Government Climate Action Plan

The Department of Public Works Energy Program and Capital Improvements Program are working to electrify the East Palo Alto (EPA) Government Center by replacing natural gas-powered equipment with high-efficiency electric alternatives. The EPA Government Center will be the first existing County facility to be fully electrified. Additionally, the Energy Program will start planning the upgrade of the County Office Building 1 (COB1) central plant. Once this project is complete, it will reduce the facility’s GHG emissions by 52%.

The County Foodware Policy encourages departments to reduce plastic foodware waste by procuring fiber based, compostable foodware for single-use and mandating that reusable foodware is utilized by departments that hire full-service catering for County-hosted events with 75 or more planned attendees. Departments such as the Maple Street Corrections Center, Youth Services Center, and Children’s Services Medical Therapy Unit have also incorporated reusable foodware into their operations. By using reusable food containers and trays for hot and cold meals, these departments are reducing the total amount of County-generated waste sent to landfills each year. 

Shifting the County’s fleet vehicles to zero-emission alternatives will reduce the County’s greenhouse gas emissions by 13%, which is a key strategy to meet GOCAP goals and state fleet emissions reductions requirements. The Department of Public Works and Sustainability Department are partnering to develop a comprehensive fleet electrification and electric vehicle (EV) charger infrastructure strategic plan. Once complete, the Plan will establish a pathway for departments to electrify their vehicle fleet, create a construction schedule for installing EV chargers at County-owned facilities, identify opportunities to reduce fleet size, explore alternative transportation modes for department operations, and evaluate fiscal impact and funding mechanisms.

The Sustainability Department and Parks Department are partnering to better understand land management strategies that could maintain, and possibly increase carbon stored in above and below ground vegetation and soils. The study will evaluate the feasibility of various climate-smart practices such as compost application and restoration activities and how implementation at scale would influence emissions reductions and other co-benefits like biodiversity and wildfire risk mitigation.

The Sustainability Department and Parks and Recreation Department renewed their Green Business Program recertification, reaffirming the departments’ commitments to sustainability by reducing water and energy use, diverting waste from landfills, and promoting the Employee Commute Program. The County’s Green Business Program plans to certify ten County departments in the next two years. Learn more about the Green Business Program.