City Sustainability Initiatives

The Sustainability Program, in collaboration with City staff and the community, develops and implements strategies, policies, and programs to make Mountain view a more sustainable city. Over many years the City has implemented dozens of programs and projects to increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, and tree canopy; decrease waste production, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions; and improve transportation and mobility options.

Key Accomplishments

Following are some of the City's key sustainability achievements. For a more complete list, see Appendix A of the Climate Protection Roadmap.

• Developed an award-winning downtown Transit Center, which offers service for Caltrain, VTA light rail and buses, shuttles, taxis, and bicycles.
• Installed 27 electric vehicle charging ports for public use.
• Designated as a "Bicycle Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists.
• Engaged over 2,000 residents in Energy Upgrade Mountain View, an energy conservation program that is reducing energy costs an average of 4% per participating household per year, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions more than 700 metric tons annually.
• Served as a founding partner in establishing the Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Community Choice Energy (CCE) program.
• Installed 700 kW of solar energy at 4 City facilities.
• Upgraded thousands of building lights, street lights, and traffic signals with high-efficiency bulbs or fixtures.
• Captured and converted methane gas from the Shoreline landfill into electricity.
• Installed purple pipe throughout the North Bayshore area, enabling customers to use recycled water for landscape irrigation and offsetting up to 270 million gallons of potable water annually.
• Achieved one of the highest diversion rates in California and set a goal of diverting 90% of waste from landfills by 2020.

Plans and Policies

Plans and Policies

Climate Action Plans

The City's strategies for reducing greenhouse emissions are outlined in two Climate Action Plans (CAPs). In 2015, the City Council adopted a Climate Protection Roadmap (CPR) for the community and a Municipal Operations Climate Action Plan (MOCAP) for government operations.

The CAPs identify strategies, policies, and programs to achieve the City’s greenhouse gas reduction targets and guide Council and community discussions around sustainability goals.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program

In 2012, the City developed a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program (GGRP) to mitigate the environmental impacts of population and business growth associated with the 2030 General Plan.

The GGRP identifies five strategies (energy, solid waste, water, transportation, and carbon sequestration) and 20 measures that enable the City to achieve the 2020 and 2030 emissions reduction goals mandated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. For detailed information on the GGRP's actions and the City's progress toward these goals, see the 2030 General Plan's Action Items.

Regional Collaboration

The City participates in several regional partnerships and local projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a sustainable Bay Area.

• Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) - The City was a founding partner in forming a Community Choice Energy program that provides residents and businesses in 13 South Bay cities/agencies with a choice in their energy supplier, carbon-free energy and an opportunity to purchase up to 100% renewable energy.
• Regional Renewable Energy Procurement (R-REP) - Through a procurement program in partnership with 19 Bay Area public agencies, the City secured discounted pricing and installed 600kW of solar energy on 3 City facilities.

Contact

If you have any comments or questions about this page, please contact the Sustainability Program by emailing sustainability@mountainview.gov, or by leaving a comment on Collaborate Mountain View.

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