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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.B 07/18/2005CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNI AGENDA BILL 3. B July 18, 2005 Agenda Title: Presentation and Resolution Regarding Greenhouse ivieerrne Lace: July 10, Lwj Gas Reduction Target. Meetine Time: ® 3:00 PM ❑ 7:00 PM Cateeory (check one): ❑ Consent Calendar ❑ Public Hearing ❑ New Business ® Unfinished Business ❑ Presentation Denartment: Director: Contact Person: Phone Number: City Manager Mike Bierman 707 778 3435 Cost of ProDosal: Not Determined Amount Budgeted: 0 Account Number: Name of Fund: Attachments to Agenda Packet Item: 1. Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Target Recommendation 2. Press Release from Climate Protection Campaign dated May 23, 2005 3. Resolution Adopting Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target Summary Statement: The City of Petaluma is participating in an evaluation of its greenhouse gas emissions along with several other local agencies. A recent study evaluated all major sources of greenhouse gas generation associated with City of Petaluma activities, including fleet vehicles, facilities such as buildings, streetlights and traffic signals. Employee commutes were also evaluated. The attached report provides a summary of the results of that evaluation. The recommendation of the report is that the City of Petaluma could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7% to 28% by the year 2010 by undertaking certain projects and programs. A recent meeting of community representatives from Sonoma county recommended a specific county -wide target of 25% reduction of 1990 levels by the year 2015. Attached also is a draft resolution providing the City Council the opportunity to adopt a reduction target for the City of Petaluma. A representative of the Climate Protection Coalition will be present to answer any questions about the project. Recommended Citv Council Action/Sueeested Motion: Move that the City adopt a greenhouse gas reduction target of 25% of 1990 levels by the year 2015. Reviewed by Admin. Svcs. Dir: Reviewed by City Attornev: Anuroveo/by.Gity Manager: Date: Date: Date: Todav's Date: Revision # and Date Revised: File Code: July 11, 2005 # CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA July 18, 2005 AGENDA REPORT FOR Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City of Petaluma is participating in a project to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions. A recent survey identified several sources of greenhouse gas emissions and provided an estimate of potential levels of future reduction of emissions. 2. BACKGROUND: The attached report is based on an analysis of the City's energy uses and potential greenhouse gas emissions as prepared by David Erickson of the Climate Protection Campaign. An analysis of various sectors including vehicle fleet, building sector (city facilities), and streetlights is summarized in his report. Regarding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, a range of 7% to 28% reduction by the year 2010 was suggested. Some of the suggestions, such as converting streetlights to High Pressure Sodium Vapor lamps and LED traffic signal lights are already in process. Recommendations for vehicle fleet emissions include conversion to high fuel efficiency vehicles where appropriate and bio -diesel vehicle use for some of our larger vehicles such as busses and refuse collection vehicles. We are seeking bio -diesel as part of our refuse collection franchise agreement. A current issue locally is the availability of bio -diesel. The City previously participated in an alternative fuel vehicle program (ethanol) promoted by the State of California using flexible fuel vehicles. That program ended when no local flexible fueling facilities were installed in the area and when the State made changes to their funding requirements that significantly limited the types of vehicles qualifying for reimbursement. We also participated in obtaining compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled vehicles using a fueling facility shared by the Petaluma School District. Several CNG vehicles were obtained. Operational issues concerning driving distance between refueling and reduced load capacity as a result of increased fuel tank requirements made the vehicles undesirable from an operational standpoint. The remaining reduction recommendations are associated with improved building energy efficiency. Lighting and heating are the main sources of energy use and greenhouse emissions. Sewage pumping consumes a significant amount of energy, also. Aggressive improvements to facilities could reduce our emissions in this area by 50%, according to the report. A recent meeting of Sonoma County/City representatives concurred on a target of a 25% reduction of 1990 level emissions by the year 2015. As with other targets, attainment will require significant investment over a period of time. While some low interest loans or grants may be identified, no specific estimate of energy cost savings to offset the cost of improvements has been provided. 3. ALTERNATIVES: Provide a reduction target for future emissions that is both measurable and attainable. 4. FINANCIAL IMPACTS: The financial impacts are not determined but will be considerable depending on the level of reduction desired. The financial commitment will be somewhat offset by future fuel and/or utility savings. In most cases, equipment and facilities will need to be replaced and updated over time. Planning for replacements that will reduce impacts on fossil fuel and energy, along with potential environmental improvements, is an appropriate public policy direction. 4- 5. CONCLUSION: The City of Petaluma should participate, along with other cities, in this program and develop energy saving programs and projects to attain the desired target reduction, along with working with other local agencies to develop appropriate programs on a regional basis where appropriate. 6. OUTCOMES OR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS TRAT WILL IDENTIFY SUCCESS OR COMPLETION:. Once identified, the City will need to annually assess its progress during the period of program implementation. 7. Recommendation: The City Council should adopt a specific reduction target so that staff can consider appropriate programs and projects to reach the target during future budget cycles. 3 City of Petaluma Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target Recommendation Prepared by J. David Erickson January 18, 2005 The City of Petaluma completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory using the year 2000 as a baseline. The distribution of GHG emissions in the year 2000 among the sectors of city operations is shown below. This report examines the largest emitters in all sectors of city operations, and makes estimates of the effect of certain reduction measures. Then an overall recommendation is made for a defensible target reduction percentage. The Sectors Petaluma GHG Emissions by Sector Water/Sewage 4% Streetlights - Buildings 21% 26/0 Commute 15% Figure 1 Vehicle Fleet 34% Figure I shows the sector distribution of the total emissions. For the baseline year (2000), the emissions total for Petaluma is approximately 4700 tons, Vehicle Fleet is the largest contributor (34%), followed by Buildings (261/o), Streetlights (2 1 I/o), Employee Commute (15%), and Water/Sewage (4%). For the purposes of this recommendation, the Employee Commute sector will be considered optional. However, the Employee Commute sector could be a worthwhile candidate for imaginative programs that could serve as models for other communities. For example, fleet pricing on hybrid vehicles could be offered to city employees. Analysis of Sectors Vehicle Fleet Petaluma Vehicle Fleet Sector GHG Emissions 700- 600 - 500 - 400 - MMI 300 - 200 MEN_ 1001- 0 Fire Dept Buses Airport Corp Yard Vehicle Group Figure 2 The vehicle fleet accounts for 34% of the overall emissions. Within this sector, the Corp Yard vehicles account for the largest single emissions source, at 602 tons. Building Sector 250 - 200 150- 0 100 - 50 - 0 Petaluma Building Sector GHG Emissions M Ell 01 rz CL (1) 0) (n V- (1) C 0 'C� CU (0 0 E —x c' (D = 0 0 C 0 E = X M -a 0 0 M 0 0 0- 0) r- M CL � 0 .!:z ca 0 0 E 3: b E 0) c: E CU C\I U) < 0 EU E Z C/) 0 (D a- CL a) 0 �; U) 0 Facility Figure 3 Petaluma has many city buildings, and not all are shown here. Figure 4 shows the ten largest emissions sources in the building sector. The City Hall Complex on Bassett Street and the Washington Street Swim Center each account for over 200 tons. Streetlight Sector Figure 4 shows the emissions from the four components of the Streetlight sector. The electric energy use by streetlights in Petaluma accounts for 651 tons of GHG emissions. Traffic Lights account for over 200 tons. b Petaluma Streetlight Sector GHG Emissions 700 - 600 - 500 - 400 - r 0 ~ 300 - 200 - 100 0 FIEN Park Lights Parking Lot Traffic Signal Streetlights Lights Facility Figure 4 11 Largest Emitters 14% 1: Largest GHG Emitters Petaluma 1An/_ wnn, 10% 8% Figure 5 *All Others ® Fire Dept Vehicles p W ater/Sewer Parks ❑Com. Ctr, McDowell A Swim Gtr Complex Gd City Hall Complex 1111ITraffic Signals ID Buses ■Airport Vehicles MCorp Yard Vehicles ❑Streetlights • Employee Commute 2000 Figure 5 shows the detail of the top ten emissions sources. They are: • Employee Commute (14%) • Streetlights (14%) • Corp Yard Vehicles(l3%) • Airport Vehicles (10%) • Buses (8%) • Traffic Signals (5°fo) • City Hall Complex (5°l0) • Swim Center Complex (5%) • McDowell Community Center (4%). • WatertWastewater use in parks (3%) • Fire Department Vehicles (3%) Estimate of Potential Reductions 1. Streetlighting Sector Improve energy efficiency in streetlights by using High Pressure Sodium Vapor lamps. Use LED traffic lights in all traffic light units.: 10%-30% reduction, 3%- 9% overall 2. Vehicle Fleet Sector Improve vehicle efficiency and use alternative fuels. This can be done in stages. Initially, efficiency can be improved by improved maintenance and driving practices. Over time, when vehicles are replaced, the replacements can be specified for high fuel efficiency. These improvements can result in a 10%-40% increase in fuel efficiency, depending on the aggressiveness of the measures. Windsor has already taken steps to convert diesels to biodiesel. Biodiesel use represents a 100% decrease in GHG emissions for every gallon of standard diesel replaced. 2%-8% reduction overall. 3. Building Sector Improve building efficiency. The City Hall, Washington St. Swim Center and McDowell Community Center electricity and natural gas use account for 14% of the total GHG emissions for Petaluma. The top ten buildings account for 20% of the total emissions. Focusing on improving the efficiency of these ten facilities will bring the largest gains. The HVAC systems and lighting systems account for the majority of this energy use. Electrical energy use can be offset by installing photovoltaics. Natural gas use can be minimized by increasing the efficiency of the building envelope and using more efficient HVAC systems. Extremely aggressive measures could reduce GHG emissions by 50%. Less aggressive measures might reduce emissions by 10%. This is a 2%-10% reduction overall. Recommended Reduction Target Range The estimated reductions discussed above give a target range of 7% to 28% by the year 2010. Any number within this range could be defended, and the actual target depends on the willingness of the city to be aggressive. Any efficiency measure will have a payback period, so the financial strategy is to select measures that give the shortest payback for the least investment. Depending on the availability of capital, larger investments might be made that produce substantial savings in operating costs. General strategies for exceeding the target would include participating in regional solutions for purchasing energy efficient equipment in bulk with other cities. This might include vehicles, streetlights and photovoltaic systems. Additionally, alternative fuel solutions could be approached on a regional basis, such as centralized biodiesel processing that could be shared by all the cities. 11 Board Ann Hancock President John Gam, Secretary Elizabeth Carothers Herron, Treasurer Martha Kowaiick Member BIG VISION, BOLD ACTION Advisors Jane Bender, Mayor, Gly of Santa Roza Ernie Carpenter, Former Counry5upen%or Kimberly Cement, RetiredAttomey Michael Friedenberg, Real Estate Broker Mike Sandier. Coordinator, Community Clean WaleUtmMe Alan Strachan. Developer Science and Technical Advisors Fred Euphra4 Ph.D. Dorothy Freidel, PhD. Edward C Myers. MS.Ch.E Edwin Orrem RE John Rosenblum, Ph.D. Zeno Sw5tink Ph.D. Alexandra von Meier, PhD. Mathis Wackemagel, Ph.D. Joel Woodhull, Ph.D. AFChu Wu, Ph.D. 707 237-2696 P.O. Box 558, Graton, CA 95444 www.climateprotectioncampaign.org For Immediate Release May 23, 2005 Sonoma County Community Representatives Set Target to Reduce Emissions Causing Climate Change Community representatives recommend that Sonoma County reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2015 SANTA ROSA, Calif. — On Saturday, May 21, the Climate Protection Campaign convened Sonoma County residents to set a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. By the end of the day, 32 community members agreed that Sonoma County should reduce its emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2015, the boldest emission reduction target set by any Bay Area community to date. Local elected officials from the County and Sonoma's nine cities selected the workshop participants who included business members, civic leaders, young people, and the elected officials themselves. The County of Sonoma, Sonoma's nine cities, the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, and the Sonoma County Water Agency sponsored the workshop, and Rick Phillips of Sebastopol -based Community Matters facilitated the workshop. "This was an experiment to see if the community could agree on a target by the end of the day, said Climate Protection Campaign executive director Ann Hancock. "We convened community representatives, presented them with the facts, facilitated their deliberation, and they did it! We are very encouraged by participants' thoughtful engagement and by their ability to come to an agreement on such an important topic." Workshop participants were charged with agreeing upon a base year, a target year, and a percent reduction. 1990 was chosen as a base year because it is the same base year decided upon for the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that went into effect on February 16, 2005. A target year of 2015 was favored because it provides Sonoma County a ten-year window to implement countywide strategies such as more efficient transportation, green building, and land use plans that lead to emission reductions. "I was skeptical going in," stated Steve Geney, President of North Bay Construction. "But we focused on the facts and how to fix them. Now my gears are turning. There are many things our industry can change to do our part in meeting the target. I think it can be done." The mission ofthe Climate Protection Campaign is to create a positive future for our cluldren and all life byrnsprring action in response to the climate crisis IVe adu7nce practicaC soencebasedsolutions forsignficantgreenhouse gas reductions 10 "This whole notion that reducing our emissions will cost us is a myth," noted Alan Strachan, a Santa Rosa developer and one of the workshop presenters. "A decrease in greenhouse gas gets us an increase in GDP both locally and nationally. Let's quit exporting our wealth for fossil fuel when energy falls free from the sun." According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the foremost scientific authority on the subject, current levels of greenhouse gases need to be reduced by 60 to 80% immediately in order to mitigate the greatest threats to our planet's ecosystems, climate cycles, and human existence. These threats include rising sea levels, desertification, and more frequent severe weather events such as floods and drought. The target recommended by the community representatives does not meet the dramatic reductions scientists call for, but the target would, if achieved, move the county much closer to where scientists say we need to be. Studies by the Climate Protection Campaign of greenhouse gas produced by Sonoma County residents found that between 1990 and 2000 emissions increased by 28 percent — double the national average. The two key reasons for the increase were a rise in vehicle miles traveled of 43 percent, and in population of 18 percent. "Scientific and technological solutions exist for meeting the target, " asserted Hancock. To prove this, the Campaign sent participants a white paper written by local scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to read in preparation for workshop. "We wanted to assure participants that they could focus on the critical challenge - generating public will - rather than on the technological aspects of climate protection. That analytical work comes after setting a target," said Hancock. "Our aim is for people in Sonoma County to achieve such resounding success that we inspire communities worldwide," said Windsor Town Council member Debora Fudge. Sonoma County has set two national precedents for climate protection. It is the first community where 100 percent of its nine cities and the County have pledged by resolution to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and the first where all municipalities have completed their baseline emission inventories for their municipal operations. Sonoma County local governments follow Cities for Climate Protection, an international program in which more than 600 local governments worldwide participate. The emission reduction target recommended by the community representatives will be presented to the County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors and Sonoma's nine city councils to consider for adoption. For more information, please call Ann Hancock, (707) 237-2696 or visit www.climateprotectioncampaign.org DRAFT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH GHG EMISSION REDUCTION TARGET(S) FOR CITY OF PETALUMA WHEREAS, actions taken by local government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency provide multiple local benefits by improving air quality and public health, reducing energy expenditures, and saving money for the local government, its businesses, and its residents; and WHEREAS, local governments greatly influence the community's energy usage through their actions concerning land use, transportation, construction, waste management, energy supply, and energy management; and WHEREAS, the City of Portland recently proved the effectiveness of a concerted community climate protection program by reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide below 1990 levels while simultaneously increasing the community's vibrancy and economic prosperity; and WHEREAS, increased temperatures due to higher greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere threaten to adversely impact water quality and supply, to exacerbate air quality problems, and to adversely impact human health by increasing heat stress and related deaths, the incidence of infectious disease, and the risk of asthma, respiratory and other health problems; and WHEREAS, California has taken a leadership role in climate protection by implementing the motor vehicle greenhouse gas emission reduction regulations, implementing the Renewable Portfolio Standard, implementing the most effective building and appliance efficiency standards in the world, and on June 1, 2005, establishing greenhouse gas reduction targets for the State: by 2010 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels, by 2020 reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels, and by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels; and �a, WHEREAS, Sonoma County has taken a leadership role in climate protection by being the first county in the nation where 100 percent of its cities and the County pledged by resolution to reduce both greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions throughout the community, and by being the first county in the nation where 100 percent of its cities and the County determined their baseline greenhouse gas emissions for municipal operations; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma resolved to be part of Cities for Climate Protection and follow its five milestone program, and WHEREAS, on May 21, 2005, thirty-two representatives from Sonoma's nine cities and the County considered targets for the community and consequently recommended that the cities and the County adopt a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the City of Petaluma to establish the following climate protection target(s): To reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced community wide 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by internal municipal operations by 20 percent from 2000 levels by 2010. 1�