The City of San Luis Obispo announced Monday it has received a "Sustainable City of the Year" award by Green Builder magazine in the small municipality category.
San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon accepted the award on the City's behalf during an awards ceremony that took place in Las Vegas.
"We are extremely proud of being recognized in the steps our community has taken, and are continuing to take, to ensure the City of San Luis Obispo continues to press forward with delivering on our sustainability commitments," said Mayor Harmon. "We have an outstanding City staff who is dedicated and committed to pursuing one of the most aggressive decarbonization plans in the nation that is widely supported by many members of our community."
The City was recognized for a number of bold actions it is taking to make certain it hits its goal of 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2035, including:
· Identifying climate action as a major City goal in 2017-2019
· Committing to citywide sustainability in the 2019-2021 budget with over $100 million in operational and capital investments in major City goals focusing on climate action, housing, sustainable transportation, and downtown vitality
· Joining Monterey Bay Community Power to begin purchasing 100 percent carbon-free electricity for the entire community in 2020
· Adopting policy through the Clean Energy Choice Program to support clean, efficient, and cost-effective all-electric new buildings with ultra-low greenhouse gas emissions
· Adopting a comprehensive new zoning code that requires electric vehicle chargers and supports tiny homes and infill development
· Replacing all City street lights with LED bulbs
· Retrofitting the Water Resource Recovery Facility for energy efficiency, including a methane recapture plant to generate power
· Creating a City staff "Green Team" to support implementation and collaboration
· Updating wastewater and water elements of the General Plan to include climate change impacts to water supply
· Purchasing hybrid fleet vehicles and an electric bicycle fleet vehicle, and transitioned diesel fleet vehicles to renewable diesel
· Adopting a community transportation policy with the goal of taking 20 percent of trips on bicycle, 12 percent on transit and 18 percent walking, carpools and other forms of transport
City leaders say they will continue to implement the community's vision for climate action through the development and adoption of its 2020 Climate Action Plan. You can find more information at this website.
