Sustainability Committee

Minutes of the regular meeting of the Natural Resources and Sustainability Stewardship Advisory Committee held Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at the Ogden City Municipal building, 2549 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Weber County, Utah. Members Present: Joe Linford Adam Tobey Bill Hackett Bonnie Christiansen Heather Root Julie Ray Pearl Marden Chase Wilson David Stevenson Makenna Hill Members Excused: Stephen St. Peter Rachel Ballard Ex-Officio: Jay Lowder Amy Mabey Leesa Brinkerhoff Guests: Tyler Poulson – Salt Lake City Sustainability Program Manager Jeff Bousson - Utah Clean Energy Climate Program Manager CALL TO ORDER / WELCOME / ROLE CALL • Joe welcomed the committee members and the public and called the meeting to order. • Leesa called the roll. COMMITTEE QUORUM VOTE ITEM #1 APPROVAL OF JULY 25TH MEETING MINUTES • Joe asked if someone wanted to put forward a motion to approve the July 25th meeting minutes. • Bill motioned to approve the meeting minutes. • All committee members voted “aye.” • Result - Approved HB 411 PRESENTATION – Tyler Poulson and Jeff Bousson • Joe introduced Tyler Poulson and Jeff Bousson and turned the time over to them. • Tyler said the bill represents a partnership with Salt Lake City (SLC), Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) and others in the community. It goes back to the year 2016, when Salt Lake City and RMP signed a joint cooperation statement. In 2016 the SLC City Council adopted a resolution of a goal to achieve 100% renewable electricity supply for the entire community. In order to get there, we needed authority to deliver upon that goal and realized RMP is a regulated company, regulated by the State of Utah and needed legislative authority before moving forward. In 2016 the resolution was passed and we signed the cooperation statement. After signing the statement, we published a plan in the year 2017. • The reason behind the goal is to reduce our carbon footprint. SLC has a goal to reduce it 80% over the next 2 decades. The bill was passed in legislature this past March and adopted with a strong vote of 48 to 24. Governor Herbert signed it into law on April 22, 2019. • There are 3 principals of law: 1. No costs or benefits shifted to other customers in Utah. The financial impact and financial benefits of this transition need to be isolated only to those communities who are participating. 2. Goal is a net 100% renewable electricity. 1|Page  3. Requires customers within any community that want to move forward to have the option to stay with RMP standard rates. It also requires proper noticing to allow people to opt out. • Jeff explained that Utah Clean Energy (UCE) is a local non-profit committed to building the clean energy economy. • Is not trying to sell the bill, just to educate the bill. • As a result of this bill, UCE essentially offers a pathway for communities served by RMP to achieve net 100% renewable electricity by 2030. • The bill does not allow for cost shifting to other communities who do not wish to participate. • There are 3 key stakeholders; 1. Community, 2. RMP, 3. Public Services Commission (PSC). • Renewable resources include solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal. • Rulemaking and rates are set by the Public Services Commission. • Step 1 – Community adopts a resolution by December 31, 2019 stating a goal to achieve net 100% renewable energy by 2030. This is not legally binding. • Step 2 – In 2020, community’s governing body signs agreement with RMP to: ° Determine renewable energy demand ° Determine renewable resources needed ° Pay costs of regulatory services and fees • Step 3 – RMP files the final renewable energy program with the PSC. The estimated timeline for Step 3 to take place is 2020 or 2021. • Step 4 – Through the program application and approval process, projected rates and terms are defined by the PSC. Estimated rate impacts to customers are determined. • Sep 5 – Community adopts the ordinance within 90 days after the PSC issues an order approving the community renewable energy program to obtain net 100% clean, renewable electrical energy for all customers in the community. • Step 6 – Choice for customers to opt-out with proper noticing requirements, which include 2 designated notices issued 60 days prior to the commencement of the program, including the rates. This is separate of standard billing and the cities would have to cover the costs. Once the program officially starts, there will be a 90 day window for constituents to opt out of the program without a termination fee. • Each and every customer has a choice: ° Standard electricity rate ° Standard renewable energy rate • Communities, utility and regulatory agencies and Utah legislature: ° Provided resident with choice of power ° Provided power of choice for electric rates • Communities in Utah who are considering passing a resolution, or who have adopted a resolution are Salt Lake City, Park City, Summit County, Moab, and Cottonwood Heights. • David asked which of these communities have done a resolution. Tyler said Moab, Park City, and Salt Lake City. 2|Page • David asked if the adoption has to be done on a ballot or city council resolution. Tyler said it depends on the local government. • Adam asked if there is a projection of costs increasing over time. Tyler said rates will be driven by market and regulatory forces, and ultimately how the rates are structured and applied to customer bills. It needs to be identified by a pretty rigorous rate case in Step 4. • Heather asked what happens to a customer who doesn’t realize they want to opt out in the first 90 days and will they have a choice. Tyler said there is a number of steps to the customer engagement. Following those, customers have the ability to leave the program and pay a termination charge, which is yet to be determined. • David asked if there has been anything published or prepared regarding the noticing requirements. In discussions with some Ogden residents, they are concerned with an increase to their utility bill because of their finances. Tyler said nothing is published, but there is open dialogue going on. They are happening now in rule making. The bill has some language, but rule making will be more comprehensive. • Bonnie asked if someone opts out within 90 days, can they choose to get back in. Tyler said under the law they can, but there may be some penalties which will be determined by the PSC. • Heather feels the utilities are already adopting renewable resources regardless of this process. She asked how cities, who are signing on, change the renewable vs nonrenewable mix in the difference in the fraction of energy that is from renewable resources across our region. Tyler said the State of Utah uses 33 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year and Ogden would be a percentage of that. • Makenna asked if there has been a prediction of RMP as to how much they are going to put into renewable sources in the next decade, before getting all the information about the communities that want to be involved. Tyler said yes. Every 2 years, RMP publishes an Integrated Resource Plan. It’s online to review. • Bonnie asked what their other plans are in the RFP. Tyler said they are doing sizable investments in renewables such as wind power in Wyoming, among many others, but he can’t comment on it percentage wise without looking. Jeff offered to reach out to his colleagues who are heavily involved with the RFP process. Makenna asked if it mentions non-renewable energy. Tyler said yes. • Jay asked if anyone has a feel if it’s going to be sticker shock. Tyler said it’s a very mechanical process of the 6 steps to help with this. The expectation all along are impacts which are tolerable. • Amy confirmed that if we don’t have a resolution by December 31st, we won’t be eligible to participate in the HB 411 program. Tyler said there are other programs the City could participate in. Amy asked how the cost benefit to customers is controlled. Tyler said the filing takes up to a year. It identifies intended resources and how they will be utilized. • Bonnie asked if communities would need to pay a carbon tax. Tyler said it’s possible. • Joe asked, if the City signs the agreement in Step 2, it doesn’t commit the city until Step 5. Tyler said the agreement will allow you to move into that filing, but one component of the bill says that participating communities collectively pay for the 3rd party technical assistance needed by the State of Utah regulatory staff to construct the rates to accomplish the very challenging goals, as well as additional outside resources. That cost is still to be determined and will be informed by rulemaking this year. If a city falls through the ordinance, it will pay for the first round from a municipal account. • Joe said we’d be interested in a sample template of the resolution. • Heather asked if we can have a copy of their slides for our files. Tyler said SLC’s web page contains a 10 FAQ section we can link to: https://www.slc.gov/sustainability/100-renewable-energy-community-goal/ • Joe said we have to have enough information to present to Council and we have plenty of time to meet the deadline. 3|Page  • Jay said we have already moved to get this on the council agenda, so there is a scheduled date for them to review and have drafted an initial resolution. • Amy said it’s scheduled for October 1st. It will be a work session meeting. We’ll be getting information out to the public for input prior to giving it to Council. Amy offered the public guests the option to sign up to receive email information on the Council side of things. • Joe thanked the presenters and they were excused. SUBCOMMITEEE UPDATES Education and Community Outreach Subcommittee The Chair is Adam Tobey. He addressed the committee: • The subcommittee met and it was decided that Adam would be Chair and Chase will be Vice Chair. • Adam understands the subcommittee will need to work with Mike McBride, the Ogden City Marketing and Communications Administrator. Leesa said she will get Mike’s contact information to Adam. • The subcommittee wants to be able to share draft documents on Google Drive before putting them on OneDrive. Mara said it’s ok if it’s just draft documents marked as such. • Adam asked who they should talk to about funding resources. Jay said to talk to him. • Adam asked who to talk to about guidelines to reaching out to other organizations like Sierra Club or Leave No Trace to build partnerships, especially for community events, and what’s the right terminology to use when working with them. Mara said the term “Collaboration” should be used. • We’re trying sooner than later to set up an open house for community feedback. Chase said they are looking at using the WSU Community Education Center at 26th and Monroe to meet. Mara said subcommittees don’t have to meet the public meeting notice requirements. Adam asked if we have the resource for a Spanish translator. Jay said yes and talk to him about it. • Joe added that the outreach subcommittee is important and needs to assign someone to answer public inquiries. The subcommittee is the face to the public, so it’s important to speak as an entire committee. Government/Private Partnership Subcommittee • The Chair is Stephen St. Peter. • Nothing else to report at this time. Air Quality and Climate Subcommittee • The Chair is Bonnie Christiansen. • Nothing else to report at this time. Water Quality, Supply and Conservation Subcommittee • The Chair is Bill Hackett. Bill commented as to why this interests him and what his role might be. He went on to say he is a professional geologist. He’s has business opportunities and other opportunities in hydrogeology. There is a preferred way to obtain fresh water for municipal, irrigation, and recreational use without damming rivers. He is willing and able to serve the committee to develop alternative plans rather than projects that are currently slated. Solid and Hazardous Waste Reduction and Recycling Subcommittee 4|Page  • The Chair is David Stevenson. • Nothing else to report at this time. Sustainable Energy Subcommittee • The Chair is Bonnie Christiansen. • Nothing else to report at this time. Open Space Subcommittee • The Chair is Chase Wilson. • Nothing else to report at this time. David asked if there was any discussion about combining the Air and Sustainable Energy subcommittees. Bonnie said there was discussion and it was felt that they are 2 separate subcommittees. Makenna would like to be on the Education and Community Outreach, Government/Private Partnership, Air Quality and Climate, and Sustainable Energy subcommittees. COMMITTEE GOALS, PRIORITIES, AND TIME FRAMES DISCUSSION • Joe asked for the subcommittees to provide the committee with focus. For the September meeting, Joe wants the subcommittees to propose what they feel are their priorities and goals, including timelines. Prioritize them and recommend to the full committee what they think from their subcommittee, what the whole committee should concentrate on first. In doing so, from the subcommittees, we’ll be able to gather what our priorities as a full committee will be. • Heather suggested one of the priorities to be to figure out what other organizations and committees are working on, i.e. Urban Forestry and Weber Pathways. Joe agreed and said another example of this would be how to reach out to entities relative to the Government / Private Partnership Subcommittee. • Bill said he needs similar guidance for the water quality and needs contacts from Jay. Jay said Leesa can set up meetings and added the he would like the committee to tour the treatment plant. • Makenna said there are lots of things that came up in their meeting that they want to do, but don’t know how to approach them. She suggested that subcommittees have a person that they can go to if there is a question that has to be answered before they can move forward. Jay said it will be him for administration and Amy for the Council. They will try to get answers within 24 hours. OTHER DISCUSSION • Bonnie asked if HB 411 will be on the agenda for next meeting. Jay said yes, as the committee needs to be informed to be able to recommend to Council for the October 1st work session. • Heather asked if the committee can review the resolution draft prior to the next meeting. Amy will check with Mara to see. Jay said it will be posted on the agenda as an action item. • Heather asked how specific the voting needs to be. Amy said the Council wants to know whether or not the committee is in support of the initial resolution. • Jay explained the responsibilities and the process, adding that the committee doesn’t have to be voting on the technical terms of the resolution. • Amy said it may end up being tweaked by the Council or the Mayor. • David asked if anyone from the City talked to anyone from the County about who we can share this information with. He will reach out to Gage Froerer. 5|Page  • Jay said the committee’s whole role is to represent the citizens of this City and we can’t worry about the other communities. • Bill asked if there’s any way to guarantee a quorum to vote at the next meeting. Joe said he feels we should have enough. • Joe said he’ll be unavailable for the first 2 weeks in September. • Joe said he appreciates everyone’s participation. PUBLIC COMMENT David Ferro– Resident and Dean of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology at WSU • Interested in fulfilling the HB 411 goal in terms of economic development and workforce development. Last week they formed a committee of local outdoor manufactures who want to attract young people to the industry here and show a commitment to sustainability. David Timberman – Ogden resident, District 4 • Would like to see the City Council and the committee expedite the process in time to meet the deadline for the resolution. Linda Ceballos – Ogden resident • Asked how long it takes a community to adopt this and why has the legislature and RMP only given us a year? Tyler said Salt Lake City has been collaborating for 4 plus years. Min Carol – Ogden resident • Asked the committee to vote at the next meeting to recommend or not recommend to City Council. Mitch Drewes – North Ogden resident • Purchased 4 solar blocks from the Blue Sky Program. RMP already has a 20 megawatt solar plant in Millard County, Utah. They should know the cost of getting solar into the system and should have a 30 year cost benefit estimate. Perhaps it can be shown to the communities that solar should beat out prices anyway. Mitch said he’s impressed with RMP. Alice Mulder – Sustainability Center Director at WSU, Ogden resident • Thanked the committee for their work and the presentation. She encouraged the committee to shift this on to the City Council asking them to approve it to give residents a choice. Angel Castillo – Ogden resident, Ogden City Planning Commissioner • Said she can’t emphasize enough the urgency behind getting this approved and moving on. Highly encourages the City Council to vote yes. Eleanor Thompson – South Ogden resident • Thanked Tyler for his efforts. RMP has places where they are building other solar fields. Explained some of the differences between RMP and PacifiCorp. Said she sells rooftop solar panels. Told the committee to “get it done”. John Meilke – Ogden resident • Asked Tyler how many other communities he anticipates joining. Jeff said he has been presenting to a number of smaller cities and towns. There are other cities calling and requesting more information. We aren’t doing any outreach, we’re just providing information. Five cities have asked for sample resolutions. Carie Frantz – Faculty at WSU in Environmental Sciences 6|Page  • Please give us the opportunity to do this. Ed Macner – Ogden resident • Please make the recommendation to accept this resolution. What we do here will help others around the world. Both Joe and Jay told the public that we have things in place to meet the deadline. Amy said it is currently scheduled for the October 1st Council Work Session. DELIVERABLES FOR NEXT MEETING • The subcommittees to propose what they feel their priorities and goals are: o Include timelines o Prioritize them o Each subcommittee recommend to the full committee what they think the whole committee should concentrate on first ADJOURNMENT • The meeting was adjourned at 5:32 p.m. NEXT MEETING Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. in the council work room, #310 __________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Jay M. Lowder Joseph Linford, Chair Ogden City Public Services Director Date Approved: 09/26/19 7|Page