Burbank reports 11% drop in greenhouse‑gas emissions since 2019; BWP outlines next steps and costs

Burbank Water and Power (BWP) told the City Council on Feb. 11 that the city’s greenhouse‑gas emissions declined about 11% between 2019 and 2022 and staff has started implementing measures in the council‑adopted Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan.

The status report, prepared with Rincon Consultants and presented by BWP sustainability officer Drew Johnstone, included a 2019 baseline and a 2022 inventory showing an overall 11% decrease in community greenhouse‑gas emissions. BWP said the largest remaining sources are electricity use in buildings and on‑road transportation.

Why it matters: The inventory helps the city target investments and programs where they will reduce emissions most effectively — for example, commercial‑sector efficiency measures and electrification of buildings and vehicles. Staff told the council the full plan will require significant investment and that individual actions will return to council for approval and funding.

Key findings and targets: Staff said electricity generation and on‑road transportation make up the two largest slices of community emissions; roughly 41% of emissions are tied to electricity and within that category commercial buildings account for about two‑thirds of electricity use. BWP said it aims to reduce community energy use and support electrification programs that will displace fossil‑fuel equipment and expand electric vehicle charging and public chargers.

BWP reported program progress and items staff will pursue, including: - utility rebates and incentives to help customers convert gas water heaters and HVAC to electric heat pumps (BWP said it has incentivized roughly 60 residential heat‑pump installations in the past year), - a target to support electrification of thousands of households and commercial properties by 2030 (BWP cited a community target of 3,000 residential heat‑pump conversions and 170 commercial conversions by 2030), - a solar and storage siting study for municipal sites and potential community solar plus battery projects, and - an effort to partner with the local housing authority to electrify affordable housing.

Public comment and concerns: During public comment David Donahue, a local business owner, asked for detailed cost analysis and public outreach, saying a BWP implementation estimate cited in public discussion appeared large: “A $2,000,000,000 price tag is massive,” he said. BWP leadership told council the integrated resources plan (IRP) under state law will inform rate and investment projections; staff estimated potential rate impacts of roughly 4–5% annually for perpetuity under the IRP’s compliance pathways and said they are pursuing state and federal grant funding to offset costs.

Water, conservation and recycled water: Sustainable‑Burbank Commission member Vicki Kirschenbaum told council the city must push conservation and increase recycled‑water use. In response BWP staff said the city is expanding recycled‑water possibilities and is preparing feasibility work for direct/indirect potable reuse and will prioritize water‑saving landscaping and expanded recycled‑water customers where feasible.

Next steps: Staff said they will form an interdepartmental working group to coordinate implementation, continue public outreach, pursue grant funding and return with specific project proposals and budget requests for council approval. A community dashboard and a status report are posted online as part of the city’s tracking program.

Quotable: “Emissions were reduced 11% from 2019 to 2022,” Drew Johnstone said in presenting the inventory. “This is obviously a positive trend.”

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff to schedule public forums or a town‑hall session on costs and community impacts; BWP said it will return with site‑specific solar/storage proposals and funding options for council consideration.