between them. These strategies include a mix of education and outreach
programs to encourage GHG reduction activities, financial subsidies, and other enticements to
incentivize GHG reductions, and mandates to require GHG efforts. These 15 strategies are
organized into 6 sectors (energy, water and wastewater, transportation and land use, solid
waste, agriculture, and government operations). Each sector includes one goal, as follows:
1. Energy: Butte County is home to energy-efficient and resilient homes, businesses, and
operations that rely on carbon-free electricity or other low-carbon, clean energy sources.
2. Water and wastewater: Homes, businesses, and operations throughout the unincorporated
county practice sustainable and efficient indoor and outdoor water use.
3. Transportation and land use: Residents, workers, and visitors rely on a low carbon,
connected, and efficient transportation network that provides equitable access to
motorized and non-motorized mobility options.
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December 2021
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4. Solid waste: Butte County residents, businesses, and visitors minimize waste sent to the
landfill.
5. Agriculture: Butte County is a state leader in maximizing the efficiency and sustainability of
natural and working lands countywide.
6. Government operations: Butte County is an established leader in rural climate action and
GHG reduction.
Each strategy entry includes a description, the anticipated 2030 and 2050 GHG reductions
achieved by the strategy at the projected performance level, and the recommended actions
necessary to implement it.
Note that emission reductions change depending on whether the proposed Butte Choice
Energy (BCE) community choice aggregation (CCA) proceeds as planned. For purposes of
calculating progress, the County has elected to quantify the strategies both with and without
the implementation of BCE, as shown in Strategies 1 through 5, Strategy 8, and Strategy 15 in
the following sections. Establishing BCE as the default electricity provider for Butte County
would provide an energy portfolio with a greater proportion of renewable and carbon-free
electricity for the unincorporated county, which would reduce the emissions generated by
energy use. Cleaner energy leads to a lower GHG emissions-reduction potential for the energy
strategies in this 2021 CAP. Accordingly, to avoid overcounting GHG reductions from renewable
energy and energy-efficiency strategies, GHG reductions for affected strategies are presented
both with and without implementation of BCE, recognizing the reduced GHG impact from a
cleaner energy source.
Each strategy entry also identifies the co-benefits of the strategy, which are advantages
provided by the strategy beyond GHG reduction.
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December 2021
New GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 79
The 14 co-benefits are listed here, along with the number of strategies each co-benefit
supports:
Expands Alternative
Energy
Improves Air
Quality
Improves
Habitability
Improves Mobility
Supports 2 strategies Supports 7 strategies Supports 4 strategies Supports 4 strategies
Improves Public
Health
Preserves
Resources
Promotes Cost
Savings
Promotes Equity
Supports 4 strategies Supports 12 strategies Supports 11 strategies Supports 3 strategies
Provides
Educational
Opportunities
Reduces Water Use Supports
Agriculture
Supports Business
Supports 6 strategies Supports 2 strategies Supports 4 strategies Supports 4 strategies
Supports
Community
Resiliency to
Climate Change
Supports New
Technology
Supports 3 strategies Supports 2 strategies
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Page 80 || New GHG Emission Strategies
Energy Sector
Butte County is home to energy-efficient and resilient homes, businesses, and
operations that rely on carbon-free electricity or other low-carbon, clean
energy sources.
Strategy 1
Continue efforts to promote energy conservation and efficiency opportunities for all
residents, building/property owners, and renters in the unincorporated county, including
support and promotion of programs for lower-income and disadvantaged populations.
Table 33. Strategy 1 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction without BCE (MTCO2e) 15,420 20,360 15,550
GHG reduction with BCE (MTCO2e) 15,200 20,050 15,550
Strategy 1 Actions
1a. Promote known energy conservation and opportunities on an ongoing basis, including
webpages and initiatives from state and regional agencies.
1b. Work with the California Department of Housing and Community Development to
provide increased awareness of weatherization, and other energy-efficiency and
conservation incentive programs, for those living in low-income housing stock,
including mobile home park owners and renting tenants, through direct outreach to
property owners, direct mailings to residents, and booths at community events,
among other such outreach activities.
1c. Participate in available and future programs to advertise existing low-cost financing
and provide additional low-cost financing for energy retrofits in the unincorporated
county, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for low-income
households, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, and other available
resources as applicable, to supplement available rebates from programs such as
Energy Upgrade California and the California Home Energy Retrofit Opportunity
(HERO) program.
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
New GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 81
1d. Work with North Valley Energy Watch to identify
ways that the County can help promote ENERGY
STAR or energy-efficient appliance upgrades in
owner- and renter-occupied units, such as through
County outreach materials, including existing home
improvement programs, rebate programs, and
program monitoring.
1e. Expand the distribution of free or subsidized energy
efficiency and conservation toolkits, devices, and
services to residents and businesses countywide
through existing opportunities, such as the Butte
County Library DIY Home Energy Saving Toolkits.
1f. Engage with tenants and owners of multifamily
homes through mailers and the County website to
promote energy-efficiency upgrades and to discuss
available incentives and rebates.
1g. Create an inventory of multifamily buildings in the
unincorporated county that were constructed prior
to 1980 and engage with the owners of the
buildings to promote energy-efficiency upgrades.
Improves
Habitability
Preserves
Resources
Promotes Cost
Savings
Promotes Equity
Butte Choice Energy (BCE) is a
Community Choice Aggregation
(CCA), a program that allows
governmental agencies to
purchase and/or generate
electricity for residents and
businesses in the service area.
Once BCE is formed, it will
purchase and/or generate
electricity for customers,
delivered through existing PG&E
transmission lines. The BCE
process began in 2019 when the
Butte County Board of
Supervisors and the Chico City
Council entered into a Joint
Powers Authority agreement to
create the BCE Authority. The
goal is to launch BCE service in
2024 to serve the
unincorporated county, the City
of Chico, and the City of Oroville.
Butte Choice Energy
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 82 || New GHG Emission Strategies
Strategy 2
Continue efforts to promote energy conservation and efficiency opportunities for all
nonresidential uses in the unincorporated county, including County facilities, office space,
commercial space, and industrial space.
Table 34. Strategy 2 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction without BCE (MTCO2e) 4,100 4,980 940
GHG reduction with BCE (MTCO2e) 3,800 4,530 940
Strategy 2 Actions
2a. Partner with workforce training programs, such as Valley Contractors Exchange, to
facilitate training programs to provide expert advice on energy-efficient remodels and
additions, and to ensure local contractors are kept up-to-date on local code
requirements and energy-efficient appliances and devices.
2b. Develop a voluntary educational program and business inventory webpage to identify
energy- and cost-saving opportunities at local businesses, and aid businesses in
making retrofits.
2c. Develop a County webpage that highlights local businesses completing retrofits and
saving energy.
2d. Support third-party energy-efficiency assessors and contractors to provide free to low-
cost equipment to eligible businesses and large energy users.
2e. Increase energy educational resources at school districts by working with the Butte
County Office of Education.
2f. Work with large energy users such as industrial complexes to identify the source of
energy use and work on ways to reduce energy use or make it more efficient.
2g. Develop a "Butte County Badge" recognition program for participating businesses,
homeowners, and property groups.
Improves
Habitability
Preserves
Resources
Promotes Cost
Savings
Provides
Educational
Opportunities
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December 2021
New GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 83
Strategy 3
Work with property owners and property management groups to increase overall building
electrification and adoption of modern, efficient appliances in residential rental properties.
Table 35. Strategy 3 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction without BCE (MTCO2e) 13,570 33,660 60,960
GHG reduction with BCE (MTCO2e) 13,670 33,880 60,960
Strategy 3 Actions
3a. Continue to implement required Building Standards
Codes.
3b. Provide incentives for installation of all-electric
appliances in new residential construction and
remodels through partnerships with existing and
future community partners.
3c. Explore and adopt, as feasible, local building code
amendments requiring replacement of natural gas
space and water heaters with electric models at end
of life during the 2022 and successive Buildings
Standards Code updates.
3d. Identify and remove existing code, permitting, or
other County requirements that provide barriers to
all-electric conversions of existing homes and
businesses and consider incentives, such as permit
streamlining or fee reductions, as feasible.
3f. Promote and support opportunities for residents to test electric equipment, such as
portable induction cooktops, to encourage transitioning from gas to electric
appliances.
Preserves
Resources
Provides
Educational
Opportunities
Supports New
Technology
Changes expected to be released
as part of the 2022 California
Building Code include:
-At least one appliance for
heating in most new homes
and buildings will be
powered with electricity.
-First in the country to make
heat pumps the baseline
technology.
-Increases ventilation
standards for gas stoves.
2022 Building Code
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 84 || New GHG Emission Strategies
Strategy 4
Support efforts to increase renewable and carbon-free energy generation, including wind,
solar, and biomass, and to ensure customer access to such renewable energy.
Table 36. Strategy 4 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction without BCE (MTCO2e) 3,910 5,110 0
GHG reduction with BCE (MTCO2e) 11,460 10,800 0
Strategy 4 Actions
4a. Develop and implement programs that incentivize
residents to replace old wood- and propane-burning
space heaters with modern, efficient, and low-
carbon appliances where feasible, while ensuring
that access to alternative heating is maintained.
4b. Promote and incentivize small-scale, on-site
renewable energy and storage systems for existing
residential units, nonresidential buildings, and in the
agricultural sector.
4c. Conduct community outreach and education to
increase awareness of the benefits of installing
solar, including direct outreach through mailers and
electronic communication, or passive outreach such
as flyers and billboards.
4d. Engage with stakeholders to confirm the County’s
review and permitting process for small-scale on-
site residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is transparent, predictable, and
streamlined and improve the permitting process, as needed.
4e. Continue to implement and periodically update the Butte County Utility-Scale Solar
Guide, and work to aid property owners and applicable community and business
members in installing and maintaining solar PV.
4f. Require on-site solar PV systems and/or energy storage for nonresidential buildings
10,000 square feet or greater.
4g. Encourage all new discretionary multifamily, mixed-use, and residential projects to
achieve zero net energy using on-site renewable energy and high-efficiency
construction.
The Board of Supervisors
adopted the Butte Utility-Scale
Solar Guide in 2017 as a valuable
resource for location and
development of utility-scale solar
facilities in the unincorporated
county. The guide includes the
County’s vision for utility-scale
solar facility development,
guiding principles, detail on the
entitlement process,
opportunities and constraints,
recommended standards and
design guidelines, and mapping
tool, and trends and approaches.
Butte Utility-Scale
Solar Guide
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December 2021
New GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 85
4h. Offer expedited processing for developers providing on-site solar, such as participants
in the state’s Homebuyer Solar Program, and consider adopting a fast-track permitting
process.
4i. Encourage all new discretionary multifamily developments to offer solar options or
provide off-site power purchase agreements, following the Homebuyer Solar Program.
4j. Support the introduction and rollout of Butte Choice Energy, the County’s community
choice aggregation program.
4k. Research and consider implementing an incentive program to encourage community
members to transition to carbon-free energy sources.
4l. Work with PG&E on its efforts to prepare the community for power outages through
battery storage programs and incentives, including the Self-Generation Incentive
Program and related energy resilience efforts.
4m. Work with community stakeholders and other partners to explore opportunities to
provide financial incentives to residents and business owners purchasing small-scale
on-site battery energy storage systems for existing development.
4n. Install back-up power sources at key community facilities, prioritizing solar panels,
battery storage, and microgrid systems where feasible, with fossil fuel generators
being used only as a last resort.
4o. Support efforts to reduce regulatory barriers to microgrids at the state level, such as
submitting letters of legislative support, among other tactics.
Expands Alternative
Energy
Preserves
Resources
Promotes Cost
Savings
Provides
Educational
Opportunities
Supports
Community
Resiliency to
Climate Change
Supports New
Technology
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 86 || New GHG Emission Strategies
Water and Wastewater Sector
Homes, businesses, and operations throughout the unincorporated county
practice sustainable and efficient indoor and outdoor water use.
Strategy 5
Continue efforts to promote water conservation for all residents, building/property owners,
and businesses in the unincorporated county, including support and promotion of
programs for lower-income and disadvantaged populations, and large water users.
Table 37. Strategy 5 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction without BCE (MTCO2e) 670 1,660 2,510
GHG reduction with BCE (MTCO2e) 650 1,630 2,510
Strategy 5 Actions
5a. In partnership with the water providers and agencies, encourage homeowners and
property owners to replace inefficient water fixtures and appliances and fixtures with
modern, efficient models.
5b. Publicize available incentives and low-cost solutions to water-efficiency retrofits in
existing buildings.
5c. Require new development projects to exceed minimum state water-efficiency
requirements, when available, for new water fixtures.
5d. Work with local jurisdictions and water providers to explore the feasibility of grey
water and recycled water systems in urban areas within the county and explore
opportunities to design and incorporate rainwater catchment and grey water systems
and the use of grey water for outdoor irrigation in existing and new development.
5e. Work with operators of county wastewater treatment facilities to provide treated
wastewater to homeowners for non-potable water uses such as watering landscaping.
5f. Develop a native, drought-tolerant, and fire-resistant landscaping list and require new
development or redevelopment to use this list in landscaping plans.
5g. Encourage all properties to adopt water-efficient landscaping strategies, including
more efficient irrigation systems and fire-wise, native, and/or drought-tolerant plants
with lower water needs.
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December 2021
New GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 87
5h. Actively promote water conservation and groundwater recharge techniques outlined
in the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Strategy, including the State Water
Efficiency and Enhancement Program.
Preserves
Resources
Promotes Cost
Savings
Reduces Water Use Supports
Community
Resiliency to
Climate Change
Magalia Reservoir
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 88 || New GHG Emission Strategies
Transportation and Land Use Sector
Residents, workers, and visitors rely on a low carbon, connected, and efficient
transportation network that provides equitable access to motorized and non-
motorized mobility options.
Strategy 6
Pursue Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies, implemented through local
land use decisions and through partnerships with local employers that reduce VMT
countywide.
Table 38. Strategy 6 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 360 330 340
Strategy 6 Actions
6a. Continue to work in collaboration with BCAG and local chambers of commerce to
promote TDM strategies, including publicizing of available materials, promotion of
incentives, and other strategies.
6b. Work with BCAG and local chambers of commerce to develop guidelines for Butte
County that recommend appropriate TDM strategies for local businesses.
6c. Develop an informational brochure highlighting employer-based TDM strategies with
available programs and provide as outreach to local businesses.
6d. Encourage existing employers to participate in TDM strategies, including creation of an
annual survey to track employee commute trends for all participating businesses.
6e. Continually work with regional partners to explore innovative techniques to reduce
VMT associated with commuting by agricultural workers and employees of large
businesses.
6f. Encourage new development to provide a mix of land uses and infill development, and
to be located contiguous to existing developed areas and infrastructure to support
connectivity and to reduce trip lengths.
6g. Adopt countywide policies to encourage telecommuting and remote work for large
employers, including improved countywide broadband internet infrastructure that
supports connectivity and virtual/remote work and services.
6h. Partner with BCAG and Butte Regional Transit to identify and implement needed
regional transit improvements to improve connectivity countywide.
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December 2021
New GHG Reduction Strategies || Page 89
6i. Provide facilities for carpooling and
park-and-ride programs and facilities,
such as the park-and-ride lot adjacent
to the Oroville Veterans Memorial Hall.
6j. Conduct an annual survey to track
County employee commute patterns
and provide an award to departments
with the highest percentage of
participation in commuter or public
transit programs.
6k. Work with BCAG and the Butte County
Air Quality Management District to
continually identify available funding sources to subsidize County employee bus
passes and incentives for other alternative transportation methods.
6l. Work closely with BCAG to implement needed improvements identified in the 2021
Transit and Non-Motorized Plan to complete needed urban and rural transit service
improvements to manage recent population shifts, increased traffic congestion, and
service to temporary housing for Camp Fire evacuees.
Improves Air Quality Improves Habitability Improves Mobility
Improves Public
Health
Promotes Cost Savings Promotes Equity
Butte County Transit bus
2021 Climate Action Plan
December 2021
Page 90 || New GHG Emission Strategies
Strategy 7
Prioritize bicycling and walking as safe, practical, and attractive travel options countywide.
Table 39. Strategy 7 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 820 770 820
Strategy 7 Actions
7a. Implement the policies in the 2011 Butte County Bicycle Plan.
7b. Partner with incorporated communities and regional agencies to develop bikeways
and trails that connect residential and non-residential areas and communities.
7c. Encourage active transportation use through infrastructure improvements and
striping of county roads to support safe and shared use by cars and bicyclists, such as
striping of county roads, sidewalk connections around frequently used facilities such
as schools and businesses, ADA-compliant street corners, pedestrian-controlled
crossing signals, speed monitors, and by re-routing crosswalks, as needed.
7d. Increase bike parking in publicly owned places as feasible.
7e. Increase the bicycle parking requirement for commercial projects to promote cyclist
safety, security, and convenience.
7f. Require large employers, including the County, to provide facilities that encourage
bicycle commuting, including shower facilities, and covered or indoor bicycle parking.
7g. Actively promote walking and biking as safe modes of local travel, particularly for
children attending local schools, by partnering with Butte County Safe Routes to
Schools, including support of the Bike Rodeo, in-class lessons, National Walk to School
Day, and future programs that increase school-age active transportation safety.
7h. Promote incentive programs to fund the purchase of bicycles or electric-assist bicycles
for low-income community members.
7i. Make bicycles and electric-assist bicycles available for County employees for use on
shorter business trips.
7j. Provide bicycle safety training and materials for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians.
7k. Work closely with BCAG to implement policies in the 2021 Transit and Non-Motorized
Plan to complete near- and long-term improvements to increase B-Line ridership and
improve operations and access to transit by walking or bicycling.
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Improves Air
Quality
Improves
Habitability
Improves Mobility
Improves Public
Health
Promotes Equity Provides
Educational
Opportunities
Butte County Transit bus
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Strategy 8
Reduce carbon emissions from transportation by facilitating a transition to efficient or
clean-fuel vehicles.
Table 40. Strategy 8 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction without BCE (MTCO2e) 13,210 42,330 108,050
GHG reduction with BCE (MTCO2e) 13,380 42,750 108,050
Strategy 8 Actions
8a. Work with regional partners to advertise available incentives that encourage a switch
to plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and electric vehicles (EV), through direct
engagement with the community.
8b. Promote transportation electrification by providing funding, as feasible, to aid
community partners in promoting a countywide switch to PHEV and EV vehicles.
8c. Facilitate the installation of alternative fueling stations to encourage residents and
visitors to transition from high-carbon vehicle fuels, such as diesel or gasoline, to less-
carbon-intensive vehicle fuels, such as natural gas, propane, biofuel, or hydrogen.
8d. Require the installation of EV charging stations in new commercial, industrial, and
large residential development, including multifamily development.
8e. Work with regional partners to encourage the installation of EV charging stations at
existing residential properties, including working with owners of multifamily
developments, single-family homes, and mobile homes.
8f. Facilitate the installation of public EV charging stations at existing and new residential
and nonresidential uses, including EV parking areas for parks and open spaces.
8g. Support use of neighborhood EVs, such as low-speed golf carts or other personal
neighborhood EVs.
8h. Support the implementation of BCAG’s Zero-Emission Bus project to help achieve
BCAG’s goal to have a zero-emission fleet by 2040.
8i. Support the implementation of BCAG’s Butte Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan.
Improves Air
Quality
Improves Mobility Preserves
Resources
Promotes Cost
Savings
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Strategy 9
Encourage hybrid and clean-fuel construction and landscaping equipment countywide.
Table 41. Strategy 9 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 19,490 9,460 15,160
Strategy 9 Actions
9a. Supply incentives for battery-operated or electric-powered landscaping equipment by
working with regional partners such as the BCAQMD.
9b. Continually track technological advances in clean-fuel construction and landscaping
equipment.
9c. Require hybrid or clean-fuel construction and landscaping equipment in County
contracts when feasible.
9d. Continue to work with the BCAQMD to provide an appliance trade-in program for
residential lawn and garden equipment.
9e. Continue to work with the BCAQMD to adopt and implement construction mitigation
requirements for all construction projects, including idling time limits, use of clean fuel
or alternative fuel equipment, and use of Tier 4 construction equipment, as feasible,
and enforce through the discretionary review process.
Improves Air
Quality
Improves Public
Health
Promotes Cost
Savings
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Solid Waste Sector
Butte County residents, businesses, and visitors minimize waste sent to the
landfill.
Strategy 10
Reduce the amount of solid waste sent to local landfills through innovative programs and
partnerships.
Table 42. Strategy 10 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 2,220 4,430 7,490
Strategy 10 Actions
10a. Require recycling as a condition of approval for public events at County facilities
and/or events permitted by the County.
10b. Work with regional partners to establish a source-reduction program that promotes
options to rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, regenerate, recycle, and recover materials,
including fix-it clinics, swap events, second-hand markets, promotion of the life cycle
emissions of various products, and shop local campaigns.
10c. Develop and adopt an ordinance to prohibit specific types of single-use or disposable
plastics, particularly for use by restaurants, caterers, and other commercial kitchens.
10d. Work with regional partners and non-profit organizations to promote the recycling of
construction debris by providing education and incentives to construction companies,
and by determining how materials may be donated and reused to help those in need.
10e. Improve educational efforts to community members concerning proper waste sorting,
including direct outreach through mailers and electronic communication, or passive
outreach such as flyers and billboards.
10f. Support development of alternative technologies to derive fuel or energy from waste.
10g. Update land use designations or zoning, as applicable, to allow community gardens,
farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and local farm-to-
institution programs throughout the unincorporated county.
10h. Require, as feasible, that new development use sustainable materials to prevent
destruction from wildfires, thereby reducing waste sent to landfills from wildfire-
related destruction and demolition.
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10i. Adopt countywide policies for low-carbon concrete in new development.
10j. Explore siting additional transfer stations for solid wastes and recyclables in rural
areas without easy access to the Neal Road Landfill facility, include Magalia, Stirling
City, and other locations as appropriate, to discourage illegal dumping.
Preserves
Resources
Provides
Educational
Opportunities
Recycling and trash can
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Strategy 11
Reduce emissions from disposal and decomposition of organic waste.
Table 43. Strategy 11 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 5,270 8,000 12,870
Strategy 11 Actions
11a. Coordinate the construction and maintenance of a
countywide industrial-level composting facility by
working with county jurisdictions, regional partners,
and local organizations.
11b. Provide composted mulch from the countywide
composting facility to farmers and other interested
parties to work back into the earth.
11c. Implement and monitor existing methane capture
techniques at the countywide composting facilitates
to reduce methane emissions from decomposing
organic material.
11d. Require composting facilities as a condition of approval for public events at County
facilities and/or events permitted by the County.
11e. Implement curbside organic waste collection services to comply with state laws and
regulations requiring residents and businesses, including public entities and
multifamily complexes of five units or more, to recycle their organic waste.
11f. Actively promote agricultural composting strategies outlined in the Sustainable
Agricultural Lands Conservation Strategy, including grassland compost application,
among others.
11g. Work with regional partners such as Butte County Fire Safe Council to explore
reuse opportunities for cleared forest residue.
Preserves
Resources
Provides
Educational
Opportunities
Supports
Agriculture
Composting has many benefits
to the environment, including
creating rich soil for growing and
reducing GHG emissions.
CalRecycle estimates that 20
percent of California’s methane
emissions are from organic
waste decomposition in landfills.
Composting
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Agriculture Sector
Butte County is a state leader in maximizing the efficiency and sustainability
of natural and working lands countywide.
Strategy 12
Work to reduce GHG emissions associated with agricultural equipment, in partnership with
regional partners, agencies, and members of the agricultural community.
Table 44. Strategy 12 GHG Reductions
2030 2040 2050
GHG reduction (MTCO2e) 18,400 25,750 36,790
Strategy 12 Actions
12a. Actively promote the Sustainable
Agricultural Lands Conservation Strategy to
assist farmers in accessing resources to aid
them in replacing agricultural equipment.
12b. Encourage farmers to participate in state
and air district-led programs to replace old
diesel equipment and vehicles with more
fuel-efficient models in advance of their
engine emission compliance date.
12c. Coordinate with the BCAQMD, Farm Bureau, and agricultural organizations to replace
diesel-fueled irrigation pumps with electrically powered pumps, including promotion
of rebate opportunities for solar PV-powered pump equipment.
12d. Continue to work with the BCAQMD to review the success of the countywide pump
amnesty program and registering of all agricultural pumps throughout the county.
12e. Support efforts by farmers and ranchers to install renewable energy systems on
appropriate agricultural land.
12f. Work with local partners, including Chico State University and the University of
California (UC) Cooperative Extension to track and share data on the effects of climate
change on local agriculture and support increased coordination among farmers to
share best practices and help respond to newly emerging impacts.
12g. Partner with local non-profits and agencies to develop a localized, energy-efficiency
outreach effort for agricultural processing industries reflecting characteristics of local
operations and available financing.
Solar panels on grazing land
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12h. Continue to collaborate with regional partners and agencies to publicize rebates for
electric and clean fuel agricultural equipment and consolidated farm equipment.
Expands Alternative
Energy
Improves Air
Quality
Preserves
Resources
Promotes Cost
Savings
Supports
Agriculture
Supports Business