[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6657079,"mediaKeyId","5091507-4b8c52aadd84392745795f0c3829fdc5","parentId",5091507,"title","Mountain View vulnerability assessment flags rising heat days and heat‑sensitive populations","audioSeconds",1622,"startMs",7083000,"endMs",8705000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5091507-4b8c52aadd84392745795f0c3829fdc5&start=7083&end=8705","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5091507-4b8c52aadd84392745795f0c3829fdc5/thumbnail_7083000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6657079/Mountain-View/Santa-Clara-County/California/Mountain-View-vulnerability-assessment-flags-rising-heat-days-and-heatsensitive-populations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657079-8bc4cc8bb10c6bc8db6a0538348458cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770923015&Signature=X15S0r4yzv5yvKxU~ozArWBNd0-68mUkdUWaFgg48fXiO5uvaaV-tGwUAQcXV33-au538s0T4BwXb7x0G2S-ACAVW5gPyD2v3WZvk8MmoQG7YvbJGDnafaL06XIPC74wEU8nwwzV~hdav-nbgfnnsAvv~zqnv653np3-gY1UCq4vD64i0UFFNBxa5sADVaSQO1pJMXE5Qy575IYXFt3n5-aVUhjpc4c67q8KHgVUYCDQBUL8vOfENiH45GP-eqViDnR-R9O8HR8-sU2JF~ZvG7OUIRVSI-CIIBEH0vyVTUllkI6UdG9gV09pSL79K8Ax4BA~z0ItXW~TQuh2IGKeeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coty of Mountain View","date","2025-06-27T20:44:58Z","article","Consultants with Cascadia and Mountain View sustainability staff on June 26 presented early results of a climate vulnerability assessment that show intense increases in extreme-heat exposure by mid‑century and the end of the century, with distinct groups and neighborhoods at elevated risk.

Celine Fujikawa of Cascadia said the draft assessment is intended to identify local vulnerabilities, inform strategies tailored to Mountain View, and improve cross‑departmental planning. Fujikawa said Mountain View could see as many as 17 extreme heat days per year by the end of the century under a high‑emissions scenario and up to 38 warm nights per year. She explained that nights that remain above about 61.8°F reduce the body’s ability to recover and heighten health risks for people without cooled shelter.

Fujikawa summarized how the team assessed impacts across sectors: health and well‑being (physical and mental health effects), emergency management (impacts on shelters, fire and other services), economic impacts (productivity and business interruption) and buildings and infrastructure (degradation of roads and utilities). The consultant highlighted the populations most at risk: adults 65 and older, children under 5, outdoor workers (construction, warehousing, transportation), low‑income renters without air conditioning and people living in vehicles.

The assessment documented local metrics the team is using: historical averages of extreme‑heat days (about two per year in 1961–1990) and projections to 6 days per year by mid‑century and 17 per year by late century (high scenario). The number of days over 80°F is projected to rise from about 23 historically to about 70 by mid‑century and 124 by late century under a high‑emissions pathway. The consultants said Santa Clara County hospitals recorded hundreds of heat‑related hospitalizations and thousands of emergency‑room visits between 2012 and 2020, underlining the real health system impacts of rising heat.

Staff said the CVA will expand to analyze extreme storms, wildfire smoke and sea‑level risks, and will produce spatial “hot‑spot” maps to identify neighborhoods and critical assets for targeted responses. Rebecca Lucky, sustainability manager, said the city proposes to ground‑truth findings with partner organizations that serve vulnerable residents and to return with a fuller draft in the fall and a final report by the end of 2025.

Ending: Staff listed possible adaptation and preparedness follow‑ups — increased cooling centers and outreach to people living in vehicles, targeted tree‑planting and green‑infrastructure projects to reduce local heat islands, review of stormwater hotspots, and coordination with emergency services — and asked departments and community partners to help refine solutions in coming months.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 26, 2025 Council Sustainability Committee","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and consultants presented a 30% complete climate vulnerability assessment update showing sharp projected increases in extreme heat days and warm nights, with health and infrastructure consequences concentrated among older adults, outdoor workers, renters without air conditioning and unhoused residents.","taxTitle","Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2861,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6657084,"Cascadia modeling shows policy shifts reshape Mountain View's path to earlier carbon goals",1181,4656000,5837000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5091507-4b8c52aadd84392745795f0c3829fdc5&start=4656&end=5837","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5091507-4b8c52aadd84392745795f0c3829fdc5/thumbnail_4656000.jpg","/articles/6657084/Mountain-View/Santa-Clara-County/California/Cascadia-modeling-shows-policy-shifts-reshape-Mountain-Views-path-to-earlier-carbon-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657084-123dcf80df71cd61aa98b283f56a942b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770923015&Signature=NGj86qIWWOK0xdFb1rqtXq3wOomVvmSQS4vYR3pE34f0qg3~BH7ZG9LN1-CoaYqgqSvPNozLuMrvylpahsM7zO03LqkDlZtzfPylYyMfFLjT5RUd~QJNzoiO25yoEtuN1~awaKphr2RA2ZHjlcX-AZXZuwt500LkOeSXeyEyb5XcgCs94xNYLv9VBANSffSgzb-b4SuvT-reiWFKonpQc9msKqkKYPf1-Cr118c46X2R3jhl-Anw~Q2TxJL7TdKak4umsuY7wm2sFqGzMv85hGe5q-rIiKo5tfH8MKb4DabWjJYnBYnZCSad~grF96Lq3Sqe2AE2fU4YjWibpCUK0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultants contracted by the city presented a three‑scenario greenhouse‑gas forecast on June 26 that shows Mountain View’s ability to achieve accelerated carbon‑neutral targets (2035 or 2040) depends heavily on state and federal actions — and on the fate of vehicle‑emissions rules.

Cascadia Consulting told the Council Sustainability Committee that a “business as usual” scenario, which assumes no additional policies, would increase Mountain View’s community emissions well above the city’s 2022 baseline as population and employment grow. Under an “adjusted business as usual” scenario that includes expected federal, state and regional measures and current electric‑vehicle market trends, the city would still face higher emissions in 2035 and 2040 than in 2022, with reductions only materializing by 2045 in the model used.

Haley Weinberg of Cascadia summarized the model’s near‑term results: “Emissions are expected to increase by 60% by 2035, 81% by 2040, and 103% by 2045,” compared with Mountain View’s 2022 community inventory in the unmitigated scenario. The consultants emphasized that those numbers change substantially when California’s vehicle‑emissions policy — often called Clean Cars II in the briefing — is included. The ability of California to implement its vehicle standard was described at the meeting as undercut when federal waivers were revoked; Cascadia noted the revocation materially reduces the modelled emissions benefits from transportation regulations.

The analysis incorporated several specific adopted policies and market trends: SB 100 (California’s renewable-portfolio standard), the California Green Building Standards Code (energy-efficiency improvements for new construction), Bay Area Air District rules on replacement of gas furnaces and water heaters, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and existing EV market trends. Cascadia also modeled the statewide short‑lived climate pollutant rule (SB 1383) for waste reductions. The consultants said on‑road vehicles represented 63% of Mountain View’s 2022 inventory and therefore dominate the emissions gap when vehicle standards are weaker.

Cascadia presented two adjusted scenarios: one that included California’s zero‑emission vehicle sales measures and one that excluded them after the federal waiver revocation. Without the Clean Cars rule in force, the consultants reported Mountain View would be responsible for reducing roughly 44% of its 2045 business‑as‑usual emissions by local action; with the rule in place, the modeled local share was far smaller. The consultants cautioned the metrics are sensitive to policy assumptions and that market trends (consumer EV adoption) were included to reflect continuing electrification even amid regulatory uncertainty.

Rebecca Lucky, the city’s sustainability manager, told the committee the project’s next phase will model up to 10 local decarbonization actions this summer — items that could form a five‑year strategy to reduce the remaining emissions gap. Potential local measures that staff flagged included reach codes (discussed elsewhere in the meeting), time‑of‑sale electrification mechanisms, outreach and education, transportation‑demand measures, EV charging at multifamily properties, incentives for e‑bikes and shared micro‑mobility, and electric community shuttles. Staff said they will return with modeled impacts and a recommended prioritization later this year.

Ending: Staff said they will refine the memo to reflect rapidly changing state and federal policy developments, incorporate Cascadia’s local‑action modeling this summer, and return to the committee with detailed recommendations by late 2025 for consideration in the city’s climate work plan.","Consultants presented greenhouse-gas forecasts showing that federal and state policies substantially affect Mountain View’s emissions projections; with the Clean Cars rule removed, local actions would need to address a much larger share of future emissions, particularly on‑road transportation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6657089,"Mountain View staff outline 2025 reach-code options as state pause looms",1639,241000,1880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5091507-4b8c52aadd84392745795f0c3829fdc5&start=241&end=1880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5091507-4b8c52aadd84392745795f0c3829fdc5/thumbnail_241000.jpg","/articles/6657089/Mountain-View/Santa-Clara-County/California/Mountain-View-staff-outline-2025-reach-code-options-as-state-pause-looms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657089-c90d65533eca79483f5db92717b79f0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770923015&Signature=dloGyOhRwyTCdUA2eluArZ-wX-zviCm9WYLqeAVVUljufXIs8xvKoT~KD~iseam5B7blpT-7hQEofrAs9qrfn-86oEspBxkIizEMTCw6~gagpAAMCJRAwtCVrQ6~ewsG1fJTJcnBuXQbqaPwdoYLU4dcsCBtr5hhv1Ubk1OSfJe1GM-J4l~61RkpMjkIXFn~4ijbAx8Hz1asIXp1HfXqC0kYM~rcO0AGAeoobDzBfDE3pZklbr1szH8LsdpIalIMcx-BJOWH1HkY6YT9VbnoYJwYBl9YgGHNzgydsVMxRTkJ3wZo4vJ3Nh0N~TnQCyYqTq1ddljXzKm09g9gcwxipg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mountain View planning staff on June 26 presented four primary reach-code options for the 2025 triennial building-code update and said a fast-moving state bill could prevent adoption of many local amendments unless the city meets a September 30 submission-and-acceptance deadline.

The options staff described include: requiring heat-pump space conditioning when replacing or adding air-conditioning systems (an “AC-to-heat-pump” path); expanding “electric readiness” or prewiring requirements for smaller renovations and appliance replacements; offering an energy-performance or “FlexPath” menu of compliance options above state code; and a voluntary zoning floor-area incentive for applicants who build all‑electric. Lindsay Hagan, assistant community development director, told the committee, “It’s a pretty tall order” to complete technical work, outreach and state approvals in the truncated timeline.

The discussion matters because local reach codes are the primary tool Mountain View uses to push residential electrification and other efficiency measures beyond the statewide California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Hagan said state law requires local amendments to the energy code (Part 6 of Title 24) to be supported by a cost‑effectiveness study and accepted by the California Energy Commission. She said cities commonly share studies and that Silicon Valley Clean Energy has assisted Mountain View in prior cycles.

Staff described the four reach-code concepts in detail. The AC-to-heat-pump item would require a heat-pump space conditioner when a resident replaces or installs cooling equipment, or alternatively allow retention of conventional AC if the owner completes other energy measures (attic insulation, improved duct sealing). Hagan said the measure would require amending both the energy code and the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11) and therefore a cost‑effectiveness study and Energy Commission approval.

The expanded electric-readiness (prewiring) proposal would lower the threshold from the city’s current “new construction and 50% major remodels” standard to capture smaller renovations and individual appliance replacements. Staff explained the approach would require reserving panel space, extending conduit within three feet of the appliance and installing either a 240‑volt circuit or an empty conduit. Hagan said the city is exploring alternative calculation methods that pair load‑management or prescription measures to avoid costly electrical panel upsizing.

The FlexPath or energy‑performance option would create a points‑based menu of measures above state minimums; projects meeting the points threshold would comply without mandating specific all‑electric equipment. Staff characterized FlexPath as technically complicated and noted a cost‑effectiveness study would be required; San Jose and a few other Bay Area cities have implemented similar approaches.

Finally, staff proposed a voluntary zoning incentive that would allow additional floor area in return for all‑electric construction. Because zoning lives in the municipal zoning code rather than the building code, Hagan said the incentive would not be subject to the state pause discussed below and could proceed on a separate schedule, with Planning Commission and City Council review.

Regulatory context dominated the discussion. Hagan reviewed Assembly Bill “AB 306” (as presented to the committee), which, in its then‑current form, would prohibit local amendments that affect residential development unless narrowly qualified, effectively pausing many local reach-code changes through June 1, 2031 (staff used a conservative interpretation centered on a September 30 deadline introduced in late amendments). Hagan described a compressed timetable caused by the bill being added to a state budget vehicle that could accelerate final approval. She said the city would need, at a minimum, adopted ordinances submitted and accepted in writing by the state by that conservative September 30 cutoff to retain the ability to implement new local requirements now.

Committee members pressed staff on sequencing, enforcement and public outreach. Several members favored prioritizing the AC‑to‑heat‑pump requirement and an expanded prewiring requirement as the most likely to be technically implementable within the constrained timeline. Council members suggested using the zoning incentive concept as a longer‑term measure that could adopt a points structure informed by FlexPath but handled outside the building-code cycle. Member comments repeatedly emphasized public education and targeted outreach to help homeowners understand insulation, heat‑pump benefits and incentives.

No formal council action occurred at the meeting. Hagan said staff planned two council hearings in September if the timetable required it and that, if the state deadline proved unattainable, Mountain View would still adopt a 2025 code update later in the year that aligns with the state baseline but without new local requirements.

Ending: Staff said they expect to receive the 2025 state code package imminently and will work with Silicon Valley Clean Energy and technical consultants over July and August to prepare drafts for Council consideration in September; final state acceptance would be required before any local amendments are enforceable.
","City staff briefed the Council Sustainability Committee on potential 2025 local building-code (reach code) amendments — including an AC-to-heat-pump requirement, expanded electric prewiring, an energy-performance (FlexPath) option and a zoning incentive — and warned a new state law could bar many local amendments after a September 30 deadline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mountain View vulnerability assessment flags rising heat days and heat‑sensitive populations

Cascadia modeling shows policy shifts reshape Mountain View's path to earlier carbon goals

Mountain View staff outline 2025 reach-code options as state pause looms