Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE), Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) and the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability (OOS) are joining together to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within their service territories by developing forward-thinking building and transportation electrification reach codes.
In support of municipalities and counties in PCE & SVCE service territory, PCE & SVCE are providing extensive technical assistance plus a $10,000 incentive to each city that brings reach codes to their council.
Key Meetings
There are a few key dates and events before the new building code takes effect on January 1, 2020.
- March 7th – BayREN Workshop on Energy Reach Codes (register here) – Recommended
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM PST
Location: Bay Area Metro Center, 375 Beale Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 - March 8th – PCE, SVCE & OOS Reach Code Cost Effectiveness Findings/Update Webinar (register here) – Strongly Recommended
Time: 11 AM – 12 PM PST
Location: Webinar & Live at PCE with lunch and discussion to follow. RSVP via completing the “Stay in Touch” section. - March 19th – 2019 PCE Reach Code Charrette, San Mateo County (register here) – Strongly Recommended
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM PST
Location: City of San Mateo Downtown Public Library, 55 West 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94402 - March 20th – 2019 SVCE Reach Code Charrette, Santa Clara County (register here) – Strongly Recommended
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM PST
Location: Auditorium, County Service Building 2, 1555 Berger Drive, San Jose, CA 95112
Event Flyer - March 27th – 2019 PCE, SVCE & OOS Reach Code Working Group, Redwood City (register here) – Additional Session
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM PDT
Location: Peninsula Clean Energy, 2075 Woodside Road, Redwood City, CA 94061
What Are Reach Codes?
Every three years, cities and counties across the state can adopt local reach codes in line with the new Building Standards Code (Standards) or Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Cities and counties may adopt building codes more advanced than those required by the state, which are known as reach codes.
Reach codes aim to update local building codes concurrently with the state-required adoption of the 2019 Standards. The previous adoption cycle with new Standards took effect January 1, 2017. The next reach code adoption cycle, to coincide with the 2019 Title 24 Standards that go into effect January 1, 2020, must be adopted by cities and the County by the end of calendar year 2019. Reach codes may include:
- Prescriptive Codes: Require one or more specific energy efficiency measures
- Performance Codes: Require a building to perform more efficiently based on accepted computer modelling and allow trade-offs between energy efficiency measures
Several cities within San Mateo County and Santa Clara County have utilized reach codes in the past similar to this effort, including Palo Alto and San Mateo.
Why Establish Reach Codes?
The benefits of greenhouse gases (GHG) free electricity can best be realized by electrification of new and existing buildings and transportation vehicles. Electrification transitions buildings and vehicles away from natural gas and gasoline to clean energy provided by PCE & SVCE. By developing electrification reach codes, cities can save energy and reduce GHG emissions in San Mateo and Santa Clara County. All-electric buildings are safer and healthier to live in along with being cost effective, especially when adopted at the new construction stage.
It is most efficient for cities to coordinate adoption of reach codes with the adoption of the new 2019 building code, taking effect January 1, 2020.
PCE and SVCE are launching additional initiatives to support building electrification beyond reach codes.
PCE EV Charging Incentives
SVCE Decarbonization Strategy
Process & Timeline
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Cost Effectiveness Study Review | Mar 2019 |
| Review Code Options | Mar 2019 |
| Select Code Options* | Mar 2019 |
| Draft Amendments | Apr 2019 |
| External Stakeholder Input | May 2019 |
| Submit for Council Review** | Aug 2019 |
| Application to Energy Commission (not for EV code) | Oct 2019 |
| File with Building Standards Commission | Dec 2019 |
| New Code Effective | Jan 2020 |
*Letter of Intent for $10,000 support grant from SVCE or PCE
**Payment of $10,000 support grant from SVCE or PCE
How to Participate
Cities are encouraged to participate and avail themselves of the technical support by completing the “Stay in Touch” section below. To obtain the $10,000 incentive, complete the letter of intent and submit the draft codes to city council.
For additional questions or specifics on the letter of intent, please contact Sven Thesen or Rachael Londer (PCE) or John Supp (SVCE).
Resources
BayREN’s Guide to Understanding and Adopting Reach Codes
1/16/19 Reach Code Kick Off Presentation at PCE
1/15/19 Reach Code Kick Off Presentation at SVCE
Statewide Toolkit for Adopting Reach Codes
Reach Code Ordinances (adopted by local governments across CA)
FAQ
A city will receive the $10k once their respective city council votes on the reach code(s). While statewide goals suggest cities would be well served to adopt both building and EV reach codes at this time, the $10k is a single sum paid for a building reach code, EV reach code, or both.
Any city receiving electrical generation service from either PCE or SVCE in which their city council votes on an all-electric building reach code or an EV infrastructure reach code is eligible so long as the vote occurs before December 31, 2019. Please contact Sven (sthesen@peninsulacleanenergy.com) or John (John.Supp@svcleanenergy.org) with additional questions.
Not at all. The reach code effort has multiple stages in which participation may occur.
No, the charrettes are essentially a brainstorming exercise on building electrification and EV infrastructure reach codes. Residents and businesses are encouraged to attend the charrette with their respective community choice energy provider (PCE or SCVE).