Benton County says greenhouse‑gas emissions rose in 2022, outlines steps to meet government‑operations goal

Benton County staff told commissioners May 16 that county government greenhouse‑gas emissions increased in 2022 and presented a plan of energy and operational steps to narrow the gap to the county’s 2030 government‑operations goal.

Sean McGuire, sustainability lead, said the county measures its target from a 2010 baseline and that net emissions for government operations in 2022 were approximately 3,550 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. “We need to be at 50% of 2010 levels by 02/1930,” McGuire said, reflecting the county’s stated reduction goal and timeline.

Presenters highlighted actions already under way: five county building solar arrays that staff estimate save roughly 180 tons a year, subscriptions to offset programs (Pacific Power Blue Sky and the Oregon Community Solar Program), LED lighting upgrades, pilot procurement and managed‑delivery changes, and steps to electrify high‑mileage fleet vehicles. Staff showed a scenario tool that projects the impact of combined measures and estimated remaining emissions that could be addressed via offsets if needed.

Commissioners asked about measurement limits (noting pre‑2019 data gaps) and how new facilities — including courthouse and DA offices then under planning — would be folded into the inventory and scenario modeling. Staff said facilities, fleet and commuting patterns will be monitored and incorporated as energy models and occupancy plans are finalized.

Next steps: continue LED upgrades and fleet policy development, subscribe to Oregon Community Solar projects, implement telework/alternative schedules where feasible, and refine the scenario model as new facility energy data become available.