San Diego and Chula Vista Score High on City Clean Energy Scorecard
San Diego and Chula Vista received decent marks on a report released on Tuesday detailing efforts by cities across the U.S. to advance clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Rankings and Scores
The City Clean Energy Scorecard, a study conducted by the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ranked San Diego as No. 13 out of all 57 cities analyzed, while Chula Vista placed No. 16. Both cities showed improvement compared to last year’s rankings, but their overall scores did not exceed 45 percent.
Room for Improvement
Although San Diego and Chula Vista performed well compared to other cities, the report highlighted that there is still considerable room for improvement. Even the top-ranked city, San Francisco, only received a score of 63 percent.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The scores in the report are calculated based on data collected in five groups of metrics, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These metrics include community-wide initiatives, building and transportation policies, community infrastructure, local government operations, and clean energy equitability.
San Diego’s Efforts
San Diego performed best in the community energy infrastructure category, thanks in part to San Diego Gas & Electric. The report praised SDG&E’s energy savings assistance and multifamily programs, as well as the city’s partnership with the utility agency to administer energy efficiency initiatives. San Diego Community Power, a nonprofit Community Choice Aggregator, was also commended for its efforts.
Recommendations for San Diego
- Adopt retrocommissioning policies.
- Implement clean energy workforce development initiatives targeting disadvantaged communities.
- Establish building energy performance standards to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Implement affordability requirements in building incentives programs.
- Work with utilities to formalize partnerships with community-based organizations.
- Create or expand bike networks that connect people with a variety of destinations.
Chula Vista’s Efforts
The report highlighted similar strengths and weaknesses in Chula Vista’s score as San Diego. Chula Vista was praised for its installation of solar power at city-owned properties and policies that promote energy efficiency at residents’ homes. However, the city fell behind in transportation policies, particularly in providing subsidized access to efficient transportation options for disadvantaged communities.
Recommendations for Chula Vista
- Create more incentive and financing programs designed for disadvantaged communities.
- Set and track progress toward vehicle emissions reduction goals.
- Work with utilities to formalize partnerships with community-based organizations.
- Create or expand bike networks that connect people with a variety of destinations.
- Implement inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
- Develop equity-driven community engagement processes.
The full 140-page report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy can be found here.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article
1. SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content:
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Percentage of renewable energy sources in the energy mix
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals
- Availability of energy-efficiency programs for ratepayers
- Transparency in community-wide initiatives
- Access to efficient transportation options for disadvantaged communities
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | Percentage of renewable energy sources in the energy mix |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management | Greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals |
| SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management | Transparency in community-wide initiatives | |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Availability of energy-efficiency programs for ratepayers |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management | Access to efficient transportation options for disadvantaged communities |
| SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management | Transparency in community-wide initiatives |
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: fox5sandiego.com
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