HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/20/2008AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
DATE: Monday, October 20, 2008
LOCATION: 215 N. Mason Conference room 1-A
TIME: 5:30 -8:00 P.M.
Dinner is served starting at 5:15
For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair - 493-6341
David Roy, Council Liaison - 407-7393
Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604
Board Members Present: Nancy York, Eric Levine, Dennis Georg, Dale Adamy, Katrina
Winborn
Board Members absent: Dave Dietrich, Kip Carrico, Greg McMaster
Staff Present: Alexis Hmielak, Brian Woodruff
Eric Levine called the meeting to order at 5:35
Introduction of Guests
John Schroeer — guest
Public input
None
Climate Action Plan
Lucinda Smith presented an update on the progress of the Draft Climate Action Plan. This Draft
Plan is based largely on the recommendations of the Climate Task Force and will be presented to
City Council for a work session on October 28, 2008. The draft plan addresses the new goals
set by City Council in May, 2008, for 20% emission reduction below 2005 levels by 2020, and
801/o reduction below 2005 levels, by 2050.
• Lucinda showed a graph that tracks community -wide emissions from 1990 to 2007 and
then projects, in a business as usual scenario, the 2012 intent and 2020 goal.
o She pointed out the 2050 goal is a huge goal and very difficult to project.
o Dennis Georg interjected a quote by Tom Friedman: "The difference between a
vision and a hallucination is investment." In order to make this happen we must
invest.
o In answer to a question by Katrina Winborn, Lucinda stated community -wide
emissions are composed of carbon dioxide and methane from residential,
commercial and industrial, natural gas and electricity, transportation fuels and the
amount of waste we generate. Electricity is almost half of our community
emissions = 48%.
• According to the Plan, the amount of reduction we need to have to close the gaps is
485,000 tons/year in 2012, 1,375,000/tons/yr in 2020 and 1,524,000 tons/year below
2020 goal level in 2050.
o Katrina suggested, for clarity, this could also be expressed in layman's terms such
as "what would be the average person's contribution." Lucinda stated the
Community Climate Challenge is seeking 1 % per capita reduction or about
28,OOOtons/yr.
o Eric stated it was 15.5 tons originally when CTF began, but it has gone up.
Lucinda added it is also not just population growth that is increasing emissions.
We are also using more energy per capita. Fort Collins Utilities Department
statistics state only 20% of FC homes from 1980-90 had air conditioners. Now
60% of FC homes have air conditioners. This is a large increase in energy use.
o Eric Levine asked if per capita usage has started to go down yet. Lucinda stated
per capita use had a tiny reduction in 2006-7.
■ Features of the Draft Climate Plan:
o Largely based on Climate Task Force Recommendations
o Builds on existing successes
o Contains cost-effective strategies
o Involves long-term thinking
o Supports the local economy
o Brings multiple other benefits
o Flexible implementation schedule
■ Dennis pointed out there are two flexibilities: one of businesses and one of rates
of implementation via Council and via the public.
The Plan is largely based on the Climate Task Force's Recommendations
o CTF recommended 16 short-term strategies
o Draft Climate Action Plan retains most strategies but is a little more generic regarding
energy
o Incorporates the draft Energy Policy
o Adds more green building measures
■ Planned update to residential building code
■ Some long term green building measures
o Removes "Incentives for Individual Renewable Energy Projects"
■ Cost was too high
o Removes "Incentives for Low Emission Vehicles" since the high cost of gas could, alone,
be a good incentive to drive less.
o Considers "Time of Sale Ordinance" to upgrade buildings to higher energy efficiency
when sold as a long-tem strategy
o Removes the goal to achieve "15% Renewable Energy by 2011"
■ Moves away from a rapid ramp -up of renewable energy and focusing on
achieving a carbon reduction goal via energy efficiency and directs funding to
local projects
Discussion:
o Dennis Georg stated his opinion that utilities do not have an incentive for efficiency.
They are in the business to sell energy, not encourage energy efficiencies. He encourages
Council to think about incentives are we going to provide the utilities to get out and
aggressively promote savings.
o Eric felt the mandate must go higher up than the City Utilities.
o Lucinda interjected Governor Ritter set the state goal for utilities to reduce their
emissions 20% below 2005 by 2020 that may involve rate increases.
o Katrina added that getting permits to build or expand coal fired plants is very difficult
and that may be an incentive for utilities to be more efficient.
o Brian Woodruff stated Fort Collins is fortunate to own its own utilities so the City
Council can establish parameters for them. Council is scheduled to adopt the revised
Energy Policy on December 2, 2008. Utilities will be coming back to Council in the
spring with their implementation plan.
o Eric Levine expressed his opinion that there is a difference of opinion between several
Council members and staff on the Climate Protection Project and the Trash Policy. He
asked what kind of money is behind the recommendation to purchase less green energy,
where it was budgeted and could it go somewhere else. Lucinda stated it couldn't be
determined right now since Utilities still has to develop the implementation plan.
o In answer to a question from Dennis Georg who wanted to know what measures were
added to the Plan, Lucinda stated items added were: residential energy code update and
long term green building updates.
o Lucinda pointed out the new Plan does not add up to meet the 2012 intent. One option is
to purchase carbon offsets.
o Dennis wondered if all buildings on Mason Corridor could be required to be green
buildings. Lucinda stated there is a measure in the Green Building Roadmap to require
green building as a prerequisite to public financing through the City that was identified as
a 3-year strategy.
■ Nancy York suggested homes and businesses on Mason Street Corridor should
pay a transit access fee, also.
Lucinda continued the presentation.
• The Draft Plan builds on existing measures such as energy efficiency, ClimateWise, single
stream recycling, mandated natural gas efficiency, 2005 residential energy code and the
FortZed jumpstart program.
• It incorporates the following energy policy strategies:
o Regarding efficiency:
• Reduce electricity emissions 20%.
■ Reduce electricity use 1 % per year through efficiency and conservation programs.
■ Develop a smart grid road map by end of 2009.
■ Manage 10% of peak load demand through load management, smart grid, and
distributed generation.
o Regarding renewable energy
• We must comply with state -mandated renewable portfolio standard (10%
renewable energy by 2020).
• Increase the contribution of renewable energy enough to reach 20% reduction by
2020, after accounting for the contributions of energy efficiency, conservation,
minimum renewable energy requirements and voluntary renewable energy
programs.
• It contains cost-effective strategies
o Climate Wise - average net savings for reducing carbon ($2/ton)
o Reduce electricity use 1 % per year through energy efficiency and conservation
programs - (Efficiency Programs — lowest cost utility resource)
o Update building energy codes
o Advanced Meter Infrastructure
• It contains long-term thinking which is important, even though they are not quantified for
carbon reduction.
o Regular updates on building energy codes
o Continued support for "above code" green building initiatives
o Time of Sale Energy Conservation Ordinance
o Require Green Building as a Prerequisite for Public Financing
o Promote Net Zero Ready Homes
o Promote LEED for Neighborhoods
Supports the local economy
o ClirnateWise improves bottom lines of local businesses
o Colorado Carbon Fund
o It identifies 10%-40% investment back to the community. Also have projects have
carbon benefit
■ The program identifies between 10% to 40% of reinvestment of the carbon offset
revenue that came from the community back to the community. So if we can get
our businesses and citizens to buy carbon offsets through the Colorado Carbon
Fund instead of elsewhere, some of it will come back to us.
o Energy efficiency and green building would provide green -collar job opportunities in
Fort Collins. Currently there are not enough green job service providers.
Other benefits
o Reduce energy costs for heating, cooling and lighting
o Reduce motor vehicle fuel costs
o Support local businesses and the economy
o Redirect investments back into local economy
o Reduce dependence on foreign fuel sources
o Reduce vulnerability to energy price increases and volatility — important for
organizations with a budget that is trying to plan.
o Reduce peak demand and need for new base load capacity
o Diversify energy supply
o Reduce air pollution emissions (including ozone precursors)
o Improve public health
o Improve local visibility
o Reduce waste and increase landfill diversion rates.
o Reduce road congestion
o Increase Fort Collins' ability to adapt to a changing climate
o Provide opportunities for leadership
• Dennis Georg commented that this Plan not only addresses a changing climate but also a
changing economy.
• Lucinda pointed out the Plan also estimated the benefits of each strategy if they were
implemented all the way out to 2020.
• The Plan as it stands now falls short and only meets 55%-80% of the 2012 reduction
objective and 90% of the 2020 intent. Purchasing carbon offsets could help meet those goals.
• It is important the Plan stays active and alive by having monitoring and annual progress
report/biannual review.
o The review happens in spring of the year and the budget recommendations would be
adopted in the fall of that year.
o There are three milestones during the period: 2012, 2020, and 2050.
• Implementation flexibility
o Council can determine implementation priorities in context of evolving City budget
and policy priorities, carbon markets and technology opportunities.
o Possible fall 2008 decisions:
• 2009 budget exception requests to support Utilities' programs?
• Pursue a franchise fee agreement with Xcel for natural gas?
• Adopt new Energy Policy?
• Adopt Climate Action Plan?
• Decisions regarding Trash Services Study and Recycling programs
o Possible 2009 Decisions
• Electric rate changes?
• Adopt Transit Strategic Plan?
• Implement new waste reduction initiatives such as commercial recycling,
curbside yard waste, or changes to haulers' licensing requirements?
o Possible 2010/2011 budget requests
Capital and operations funding for transportation?
Capital and operations requests for municipal carbon
reduction projects?
Budget requests for any new solid waste reduction initiatives?
Discussion:
• In answer to a question by Katrina Winbom, Lucinda stated as years go on it is
incumbent on staff to remind City departments and City Council that future measures are
part of the Climate Plan. Eric Levine emphasized every service sector in the City should
keep the Climate Plan in mind because their activities could make or break the Plan.
• Nancy York suggested there should be a monitoring agency to keep track of the Plan's
implementation.
• Dennis Georg stated Fort Collins is one of the few cities without a natural gas franchise
fee and wondered why we don't move in that direction. Lucinda stated cost is a factor
because if we implement a franchise fee most of it would get passed along to the
consumer.
In summary:
• Lucinda stated the targets are aggressive and will be challenging.
• Responsible measurement, verification, and reporting are critical and we need to come up
with comprehensive guidelines for community -wide emissions reporting. A major
question is whether community emissions should include the energy used to make the
materials used in our community and the transportation used to bring those materials to
US.
Next steps
o Council work session October 28 — presentation of Draft Plan to determine if Council
has any comments or directions before it comes back for Council adoption.
o Nov 12, public open house
o Dec 2, Council considers adoption
0 2009 — ongoing implementation.
Challenges
o Targets are aggressive
o More funding and outreach will be required
o Immature EE infrastructure and slow ramp up
o Responsible measurement, verification and reporting
Opportunities
o Energy efficiency and conservation
o Manage risk: energy prices, carbon regulation, environmental impact
o Plug-in hybrids, smart grid, connecting transportation and electric distribution
infrastructures
Discussion:
• Dennis Georg was disappointed renewable energy programs that would close the gaps had
been deleted from the Plan. He suggested Council address plans that can reduce the gaps as a
part of the regular review cycle and commit to them.
• Eric reminded the group much of the Plan is a guestimate and some of these things are
outside of our control. Having enough strategies in the package is important to its success.
• Dennis pointed out the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) latest comparative
report of power generation systems regarding costs and benefits shows that by 2012 there
will be several modes of renewable energy generation where the cost of megawatt generation
will be very close to coal. He felt this is a solvable engineering problem and the City needs
to be more open-minded how the carbon reductions can be achieved with alternative energy
and should be well positioned to take advantage of them. Investing in renewable energies is
a wise business decision because it may ultimately provide citizens with the lowest cost of
electricity.
• Lucinda stated, if the Council would adopt the Plan, it would be by resolution, which
expresses their willingness to implement these programs but doesn't say when. However, it
is important that they support the Plan.
• Dale Adamy suggested, in order to keep it on track, language be added to the Plan such as:
"in order to succeed, the Plan expects the timeline be met, regulatory measures be taken, and
the proposed measures be completed," plus a timeline. This would be necessary because, in
government, officials change with term limits and this would allow the Plan to be passed on
from person to person.
o Lucinda felt these expectations are a reasonable addition to the implementation
schedule
• Dennis suggested this be a branded Plan, similar to ClimateWise to help with the community
challenge buy -in.
• Eric Levine stated it would be most productive for the AQAB to discuss the Plan with
Council members individually before the October 28, work session. The group discussed
and crafted a recommendation that Eric Levine will incorporate into a letter to the City
Council on behalf of the Air Quality Advisory Board.
Dennis Georg moved and Nancy York seconded the following motion:
The Air Quality Advisory Board recommends that the City Council adopt the Revised Climate
Action Plan. As part of that adoption, Council will recognize there is a gap in meeting the goal of
2012 and 2020 of 107,000 tons. Also, as part of that recognition, Council will commit to
evaluation of incremental programs to close those gaps and adopt a timeline for the
implementation of the individual aspects of the plan.
Motion approved unanimously
• In response to a request from Dale Adamy, Lucinda explained that Utilities hired a
consulting firm, R.W. Beek, to analyze the utility -related measures in the Plan. R. W. Beck
has a model they use to quantify the costs and benefits of the programs and they are going to
use to develop the implementation plan. R.W. Beck has completed their analysis that
included the carbon benefit of the costs and strategies of 2012 and 2020 recommended by the
51
Climate Task Force. Utilities supported the concept but didn't agree with all the cost
estimates. Also, R.W. Beck's determined "no benefit" from the Colorado Carbon Fund
because it depends on the market and we can't be sure about it. Utilities didn't agree with
this analysis.
7:00 Review and approve minutes of September meeting
Nancy York moved and Dale Adamy seconded a motion to approve the September 15, 2008,
minutes.
Motion approved unanimously
The September minutes stated there was some erroneous information at an August City Council
meeting regarding the Climate Action Plan. Eric Levine will review the video of the Council
meeting and if there is erroneous information, he suggested the AQAB should give Council
corrections.
Regarding the presentation by Jeff Scheick at last month's AQAB meeting, Dennis Georg is
trying to communicate with Jeffs office to find out the exact per -passenger cost for Transfort.
He was impressed with a study done in San Francisco and wondered if Transfort would be able
to calculate cost of transportation in Fort Collins. Eric encouraged the Board to follow through
on any questions they may still have.
AQAB 2009 Work Plan
The Board's annual work plan is due at the end of November. At this meeting the Board
discussed the previous work plan and considered changes for 2009. Final adoption could take
place at the November meeting.
Dennis Georg submitted the following revisions to the work plan as a result of this
discussion:
1. Review progress on the city's implementation of the climate action plan and make
recommendations for adjustments required to meet the city s objectives.
2. Track progress on the city's implementation plan to reduce the air quality impact of
residential and commercial diversion and trash hauling. Make recommendations for
adjustments.
3. Review the revised EPA standards on airborne lead and make recommendations to city
council on required actions the city must take to be in compliance.
4. Understand policy and code changes mechanisms in the city and adopt a protocol for the
board to use in affecting policy and code changes.
5. He also suggested to update the mobility management and communication section to
include a "community report"
Dale Adamy suggested looking at Mobility management from another perspective, re-
address the goals and objectives and perhaps write an addendum to the MM study.
o Dale also stated the Gary Steen will take the AQAB's agenda to the Transportation
Board to share and offered to be the liaison between the two boards.
o Dale also mentioned that Gary had offered a transportation study document for
review by the T-Board, but had not been aware it was from the same organization that
wrote the MM study, i.e. the Victoria Transport Policy Institute website
http://www.ytpi.org .
o Dale also suggested an air quality newsletter in addition or in place of community
outreach.
■ Brian recalled a request from Kelly Ohlson at the AQAB review that he would
like to see the City staff's reporting of air quality to be more visible and
accessible, e.g., "in primary colors."
Other suggestions:
o Stay on task with understanding what the Victoria Transport Policy Institute is trying
to convey.
o Continue to promote those concepts to the Council
o Find better ways to apply some of the policies from the Air Quality Board.
o Dale suggested the bike plan should also be mentioned.
o Volunteer to report on Council's progress regarding the Climate Action Plan
adoption.
o Establish and prioritize goals and objectives for the AQAB.
o Weigh in early on the 2010-2011 budget process as it relates to air quality.
■ Have goals and objectives in the work plan to better understand the budget
process and develop a strategy to incorporate funding to improve air quality.
■ Review categories in 2008-2009 budget for air quality issues and be sure they
appear in 2011-2012 budget.
■ Recommend priorities for budget inclusion based on the AQAB
recommendations to Council and make sure funding will be there for them.
■ Be sure people implementing the Plan have AQAB support.
■ Make sure supporting elements for the Climate Action Plan are present and
funded in the budget.
Nancy York moved and Dennis Georg seconded motion to adjourn .
Meeting was adjourned at 8:35
Submitted by Alexis Hmielak
Administrative Secretary I —7
Approved by the Board on �i li7/��?�//I ��� ( 2008
Signed "
Admini�live Secret*'I
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Date