CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: April 7, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Carbon Footprint & Carbon Reduction Plan
TARGET ISSUE: Environmental & Energy Resources
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
In 2006, staff prepared a preliminary greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for the Tallahassee community. This GHG inventory, often referred to as a carbon footprint, was prepared in conjunction with the Integrated Resource Planning project, and was presented at the September 27, 2006, City Commission meeting. During the February 20, 2008, Target Issue Workshop, the City Commission directed staff to update the 2006 GHG inventory and research how it compared with that of other municipalities. This updated GHG inventory was prepared and presented at the April 16, 2008, City Commission meeting.
The community carbon footprint includes components that staff have determined to be reasonably under the City’s control, as well as components that are not under the City’s control. The carbon market will likely become regulated in the next few years, therefore staff recommends that the components of the City’s carbon footprint be evaluated and formally established. This item seeks policy direction on the determination of the components to include in the City’s carbon footprint. It also informs the Commission of staff’s recommendations for identifying some potential options and considerations for further reducing the City government’s carbon footprint. Additionally, focus should be placed on encouraging citizens to reduce their carbon footprints. Attachment 1 includes the detailed findings of this most recent GHG inventory as well as the options for consideration.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Staff recommends that the City’s carbon footprint includes emissions from Hopkins and Purdom Generating Station; net electric purchases (purchases minus sales); Fleet vehicles and associated fossil fuel fired equipment; natural gas sales; and water/wastewater treatment operations. At a minimum, the Carbon Reduction Action Plan will include implementation of an Energy Reduction plan and policy for City buildings, Anti-Idling Policy for City fleet, enhanced recycling efforts, increased use of alternative fuel vehicles, continued evaluation of biosolids gasification technologies for the Wastewater Treatment Facilities, and targeted education and awareness for staff and citizens. Provide staff policy direction on which components should be included in the calculation of the City’s carbon footprint by either accepting the components as identified by staff, or directing staff to modify the components.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff is not requesting authorization for use of any funds at this time.
Cynthia S. Barber, Director, Environmental Policy and Energy Resources
Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager
For information, contact: Cynthia S. Barber, Environmental Policy and Energy Resources, 891- 8460.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
September 2006 - Preliminary Greenhouse Gas Inventory
In 2006, staff prepared a preliminary greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for the Tallahassee community. This GHG inventory, often referred to as a carbon footprint, was prepared in conjunction with the Integrated Resource Planning project, and was presented at the September 27, 2006, City Commission meeting.
As the Tallahassee community includes the city and surrounding areas, the inventory identified several major sources of CO2 emissions. This included Leon and Wakulla County mobile sources, electric power generation, industrial and manufacturing facilities, and wastewater treatment plants. The inventory estimated the total emissions and relative contributions of each of the sources.
In 2006, the largest source of CO2 emissions originated from the combustion of fossil fuels. More specifically, the two major sources of CO2 emissions for the Tallahassee area were identified as the transportation sector (~38%) and the electric generation sector (~59%). The inventory also estimated annual CO2 emissions from the City of Tallahassee’s electric power plants, and net purchased power, from 1990 to 2005.
April 2008 - Updated Greenhouse Gas Inventory
During the February 20, 2008, Target Issue Workshop, staff was directed to update the 2006 GHG inventory and research how it compares with other municipalities.
Staff updated the information through calendar year 2007 where available, and also incorporated additional sources of CO2 emissions including City of Tallahassee natural gas sales, mobile source emissions associated with Leon County Government Operations, and major industrial or manufacturing sources located within Wakulla County. Based on the updated information, the two major sources of GHG emissions remained the transportation (~38%) and electric generation (~58%) sectors.
Staff also updated the annual CO2 emissions from the City of Tallahassee’s electric power plant and net electric sales through calendar year 2007. This analysis identified an increase in net electric load (customer demand) from 1990 to 2007 of approximately 45%, while the total CO2 emissions increased by only 16%. Consequently, over this same time period, there was a corresponding decrease in CO2 emissions rate of 22%.
In addition, staff reviewed various GHG emissions studies, reports and databases to compare Tallahassee’s emissions to other communities. In large part due to the City of Tallahassee’s electric power generation fuel portfolio (96% natural gas and 4% oil) and efficiency improvements, the City of Tallahassee compared favorably both on a statewide basis, and also when compared to the top “green” communities across the nation.
April 2009 – Updated Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reduction Options
In December 2006, the City Commission adopted as a part of the Integrated Resource Plan, an aggressive Demand Side Management (DSM) plan that targets 59 megawatts of demand savings by 2012. This was a clear indication of the Commission’s commitment to delay the need for construction of additional generation resources and to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with the generation of electricity. In keeping with this initiative, in January 2009, the City Manager released her New Year Resolutions, which included a requirement to reduce Tallahassee’s carbon footprint by a demonstrable amount (5%) through specific actions taken within the government’s control. As well, the Resolution requires the development of outreach activities to encourage responsible environmental awareness at the individual citizen level. The resolution charged staff with having a plan in place for accomplishment by February 15th, for advocating implementation, and for monitoring organizational and citywide achievement with the first report to be in place by June 2009.
An updated greenhouse gas inventory is presented here for the City of Tallahassee’s governmental operations. The purpose of the inventory is three-fold. First, the inventory reflects where the bulk of the emissions are coming from – fleet operations, electric generation, and etc. Secondly, it allows for the development of targeted projects and specific programs to reduce emissions effectively. Thirdly, the baseline inventory serves as a reference against which to measure greenhouse gas reduction achievements.
For this effort, staff has identified sources under “direct control”, meaning sources that the City is responsible for or directs the day-to-day activities associated with them. The City controlled assets that have been identified for inclusion in the GHG inventory are as follows: Hopkins Generating Station, Purdom Generating Station, net electric purchases (purchases minus sales); Fleet vehicles and associated fossil-fuel fired equipment, natural gas sales, and water/wastewater treatment operations.
Although the City controls a number of offices and facilities that utilize electric services, the energy use for these facilities was not included in the inventory as a separate category in the carbon footprint pie charts provided to the City Commission (and as presented in the attachments). This was done in order to prevent double counting of greenhouse gas emissions as these would be included in the emissions attributed to power generation.
Many carbon footprint calculators include carbon emissions related to the purchase and use of products such as office paper, toner, and cleaning supplies. These indirect emissions were not included in either the 2006 GHG inventory or this updated GHG inventory.
Staff has reviewed and updated the 2006 and 2008 GHG inventories where applicable. Based on this review and update, the two major sources of GHG emissions still remain the transportation (~38%) and electric generation (~58%) sectors.
Staff has again updated the annual CO2 emissions from the City of Tallahassee’s electric power plant and net electric sales from calendar year 1990 through 2008. This analysis identifies an overall increase in net electric load (customer demand) from 1990 to 2008 of approximately 49% , while the total CO2 emissions decreased by 10%. In addition, over this same time period, there was a corresponding decrease of 40% in the CO2 emissions rate.
In June 2008, the Hopkins Unit 2 (HP2) Repowering project was completed and commercial operation was initiated. This will result in additional reductions in unit CO2 emissions as a result of the improved fuel efficiency. The data noted above includes the partial year CO2 emissions for the repowered HP2. Additional reductions may be identified once this electric generating unit completes its first full calendar year of commercial operations at the end of 2009.
The City of Tallahassee’s electric power generation fuel portfolio was also updated. For calendar year 2008, the Arvah B. Hopkins and Sam O. Purdom Electric Generating Stations combusted 99.5% natural gas, and 0.5% oil by heat input. This is an increase in natural gas usage over the previous calendar year which was 96% natural gas and 4% oil.
Comparison to Other City’s Carbon Footprints:
Other communities that have made plans to reduce their respective carbon footprints have gone through similar exercises in developing their GHG inventory. Unlike the City of Tallahassee, some have decided to include emissions of methane in the GHG inventory. Methane is the second biggest contributing greenhouse gas, and is estimated to be responsible for 20% of the enhanced (human caused) greenhouse effect. It is about 23 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and has an atmospheric lifetime of 12 years. Methane is primarily emitted from the raising of livestock and sources involving the decomposition of organic waste (in nature and in landfills). This also allows them to claim emission reductions from waste reduction and increased recycling programs. Since the City has no direct control over landfilling operations, these emissions were not included.
A comparison of carbon footprints for other cities and counties in Florida, show GHG inventories that include carbon emissions related to the transportation sector (which can include fleet vehicles and airport operations), landfills, wastewater sludge incineration, and electricity use in government buildings.
Components of a Carbon Reduction Program:
Staff was tasked with identifying targets of a carbon reduction program for City controlled operations. The following focus areas have been identified as targets for action items to be developed and implemented to achieve the GHG reduction goal:
1. Targeted City Buildings
a. Energy Consumption
b. Recycling/Waste Generation2. Electric Power Plants
a. Electric Power Purchases vs. City Generation
b. Electric Power Plant Operation3. Water/Wastewater Facilities
a. Fossil Fuel Consumption
b. Alternative Fuel Consumption4. Targeted City Fleets
a. Fossil Fuel Consumption
b. Alternative Fuel Consumption5. Education and Outreach
Other communities in Florida have promoted some other focus areas and will claim GHG reductions through actions, such as:
· Encouraging smart growth patterns to help reduce the number of cars on the road, as well as vehicle miles traveled.
· Reducing vehicle miles traveled through technology improvements (i.e. paperless offices, computerized court clerking, etc.)
· Solid waste initiatives to increase recycling throughout the community to between 30% and 50% of the waste stream, recovering and utilizing methane gas from landfills, and reducing generated solid waste.
· Developing and implementing the use of landscaping and the energy saving use of white reflective surfaces for roofing.
The Carbon Reduction task Team will explore the feasibility of these options for the Tallahassee community.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
None.
OPTIONS
Option 1 – Staff recommends that the City’s carbon footprint includes emissions from Hopkins and Purdom Generating Station; net electric purchases (purchases minus sales); Fleet vehicles and associated fossil fuel fired equipment; natural gas sales; and water/wastewater treatment operations. At a minimum, staff recommends the adoption of a Carbon Reduction Action Plan which includes the implementation of an Energy Reduction plan and policy for City buildings, Anti-Idling Policy for City fleet, enhanced recycling efforts, increased use of alternative fuel vehicles, continued evaluation of biosolids gasification technologies for the Wastewater Treatment Facilities, and targeted education and awareness for staff and citizens.
Option 2 – Provide policy direction to staff to modify the components of the City’s Carbon Footprint and the Carbon Reduction Plan to include or exclude components identified by the City Commission.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES
ATTACHMENT A –Greenhouse Gas Inventory Presentation