Why is This Important?
San Mateo County depends on the burning of nonrenewable fossil fuels -- coal, petroleum, and natural gas -- for much of its energy. The burning of fossil fuels negatively impacts air quality and releases signifi cant quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. California has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Increased energy effi ciency and an increase in energy sources that do not generate greenhouse gases are keys to achieving this goal. An overreliance on fossil fuels can also make an economy vulnerable to price spikes in the oil or natural gas markets.
What is a Sustainable State?
A sustainable state is one that is carbon neutral, where energy is produced from clean, renewable sources, and is used efficiently amongst all user groups.
How Are We Doing?
Energy consumption
• In 2008, energy use in San Mateo County (as measured by the amount of electricity and natural gas delivered by regulated utilities in the county) totaled 40.8 trillion British thermal units (BTUs), a 3.5 percent increase from 2007. Total energy use in the county has remained largely fl at since 2000, when the county consumed 39.6 trillion BTUs. Of note, this calculation does not include energy used for transportation. (See Transportation: Gasoline Use)
• Natural gas accounted for 57 percent of energy consumed in the county, roughly the same as in past years.
• In 2008, residential use accounted for 47 percent of all energy use in the county.
• Per capita residential energy use, after falling significantly in 2006, increased by 2.4 percent to 25.9 million BTUs per capita in 2008. This is still considerably lower than the peak of 28 million BTUs per capita in 2000.
Electricity generation
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) provides most of the electricity used by San Mateo County residents and businesses. PG&E's energy supply mix is an important measure of the true impact of electricity use in the county.
• In 2008, PG&E's delivered electricity was cleaner than both the state and national average with 44 percent from natural gas, 22 percent nuclear power, and 17 percent from large hydroelectric power with only 2 percent from coal-fi red power plants. By comparison, coal accounted for 29 percent of the electricity delivered to all California electricity customers.
• Notably, while only 14 percent of PG&E's electricity comes from certifi ed "renewable" sources (small hydro, wind, solar, biomass) about 53 percent of PG&Es power is rated "carbon neutral" when nuclear and large hydroelectric power is included.
• While growing rapidly, solar and wind power together still make up less than 3 percent of the electricity generation for PG&E.
Solar Power
• In 2009, 1,526 kilowatts of new solar generating capacity was installed in San Mateo County, a reduction of about 20 percent from 2008. (As a rule of thumb, it takes about 3 kW of generating capacity to provide one home with electricity for one year). The weak economy was the most likely factor in the reduction in installations in 2009.
• At year end 2009, over 7,800 kilowatts of solar generating capacity was installed in the county, enough to power approximately 2,600 homes for 1 year. More than 63 percent of this total has been installed since 2007.
• Portola Valley had the most total generating capacity, with 961 kilowatts. Redwood City (880 kW) and Menlo Park (797 kW) are second and third in installed generating capacity respectively.
