Placer County working on Sustainability Plan

Placer County is in the process of developing a Sustainability Plan, outlining ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage climate risks that threaten property value, natural resources and quality of life.

Two community workshops this month will offer a chance for people to learn about the plan’s purpose and goals, and how to become involved in the planning process.

The plan inventories current sources of greenhouse gas emissions in unincorporated Placer County and will outline the county’s strategy to reduce them in a way that maximizes economic benefits from energy savings and operational costs, improves infrastructure, and further benefits the county and community.

Additionally, the plan is intended to provide a streamlined environmental review process related to GHG emissions analysis for land development projects.

It will also describe strategies to prepare the county and residents to reduce and adapt to the effects of climate risks like wildfire, drought and flood.

California law calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions statewide to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

Placer expects to complete its Sustainability Plan in spring 2019.

The workshops will be March 7 in Kings Beach (North Lake Tahoe Event Center) and March 8 in North Auburn (Community Development Resource Agency). Both will are from 6-8pm and will begin with a presentation by county staff, with staff available afterward to answer questions and take feedback in an open-house style workshop. The presentation will include an explanation of the plan’s greenhouse gas inventory , completed in January.