Strategic progress on

Climate Action & Resiliency

Staff from across County departments and agencies have been working hard to implement the Climate Action and Resiliency Pillar of the Strategic Plan. Recent milestones range from publishing a bilingual Home Resilience Guide for property owners and renters to electrifying our fleet with EVs and plug-in hybrids.

Learn more

Climate resilient buildings

New efficient water heaters at the County


The County is in the process of installing 11 new highly efficient electric heat pump water heaters across eight different facilities. The Climate Action and Resiliency Division secured these water heaters through a partnership with PG&E. In collaboration with Sonoma Clean Power, the PG&E program has combined funds to install these water heaters at zero cost to the County. In addition, staff is currently engaged with multiple local government partner jurisdictions throughout Sonoma County, facilitating the same heat pump water heater incentives for their facilities. These efficient water heaters offer updated technology that reduce carbon emissions and kilowatt-hour equivalent usage.


Heat pump water heaters operate at a significantly higher efficiency than conventional water heating technologies by drawing from environmental ambient heat and transferring it to the water instead of heating the water directly using open flame or electric resistance. Traditional water heaters typically rely on fossil fuels for their power, or extremely inefficient electric resistance. By installing these heat pump water heaters, the County of Sonoma will save the equivalent of 767,144 kWh, or the same as removing more than 70 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road for one year. This project represents a large step toward countywide decarbonization while replacing aging systems and makes significant progress in implementing the county’s five-year Strategic Plan (Climate Action and Resiliency: Goal 3, make all County facilities carbon free, zero waste and resilient, as well as Goal 2, invest in the community to enhance resiliency and become carbon neutral by 2030).

Photo of a man with a clipboard standing and inspecting a water pump

Sonoma County Green Business Program

offering $500 to $1,000 rebates

The Sonoma County Green Business Program is part of the statewide California Green Business Network, whose mission is to assist businesses to operate sustainably as well as profitably. The Green Business Program provides, at no-cost to participants, energy and sustainability technical assistance, including energy and water efficiency assessments, to small-to-medium sized businesses who choose to become a certified Green Business. To be certified, participants must meet program standards for saving water, conserving energy, preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and implementing best practices.


Green Businesses receive free technical assistance, access to rebates, public promotions, and are seen as leaders in their community. Currently, 51 Sonoma County Green Businesses are listed in the California Green Business Directory, use the Green Business logo in marketing materials, and benefit from ongoing marketing and social media campaigns. Program support and marketing materials are available in both English and Spanish.


The Sonoma County Green Business Program currently has rebates of up to $500 that can be used for costs associated with any measure on the Green Business certification checklist. In addition, business owners who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color can receive another $500, for a total of $1,000.

Get certified today!

Climate resilient lands

County takes stock on how and where carbon is stored locally


The County has begun a carbon sequestration inventory and study, a critical step for the County and the community to achieve climate goals set forth in planning documents. 


Carbon sequestration is the process in which carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere and then stored. The process occurs naturally in plants and soils. Understanding how and where carbon is stored in Sonoma County will help us maximize the health and capacity of those carbon stocks. Sequestration is also important in carbon accounting and tracking net emissions, and it is critical for achieving carbon net-neutrality goals. This study, funded with Board approved Strategic Plan funds, will assess Sonoma County’s current carbon sequestration stocks and the carbon sequestration potential of the landscape under different land use scenarios and climate and policy projections. The project will provide a rigorous and comprehensive analysis of Sonoma County’s capacity to sequester carbon in both incorporated and unincorporated lands, with a dedicated discussion of county-owned lands. It will help prioritize sequestration projects on county-owned land optimized for long-term carbon storage to make progress towards our carbon neutrality goal. The project will also highlight opportunities on non-county-owned land to support communitywide carbon neutrality.


The project has been developed in collaboration with the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, Permit Sonoma, Regional Parks, Sonoma Water, UC Cooperative Extension, and the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority. The project working group is selecting a contractor and expects work to begin this summer.

Water stream

Aerial photo of Lake Sonoma bridge after January 2023 winter storms.

Drought, clean water projects and other updates


Winter storms brought much needed rain to Sonoma County, which moved from “severe” drought status to no drought designation at all! Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino’s water supply pools are now over 100%, shifting reservoir management from drought conservation to flood control. Check out Sonoma Water’s website for more information about water supply and reservoir management.


Last August the Board of Supervisors established a permanent Clean Water Ombudsman and Analyst to assist with water related matters and serve as a point of contact for county residents. A current focus is the pending regulations related to septic systems. In 2021 the Regional Water Board approved an implementation plan to reduce pathogen levels in the Russian River, including establishing a Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL for pathogens. Check out the Regional Board’s website and map for more information about this TMDL and potentially affected parcels. This TMDL is pending approval by the State Water Board, with action expected this summer. In the meantime, the Ombudsman is collaborating with the Lower Russian River Wastewater Citizens’ Advisory Group on public engagement on a pilot project to address wastewater treatment needs of the Monte Rio-Villa Grande community. Also, Permit Sonoma is currently revising the County’s septic system regulations, in part to align with the TMDL.


The County, through the CAO’s Climate Action and Resiliency Division, is working with the State to develop a first-of-its-kind low-interest loan program for septic system compliance. In December 2022, the division applied for a $250,000 grant, and is awaiting final decision from the state water board to evaluate and develop solutions addressing pollution from septic systems, animal grazing, recreation, and encampments in the Russian River watershed. In April, the division will release a request for proposals (“RFP”) for a countywide mapping study to examine septic system locations and potential wastewater treatment alternatives. This RFP will be released through our Supplier Portal for interested applicants. Also, in partnership with Sonoma Water, a second phase mapping study will be developed to evaluate the feasibility of key treatment alternatives. These studies will help develop solutions and pursue funding to support residents.

Sonoma County finances home resiliency

The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program

The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program gives commercial and residential property owners access to funding to make durable resilience improvements on their property and repay the funds over 10 or 20 years through a voluntary assessment. During 2022, the program funded 119 residential assessments for a total of $4.89 million and five commercial assessments totaling $1.07 million. The 119 residential assessments funded 241 improvements in five categories of authorized improvements (see chart). Sonoma County is safer and more resilient because of the 71 wildfire safety improvements funded last year: roofs, gutters and gutter guards, venting, decks, siding, windows, and doors. Interest in funding wildfire safety improvements continues to grow. There were 90 energy efficiency improvements, including 19 battery storage systems, along with 77 solar projects, a rainwater cistern, a graywater system, and an earthquake retrofit.

Get your project financed today!

The County’s Clean Commute Program

As directed by the Strategic Plan, the County has been investing in its employee Clean Commute Program to promote use of alternate modes of transportation, including bike and carpool incentives, and last mile solutions connecting bus and train stations to County worksites. Check out the impact of the Clean Commute Program below!

Upcoming workshops and events 

Topic

Date

Location

Sign-Up Link

Solar,

Storage & Electrification

Wednesday

April 12, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Online (Zoom)

Solar, Storage, & Electrification – A Perfect Match

Home Resiliency

Wednesday

April 19, 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Online (Zoom)

Making Improvements for a More Resilient Home

Water Reuse

& Efficiency

Wednesday

April 26, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Online (Zoom)

A Water Smart Future – Innovations in Water Reuse & Efficiency

Energy Efficiency

& Home Electrification

Wednesday

May 3, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Online (Zoom)

The Value of Energy Efficiency in Home Electrification

Induction Cooking

Saturday

May 6, 11 a.m. -2 p.m.

Premiere

Bath & Kitchen,

Santa Rosa

Induction Cooking Expo at Premiere Bath and Kitchen

Incentives, Rebates

& Financing

Wednesday

May 10, 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Online (Zoom)

Funding Your Improvements – Incentives, Rebates, and Financing

Visit our full calendar of events here

We’re hiring!

Photo of the CAO Climate Action and Resiliency division staff

Are you passionate about local climate action and resiliency? Come join our team!

The Climate Action and Resiliency Division within the County Administrator’s Office is currently recruiting for a Climate Resiliency Analyst. As the Climate Resiliency Analyst, you will collaborate with various regional entities and county departments, agencies, special districts, and other organizations to ensure the county’s diverse operations and partnerships actively address climate effects. Applications are due April 6.

Learn more and apply!

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The Climate Action and Resiliency Division (CARD), within the County Administrator’s Office,

is dedicated to helping the County and the community address the climate crisis

and achieve its climate-related goals and objectives.