The Napa County Department of Conservation, Development & Planning, working with the Napa County Department of Environmental Management and consultants at ICF, have prepared a REVISED Climate Action Plan for unincorporated Napa County and the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the revised plan and a checklist proposed for use by project applicants on Jan. 18, 2012. Please visit the Planning Commission web page for the staff report and additional public hearing materials. Written and oral comments are welcome at the hearing. Written comments may also be submitted in advance by email to Hillary.gitelman@countyofnapa.org or steve.lederer@countyofnapa.org.
The REVISED Climate Action Plan provides a baseline inventory of green house gas (GHG) emissions from all sources in unincorporated Napa County, as well as strategies for reducing those emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 consistent with California Assembly Bill 32 from 2006. In addition to reducing Napa County’s GHG emissions consistent with State policy, the revised plan is intended to (a) reduce uncertainties and risks for individual projects being reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); (b) give project applicants the information and the flexibility they need to meet plan requirements by selecting emission reduction strategies that are consistent with their objectives and lower in cost than other possible strategies; and (c) lay the foundation for a local offset program so that any resulting habitat restoration, land conservation, and energy efficiencies would accrue to Napa County rather than elsewhere.
Many stakeholders provided valuable input and advice after reviewing the draft plan in early 2011. The draft plan has been revised based on this input and incorporates refined projections of vineyard development, agricultural emissions from all sources, and emission reductions attributable to third party certification programs like “Napa Green.” The revised plan also incorporates written “master” responses to the most frequent comments and criticisms of the draft plan.
At the close of the hearing on Jan. 18, 2012, the Planning Commission will decide whether to forward the revised plan to the Board of Supervisors for adoption and whether to begin use of the proposed checklist on a trial basis. The plan will not become effective until it is adopted by the Board of Supervisors. Once adopted, the plan will not be static, but will be reviewed and revised as needed to reflect changes in circumstances over time. This will be particularly important as the AB 32 horizon year of 2020 approaches, and after any new General Plan amendments that are adopted by the County.
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