The City of San Antonio has released a comprehensive draft proposal on how the city plans to maintain the climate change remediation goals of the Paris Convention, which have been a key part of Mayor Nirenberg's agenda, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Much of the plan, which will now be presented to the public, focuses on moving away from gasoline powered private and commercial vehicles, which the report says amount to 34% of the metro's total greenhouse gas output.
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The recommendations call for only electric and alternative fueled vehicles to be on city streets and roads by 2050.
Other transportation priorities include 'encourage alternative scheduling, including work-from-home-one-day-a-week, as well as telecommuting and alternative schedulings.
"Incentivize low carbon transit solutions like subsidizing bus passes and car and van pooling options."
Much of the report includes strategies for getting you out of your private car.
"Reduce vehicle miles traveled per person throughout the city,prioritizing the reduction of those traveled in single occupancy vehicles by diversifying transportation choices."
The report also places a priority on developing what it refers to as 'human powered transportation, such as walking and bicycling, reducing urban sprawl to allow people to live closer to their workplace, and 'support the development and redevelopment of more compact connected, and cost efficient communities.'
The report also focuses on energy use in homes and buildings, promising to cut energy use in the city by 40% by 2040. That would be done through everything from replacing roofs to be more energy efficient, to promoting the use of solar power, to changing building codes to mandate energy efficient structures.
The report also encourages a new major effort to increase alternative fuel production, toward the goal of having a carbon free CPS Energy power grid by 2050.
If no action is taken, the report paints a grim picture of almost unliveable San Antonio, with 94 more days each year of high temperatures above 100 degrees, and highs in excess of 110 degrees not uncommon. The report says we can also expect four inches less per year of rain, and warns brush fires like the massive Bastrop Complex fire in 2011 will become much more common. The osts of inaction are expected to hit $170 million for Bexar County alone, with additional deaths and more impact on 'vulnerable populations.'