The state of California is moving ahead really fast with its new energy
policies and GHG emissions reduction requirements. Part of its strategy
is to incorporate local Climate Action Plans (CAP) as a way of bringing
emissions down to meet the goals established by the legislature.
I've been working on this climate issue for over a decade now, as you're
probably aware, and as an architect involved with agencies for 40 years
I've seen the administration of policy at the state and national level
handled in very bureaucratic and overbearing ways. That's why I want our
community to take its own position and get square with the new state
regulations in the way that we see fit. These regs are now a reality
because of the way the state needs to reduce its GHG carbon emissions.
(check out this page)
In order for energy and water conservation efforts to work, San Marino
needs to put its OWN policy into place. Recently we had the experience
of the County imposing its bike lane strategy on Huntington Drive, which
fell through but also made everyone angry. This is the kind of thing that
we don't want to have coming down on us from either the county or the
state. But the way to tackle this is for San Marino to craft its own
policies and strategies such that they will meet the state's GHG
emission requirements, and also preserve our community character.
Otherwise they'll be imposed on us, like we saw with the bike lanes, and
we won't be able to fight it.
The reason the local action plan works is because it is a community
document that establishes guidelines for our city to implement,
following California state law. These guidelines are developed and
adopted by the residents of the community, resulting in a Climate Action
Plan. The GHG emissions are calculated by our consultant, so the numbers
are based upon the requirements used by the state. Once this plan is
finalized, it is then adopted by the City Council as part of the General
Plan. Per California Land Use Law, this is a final document that has to
be respected by the state, and would represent our own methods for
reducing the necessary GHG emissions. That's why the process is set up
that way.
~ Laurie Barlow
