Berkeley unanimously approves climate plan

…”After two years pouring your soul into something, to see it passed 9-0 is just intoxicating,” said the city’s planning director, Dan Marks. “This plan is a model for cities everywhere. As usual, Berkeley is a leader.”

The City Council on Tuesday night voted to move ahead with its 145-page Climate Action Plan, approving a host of last-minute amendments and striking mandates from most of the proposal.

The plan outlines how the city will reduce its greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050 and will now undergo an environmental review and return to the council for final approval on June 2.

Implementing the plan will cost $3 million in its first year. The money, which has already been allotted from the general fund, will cover five full-time positions in city hall’s sustainability office and the cost of upgrading bike and pedestrian routes.

The plan will return to the City Council every year for revisions based on advances in science, updated energy data and progress on current projects.

In addition, the public will be able to sound off on the plan via the city Web site, berkeleycli mateaction.org.

SF Chronicle