California Cities and Counties Get Free, Breakthrough Tool to Measure Their Community’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Powerful web-based tool developed by ICLEI USA for the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative meets long-identified needs, empowers hundreds of California cities and counties to pursue aggressive goals to save energy, money, and address climate change.
Oakland, CA, April 21, 2011 --(PR.com)-- A powerful and free online application released today will enable hundreds of California cities and counties to measure their community’s greenhouse gas emissions—taking an essential first step to addressing climate change and saving energy and taxpayer dollars. The SEEC Online Inventory Tool was released through the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC), a new alliance to help California cities and counties reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy. SEEC is collaboration between three statewide nonprofit organizations and California’s four investor-owned utilities.
“This tool is a breakthrough resource that finally meets long-identified needs among California local governments,” said Michael Schmitz, California Director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. “Municipal staff are eager for climate action tools and trainings, but their budget situations often don’t allow them to pursue these resources. That’s why SEEC is so invaluable.”
Thanks to the free tool and other SEEC resources and trainings, California cities and counties can now continue to work toward their local climate action and energy goals, despite tight municipal budgets and funding cutbacks.
SEEC’s easy-to-use tool (available at www.californiaseec.org) allows non-technical local government staff to conduct a detailed, robust community-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory, the essential first step in the process of setting GHG reduction goals, creating a climate action plan, and implementing the plan. Identifying emissions sources is also a key step in creating energy-saving strategies.
SEEC’s partners, including the investor-owned utilities, recognize that the State of California cannot meet AB 32’s statewide GHG reduction goals—to 1990 levels by 2020—unless local governments are empowered with climate action tools, training, and guidance.
The SEEC tool will also support California local governments in their efforts to address California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements when updating their general plans (incorporating climate impacts into their plans).
There has never before been available a free tool of this caliber for California local governments. The tool is tailored to their needs, and is not applicable to local governments in other states.
To access the web-based tool, local government staff can register at http://californiaseec.org/tools-guidance/seec-community-inventory-tool
“ICLEI developed this tool by leveraging our deep expertise and national leadership in local climate action and greenhouse gas accounting,” said Martin J. Chávez, ICLEI USA Executive Director. “We’re setting the national standards for how local governments measure their greenhouse gas emissions and even their overall sustainability performance. No other organization provides the resources and support that ICLEI does, and we’re extremely proud to support California local governments with our new tool.”
To complement the SEEC tool, ICLEI USA has also developed a full suite of free resources to support California local governments. ICLEI has launched free “Quick-Start Guides” and instruction manuals on GHG inventories and climate action planning, and delivers regular in-person trainings to local government staff throughout the state—on topics ranging from how to conduct a community-wide GHG inventory, to how to set GHG reduction targets and develop a climate action plan.
About the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC)
SEEC is a new alliance to help California cities and counties reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy. SEEC provides free technical trainings and resources to help local government representatives conduct greenhouse gas inventories, set GHG reduction targets and forecasts, develop climate action plans, and select appropriate climate and energy initiatives. SEEC will also host venues for peer-to-peer networking and provide recognition to local governments and agencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. Between 2010 and 2012, SEEC will offer 40 in-person field training sessions throughout California, host live webinar trainings, and release guidebooks, tools, templates, and case studies tailored to the needs of California local governments.
SEEC Members include:
ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA
The Institute for Local Government
The Local Government Commission
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
San Diego Gas and Electric Company
Southern California Edison Company
Southern California Gas Company
The program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, and Southern California Gas Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
About ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA is the leading nonprofit organization devoted to local governments engaged in sustainability, climate protection, and clean energy initiatives. The local governments we serve—including more than 600 active U.S. members—recognize the importance of creating livable, prosperous communities, addressing climate change, and saving energy and money in the process. ICLEI USA provides the expertise, technical support, training, and tools to help its members advance their goals. More information at www.icleiusa.org
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“This tool is a breakthrough resource that finally meets long-identified needs among California local governments,” said Michael Schmitz, California Director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. “Municipal staff are eager for climate action tools and trainings, but their budget situations often don’t allow them to pursue these resources. That’s why SEEC is so invaluable.”
Thanks to the free tool and other SEEC resources and trainings, California cities and counties can now continue to work toward their local climate action and energy goals, despite tight municipal budgets and funding cutbacks.
SEEC’s easy-to-use tool (available at www.californiaseec.org) allows non-technical local government staff to conduct a detailed, robust community-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory, the essential first step in the process of setting GHG reduction goals, creating a climate action plan, and implementing the plan. Identifying emissions sources is also a key step in creating energy-saving strategies.
SEEC’s partners, including the investor-owned utilities, recognize that the State of California cannot meet AB 32’s statewide GHG reduction goals—to 1990 levels by 2020—unless local governments are empowered with climate action tools, training, and guidance.
The SEEC tool will also support California local governments in their efforts to address California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements when updating their general plans (incorporating climate impacts into their plans).
There has never before been available a free tool of this caliber for California local governments. The tool is tailored to their needs, and is not applicable to local governments in other states.
To access the web-based tool, local government staff can register at http://californiaseec.org/tools-guidance/seec-community-inventory-tool
“ICLEI developed this tool by leveraging our deep expertise and national leadership in local climate action and greenhouse gas accounting,” said Martin J. Chávez, ICLEI USA Executive Director. “We’re setting the national standards for how local governments measure their greenhouse gas emissions and even their overall sustainability performance. No other organization provides the resources and support that ICLEI does, and we’re extremely proud to support California local governments with our new tool.”
To complement the SEEC tool, ICLEI USA has also developed a full suite of free resources to support California local governments. ICLEI has launched free “Quick-Start Guides” and instruction manuals on GHG inventories and climate action planning, and delivers regular in-person trainings to local government staff throughout the state—on topics ranging from how to conduct a community-wide GHG inventory, to how to set GHG reduction targets and develop a climate action plan.
About the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC)
SEEC is a new alliance to help California cities and counties reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy. SEEC provides free technical trainings and resources to help local government representatives conduct greenhouse gas inventories, set GHG reduction targets and forecasts, develop climate action plans, and select appropriate climate and energy initiatives. SEEC will also host venues for peer-to-peer networking and provide recognition to local governments and agencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. Between 2010 and 2012, SEEC will offer 40 in-person field training sessions throughout California, host live webinar trainings, and release guidebooks, tools, templates, and case studies tailored to the needs of California local governments.
SEEC Members include:
ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA
The Institute for Local Government
The Local Government Commission
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
San Diego Gas and Electric Company
Southern California Edison Company
Southern California Gas Company
The program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, and Southern California Gas Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
About ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA is the leading nonprofit organization devoted to local governments engaged in sustainability, climate protection, and clean energy initiatives. The local governments we serve—including more than 600 active U.S. members—recognize the importance of creating livable, prosperous communities, addressing climate change, and saving energy and money in the process. ICLEI USA provides the expertise, technical support, training, and tools to help its members advance their goals. More information at www.icleiusa.org
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Contact
ICLEI USA
Guillermo Meneses
202-629-3591
www.icleiusa.org
Guillermo Meneses
202-629-3591
www.icleiusa.org
Contact
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