TAHOE CITY

The Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) and North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) have completed baseline greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories through a regional initiative funded by the California Tahoe Conservancy. An $81,000 conservancy grant funded separate inventories for TCPUD and NTPUD, developed by the Sierra Business Council. 

The project provided each district with its own comprehensive baseline assessment of emissions associated with district operations. The inventories also highlight how existing operational practices, infrastructure investments, and state regulatory requirements are already contributing to emissions reductions identified in the baseline reports.

“Completing this inventory gives us a useful baseline for understanding where we are today and measuring our progress over time,” said Gail Scoville, TCPUD Board President. “It also demonstrates that many of the things we already do as part of providing reliable public services, from improving the efficiency of our facilities and infrastructure to complying with evolving state requirements, are contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”

Both districts provide essential water, wastewater, parks, and recreation services in the North Lake Tahoe region. Delivering these services require energy, vehicles, equipment, and other resources that contribute to each district’s overall GHG emissions. Establishing a baseline provides each district with a clearer understanding of where those emissions occur and a foundation for evaluating future opportunities to reduce them.

The project was funded by the California Tahoe Conservancy, with TCPUD and NTPUD contributing in-kind staff time to support development of their respective inventories.

“We commend our partners at the TCPUD and NTPUD for completing these inventories,” said Jason Vasques, executive director for the conservancy. “Their commitment to understanding and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions is a great model for how we can combat climate change at Lake Tahoe.”

~ TCPUD press release