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WHY A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

One of Yolo County's strategic goals is "A Sustainable Environment", which serves to focus the County's energy on comprehensively planning its environmental roadmap for the future. The development of the Sustainability Plan was designed to support this goal by assessing and highlighting existing sustainability programs and processes; identifying gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities to become a more sustainable community; and serving as a tool for the decision-makers and community members in charting a path to the future.

SUSTAINABILITY PLAN VS. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

A Sustainability Plan differs from a Climate Action Plan in that it addresses more than just the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Yolo County has a Climate Action Plan that recommends actions to reduce GHGs, and the Sustainability Plan will suggest actions in the following areas that lead to a greener and more sustainable community:

Ecological Health
Water
Air Quality
Buildings
Local Food
Agriculture
Waste
Education

ABOUT THE 2021 SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

In collaboration with stakeholders, community groups, and the public at large, Yolo County has prepared this Sustainability Plan. The plan is intended to serve as a tool for County decision makers and the public to advance sustainability goals that build upon prior and ongoing countywide sustainability efforts, focusing on targets within eight key Sustainability Elements: ecological health, water, air quality, buildings, waste, local food, agriculture, and education. The plan should be considered a 'living document' that will be evaluated and updated over the course of implementation, in line with science and technological advances.

View the 2021 Sustainability Plan Document

YOLO SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS

Yolo County has a long tradition of land stewardship and conservation practices. The Yolo County Board of Supervisors recognize sustainability as a goal to ensuring a thriving community for all. Expand the sections below to learn more about notable efforts.

Land Use

ANTI-SPRAWL PRACTICES: The County has a historic record of agricultural land preservation, strictly observed, dating back more than 50 years. A central tenet of all county land use decisions is that new growth be directed towards the cities as infill rather than sprawl (low density growth outside of urban areas). As a result, about 85-90 percent of Yolo County residents live in one of the four incorporated cities (West Sacramento, Davis, Winters, and Woodland), while only 20,000 residents live in the unincorporated areas of the county. Infill development has been an important contributor to greenhouse (GHG) reductions. The Yolo County General Plan specifically requires direction of new growth to the extent feasible to existing communities in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

HANNAH AND HERBERT BAUER MEMORIAL GARDEN: Dedicated in 2013, the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency hosts the Hanna and Herbert Bauer Memorial Garden, which grows fresh fruits and vegetables that is open to all residents. This garden helps residents overcome barriers to obtaining fresh produce by increasing access and education while encouraging appreciation for locally sourced food items, thereby encouraging practices that reduce transportation miles from farm to table.

Energy

COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION: In 2016, Yolo County in partnership with the City of Davis formed a Joint Powers Agency to create a community choice aggregation program known as Valley Clean Energy (VCE). Now with the addition of the City of Woodland, Valley Clean Energy strives to deliver cost-competitive clean electricity, price stability, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. Click here to learn more.

YOLO COUNTY IS POWERED BY THE SUN: Yolo County was the first county in the U.S. to be grid-positive, meaning we produce more electricity through renewable energy projects than the county facilities use.

Green Buildings

Recognition

2016: The California Counties Architects and Engineers Association recognized Yolo County with two awards: the Grand Award for Project of the Year and the Project of the Year for a Medium Size County

2014: U.S. EPA welcomed Yolo County into the 2014/2015 Green Power Leadership Club Award

2014: Yolo County received the Leadership Award for its Countywide Solar Project at the Green California Summit

2013: U.S. EPA recognizes Yolo County as being among the nation's leading green power users.

2010: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory recognizes Yolo County as the “First Known use of Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds”