Walnut Creek, Martinez, San Ramon Top Good Earth Stewards County List

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Walnut Creek, Martinez, and San Ramon topped the annual scorecard that tracks how Contra Costa cities' progress on climate crisis policies — and gives their mayors some good-natured bragging rights.

"Walnut Creek is working hard to implement the city's Sustainability Action Plan," outgoing Mayor Cindy Darling said in a statement. Walnut Creek partnered with MCE, a renewable energy supplier, to "assess energy efficiency opportunities at our City facilities" and banned gas leaf blowers, she said.

The scorecard published by the Contra Costa County Climate Leaders Program holds a mirror up to the county's 19 cities, showing how they are doing in addressing environmental and climate degradation in their communities. "It is local action that will be the most successful in ensuring a livable planet for future generations,” said Fred Bialy, Climate Reality Bay Area’s Contra Costa County Policy Action Squad, in a statement from the organization.

According to the organization, Contra Costa, with a million residents, is one of the fastest-growing areas in the Bay Area. Its emission rate, measured in tons per person, is the highest among all Bay Area counties. Additionally, the county's 8 percent growth rate surpasses that of other counties and even California as a whole.

The new scorecard added two leadership metrics this year, recognizing cities that have won SolSmart and Beacon Awards. It also highlights cities like Walnut Creek and San Ramon for increasing the number of electric vehicle charging stations.

San Ramon updated its climate action plan and general plan, and created a permanent Sustainability Advisory Committee, according to Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio. The latter move, less than a month ago, stirred controversy because several committees would be consolidated or eliminated, risking the loss of members’ expertise and watering down a dedicated focus on critical local issues like open space and transportation, as well as meaningful citizen engagement.

“San Ramon has come a long way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and that is something we can all be proud of," said Sue Bock, a member of San Ramon Valley Climate Action, one of those pre-existing committees.

Martinez passed a climate emergency declaration, and Hercules joined MCE to give residents a choice of electricity providers. Those moves jumped Hercules from last place to fifth place among 19 cities.

MCE sponsors the Contra Costa County Climate Leaders (4CL), an arm of Generation Green. 4CL encourages cities in Contra Costa County to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The organization monitors activities and offers free resources, tools, and a multimedia communications strategy to help cities adopt best practices.