Energy Impact Analysis
In compliance with the 2019 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statute and Guidelines, Appendix G Environmental Checklist Form Section VI, impacts to Energy resources are considered significant if any of the following conditions are met:
- The project results in a potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy; and/or
- The project conflicts with or obstructs a State and/or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency.
Appendix F of the CEQA Statute and Guidelines asserts that energy conservation implies the wise and efficient use of energy, including decreasing overall per capita energy consumption, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, and increasing reliance on renewable energy sources. To ensure that energy implications are considered in project decisions, CEQA requires the potential energy impacts of proposed projects be evaluated.
A project’s energy consumption is mainly comprised of:
- Mobile source fuels (i.e., diesel, gasoline, propane, and compressed or liquified natural gas) and electric power used for construction;
- Area, stationary, and mobile source fuels, as well as electric power used for equipment and vehicle operation; and
- Building utilities (i.e., natural gas and electric power).
Using modeling tools, Yorke estimates the amount of energy that will be used for construction and operation of a proposed project and documents this in an Energy Impact Analysis Technical Report, which supports the primary CEQA document.