Ross receives 2023 greenhouse gas inventory; council agrees to update climate action plan with Marin partnership

The Ross Town Council heard a presentation on Oct. 9 of the town’s 2023 greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and discussed updating the town’s 2010 Climate Action Plan (CAP). Christine O’Rourke, sustainability coordinator for the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership (MCEP), presented the inventory and recommended a technical update of the 2010 CAP using the partnership’s template used by other Marin jurisdictions.

O’Rourke said the inventory — which uses 2023 as its latest complete data year — shows Ross’s community emissions are down about 22% since 1990. She said the largest remaining sources of community emissions are natural gas in buildings and on‑road transportation. Key figures presented to the council included:

- Electricity emissions down roughly 93% since 2005, primarily because the grid has lower carbon intensity. - Natural gas emissions down only about 1% since 2005; Ross households average roughly 1,300 therms of natural gas per year (higher than comparable communities). - Transportation emissions are down about 29% (vehicle miles traveled down 7% and more zero‑emission vehicles on the road). - Zero‑emission vehicle adoption among Ross resident‑registered passenger vehicles was reported at about 17.5% in 2023 and about 21% by 2024 — among the highest in Marin.

O’Rourke said MCEP has funding to prepare an update using a template recently used by nearby jurisdictions, and that the partnership would work with town staff to tailor measures to Ross’s size and staffing capacity. She estimated the town staff component at about 20–40 hours and proposed a study session on the draft in the first quarter of next year. She also noted that working with a council‑appointed subcommittee would be possible but might require additional funding beyond the MCEP grant.

Council members asked whether the update would target state goals or exceed them. O’Rourke said MCEP would base the update on state targets unless the council directed otherwise and that exceeding the 2030 statewide goal (40% below 1990 emissions) would be technically difficult without additional measures. Council discussion included comments that regional wildfire emissions can be large and that wildfire risk and vegetation management remain priorities alongside emissions reductions.

Council consensus at the meeting was to proceed with a technical update of the CAP through the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership, with staff to return with draft materials and a study session in early 2026. Staff said the update would rely on existing state and regional programs (including state building code changes and Bay Area Air District regulations) and would emphasize actionable measures the town can implement given staffing limits.

Ending

Staff will work with MCEP on a draft CAP update and present it to the council at a study session in the first quarter of 2026; any subcommittee work would require additional funding or staffing arrangements.