Pathways to Fossil Free UC Task Force

Purpose and background

Accelerating efforts to decarbonize campus energy infrastructure is the largest remaining challenge to achieving the University’s climate action goals and maintaining UC’s status as a leader in climate action. Decarbonization will be a campus-specific, technically challenging and capital-intensive challenge. The estimated cost per campus is at least $500 million -$1 billion.

President Drake convened a task force under the UC Global Climate Leadership Council to address the campus decarbonization challenge and respond to the Academic Senate Memorial to the Regents on Reducing Fossil Fuel Combustion. The task force included relevant expertise, stakeholders and decision-makers, convening subcommittees as required to engage subject matter experts and other stakeholders. Electrifying the campuses was the primary focus of the task force, but other pathways were also considered and evaluated.

Each campus, inclusive of its academic health center, conducted a State-funded decarbonization study. The studies assessed the technical and financial strategies needed to achieve a 90% or greater reduction in direct emissions from on-site energy infrastructure, identified climate justice and equity considerations, analyzed gaps needed for climate action planning, and determined research and education opportunities.

Findings

The findings of the 10 decarbonization studies demonstrate that UC campuses are aligned in their need to address climate change and share many common themes and approaches. However, the strategies evaluated, solutions selected, and implementation approaches varied based on campus priorities and the age and condition of campus energy infrastructure. The Task Force’s overall findings are:

  • UC knows how to decarbonize and some campuses have begun implementing decarbonization plans. Decarbonization has several co-benefits that advance the University and UC Health’s missions.
  • The fossil-free transition will be complex and require significant investment. Existing infrastructure impacts decarbonization cost and schedule.
  • Partial funding is available. A phased approach will help overcome the large upfront capital costs of decarbonization.
  • Climate action plans will detail how to implement decarbonization pathways.
  • Studies identified just transition and equity considerations.
  • UC is a living laboratory for addressing climate change.

Recommendations

The task force developed the following key recommendations:

  • Communication and change management
    • Provide visible support for decarbonization at the leadership level.
    • Develop information-rich communication resources so all stakeholders are aware of progress.
  • Planning and designing the decarbonized campus
    • Minimize and shape campus energy use.
    • Commit to no new natural gas infrastructure.
    • Coordinate decarbonization and electrification plans systemwide and across all individual campus units.
    • Advocate for grid reliability and capacity.
  • Funding and financing
    • Explore tax credits, grant funding, and incentives.
    • Dedicate savings from energy projects and procurement to a fund for decarbonization projects.
    • Partner with UCOP Capital Markets Finance to secure investment in capital programs.
  • Implementation process
    • Phase implementation.
    • Leverage UC purchasing power.
    • Develop staff capacity to support decarbonization.
    • Follow best practices for equity in the labor transition and design and construction.
    • Support living laboratory opportunities as part of UC’s core teaching and research mission.

The task force published its final report, "Evaluating decarbonization strategies across the University of California," in June 2025.