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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/22/2021 AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR February 22, 2021 5:30 – 8:00 pm via Zoom 2/22/21 – MINUTES Page 1 1. ALL TO ORDER 5:30pm 2. ROLL CALL • List of Board Members Present − Matt Tribby − Karen Artell − Emily Bitler − Wayne Chuang − Nina Forsyth − Dan Welsh − Jim Dennison • List of Board Members Absent – Excused or Unexcused; if no contact with Chair has been made − Jason Miller − Gregory Clark • List of Staff Members Present − Cassie Archuleta, Staff Liaison − Adelle McDaniel, Interim Sr. Sustainability Specialist 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION • none 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Wayne moved and Karen seconded a motion to approve the January minutes as amended. Motion passed unanimously with Jim abstaining because he was absent. 6- 0-1 6. PREVIOUS BUSINESS a. Staff Updates AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2/22/21– MINUTES Page 2 − Oil and Gas Council Work Session - Cassie had sent the board a follow-up memo regarding the January 26 Council work session where they discussed the use of zoning and setbacks to regulate oil and gas production. Council supported industrial zoning of oil and gas wells and setbacks of at least 2,000 feet; both of which were consistent with AQAB recommendations. - The next phase will include review of approval processes for new wells or changes to existing wells, and operational standards. Staff will go back to Council this summer to address post-code updates for the existing operator, targeting full code updates later this year. - Discussion: - For next steps to interact with City Council, there will be new Council members after the April election and it would be an opportunity for the board to inform them of the board's position on air quality issues, including oil and gas. Also, Council is expected to discuss oil and gas operational standards and the operator agreement this summer. - The City's natural area, Soapstone, could be of concern here for possible future oil and gas development. - It is important for the City to keep in contact with what the County is doing and Cassie will keep the AQAB informed of opportunities to have conservations with them. - Updates from Larimer County's oil and gas regulations - Larimer County Commissioners are in ongoing conversations to refresh their regulations to be more in alignment with the state's regulations. - For existing permits, the COGCC has pulled most permits that were not approved before new regulations were adopted. − Our Climate Future (OCF) Council Work Session Update - Council has discussed the Our Climate Future Plan in a work session, and staff is working towards potential adoption in March. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. 2019 Climate Inventory Update - Adelle McDaniel − 2019 Results - The current City's Climate Action carbon goals are: to be 20% below the 2005 baseline by 2020; to be 80% below the 2005 baseline by 2030; and AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2/22/21– MINUTES Page 3 to be carbon neutral by 2050. The 2018 inventory was 14% lower than the 2005 baseline, and in 2019 it was 7% lower than the 2005 baseline. - Q - What was the biggest change in methodology that caused the reductions to be less than they originally were? A - Industrial processes and product use (IPPU) were included in the 2019 methodology. These are non-energy emissions arising from production processes and use of synthetic greenhouse gases. The City does not have much influence over these, but they are now being reported because they occur within the City's boundaries. - Changes in the 2019 inventory include increases from natural gas, transportation and IPPU. - Q - Where does the data come from? Was it there previously? A - We get our data regarding "large emitters" from the EPA but it does not include sources in Fort Collins that fall below the EPA threshold. - Q - Is the increase in IPPU because of the carbon dioxide equivalent SF6 being emitted at Broadcom? Is Broadcom the sole emitter of IPPU? A - Broadcom is the main IPPU emitter and SF6 has higher global warming potential than CO2. There are other emissions like refrigerants that also affect the emissions, but they are not being tracked at the local level. The City cannot regulate Broadcom’s industrial emissions. - Q - Going forward, will Broadcom have to report their SF6 data to the state, and can the City be able to get that data from the state? A - Yes - The new state requirements will require more sources to be reported and could possibly even include some state regulations of them. The EPA has a reporting requirement, but not an emissions regulation requirement. − Other inventory changes included reduced electricity usage and reduced waste emissions from methane capture at the landfill. - Q - Are there any future changes anticipated in methodology, or just fine tuning? A - At this point it is fine tuning. Forestry and Agriculture isn't being recorded, but it is possible it might be in the future. − Protocols - The majority of cities who do carbon inventories use ICLEI's Community Protocol (USCP) or the Global Protocol for community-scale greenhouse AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2/22/21– MINUTES Page 4 gas emissions inventories (GPC). Fort Collins has transitioned from the ICLEI's protocol to the GPC protocol and does not include agriculture, forestry, other land use, or out-of-boundary transportation. - Another protocol is the Vulcan method that calculates what is in the air and attributes it to its source. - Q - A recent article stated a majority of U.S. cities are vastly undercounting their greenhouse gas emissions. How hard would it be for staff to include the not-included items? A – Staff had also reviewed the article. There are no easy places to get the data, and there are more sources for CO2e than are currently being reported, but the protocol also focuses on categories the City can influence. − Transportation - The City's transportation methodology has evolved over the years from Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT)-based, to fuel sales-based, but is now back to a VMT-based model - Transportation inventory sources include VMT, vehicle type, and fuel efficiency. There is also data being collected from the Department of Motor Vehicles about the number of fuel and electric vehicles. − Current Forecasts - We are unlikely to meet the carbon reduction goal for 2020. Projections are: 15% below baseline in 2020 and 25% below baseline in 2021. IPPU has had a great impact on our near-term goal. - Any reductions as a result of COVID-19 are not likely to be long-term. - To achieve the 2030 goal it would require unprecedented changes of reduced natural gas and petroleum usage, in addition to increased renewable and alternative transportation. − Key Takeaways - The 2019 inventory is 7% below the 2005 baseline. - Projected to meet the 2020 goal by 2021 - Expected to report 2020 inventory in early 2022 - Transformational changes across many sectors are needed to reach the 2030 goal. − Discussion - Q - Will changes in the bulk of natural gas and petroleum usage happen AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2/22/21– MINUTES Page 5 organically, or will policy make it happen? A - There is a movement towards electric vehicles, but it is not anticipated there will be an organic shift away from natural gas and petroleum usage. Regulations on emission standards will also help. Residential heating with natural gas will be a major hurdle because homes are not set up to change away from that. − Q - Can the City help incentivize purchasing electric cars rather than trucks or SUVs? A - The City is not really able to affect the vehicle market but is working to incentivize people to get out of personal vehicles and use other modes of transportation. − Q - Can the trajectory of the Our Climate Future Critical path be maintained? A - Not all paths are starting now. Some will begin later. The initial plan is a visionary document listing all the strategies. The Tactical Plan is for the next 2 years and the graph is based on the assumption of using other strategies later when appropriate. b. AQAB - 2021 Work Plan − Discussion - Regarding the City's Air Quality plan, Matt would like the AQAB to stay on top of what that plan prioritizes, its progress and what are the metrics and advocate for those actions. This would be more appropriate to discuss later in 2021. - Q - How frequently should someone test for radon because her landlord thinks it's one and done? There are many renters in Fort Collins and Information about radon should be disclosed to rental tenants. A - Every 2-5 years. There are resources and programs out there to help with this. The AQAB can help advocate for them. - Q - Our Climate Future and Housing Strategic Plan both address having safe rentals. Will the City include radon testing in those plans? A- Having alignment between radon testing and energy efficiency in rentals and for new homes is being discussed as being a voluntary incentive, not a regulation. The AQAB could weigh in here. - Follow up: Matt will follow up with Cassie regarding things that have metrics in the Air Quality Plan and what items the AQAB can advocate for. - Q - The state's Electric Vehicle Plan has opportunities for funding through various programs through the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC). Has the City investigated getting funding for City programs to increase electric vehicles? A - Yes. The City's municipal fleet has gotten some AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2/22/21– MINUTES Page 6 funding. Funding for community EV infrastructure in the City has not been organized yet. Not all RAQC grants are available to the northern front range. - Q - Are EV charging stations part of new housing developments in the City including multi-family dwellings? A - The building code does address having new homes be built electric vehicle ready. Multi-family housing is an opportunity but not sure how the City can be involved in incentivizing that. - Matt - recently saw reports that Colorado Energy Research Laboratory is doing research with CSU regarding electric vehicle research and development. He suggested City staff check with CSU regarding this. Follow up - Matt will send this data to Cassie and the board. - Matt suggested the AQAB approach the Transportation Board after their elections regarding a collaborative meeting to discuss the City's plans for electric vehicles. Follow up - Cassie will send the Transportation Board's 2021 work plan to the board. 8. OTHER BUSINESS a. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS − Matt - In February, the Environmental Defense Fund proposed to create a carbon cap and trade program for the state of Colorado. CDPHE pushed back on this from a resources standpoint. − Matt - WildEarth Guardians are suing CDPHE to not renew Suncor Refinery's permit to operate in Commerce City because of pollution and environmental equity issues. − Nina announced she will be leaving the AQAB in May because she is moving out of the country. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. 6-month calendar review b. Agenda planning − March - Outdoor burning presentation and elections − April - Electric vehicle presentation − April - Another possible discussion would be what air quality metrics are being used in the City. AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 2/22/21– MINUTES Page 7 10. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 pm.