Bakersfield
City Scorecard Rank
n/a
Bakersfield, CA
Scored out of 250Updated 05/2024
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 0 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The city does not have a community-wide climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Last updated: September 2021
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups.
Last updated: September 2021
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: September 2021
Adaptive Mitigation List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.
UHI Policies and Programs
We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Last updated: September 2021
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce.
Last updated: July 2021
Buildings Policies
Score: 10 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
California requires all buildings to meet statewide codes but grants local jurisdictions the authority to adopt more stringent codes. To learn more about building energy codes in California, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Bakersfield requires CalGreen for commercial buildings. The code uses a commercial zEPI score of 49.1.
Residential
Bakersfield requires CalGreen for residential buildings. The code uses a residential zEPI score of 58.1.
Solar-readiness policies
California state code will require solar system installation on all new residential construction beginning in 2020.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
California’s Green Building Requirements require residential and nonresidential building owners to incorporate EV-charging infrastructure into the property.
Low-energy use requirements
We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.
Last updated: July 2021
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Bakersfield’s Building Division requires plan reviews, site inspections, and performance testing to verify code compliance. We could not find information on the number of full-time employees the city staffs to enforce the energy code nor. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last updated: July 2021
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
Bakersfield complies with the State of California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 802. Per AB 802, owners of commercial and multifamily buildings greater than 50,000 square feet must benchmark energy usage.
Last updated: July 2021
Transportation
Score: 2 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Bakersfield had a general climate action plan, but it is currently in the process of being combined with Kern County's climate action plan into one large Kern County General Plan 2040, expected release in 2019. Kern County also has a sustainable transportation plan that includes the City of Bakersfield.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
At this time, the City does not have a codified vehicle miles traveled (VMT) or greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
We could not determine if the City tracks VMT or GHG numbers.
Last Updated: October 2021
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
Bakersfield’s zoning code does not require transit-oriented development, compact or mixed land use development, street connectivity, or form-based zoning, but the zoning code does include overlay and mixed-use as optional for several areas.
Residential Parking Policies
The City requires 2 parking spaces per dwelling unit.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
We could not determine if the City offers incentives to encourage compact, mixed-use development.
Last Updated: October 2021
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
At this time, the City does not have a codified mode share target for trips within the city.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
No progress has been achieved, as there are no targets in place.
Complete Streets
At this time, the City of Bakersfield does not have a complete streets policy.
Last Updated: October 2021
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Bakersfield have received $22,464,946.20 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $44.84 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the service area.
Access to Transit Services
The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of Bakersfield’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 4.4, scoring zero points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: October 2021
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
PG&E customers with EVs are eligible to receive an $800 Clean Fuel Rebate for their use of electricity as a clean transportation fuel.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
The City of Bakersfield currently does not offer incentives for installing private or public EV charging infrastructure.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 58 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 15.1 stations per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
Akron does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Akron does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: October 2021
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Bakersfield does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place, nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: October 2021
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
Bakersfield does not yet require, incentivize, or subsidize the creation or preservation of affordable housing in transit-served areas or any areas identified for compact, mixed-use development.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Bakersfield does not currently provide rebates or incentives to low-income residents for efficient transportation options.
Last Updated: October 2021
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 9.5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility for the City of Bakersfield. The primary natural gas supplier for Bakersfield is Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), an IOU. The State of California requires spending and savings targets for its IOUs through an EERS and requires local government-utility partnerships through mandate by the California PUC. The municipally-run utilities are not required to meet the state EERS targets and report through the California Energy Commission. In 2021, California regulators updated state energy efficiency policies to focus on reducing carbon emissions. The state’s new rule rules value efficiency as a grid and decarbonization resource, encourage utilities to offer more programs that primarily serve communities of color and low-income residents, and encourage workforce development programs. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the California page of the State Database.
Bakersfield has multiple private water utilities serving the City. The water bill for Bakersfield residents, however, is paid to the California Water Service Company, which provides the City with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: June 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, PG&E reported 1,253,154 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 1.60% of its electric retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Bakersfield. In 2019, PG&E spent $219,637,147 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 1.72% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, SoCalGas reported 55.34 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 1.89% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, SoCalGas spent $91,665,804 on energy efficiency, which equates to $16.35 per residential customer. These savings and spending figures cover the entire service jurisdiction of both utilities, not just the City of Bakersfield.
PG&E offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers. SoCalGas similarly offers natural gas efficiency programs to residential and business customers.
The City of Bakersfield is a member of the Kern Energy Watch partnership program alongside ten other local governments. Kern Energy Watch is jointly funded by SoCalGas, PG&E, and Southern California Edison. This partnership aims to improve energy efficiency throughout Kern County through efforts such as technical assistance for energy efficiency retrofits in municipal facilities, strategic planning and reach code support, and energy efficiency programs/services provided to local communities.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
PG&E and SoCalGas jointly offer the Energy Savings Assistance Program to qualified low-income residential customers. The program provides in-home energy education, and direct installation of weatherization and hot water measures, lighting efficiency upgrades, HVAC tune-ups, smart power strips, and refrigerator recycling/replacement at no charge in order to reduce energy consumption in low-income households. The program provides health and safety measures such as the repair and replacement of water heaters and furnaces and minor home repairs. This program is implemented statewide by investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. It leverages the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Low-Income Weatherization Program offerings.
The ESA Program’s objective is to assist income-qualified customers to reduce their energy consumption and costs while increasing their health, comfort and safety. PG&E has also administered the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program to qualifying customers since 1989. The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying single-family residential households, tenants of sub-metered residential facilities, non-profit group living facilities, agricultural employee housing facilities, and migrant farmworker housing centers throughout PG&E’s service area.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) strongly encourages utilities to leverage funds for low-income energy efficiency and weatherization. PG&E’s ESA Program leverages water agency, Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding through individually negotiated agreements with the other agencies.
In 2019, PG&E achieved energy savings of 68,951 MWh, while spending $96,478,592 on its electric low-income programs, and serving 17,169 electric customers. In 2019, SoCalGas saved 0.91 MMtherms from its low-income programs. The number of customers served and spending values for SoCal Gas’s low-income programs in 2019 were not available.
Multifamily Programs
PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program and Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program. California New Homes Multifamily Program provides support and incentives for multifamily new construction projects to encourage builders to exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces.
In 2019, PG&E achieved 3,578 MWh in energy savings, while spending $6,333,030 and serving 3,322 housing units in 26 multifamily properties.
SoCalGas offers a portfolio of multifamily efficiency programs. The Multifamily Direct Therm Savings Program and the On-Demand Efficiency Program to provide energy audits and installation of energy efficiency measures. The Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate Program offers rebates for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency measures in apartment dwelling units, common areas, condominium complexes, and mobile home parks. The Multifamily Whole Building Home Upgrade Program provides a comprehensive long-term building strategy with energy efficiency retrofit measures identified through an investment-grade audit. The Multifamily Home Upgrade Program provides incentives to multifamily properties undergoing major renovations.
In 2019, SoCalGas saved 0.91 MMtherms, while spending $27,907,848 on its multifamily programs and serving 45,201 housing units in 1,815 multifamily properties.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Southern California Gas provides automated benchmarking services to Portfolio Manager through its online AB802 platform for both commercial and multifamily buildings. The utility provides automatic data entry into Portfolio Manager and 14 months of historical data.
PG&E provides non-confidential, aggregated energy usage data to the public through its Energy Data Request Program. Energy data is publicly released on a monthly basis at the ZIP code level, with significant redaction or further aggregation as needed to comply with California energy data privacy regulations. Both utilities provide community-wide energy usage data at the aggregate level for community planning and evaluation purposes.
The City of Bakersfield does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities.
Last Updated: July 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2018, the State of California set an ambitious goal of relying on entirely zero-emission energy sources for its electricity by 2045. To achieve this goal, PG&E will need to reduce emissions by 3.7% annually from 2018 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
At this time, we cannot confirm if the city of Bakersfield participates in activities or strategies to help spur or encourage more utility-scale or distributed renewable energy generation from its local electric utility, such as testifying in public utility commission proceedings related to renewable energy, creating a formal partnership with the electric utility on renewable generation, or participating in utility planning efforts to increase renewable generation.
Last Updated: July 2021
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
SoCalGas offers water efficiency measures that also save natural gas energy through numerous programs serving the residential, commercial, and public sectors, which are available to customers in the City of Bakersfield. PG&E does not partner with the City but does offer water-efficiency measures in several of its Residential and Industrial/Agriculture EE programs. PG&E also offers rebates for high-efficiency commercial dishwashers. At this point, the City of Bakersfield has not established a water savings target or goal, but it does have several strategies it follows to conserve water.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
California Water Service Company, which serves other cities beyond Bakersfield, has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies, but it has implemented several energy reduction strategies for the water plants serving Bakersfield. We could not determine if the city’s water system self-generates its own energy.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
2.5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We were unable to find information regarding an energy reduction goal for municipal operations.
Renewable Energy Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
We were unable to find information on Bakersfield’s fuel efficiency requirements for the public fleet. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public Lighting
Bakersfield has a lighting ordinance requiring efficient outdoor lighting. We were unable to confirm if Bakersfield has an outdoor lighting upgrade program, but Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City upgraded all 12,865 outdoor lights to LEDs.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
Bakersfield has installed onsite renewable energy systems with a capacity of 2.3 MW.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: June 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to find information regarding Bakersfield's benchmarking practices.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Bakersfield.
Last updated: June 2021