'Sustainable Santee' Plan Will Help Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Town

The City of Santee is preparing a "Sustainable Santee" action plan that sets goals and policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated in the community, as required by state law.

By 2020 the city is required to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent of 2005 figures. That means the 324,000 metric tons of CO2 released in Santee in 2005 must be cut to at least 275,400 metric tons in the next six years.

The city says the plan will streamline the environmental review process, creating more certainty and less expense for developers in town by controlling greenhouse gases as a whole in the city, instead of on a project-by-project basis, and outlining attainable mitigation measures concerning air quality.

The plan will also include a review of city operations, hopefully to identify energy efficiencies and cost saving measures.

After bidding, the city chose Atkins North America Inc. to assist in preparing the plan, at a cost of $106,400. The consulting company is required due to the highly technical nature of the plan.

The city is applying for a $130,000 Sustainable Communities Planning Grant, which includes costs for staff and consultant time. The city should be reimbursed by this grant.

Santee City Council voted unanimously last week to go forward with the project and apply for the grant.