Environment And Infrastructure Committee

Regular Meeting

Columbia, SC · April 20, 2021

Minutes

COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021 CALL TO ORDER Attendee Name Title Status Tameika Isaac Devine Chair Present Will Brennan Member Present Daniel J. Rickenmann Member Present COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 1. Columbia's Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) Quarterly Update - Ms. Mary Pat Baldauf, Sustainability Administrator for the Public Works Department and Dr. Lori A. Ziolkowski, CPAC Chair Dr. Lori Ziolkowski, CPAC Chair provided an update on behalf of CPAC. Our consultant’s report on Ready for 100 will be available within the next month and that will likely be the focus of our next meeting. CPAC organized a Ready for 100 event to educate people on lowering energy costs and programs to help with energy efficiency, especially for those who re struggling financially. Keeping it Cool Columbia! is being planned for June 17, 2021 to educate people on cooling their homes in an affordable manner. The SC State Energy Efficiency Roadmap recommends the development of a residential labeling/disclosure pilot program. There is a financial energy burden with residents paying upwards of 20% of their monthly income on energy. We are scheduling a meeting to learn more about the Missouri Home Energy Certification Program. We are working to identify a pilot community in Columbia and a voluntary roll out program. There is a goal of 100% carbon neutrality and rate neutrality by 2036. Over the past month, Dominion Energy has expressed an interest in working out custom deals with its customers by forming a local coalition in the midlands between the city, university, and county using large projects in the queue or renegotiation of the franchise agreement. We recommend that the city work on the local coalition deal with Dominion Energy for an approximate 70 MW installation project. The World Resources Institute is starting a cohort of entities to work on renewable procurements. I would like for the city to support members of the city, county, and university participating in this free cohort. Councilor Rickenmann asked if the university is willing to work further on a joint project for a massive solar field so we can harvest those credits as a community. Page 1 of 3 COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021 Dr. Lori Ziolkowski, CPAC Chair said the university’s biggest concern is rate neutrality and support from upper administration. Next steps include Assistant City Manager Shealy continuing the conversation with Dominion Energy. WRI is also offering a cohort for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The SC State Energy Office is finalizing a fleet audit for the city and the data should be available soon. Long-term goals include the development of a community wide climate action plan. How can we work together most effectively? Councilor Brennan said I look forward to hearing from Clint on his discussions with Dominion. This could set off an accelerated path to meeting the sustainability goals. Councilor Devine said a lot of work that we are doing is interconnected. It’s not just sustainability, affordable housing, and transportation; this all works together. I would like Dr. Ziolkowski’s thoughts on how to incentivize or help property owners with energy efficiency in rental units. This would help with affordability and our energy goals. Dr. Lori Ziolkowski, CPAC Chair said the SC State Energy Office is working on a green bank because it would help fund issues like this. We worry about gentrification because as landlords increase the quality of a rental, that could push out lower income renters. The first step is to gather data on labeling, then look at how to incentive this, and figure out how to implement it. Our energy consultant wanted us to ask if Columbia Housing can use high energy efficiency or renewables in their renovations. Councilor Devine said let’s send information over to Columbia Housing and see how they respond. We need to be prepared with shovel ready projects and a community based plan will align us with federal monies that may become available. We can figure out where Richland County is and what needs to be done to bring them along as partners. Mary Pat Baldauf, Sustainability Coordinator / Public Works Department announced that Earth Day is Thursday, April 22, 2021. We are participating in a celebration at Boyd Plaza on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Green Steps Schools will be participating, as well. We will have information on recycling, sustainability, and Columbia Water. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Forestry Commission, and the Wildlife Federation will have tables, also. There will be upcycled educational items for sale for the benefit of the Environmental Educators Association of South Carolina. We are promoting events with South Carolina Interfaith Power and Light. Page 2 of 3 COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021 Councilor Brennan asked Dr. Ziolkowski to keep the City updated on the green bank conversation at the state level and how we can help craft that idea. Councilor Devine asked about Richland County’s conversations around the bag ordinance and bagging leaves. Robert Anderson, Public Works Director said it went to a committee, but the committee didn’t meet after COVID. Mary Pat Baldauf, Sustainability Coordinator / Public Works Department said they did a survey but they haven’t moved forward. Councilor Rickenmann said everybody is clogging up the storm drains and we need to revisit that at some point. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was closed at 10:43 a.m. Respectfully submitted: Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC City Clerk Page 3 of 3

Agenda

Packet

COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021 The Columbia Environment and Infrastructure Committee will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. using video conferencing technology. The meeting will be streamed online at www.columbiasc.gov. The Honorable Tameika Isaac Devine, Chair The Honorable Daniel J. Rickenmann and The Honorable William Brennan CALL TO ORDER COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 1. Columbia’s Climate Protection Action Committee Quarterly Update - Ms. Mary Pat Baldauf, Sustainability Administrator for the Public Works Department and Dr. Lori A. Ziolkowski, CPAC Chair ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 1 1.a Columbia’s Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) In this April 2021 update update Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) : - Energy e - Energy vents past + l a be f u t ure (6/ - Domin li n g upda 1 7/21) ion up te - Q for y date ou Next ti me - Read y for 1 00 con sultan t’s rep ort Dr. Lori Z(iolkowski) - chair of CPAC email: loriz@sc.edu Prepared for the City of Columbia Environment and Infrastructure committee meeting April 20th, 2021. Packet Pg. 2 1.a Reduce greenhouse To recap from Feb 2021 Adapt to climate change gas emissions Current CPAC efforts Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) Change how we Prepare for more Reduce energy usage generate electricity extreme heat Work with Outreach on incentive Help keep more Dominion (& PSC) and loan programs citizens cool to source renewables Energy consultant (via Energy labelling for Use heat vulnerability to Sierra Club) to advise real estate & rentals guide tree planting on Ready for 100 Packet Pg. 3 1.a Reduce greenhouse To recap from Feb 2021 Adapt to climate change gas emissions Current CPAC efforts Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) Change how we Prepare for more Reduce energy usage generate electricity extreme heat Work with Outreach on incentive Help keep more Dominion (& PSC) and loan programs citizens cool to source renewables Energy consultant (via Energy labelling for Use heat vulnerability to Sierra Club) to advise real estate & rentals guide tree planting on Ready for 100 Packet Pg. 4 1.a Goal: education on lowering energy costs and Energy 101 event report programs to improve home energy e ciency. Streamed via the city’s Youtube account 22 live guests 108 views as of April 14th Expert guests: Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) Next e Margaret Gibson, Dir of Community Services Wateree Community Actions vent: J une 17 Topic: th! Natasha Pauling, Resource Development & Public information o cer K eeping South Carolina Associate of Community Action Partnerships i t Cool Christina Freeman & Gerald Freeman in Colu Dominion Energy mbia! D e tailHillian Samuel Bass and James s forth com Chester eld Marlboro Economic Opportunity ing Council Takisha Waller SC O ce of Regulatory Sta Thank you to city sta Mary Pat Baldauf and Justin Stevens their help! Packet Pg. 5 ffi ffi ff ff fi ffi 1.a From the SC state energy of ce Energy labelling project City of Columbia Community wide greenhouse gas emissions Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) waste 7% residential buildings transportation 16% 31% commercial buildings 46% Note: this does not include goods, food, etc Packet Pg. 6 fi 1.a Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) In Colu mbia: There are mo re renters than o High e w ners. nergy burden in SC. Housing data: columbiacompass.org Ch4 Energy burden data: DOE via ususa.org Packet Pg. 7 1.a Energy labelling project Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) This work is in partnership with the SC State Energy O ce. Next steps: a) meeting with Missouri’s Energy o ce (4/20 afternoon) b) Find a pilot community in COLA to voluntarily participate in this program c) Work voluntary rollout Packet Pg. 8 ffi ffi 1.a Work with Dominion (& PSC) to source renewables City of Greenville intervened at PSC Duke’s proposed Duke’s amended Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) Energy Freedom Act Green Source Green Source Advantage Advantage Allows 3rd parties Pause …work 25 MW carve out for cities 150 MW generation cap 200 MW generation cap to generate via renewables di ere i n g10oMW nacarve out for unis nt ang le Dominion’s voluntary ??? renewable offering 135 MW generation cap No carve out for cities or unis. Unclear if fee structure is similar to GSA Packet Pg. 9 ff 1.a Work with Dominion (& PSC) to source renewables - Goals: 100% carbon neutrality by 2036 + rate neutrality Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) - Question: how much will Dominion do by 2036? How much does the city need to do? - What is our baseline starting point? - What are the growth projections by 2036 according to their IRP? - Dominion is open to working out custom deals for customers - two avenues for custom deal 1) local coalition in the midlands between the city, uni, and county using large project in the queue 2) renegotiating the franchise agreement Packet Pg. 10 1.a Work with Next steps? Dominion (& PSC) Council: reach out to uni + county to source renewables Clint: continue convo with Dominion Recommendation: Dr Z: training in renewable procurement Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) Work on a custom deal with Dominion for a large scale solar development (~70MW) in partnership with the uni and the county. Pros: more entities to increase the size, which reduces the risk; facilities community partnership between city, uni, and county. Helps with electrifying transit Cons: relies on Dominion, not a legal route per se Considerations: EV charging, EV transit?, grid to vehicle storage Packet Pg. 11 1.a Longer term goals: Develop a community wide climate action plan that we can Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) use to measure progress and engage with the public. Provide framework for and make progress towards zero carbon emissions community wide by 2036 Packet Pg. 12 1.a Question for you: how can we most effectively work together? CPAC and federal e orts have shifted dramatically over last year We are forging new territory. Attachment: CPAC April2021 Update (6619 : CPAC Quarterly Update) How can we make the most of limited resources (time, $, people)? In this update : - Energy e - Energy vents past + l a be f u t ure (6/ - Domin li n g upda 17/21) ion up te - Q for y date ou Next ti me - Read Thanks y for 1 00 con loriz@sc.edu sultan t’s rep ort Packet Pg. 13 ff