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earth from spaceSMUD is fighting climate change

“Reducing Global Warming” is a key part of the SMUD Board’s vision for the organization.  The board has adopted a sustainable power supply target of reducing our long-term greenhouse gas emissions to 10% of 1990 carbon dioxide emission levels by 2050 (i.e. less than 350,000 metric tones/year), while assuring reliability of the system; minimizing environmental impacts on land, habitat, water quality, and air quality; and maintaining a competitive position relative to other California electricity providers.

In addition, SMUD has a Renewable Portfolio Standard with an aggressive goal of supplying 20 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2010 and 33 percent by 2020.

SMUD is nationally recognized as a leader in generating electricity from renewable resources, in developing energy-efficiency programs and in pioneering electric transportation alternatives. Providing energy solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions is an integral part of our future as a customer-owned utility.

Here are some of the things we are doing to help achieve these aggressive greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy targets:

    Energy supply programs

  • In 2008, renewable energy made up approximately 19 percent of SMUD’s energy supply. SMUD is the only major elelctrical utility in California that is on tract to meet the state's 20% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal by 2010.
  • Our Research and Development programs aim to reduce the cost and improve the overall performance of renewable technologies in the areas of biomass, wind and solar power generation.
  • Our power generators are always under review with an eye towards improvement, resulting in more electricity provided with greater efficiency from existing infrastructure.
  • Our programs support local distributed generation, including solar photovoltaic (PV), dairy methane-to-energy and the co-digestion of grease and liquid food processing waste. These programs provide economical energy solutions that help to convert otherwise wasted heat or idle capacity to power. They also reduce the demand on the power grid and reduce emissions.
  • Our leadership in solar PVs spans more than two decades, beginning in 1984 with the installation of the first large-scale PV generation facility at our Rancho Seco site.
  • Our work in the community includes partnerships with local industry, resulting in three cogeneration facilities that combine efficient electricity generation with heat supply for our industrial customers.

      • Energy-efficiency programs

    • SMUD has for more than three decades led the industry in residential and commercial energy-efficiency programs, reducing electricity use and providing cost-savings to our customers.
    • Our Research & Development programs help to develop energy-efficient technologies.
    • Our  Customer Service Center (at 6301 S St. in Sacramento) is a model of energy-efficient building technology, and is LEED Platinum Certified. Electricity use in this building is half that of buildings with more traditional construction.
  • Our support is relied on for several alternative fuel vehicle demonstration projects, including programs that test hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in hybrids.

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      alternative energy picturePolicy initiatives

  • Our elected Board of Directors has made reducing greenhouse gases associated with SMUD's operations a priority. A comprehensive planning process to reduce greenhouse gas is currently under way.
  • SMUD co-sponsored a baseline Greenhouse Gas Inventory Assessment in Sacramento County in partnership with our seven cities, Sacramento County, and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. This group, the Sacramento Area Green Partnership, is beginning to discuss cooperative greenhouse gas emission reduction policies and plans.
  • SMUD has fostered national and international cooperation for reducing carbon emissions through the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
  • SMUD provides leadership in the development of greenhouse gas accounting principles through its work with industry and government organization.  By invitation, SMUD participated in the 14th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Poland in December 2008.

      • Customer programs

  • The Greenergy® program lets customers choose to have SMUD meet up to 100 percent of their electricity needs with energy created by renewable resources.
  • SMUD customers can calculate their carbon footprint and then purchase carbon offsets to support additional renewable energy and carbon reduction programs.
  • Neighborhood Energy All-Star groups and the Sacramento Zoo Energy All-Stars are mobilizing community groups to reduce electricity use.
  • SMUD SolarSmartSM homes deliver 60 percent energy bill reduction for new home buyers.
  • Home Energy Reports (a pilot program that launched in April 2008) personalizes SMUD’s program offerings to individual customers. These reports help customers understand and make choices about their energy use and costs as well as how they compare to their neighbors.
  • SMUD underwrites OurGreenCommunity.org, a Web site developed to help improve the quality of life by providing a place for Sacramento-area residents, groups and businesses to share ideas, get tips and talk to others about reducing the impact of carbon emissions from all sources. 

      • Other sites of interest

  • Electric vehicles
  • Solar
  • Wind
  • Advanced & Renewable Technology

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