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County of Sonoma

Beacon Participant Profile

“The County’s ongoing, bold commitment to climate protection flows from the Board’s goal to reduce the County’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015.” – Sonoma County website

About Sonoma County

  • Established: 1850
  • Population: 484,470 (as of 2008)
  • Location: 55 miles north of San Francisco
  • Elevation: ranges from sea level to 4480 feet
  • Area: 1,575 square miles

Climate Action Activities

Climate Action Resources

Awards

Agency Energy Savings

  • Gold Level, 10% (2013)

Agency Natural Gas Savings

Agency Greenhouse Gas Reductions

  • Platinum Level, 29% (2013)

Community Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Sustainability Best Practices

  • Silver Level (2013)
Case Story

Sonoma County’s Purchasing Saves Green

Green purchasing is an important part of Sonoma County’s climate action plan. The county’s purchasing policy enables it to award contracts to green vendors for services or products that do less harm to the environment if the cost is within five percent of the lowest bid of other competitors. The county gives the same preference to local vendors to help reduce the greenhouse emissions associated with transportation of the products and to support the local economy.

Resource

Sonoma County’s Energy Independence Program

A best practice case study developed by Pat Stoner, Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Coordinator.

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