Belmont reviews draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan measures, staff says cost and regulatory limits constrain immediate reach to 2045 goal

Belmont's Planning Commission reviewed draft measures and actions for the city's updated Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAP) on April 21, as consultants outlined strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience.

Olivia Mendoza of Rincon told commissioners the two largest sources of Belmont's emissions are "transportation and natural gas," and described a mitigation strategy organized into four systems: healthy and resilient buildings, mobility, electric vehicles, and urban ecosystems. Mendoza said key 2030-focused measures include cutting natural gas use in existing buildings, leveraging Peninsula Clean Energy's carbon-free electricity, targeting 90% all-electric new construction, increasing transit mode share (from 4.4% to 7% by 2030), and installing 200 new publicly accessible EV chargers.

Commissioners pressed whether the draft moves Belmont toward carbon neutrality by 2045. Commissioner Majeski said the measures presented "looked like we were going to cut about a third of what you'd need" to reach a 2045 neutrality target. Staff responded that the presentation emphasized 2030 targets and that the strategies in the CAP (electrification, VMT reduction, EV adoption) are the same building blocks that would be needed for longer-term neutrality, but that regulatory limits and practical constraints (financing, permitting, state preemption of some local reach codes) limit how aggressive Belmont can be immediately. Staff and consultants also pointed to regional and state actions—such as potential Bay Area Air District rules requiring low-NOx replacements for furnaces and water heaters—as measures that could accelerate decarbonization beyond the local plan.

The CAP presentation included quantifications: the buildings measures were described as collectively reducing about 12,000 metric tons of CO2 by 2030; electrifying passenger cars to reach a 32% passenger EV mode split was projected to cut roughly 9,000 metric tons by 2030; reductions in organic waste to landfills and new tree plantings were estimated to yield several thousand metric tons in additional reductions. Mendoza said the plan also proposes city actions such as updating local codes, installing EV chargers, phasing out gas-powered city lawn equipment starting in 2027, and planting 125 trees per year through 2030.

Commissioners and staff emphasized outreach, incentives and technical assistance as necessary to increase adoption of measures. City staff listed outreach channels (weekly e-newsletter, social media, flyers, council announcements) and third-party programs that Belmont can use, including Peninsula Clean Energy's electrification concierge and countywide RICAPS coordination to align grant pursuit and program delivery.

Public and commissioner comments suggested additional city steps: adopting all-electric standards for city projects, pursuing LEED or green building targets, expanding sidewalk and accessibility improvements to support active transportation, exploring incentives or bans for gas leaf blowers, and expediting permitting for residential EV chargers. Staff said draft measures and actions are on the project website for public review through April 30 and that staff will present the CAP to City Council next week and refine the measures for a fall adoption process.

No final votes were taken; staff will integrate comments from the commission and the public and return the CAP for subsequent hearings.