“The City of Benicia is joining an increasing number of California communities in developing plans to address climate change at a local level. Although climate change is a global problem, city leaders in the U.S. and abroad are increasingly recognizing that it will directly affect their constituents and pose risks to public health, safety, and welfare. It is also at the local level that many strategies to both adapt to the changing climate and combat its progression are best enacted.” - City of Benicia Climate Action Plan

About Benicia

• Established: 1847
• Population: 26,997
• Location: In the San Francisco Bay Area along the Carquinez Strait in Solano County, East of Vallejo and across the Strait from Martinez
• Area: 15.720 square miles

Climate Action Activities

• ICLEI member
• HEAL Cities Campaign Participant
• U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Signatory
• Tree City USA
• Resilient Communities for America Agreement Signatory
• Completed Agency and Community Greenhouse Inventory, 2005
• Completed Climate Action Plan, 2009
• Adopted Downtown Historic and Arsenal Conservation plans,1990 and 1993
• Conducted energy audits on city facilities, 2002 and 2003
• Established an Urban Growth Boundary to protect surrounding agricultural lands
• Adopted Downtown Mixed Use Master Plan, 2007
• Developed California Friendly Landscape Contest to promote water efficiency, 2008
• Adopted Tree Ordinance and formally established Tree Committee,  2008
• Designated a tree city by Tree City USA, 2009
• Implemented “Waste in Place Program”
• Worked jointly with Valero Refinery and the Good Neighbor Steering Committee to allocate $14 million to water reuse and water conservation. As of 2009 modifications are being made to also include energy efficiency.
• Initiated Benicia Industrial Park Multimodal Transit Project and Intermodal Facilities project, 2009.
• Adopted a comprehensive renewable energy RFP, May 2009
• Established Community Sustainability Commission in September 2009 to make recommendations for the implementation of the Climate Action Plan.
• Adopted Benicia Capital Improvement Program to improve bicycle and pedestrian network
• Developed Benicia Air Friendly Vehicle Policy for fiscal years 2009-2011

Climate Action Resources

• Benicia Climate Action Plan
• Benicia Climate Action/Sustainability website
• Benicia Downtown Mixed Use Master Plan
• Benicia Water Conservation Website
• San Francisco Estuary Partnership Estuary Report
• Benicia Air Quality Information website
• Benicia Parks and Community Services Department website
• Public Works and Community Development website

Awards

Silver Beacon Award (2016)

Agency Energy Savings

• Gold Level, 11% (2014)
• Silver Level, 8% (2013)

Agency Natural Gas Savings

• Gold Level, 10% (2015)
• Silver Level, 8% (2013)

Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• Platinum Level, 21% (2013)

Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• Silver Level, 6% (2016)

Sustainability Best Practices

• Platinum Level (2014)
• Silver Level (2013)