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Climate Action
Metropolitan isn’t just adapting to climate change as it comes, we’re taking important steps to keep it from worsening. We’ve joined state and local leaders to help minimize the effects of climate change by committing to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Metropolitan adopted a Climate Action Plan in May 2022 to set a path to achieve the state's target goal of reducing GHG emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels and reach carbon neutrality by 2045.
The Climate Action Plan identifies actions to reduce Metropolitan’s carbon footprint in the face of climate change, increasing the district’s climate resiliency and energy independence while supporting California’s GHG reduction goals.
Metropolitan is committed to providing Annual Progress Reports on its climate action initiatives. Metropolitan's inaugural 2022 CAP Progress Report highlights Metropolitan achievements, and also features the 2021 GHG inventory.
What is the Climate Action Plan?
The Climate Action Plan includes an inventory of Metropolitan’s historic and current GHG emissions, as well as a comprehensive forecast of future projected emissions. The data is used to identify feasible GHG reduction targets and measures to help Metropolitan achieve its goal. This long-term planning document guides Metropolitan's policy and planning decisions on operations, water resources, capital investments, and conservation and resource programs. The plan also allows Metropolitan to streamline the environmental review process and mitigate GHG impacts for future capital projects under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Other key benefits:
Metropolitan’s Carbon Budget
It takes a lot of energy to move water. That energy is used to transport water from our imported water sources located hundreds of miles away and to treat and distribute water throughout our service area. Metropolitan’s GHG emissions fluctuate from year to year depending on the amount of water pumped from the Colorado River. Because pumping operations vary depending on need and availability each year, emissions in one year may not be representative of Metropolitan’s overall progress toward meeting its GHG emissions reduction targets. To account for this, Metropolitan tracks its emissions over time using a carbon budget.
To meet Metropolitan’s carbon neutrality goals, we set a GHG emissions budget, which is measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e). This metric measures the amount of carbon dioxide and other gases that are being released into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. As Metropolitan releases GHG emissions from our operations, those emissions deplete the carbon budget. In 2021, our carbon budget was 9 million MTCO2e, but we emitted about 5.3 million MTCO2e, demonstrating that our efforts to curb emissions are paying off.
Recent drought years severely impacted deliveries of water to Metropolitan from the State Water Project, which carries water from Northern California to contractors throughout the state, including Metropolitan. To offset the loss of SWP supplies, Metropolitan pulled from stored reserves and increased deliveries from its Colorado River system.
By implementing some of the GHG reduction measures identified in the Climate Action Plan, Metropolitan significantly lowered emissions in comparison to previous years with similar pumping conditions and stayed well below its carbon budget overall. Some of the ways Metropolitan was able to do this included purchasing lower-carbon and carbon-free electricity, when available; developing carbon-free energy generation; improving energy efficiency; continuing water conservation efforts; and developing local water supplies.
Track Our Progress
Metropolitan has partnered with CAPDashTM, a web-based tool that allows the public to view our progress toward our GHG emission reduction targets. Data is categorized by various strategies Metropolitan is employing, from operational fuel use to employee commuting, and is visualized in interactive charts and graphics that facilitate greater transparency.
On the Path to Sustainability
Our Climate Action Plan helps us reach our goal of carbon neutrality, but we’ve been on the path for decades. Our environmental awareness began with our founding in 1928, when our planners and engineers designed the Colorado River Aqueduct to deliver water primarily by gravity across 242 miles of California desert to the state’s south coastal plain. Those same planners recognized the need for a reliable supply of power, investing in construction of Hoover Dam and Parker Dam, which together supply more than half of the energy needed today to power the CRA pumps with clean, carbon-free energy.
That same forward-thinking ingenuity imbues Metropolitan’s continued investments in clean energy and energy-efficient design to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Adopting New Energy Technologies
Metropolitan upgrades its infrastructure to ensure energy efficiency. The district invests in renewable energy resources, including buying and generating hydroelectric power to help meet much of its electricity needs. In addition to using power generated at Parker and Hoover Dams, Metropolitan has built 15 in-stream hydroelectric plants throughout our distribution system with a total capacity of about 130 megawatts. Metropolitan has also installed 51/2 megawatts of photovoltaic solar power at its facilities and will soon add battery energy storage to store green energy when power rates are low and discharge that energy when rates are higher.
Supporting Green Transportation
Metropolitan has high-fuel-efficiency, hybrid-electric vehicles and zero emissions vehicles in its fleet. Our offices, including the downtown Los Angeles headquarters building, are strategically located near public transportation hubs. Metropolitan employees also have access to rideshare programs and onsite electric charging stations for personal vehicles.
Metropolitan's zero emissions Task Force is leading our organizational transition to a ZEV fleet and will oversee the design and implementation of new infrastructure to support our ongoing transition.
Carbon Sequestration, Capture & Storage Opportunities
Carbon sequestration and carbon capture and storage projects could provide Metropolitan with opportunities to substantially reduce GHG emissions reductions and will likely play a critical role in achieving and maintaining carbon neutrality. Carbon sequestration generally refers to natural processes like the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere during plant growth or avoided soil carbon loss. Carbon capture and storage refers to technologies that take CO2 or other GHG emissions out of the atmosphere and store them in deep underground geologic formations. Several carbon sequestration/carbon capture and storage opportunities are being investigated, researched and evaluated.
Recognizing that our air, land and water are tied, Metropolitan and Hayday Farms, its lessee on Metropolitan-owned lands in the Palo Verde Valley, are participating in a Chico State University study about the potential to store atmospheric carbon in soils through regenerative agricultural practices. Regenerative agriculture seeks to produce healthier soils to promote the sustainability of our environment.
Metropolitan looks forward to the data produced by this study and will continue to track these opportunities as they progress.
Documents & Resources
GHG Emission Reports
Energy Sustainability
Supporting the Climate Action Plan
Moving large quantities of water requires using large amounts of energy. Metropolitan meets its energy demands through its investments in hydroelectric and solar power and the purchase of more than 2,000 GWh of electricity from the regional power grid. The opportunities to manage energy use and conserve water translate into opportunities with both environmental and economic benefits. Metropolitan has developed an Energy Sustainability Plan that supports Metropolitan’s Climate Action Plan. The Energy Sustainability Plan includes a framework of sustainable actions focused on energy cost containment, reliability, affordability, conservation and adaptation.
How To Get Involved
Visit this site for opportunities to join the conversation. Metropolitan plans to connect with the community during the Climate Action Plan process to share information and insights with interested individuals and organizations.