LANE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE COUNTY’S FIRST COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE GAS MITIGATION PLAN

News Release from Lane Co. Government
Posted on FlashAlert: April 18th, 2022 8:45 AM

The Lane County Board of Commissioners approved the County’s first Community Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Plan on a 4-1 vote this past Tuesday. This decision makes Lane County the second Oregon county to have a comprehensive, community-wide plan to address the climate crisis.

The plan describes 10 high-impact practices generally recognized to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. Plan actions, if fully implemented, could help the county realize 71 percent of its 2040 carbon-neutral goal. The remaining 29 percent must derive from newly developed technologies and innovations.

Plan highlights include:

• How replacing gasoline cars with electric vehicles, substituting fossil diesel with renewable diesel, and decarbonizing the electrical grid will most impact emission levels;
• The county should consider building an anaerobic digestion system at the landfill to tackle organic waste and develop an education program to address edible food waste reduction;
• The county must act to reduce its emissions, support partner organizations, and convene stakeholders to discuss ways the community can reach emissions reduction goals.

“This plan is a significant step forward for Lane County that reflects years of preparation,” said Lane County Board of Commissioners Chair Pat Farr. “The plan provides a broad framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while addressing needs of businesses and low-income residents. We believe the plan provides us the flexibility to focus on greenhouse gas reduction strategies that can create a healthier, more sustainable Lane County.”

The county’s Climate Advisory Committee (CAC) provided direct input on the plan by suggesting goals and targets and providing feedback on the draft plan. The county began developing a Community Climate Action Plan in August 2020, following a 2019 Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory to measure local emissions. According to the findings, transportation contributed more than 66 percent of emissions, while building energy contributed 21 percent.

Along with partners Good Company and EnviroIssues, County staff began a six-month public engagement process, meeting stakeholders such as utility companies, cities, districts, state agencies, and residents. The County will likely post a final, formatted version of the plan online in late April.

Lane County will now focus on implementing plan actions and developing a community-focused Climate Resilience and Adaptation Plan.