By Jackson Guilfoil, Times-Standard, Eureka, Calif. The Tribune Content Agency
On Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors are poised to accept the latest draft of the Regional Climate Action Plan, which outlines how local government aims to reduce the county's greenhouse gas ambitions in accordance with the statewide push for net-zero emissions by 2045.
The overwhelming majority of Humboldt County's emissions - 73% specifically - come from on-road transportation, while 13% comes from building natural gas and everything else in the single digits. The new draft of the plan adds several new public-comment-inspired tweaks, such as noting the need for funding actions in several areas, such as for rural transportation and road repair. The draft also includes an expanded definition for what's an "urban area" in Humboldt County using data from the 2020 census designating the county's population centers. A previous public comment addressed the definition of urban areas excluded communities in the greater Eureka area like Cutten and Myrtletown.
"This RCAP focuses on creating a climate coalition to maximize regional efficiencies, overcome challenges facing rural areas, attract funding, build a green economy, mitigate emissions, and increase resilience," the draft said.
The RCAP's final draft will likely include the incorporation of a regional climate committee to spearhead the county's greenhouse gas reduction efforts, which - according to the draft - could end up being the Humboldt County Association of Governments.
Among the litany of changes to the draft were lines about ensuring the energy from offshore wind facilities benefits Humboldt County and being sensitive to lingering public disbelief in climate change.
The full draft may be viewed at https://bit.ly/48hz9r1.
"The Humboldt region is most vulnerable to sea level rise, extreme weather events, and wildfire. In recent years the region has experienced a growing frequency and intensity of precipitation events leading to flooding that regularly closes the primary routes into Humboldt County. This further isolates communities in the region, impacts the movement of goods across the region, and results in economic losses that the region counts on," the draft said.
Jackson Guilfoil can be reached at 707-441-0506