Update on Climate Action ARP Expenditures To Date
- September 28, 2021: the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the initial American Rescue Plan (ARP) Expenditure Plan, which included $1,000,000 for projects under Climate Action within the Strategic Plan Implementation category.
- September 2021 to January 2022: Yolo County staff and the Yolo County Climate Action Commission (Commission) sought applications from the public for "early actions" to further Yolo County's climate action and sustainability initiatives and support the County's goal of achieving net-negative emissions by 2030.
- April 25, 2022: The Commission votes to recommend seven (7) priority early action projects to the Board of Supervisors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon.
- June 7, 2022: The Board approves the first six (6) early action projects, as recommended by the Yolo County Climate Action Commission.
- The Board of Supervisors approves allocating $149,845 in Climate Action ARP funds to support the Carbon Farming Partnership project, administered in partnership with the Yolo Resource Conservation District.
- The Board of Supervisors approves allocating $100,000 inClimate Action ARP funds to support the Electrification Retrofit Rebate Outreach Program project, administered in partnership with Valley Clean Energy.
- July 26, 2022: The Board of Supervisors reviews and approves Climate Early Action Grant Strategy, which leverages the County's investment in achieving the goal of a countywide carbon-negative footprint by 2030 by directing staff to secure grants to implement priority early action projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in unincorporated Yolo County.
- November 22, 2022: The Board approves allocating:
- $45,287 in climate action ARP funds to support the Yolo Resource Conservation District's role in the Climate Action and Adaptation Planning process; and
- $31,000 in climate action ARP funds to support Equitable Community Engagement Strategies.
- May 23, 2023: The Board approves allocating $130,000 in climate action ARP funds to support the Agricultural Equipment Replacement Program, which is being implemented in partnership with the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District.
In total, the Board has committed a total of $456,232 of the initial $1,000,000 Climate Action allocation, which leaves $543,768 to be committed to additional climate action projects, as outlined below:
| Project Title |
Lead Entity |
Amount Funded |
| Early Action Project: Carbon Farming Partnership |
Center for Land Based Learning |
$149,845 |
| Early Action Project: Electrification Retrofit Rebate Outreach Program |
Valley Clean Energy |
$100,000 |
| Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Support: Yolo Resource Conservation District Support for CAAP |
Yolo Resource Conservation District |
$45,287 |
| Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Support: Community Engagement Package |
Department of Community Services |
$31,100 |
| Early Action Project: Agricultural Equipment Replacement Program |
Department of Community Services |
$130,000 |
| |
Total Allocated: |
$456,232 |
| |
Total Remaining: |
$543,768 |
Additional Allocations | Three (3) Climate Action Initiatives
At the March 25, 2024 Yolo County Climate Action Commission Meeting, the Commission approved the allocation of three additional Climate Action ARP funding expenditures, as outlined below:
| Project Title |
Lead Entity |
Amount Funded |
| Early Action Project: Home Energy Score Pilot Program (Att. A) |
Department of Community Services |
$72,600 |
Weatherization Program
(Att. B) |
Department of Community Services |
$50,000 |
| Yolo County CAAP Tracking Dashboard |
Department of Community Services |
Up to $100,000 |
| |
Total Additional Allocation: |
$222,600 |
| |
Total Remaining After Additional Allocations: |
$321,168 |
These three projects have a total additional allocation of $222,600. If approved, there would be $321,168 in Climate Action ARP Funds remaining.
Staff recommend the remaining $321,168 in Climate Action ARP funds be allocated to implementing critical Phase 1 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan priorities, to be identified at or before the time of CAAP Adoption this fall. This allocation includes $62,000 in funding for two (2) CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellows to support CAAP implementation during the 2024-25 Service Year. Staff plan to return to the Board this October with a list of critical CAAP priorities to ensure all ARP funds are obligated by the December 2024 deadline.
I. Home Energy Score (HES) Pilot Program
Background on the HES Pilot Program
On May 24, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved, in concept, a Home Energy Score Program which directed staff to explore the development of an Ordinance that would have required homeowners in the unincorporated County to complete a Home Energy Assessment at the time they listed their home for sale. While immediate progress on this project was delayed due to staff capacity constraints, after consulting with the Board Subcommittee on Climate and implementers of Home Energy Score programs across California, staff recommend funding be used to develop a Home Energy Score (HES) Pilot Program to assess community buy-in and interest in conducting home energy assessments, analyze the voluntary energy efficiency upgrades undertaken by homeowners as a result of receiving a HES assessment, and to assess the costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benefits of implementing a time-of-listing program as the early action was initially outlined.
The updated project description for this early action project (Att. A) outlines a pilot program for the unincorporated County, wherein the County leverages ARP funds to administer Home Energy Scores free of charge for up to 60 homes, with a priority on low-income homeowners and renters. Following the completion of the pilot program and an analysis of program effectiveness completed by the County in partnership with identified technical assistance providers, the County will consider identifying funding opportunities to expand the scale of the program in the future.
Benefits of HES Programs
Through comprehensive energy assessments, the HES pilot program will equip homeowners and renters with the knowledge and recommendations to decode and enhance their residential energy efficiency, potentially leading to improvements that drive down utility expenses. The HES pilot program will provide participants with a straightforward list of home improvements that can reduce utility bills, particularly crucial for low-income families for whom these savings can translate into essential financial reprieve. While the pilot program in its current form does not provide direct incentives for home energy improvements, staff will connect program participants to the Home Weatherization Program (described below) and the Electrification Retrofit Rebate Outreach Program (ERRO), beng implemented in partnership with Valley Clean Energy, to receive direct technical assistance and help address financial gaps in implementing improvements.
II. Home Weatherization Program
Background on Home Weatherization Program
The Weatherization Program design originated from valuable insights and community engagement during the 2023-24 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) workshop series, where community members had the opportunity to vote for their preferred strategies for addressing the County's climate action goals. The concept of a Weatherization program was ranked among the top 7 climate action and adaptation community preferences Countywide, and was highlighted as a program of particular benefit for low-income community members and renters.
A home weatherization program involves providing materials and information needed to implement various measures to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of homes, ultimately reducing energy costs and environmental impact. These programs typically include activities such as adding insulation, sealing air leaks, and installing energy-efficient appliances and lighting. County staff recommend developing 300 weatherization kits to be distributed free-of-charge to community members in the unincorporated area, with a focus on low-income households and renters.
Benefits of a Home Weatherization Program
For low-income community members and renters, a home weatherization program offers several benefits:
- Lower Energy Bills: Energy-efficient upgrades can significantly reduce utility bills by decreasing the amount of energy needed to heat and cool the home. This is especially important for low-income households where energy costs typically consume a significantly larger portion of their income as compared to higher-income households (14% vs. 3% according to a study on the US Department of Energy Weatherization Program). The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), as detailed by the U.S. Department of Energy, underscores the economic impact of enhanced energy efficiency, particularly in terms of reducing utility bills for low-income households. On average, households that have undergone weatherization through WAP experience about $372 in yearly energy savings, expressed in 2022 dollars, reflecting a direct financial benefit from reduced energy consumption. The investment in weatherization returns about $1.72 in energy benefits and $2.78 in non-energy benefits for every dollar spent.
- Health and Safety: Proper insulation and sealing help maintain a more consistent indoor temperature, making homes more comfortable year-round. This is particularly beneficial for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and young children, who may be more susceptible to extreme temperatures. Additionally, weatherization measures can improve indoor air quality by reducing drafts and preventing the infiltration of pollutants.
III. Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Tracking Dashboard
Ensuring transparency and public participation in the CAAP development and implementation process has been a defining goal for the Climate Action Commission since its inception. Providing clear, accessible, and visually understandable information for staff, residents, and decision-makers is a challenge, particularly given the enormous scale of the County’s CAAP and the amount of data included in our updated GHG inventories and emissions reduction forecasts.
Due to limited staffing resources and the volume of strategies, measures, and actions in the CAAP, there is a critical need for support in establishing an interactive Climate Dashboard. Identifying a service that integrates climate planning data analytics, real-time scenario building, interactive visualization, and progress tracking and reporting capabilities into a user-friendly dashboard with accessible messaging (available in multiple languages including Spanish and Russian) will be critical for communicating progress on meeting our net-negative by 2030 goal, and aligning efforts across the County departments responsible for implementing CAAP objectives.
For this reason, staff are requesting approval of up to $100,000 of Climate Action American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to support this effort. Allocating these funds will enable staff to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of an interactive CAAP dashboard site, and ongoing programming and technical assistance support for a 3-year period.
Next Steps
If approved by the Board, the next steps for these proposed projects and the Climate Action ARP fund are as follows:
- June 2024: Launch RFP for CAAP Dashboard Vendors
- Summer 2024:
- Release solicitation for community outreach partners to support engagement for HES and Weatherization Programs.
- Begin Outreach for Home Energy Score (HES) and Weatherization Program.
- Fall 2024:
- Remaining $321,168 in ARP funding allocated to CAAP Phase 1 Priorities.
- Begin Distribution of Home Weatherization Kits.
- Launch Home Energy Score Pilot Programs.
- Launch CAAP Tracking Dashboard along with CAAP Adoption.
- Dec. 31, 2024: All Climate Action ARP Funds Obligated.
- Dec. 31, 2026: All Climate Action ARP Funds Expended.
|