Oakland
City Scorecard Rank
Oakland, CA
The City of Oakland adopted its Energy and Climate Action Plan in 2012, and most recently updated the plan in 2018.
Last updated: September 2021
Climate Mitigation Goal
Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan set a long-term community-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 83% by 2050 compared to a 2005 baseline. In 2020, the city adopted a new long-term goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. The city also established interim goals of a 56% reduction by 2030. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects the city will not achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
The city released a 2015 greenhouse gas inventory, which includes results from all previous inventories.
Energy Reduction Goal
The city’s Energy and Climate Action Plan set goals to reduce electricity use 32% below 2005 levels by 2020 and natural gas use 14% below 2005 levels by 2020.
Renewable Energy Goal
Over 90% of Oakland's electricity generation supply consists of carbon-free sources.
Last updated: September 2021
Equitable-Driven Community Engagement
The development of the city's Energy and Climate Action Plan included initiatives to solicit engagement from marginalized communities. Town hall meetings were held in Oakland's most climate-impacted neighborhoods at varying times and dates to expand accessibility. Language interpretation services, free meals, and child care were provided.
An Equity Facilitator conducted public outreach for the most recent update to the city’s Climate Action Plan. The role of the Facilitator is to ensure that outreach is executed equitably and that equity actions are integrated into the Climate Action Plan.
Oakland has also created a Multifamily and EV (Electric Vehicle) Working Group tasked with overcoming barriers to the installation of EV charging infrastructure in multifamily and low-income buildings.
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
Climate Action Plan and the city’s energy goals both consider equity factors and implications. The city also published an Equity Indicators Report, which tracks the effects of the energy cost burden on low-income communities, health impacts, and park quality (among other indicators).
The Racial Equity Impact Assessment and Implementation Guide was developed by the city's Equity Facilitators team. This will help the city identify frontline communities and provide metrics for the city to study as it tracks implementation of climate action initiatives in the ECAP.
Last updated: September 2021
The City of Oakland has partnered with University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Lawrence Berkeley Labs, and NASA Ames Research Center to launch the EcoBlock pilot project. The project focuses on the block-scale efficiency of a solar-powered DC microgrid.
Though it is not a specific policy, rule, or agreement, the draft Oakland 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan references plans to partner with East Bay Community Energy (the local community choice aggregator) to support the installation of local renewable energy (such as community solar) and energy storage. The city also offers streamlined permitting processes for residential rooftop solar systems.
Last updated: September 2021
UHI Mitigation Goal
The city does not have a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal, but Priority Actions 15 and 24 of the city’s Energy and Climate Action Plan state the intention to update building codes to include requirements for high albedo surfaces and develop an urban forestry master plan.
UHI Policies and Programs
Title 16 of Oakland’s code and Oakland’s Creek Protection, Stormwater Management & Discharge Control Ordinance addresses stormwater management and tree protection.
Last updated: September 2021
The City of Oakland adopted a city stretch code. The city does not have a mandatory benchmarking and disclosure, but the State of California requires benchmarking through AB 802. Oakland offers incentives for energy efficiency upgrades, solar installations, and to low-income property owners. The city mandates low-energy use requirements for cities.
Last updated: June 2021
Overview
The State of California allows local jurisdictions to adopt more stringent codes than the state. Oakland formally adopted the Green Building Ordinance that exceeds the statewide code. In addition to the GBO, the city adopted an all-electric new construction ordinance in December 2020. To learn more about California’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial buildings adhere to the city’s Green Building Ordinance. The city has adopted a stretch code requiring all-electric for all new commercial and industrial buildings. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is score of 49.1.
Residential
Residential buildings adhere to the city’s Green Building Ordinance. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 58.1.
Solar-readiness policies
California state code mandates new residential and commercial construction be solar-ready.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
Oakland adopted new codes requiring all new commercial construction be EV-ready and incorporate electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Low-energy use requirements
Title 18 of the city’s code requires commercial buildings over 25,000 square feet to achieve LEED Silver certification. Title 18 also mandates residential properties achieve Green Building Certification.
Indoor cannabis cultivators must demonstrate that 100% of their electricity is derived from renewable or carbon free sources, which can be done by enrolling in EBCE’s Brilliant 100 program and providing confirmation annually or more frequently if required by the City Administrator’s Office.
Last updated: June 2021
The city does not have staff solely dedicated to energy code enforcement.. The city does require mandatory compliance verification through energy code. The city provides code compliance support through BayREN programs for single and multifamily units. Additionally, Oakland offers energy code compliance assistance at the Green Business Resource Center.
Last updated: June 2021
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
California adopted Assembly Bill (AB) 802 requiring all buildings 50,000 square feet and more to benchmark. The city does not have a mandatory benchmarking and disclosure program. AB 802 covers 56% of commercial and 44% of multifamily buildings in Oakland.
Incentives
Residential and commercial building owners may access property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy installation, and water conservation actions. The Oakland Building Maintenance Code includes a streamlined and expedited solar permitting provision.
The City runs its own programs through its Residential Lending & Housing Rehabilitation Services that provides loans and grants for building energy efficiency improvements.
The Weatherization and Energy Retrofit Revolving Loan Program offers income-eligible property owners 0% interest loans for home improvement projects. The program is only eligible to owner-occupied residential properties with less than 5 units.
Last updated: June 2021
Oakland is a member and cofounder of BayREN, a multicity organization dedicated to home energy upgrades. BayREN also offers training and education workshops for building professional to encourage a better understand of the state’s energy code.
The City has workforce development efforts underway to create green jobs associated with the energy efficiency and renewable energy markets. These include 15 years of participation with the California Youth Energy Services program from the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity.
One of the goals of the EcoBlock pilot is to drive investment into local green jobs.
Last updated: June 2021
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is the MPO in charge of conducting metropolitan transportation planning. Its area of jurisdiction encompasses Oakland, and the cities and towns in the Bay Area. Oakland's Housing Element encourages mixed-used developments, while promoting incentives to low and medium income housing developments. Oakland has a complete streets policy, and a fully operational car sharing program.
Updated: April 2017
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Oakland Department of Transportation’s (OakDOT) Strategic Plan was updated in 2016 and provides detailed strategies to integrate VMT reduction with utilization of low-carbon modes of transportation. The Strategic Plan's 2019 Progress Report reveals expanded mobility services and infrastructural improvements to encourage active mobility and transit as measures to reduce citywide VMT. In 2019, City Council also adopted OakDOT's Let's Bike Oakland Plan to increase cycling options and infrastructure in the City's most underserved areas.
The City’s 2020 Energy and Climate Action Plan was updated in 2018 to refine transportation policies to reduce VMT (Pages 71, 74). In addition, the draft 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan includes a section dedicated to Transportation and Land Use that consists of several action items to increase transit ridership and active mobility options to reduce VMT of single occupancy vehicles.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
The City’s 2020 Energy and Climate Action Plan provides a 36% reduction goal across all sectors by 2020, including transportation. (1)
In 2017, the City also changed CEQA review to focus on VMT rather than congestion impacts.
The City monitors and measures VMT reductions via the regional EMFAC model maintained by the regional transportation agency: the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). MTC provides annual updates to the City via email regarding the VMT on area roads, allowing tracking against the City’s goal of 20% VMT reduction by 2020. The model is both usable for projects and overall annual VMT. The model and details are found here.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
Oakland does not track progress towards a VMT/GHG target.
Last Updated: December 2021
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
The City’s Equitable Climate Action Plan contains a variety of regulations refining the City's existing TOD requirements, aligns planning regulations with the ECAP, establishes car-free areas, reimagines curb space, expands TDM requirements, and provides greater support to neighborhood car sharing.
Residential Parking Policies
The City removed parking minimum requirements throughout downtown and halved them along major transit corridors. (1)
The 2020 ECAP Update highlights 5 action items under “Refine Parking Policies to Encourage Low-Carbon Mobility” (Pages 94-95) and includes the priority action “Impose Parking Maximums and Develop Strategies to Minimize Parking Need” (Page 48).
The draft 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan includes an action item to revise pricing, availability, and location of parking to encourage active transportation, transit, and clean vehicles (Page 18).
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
With more than 85% of the City's population already within 1/2 mile of high-capacity transit, and zoning that requires either mixed use or dense development in most areas, there are few needs for additional incentives to achieve the desired outcomes. The majority of developments already meet these goals.
Last Updated: December 2021
Mode Shift Targets
Mode share targets are established in Oakland’s CURB report. Page 24 of the CURB Final Report identifies targets by mode, including low-capacity TNC, high-capacity TNC, Shared Minibus, Bus/BRT, BART, Amtrak, Ferryboat, Bicycle, and Pedestrian. (1)
The 2020 ECAP establishes 15 action items under “Advance the Use of Low-Carbon Transportation Modes” (Pages 93-94). (2)
The draft 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan includes several action items to encourage a mode shift from SOV trips to public transit (Pages 17-19).
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
Annual updates on some modes (bicycle, pedestrian) are provided in the annual Sustainable Oakland Report. Comprehensive mode reporting is being developed at present by Oakland DOT.
Complete Streets
The City has an adopted Complete Streets Policy.
Last Updated: December 2021
Transportation Funding
The transportation entities that serve the City of Oakland received $1,032,602,603.20 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $556.16 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the Authority's 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 Oakland Transit Connectivity Index value is 8.3, scoring 1.5 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: December 2021
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
There are several programs available to Oakland residents including those provided through PG&E EV Information and Incentives, Clean Cars 4 All, the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program, the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, and the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
PG&E provides $800 in rebates for the installation of level 2 chargers through the Clean Fuel Rebate program. The city's 2020 ECAP Update also lists a priority action to plan for EV Charging Infrastructure (Page 30).
EV Charging Locations
The City has 351 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 81.1 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
AC Transit serves as the bus provider for the Oakland Unified School District. AC Transit has a significant percentage of its busses powered by fuel cell or battery electric systems, as part of their adopted net zero fleet goal by 2040.
EV Transit Bus Goal
AC Transit has a significant percentage of its busses powered by fuel cell or battery electric systems, as part of their adopted net zero fleet goal by 2040.
Last Updated: December 2021
The Port of Oakland approved its Seaport Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan. The Port will instate emissions reduction programs and projects, such as converting a portion of the Port’s fleet to battery-electric vehicles, using renewable diesel in the Port’s diesel-powered equipment and vehicle fleet, expanding the electrical charging infrastructure for the Port’s vehicle fleet, and developing a guide for EV charging infrastructure projects in the Seaport Area. More info here.
The City is also expected to receive $9 million in grant funds from the California Air Resources Board. The money will be used to add electric trucks to the Port of Oakland as well as pledge up to $2 million to building charging stations. These actions are expected to minimize the impact of containerized freight transportation on air quality. More info here.
Last Updated: December 2021
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
Oakland's Housing Element contains a goal to promote the development of adequate housing for low- and moderate-income Households. The city targets development and marketing resources in priority development areas. The Housing Element details Oakland's policies to encourage mixed use development incentives, transit-oriented development, and new development at a range of prices. Additionally, Oakland offers density bonuses for low and moderate-income units.
There are 7 action items in the 2020 ECAP under “Advance Infill, Mixed-Use, and TOD” regarding affordable housing support in transit oriented development (Pages 92-93).
The draft 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan includes an action item to update the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Guidelines to further prioritize development near transit (Page 17).
The City has also successfully applied for and utilized more than $90M in funds from the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities program to provide renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts for affordable housing developments adjacent to transit.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Oakland offers several programs for low-income residents for efficient transportation options including the Bike Share for all Reduced Fare Program, the BORP & Bay Wheels' Adaptive Bike Share Pilot, the Clipper Card Discounts (Bus and Metro), the Lime Access Program, the West Oakland Zero Emission Grant Program, the Mobility Hubs at Affordable Housing Pilot (regional), and the GIG Free-Floating Car Share.
Last Updated: December 2021
The City of Oakland is a founding member of East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), a local government Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), which includes the County of Alameda and 11 of its cities. EBCE provides clean energy choices for residents. Ratepayers can choose between three clean energy options that offer 41%, 45%, and 100% clean energy. EBCE offers some residential, commercial, and municipal energy efficiency programs.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric and natural gas transmission and distribution utility and energy efficiency provider for the City of Oakland. 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.
The East Bay Municipal Utility District is the municipal utility that provides the City of Oakland with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: July 2021
In 2019, PG&E reported 1,253,154 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 1.60% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Oakland. In 2019, PG&E spent $219,637,147 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 1.72% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, PG&E reported 27.64 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 1.40% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, PG&E spent $69,359,099 on natural gas energy efficiency, which equates to $16.19 per residential customer. These savings and spending figures cover PG&E’s entire service jurisdiction, not just the City of Oakland.
PG&E offers electric and natural gas efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers.
Oakland City Staff have been involved in the East Bay Energy Watch (EBEW), a PG&E Local Government Partnership since 2003 (originally called the Oakland Energy Partnership). The City of Oakland is also a founding member of East Bay Community Energy, a local government CCA with strong targets for local renewable energy systems.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income Programs
PG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) 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 and 0.47 MMtherms, while spending $96,478,592 and $50,711,276 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. PG&E served 17,169 electric and 7,877 natural gas customers with its low-income program in 2019.
The City of Oakland offers a Weatherization and Energy Retrofit Revolving Loan Program, which provides income-eligible property owners can access 0% interest loans ranging from $6,500 to $30,000 for weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to owner-occupied residential properties of 1 to 4 units.
Multifamily Programs
PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program, Multifamily Upgrade 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 Upgrade Program promotes and facilitates energy-efficient retrofits of existing multifamily buildings” through technical support and incentives. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces. PG&E also implements the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) for income-qualified multifamily customers.
In 2019, PG&E achieved energy savings of 3,587 MWh and 0.23 MMtherms, while spending $6,333,028 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs, respectively. PG&E served 3,322 electric housing units at 26 multifamily properties. PG&E served 3,594 natural gas housing units at 27 multifamily properties.
Last Updated: July 2021
PG&E's Building Benchmarking Portal provides aggregate whole-building energy usage data in their ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to building owners. PG&E uses the Green Button data sharing platform for electricity data only. The utility provides automatic data entry into Portfolio Manager if given written consent by the customer.
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. In addition, Oakland publishes bi-annual Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory Reports, which provide existing emissions to help guide policy aimed at reducing emissions.
The City of Oakland advocates for policy improvements in data access through the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition, the California Energy Commission, and the PUC. The City has provided letters of support for a variety of data sharing initiatives, most recently support for California Assembly Bill 612. Most data sharing agreements and advocacy is done outside of traditional public proceedings.
Last Updated: July 2021
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
The City of Oakland is a founding member of East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), a local government Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) with strong targets for local renewable energy systems. Renewable energy requirements are found in the Joint Powers Agreement for the agency. EBCE has a Local Development Business Plan, which sets their goals for local distributed renewable energy generation and describes their desires for greater customer access to utility and meter data. The Oakland Clean Energy Initiative is an effort to provide more local clean energy in Alameda County by replacing an aging electricity generator in Oakland's Jack London Square area with a new clean energy source. This effort is in partnership with PG&E and East Bay Community Energy (EBCE).
In addition, the City has signed on to group letters of support to the CPUC for various renewable energy policies relating to program design or tariffs, attended hearings and provided testimony on energy efficiency and renewable energy rate cases, and pushed for policies related to renewable energy developments. For example, the mayor sent a letter to the CPUC to reject a proposal that would raise fees for people switching from their electricity provider to a city-run CCA program.
Last Updated: July 2021
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
PG&E partners with East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), the local water utility for Oakland, on the following water-energy efforts: joint customer audit referral programs, joint appliance efficiency upgrade rebates, and shared R&D for joint customer technology and benefits offerings. EBMUD also offers efficiency rebate programs, ranging from residential to commercial and municipal rebates on appliances and equipment, lawn conversion, and audit programs, while PG&E offers rebates for high-efficiency commercial dishwashers.
EBMUD has both a Water Conservation Master Plan and a Strategic Plan to achieve its water conservation goals. Since the Master Plan’s first adoption in 1994, EBMUD customers have saved an estimated 26 million gallons per day (MGD) through conservation practices. EBMUD hopes to save an additional 39 MGD by 2040.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
EBMUD’s Climate Action Plan identifies opportunities to conserve energy and reduce emissions. EBMUD also uses a comprehensive plan to implement energy savings measures throughout the treatment system.
EBMUD self-generates energy through hydropower, solar power, and biogas production. EBMUD also maintains a food scraps recycling program to self-generate energy.
Last Updated: July 2021
The City of Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan serves as a roadmap for the city to achieve its municipal sustainability goals.
Climate Mitigation Goal
The City of Oakland formally adopted a resolution establishing a municipal greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 83% below 2005 levels by 2050, with interim goals of 36% by 2020 and 56% by 2030. To meet this goal, the city must reduce per capita emissions by 3.15% annually. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects that the city will meet its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a municipal energy reduction goal.
Renewable Energy Goal
Through East Bay Community Energy, the City of Oakland purchases 100% carbon-free electricity for all municipal accounts.
Last updated: May 2021
Fleet Policies and Composition
Oakland adopted the Green Fleet Resolution of 2003 which details commitments to address the operation, procurement and management of fleet vehicles in order to improve efficiency. Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan includes action items to ensure that over 50% of the City’s fleet uses alternative fuels and 100% of non-emergency vehicle purchases beings zero emissions vehicles by 2030, as well as initiatives to increase electric vehicles charging stations. The city has only acquired only alternative fuel of hybrid non-law enforcement vehicles for the past 10 years. Currently, Oakland’s municipal fleet is currently composed of 9.3% efficient vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
Oakland’s Outdoor Lighting Standards require good lighting design and energy efficiency. The guidelines are in accordance with the Illumination Engineering Society’s lighting guidelines for all facilities. 95% of Oakland’s streetlights have been converted to LEDs.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
Oakland has installed 1 MW of solar electric panels on rooftops of municipal facilities.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if the City has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Updated: May 2021
Building Benchmarking
Oakland benchmarks 100% of buildings over 5,000 square feet.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategies
The city’s Energy Group conducts energy consumption and costs analyses to determine which public buildings are best suited to receive comprehensive retrofits. As part of the Energy and Climate Action Plan, Oakland details several priority actions to improve energy efficiency in buildings via retrofits. Measure KK, passed in 2016, includes $25 million for energy and water efficiency upgrades in City facilities.
Updated: May 2021