Historical - Climate Action Committee - 2020-2023

City of Bellingham Climate Action Committee Minutes November 22, 2021, 1:15 PM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members, Pinky Vargas, Chair www.cob.org/council Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Pinky Vargas, Fourth Ward Excused: Committee Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Standing Committee Meetings: Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and, when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the Regular Meeting. The notice of Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice of Special Meetings of the City Council at the times identified as Council Members who are not members of the committee routinely attend and participate in the Committee Meetings. Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the evening prior to deliberation and formal vote in the order shown below: Climate Action Pinky Vargas, Chair Lisa Anderson sat in for Daniel Hammill, Michael Lilliquist 23171 1. Climate Action Fund p. 3 In November 2020, Council adopted Resolution 2020-45 to amend the 2018 Climate Protection Action Plan (CAP) and accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from Municipal and Community sources. The amendment included adding a measure to the CAP for development of a Climate Action Fund. The fund could provide revenue for implementation of key actions within the CAP. On November 8th, Mayor Fleetwood reported to Council that he directed staff to begin researching options with the intent to have a measure on the November 2022 ballot for voter consideration. Staff is seeking Council approval to retain the Pacifica Law Group to advise on the development of a Climate Action Fund and a potential property tax increase. Climate Action Committee Minutes Page 1 November 22, 2021  Renee LaCroix, Assistant Public Works and Natural Resources Director, spoke about the goals of the Climate Action plan. Specific community targets include within Climate Action Plan: reducing emissions by 40% from 2000s levels by 2030, 85% reduction by 2050 (from 2000 levels). This would be done by increasing energy efficiency improvement, electrification of buildings, improving transportation system and looking into adaptation in terms of climate. At the moment, looking for wording to craft the fund and to include this as a ballot measure in November of 2022. LaCroix shared a timeline that outline the road to the November 2022 ballot (timeline included in packet on page 43). Councilmembers asked questions. Councilmember Pinky Vargas requested specification on where the money will go (LaCroix mentioned that 2% community emissions come from the City of Bellingham) and whether the City is looking at residential and commercial (LaCroix affirmed that it includes both). In order to be successful, Vargas stressed the importance of partnerships, multiplying resources is critical. She referenced the Community Energy Challenge – taking their lessons learned and multiplying it. First save the energy, then add renewables (building on what has been done for many years). This can be done by partnering with utility companies and the Opportunity Council. Vargas says that this is an amazing opportunity and is glad that the City is doing this . Councilmember Michael Lilliquist spoke in favor of this and wants to know how the City will seek public input, environmental equity costs, etc. (LaCroix mentioned this will be on the City website, including Engage Bellingham, as well as plans for staff to go out to engage with the community in a COVID friendly manner, with a focus on disadvantaged populations in the community). Lilliquist mentioned using ARPA money to take care of municipal buildings. Lilliquist request that with the Climate Fund, the funds should address community concerns (not City buildings). Councilmember Lisa Anderson stated that she supports this, because there is a climate emergency. Her concern is regarding the EMS levy that will be coming up in 2022, and that the community may feel overtaxed. She is concerned about two levies going forward the same year. Anderson stressed that they need other sources of income – raising a tax on natural gas, gasoline tax, etc. (taxing the source of the issue that they are trying to mitigate). She hopes that the cost burden could expand beyond homeowners and renters. She is cautious about this Climate Fund and does not want to lose the EMS levy. Climate Action Committee Minutes Page 2 November 22, 2021  Councilmember Hannah Stone spoke of the importance regarding the clarity that Anderson and Fleetwood spoke of, needing the entire community to step up. She recognized that there are inequities that will hinder the community. MOTION to approve retention of outside Counsel, Pacifica Law Group. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 23172 2. Puget Sound Energy's Presentation of its Draft Clean Energy p. 7 Implementation Plan (CEIP) The Clean Energy Implementation Plan CEIP is a four-year roadmap to accelerate the amount of clean electricity to nearly 60% by 2025 – well on our way to achieving net zero carbon electricity by 2030. The plan includes bringing on an additional 500 Megawatts of wind, 80 Megawatts of solar, and 25 Megawatts of battery storage. Locally, that means an immediate ramp up of local rooftop and ground solar energy programs that partner with homes and businesses. Carryn Vande Griend, Senior Government Affairs Representative PSE, introduced the presentation. Meeting objectives included: sharing about PSE and the transition to the clean energy future, proving an overview of PSE’s first Draft Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP), sharing how the community can learn more in the process, and answer draft CEIP questions. Adrian Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Strategy PSE, spoke about the fact that the company is looking at becoming a Beyond Net Zero company (not only reducing their own carbon footprint to net zero, but also helping other sectors, partners (including COB) and customers. This includes electric and natural gas. PSE hopes to achieve the following: Net zero carbon emissions for all PSE operations and electric supply by 2030 with 100% carbon-free electric supply by 2045, eliminating coal-fire resources from electric power by 2025, carbon-neutral electricity supply by 2030 (consisting of 80% carbon non- emitting energy) and up to 20% of non-renewables with qualified carbon offsets. Throughout this, the company is balancing reliability and affordability, including an Equity Advisory Board. Josh Jacobs, Vice President of Clean Energy Strategy PSE, discussed Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) and its focus on equity as a major focus of legislation and PSE's focus. He discussed the Equity Advisory Group (stakeholder group, with cross-section of customers) that has helped tailer the types of programs that best serve them via: equitable distribution of energy and non-energy benefits and reduction of burdens to vulnerable populations and highly impacted communities, public health and environmental benefits and reduction Climate Action Committee Minutes Page 3 November 22, 2021  of costs and risk, and energy security and resiliency. Jacobs outlined the planning process: CEIP is a new plan required by CETA, four-year plan that guides PSE's clean energy programs, actions, and investments for 2022-2025: submitted draft CEIP on Oct 15, 2021 (filing), expect to file final CEIP in Dec (Dec 17, 2021), UTC will adjudicate approval by: approving, denying, or modifying the plans. Transition to clean electricity 2020-2025: PSE clean electricity portfolio in 2020 (35%), by the end of 2025 (59%) - including coal free, more renewable energy, more energy efficiency, new local solar and better storage programs. Will Einstein, Director of New Product Development PSE, discussed next steps: conduct all source RFP - any resource a developer might want to sell regarding the plan (ongoing), draft RFP submitted to the commission Nov 15, 2021, Final DER RFP - issued Q1 2022, and RFP for Future Phases of Green Direct (2022). At the end of the presentation, Einstein discussed Whatcom County participation in PSE's clean energy product offerings: Electric Clean Energy Products, Customer Generation, and Up & Go EV Pilots. Councilmembers asked questions. Adjournment Climate Action Committee Minutes Page 4 November 22, 2021