Local governments play a critical role in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions — below are a few resources to support cities and counties with limited staff and fiscal capacity to initiate Climate Action Plans.
Cool Planet Project
The Climate Registry administers an energy efficiency and climate change mitigation program called the Cool Planet Project with electric and gas utilities throughout North America. The Cool Planet Project is funded by Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric and funds funds the following for “utility customers” (e.g. local governments) FOR FREE for the first year of participation:
- One year membership in California Climate Registry (for GHG inventory)
- Third party verification of GHG inventory
- Public relations services provided to communicate environmental leadership to the public
- Strengthens an organization’s voice among industry peers and national policy makers
Cool California
Cool California is a partnership of the State of California Air Resources Board, Energy Commission, Public Utilities, and University at Berkeley. Its mission is to provide all Californians with the tools they need to take action to protect the climate and keep California cool. The partnership has developed a Local Government Toolkit to identify cost saving actions, financial resources, and case studies to assist local governments with achieving GHG emission reductions. Cool California provides resources to local government to establish baseline GHG emission inventories and guide the development of a Climate Action Plan.
Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC)
The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative is a new alliance to help cities and counties reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy. SEEC is a collaboration between three statewide non-profit organizations and California’s four Investor Owned Utilities.
SEEC Members:
- ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
- The Institute for Local Government
- The Local Government Commission
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company
- San Diego Gas and Electric Company
- Southern California Edison Company
- Southern California Gas Company
SEEC provides education and tools for climate action planning, venues for peer-to-peer networking, technical assistance and recognition for local agencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. The collaborative effort is designed to build upon the unique resources, expertise and local agency relationships of each non-profit organization, as well as those of the four investor owned utilities.