Sustainability Committee

Minutes of the regular meeting of the Natural Resources and Sustainability Stewardship Advisory Committee held Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at the Ogden City Municipal building, 2549 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Weber County, Utah. Members Present: Joe Linford Bill Hackett Bonnie Christiansen Heather Root Kenna Hill Stephen St. Peter Adam Tobey Chase Wilson Jay Lowder Members Excused: David Stevenson Pearl Marden Rachel Ballard Julie Ray Ex-Officio: Amy Mabey Leesa Brinkerhoff Guests: Jennifer Bodine, Weber State University CALL TO ORDER / WELCOME / ROLL CALL • Joe welcomed the committee members and called the meeting to order. • Leesa called the roll. COMMITTEE QUORUM VOTE ITEM #1 APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 24TH MEETING MINUTES – Committee • Joe asked if there were any changes to the October 24th meeting minutes. There were none. Bill moved to accept approval. Heather seconded it. All approved unanimously. PRESENTATION – JENNIFER BODINE, WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER Jennifer thanked the committee for inviting her to present what Weber State University (WSU) is working on. The program has been in place for over a decade and has made a lot of progress. Jennifer shared some stats of WSU: • 3 million square feet • $4.6 million utility budget o 27 million kwh annually o 122,000 DTH annually • 28,000 students • 1,867 faculty and staff The program formally started in 2007 with Anne Milner: • 2007: ACUPCC signatory • 2008: Greenhouse gas inventory • 2009: Adopted Climate Action Plan • 2010: Energy & Sustainability Office created • 2019: Achieved STARS Silver • Goal is to be Carbon Neutral by 2050 WSU’s Approach – A 4-point strategy for achieving carbon neutrality • Efficiency • Electrification 1|Page  • Renewable Sourcing • Reinvestment of Savings Getting Started • ESCO utility grade audit • Identified several first projects • Originally considered ESCO financing • Decided to save more money by managing and financing their own projects • Average ROI on first projects 5-7 years Revolving Fund and Baseline • Created $5 million internal revolving fund • 3% interest rate paid to the University • University normally receives about 2% return • Created 3-year baseline (FY 2007 – FY 2009) • Annual negotiation for increase in utility budget • Division of risk o Accounting: square footage and utility rate increases o Energy: weather and changes in spaces First Projects – Efficiency • Low hanging fruit – implemented those with quickest ROIs – schedule and commissioning have fast payback • Lighting indoor and outdoor • Steam system improvements • VFDs and motors • Building envelope improvements Where We Are Now • Electrifying buildings, cars, equipment • Sourcing energy renewably – to avoid risk, lower costs • Ground source – to get off of natural gas • On-site solar • Can handle projects with 5 – 20-year ROIs Electrification - benefits • Individual thermostats • Energy savings • Better comfort • Energy sharing • Better warranty • Quieter • Less space required • Does not require fossil fuels Achieving Results • Capital improvement plan married to climate action plan • All major mechanical renovations are all-electric conversion • All new buildings are built to carbon neutral capable standards • About 25% of WSU buildings converted to all-electric • On track to convert last building by 2035 2|Page Results (from FY 2007 – FY 2018) • Electricity consumption reduced by 31% • Natural gas consumption reduced by 32% • Utility costs reduced by 44% • Scope 1 emissions reduced by 31% • Scope 2 emissions reduced by 45% • Scope 3 emissions reduced by 5% • S.F increased by 640,642 • $13,686,036 total saved Final Thoughts and Advice • You can’t manage what you don’t measure – meter and regularly track consumption. • Create a baseline and have a robust discussion about how savings will be calculated and how risk will be handled. • To realize full savings on utility budgets, must be adjusted to reflect utility rate increases, sf increases, etc. • To remain sustainable, savings must be reinvested rather than used for other purposes. • Good energy managers will pay for themselves many times over and RMP has incentive money to help pay for an energy manager. • Energy management is fantastic PR. Who doesn’t want to talk about saving taxpayer dollars while cleaning up the air? Also, a great selling point for attracting outdoor recreation industry. • WSU has a decade of experience in the realm and we are happy to help. Miscellaneous • We’re retrofitting to all electric HVAC systems for facilities. These systems are far more efficient. Variant refrigeration flow uses a lot less space. Mechanical rooms reduced by at least 50%, allowing for more classroom space. • We’ve been putting in electrical vehicle charging stations. • All electric vehicles including buses, landscape equipment, etc. • All our students, faculty and staff who are full-time get a free UTA Ed pass. When the Bus Rapid Transit goes in, we expect those ridership numbers to significantly increase with the improved efficiency and convenience of that system. • We’ve been improving bike infrastructure. • We give parking pass discounts to people who are bringing green vehicles on to campus. • We passed an anti-idling policy for our campus about 5 years ago. • We have been exploring expanding our electric scooter program. • We’ve been monitoring air quality. We have purple air monitors all over our Davis and Ogden campuses. Can visit purpleair.com for real time air quality data. • We participate with the city and other organizations in the Clear the Air Challenge, which happens each February to help educate people in how to reduce their emissions and taking alternative transit. • 3 primary ways - solar, wind, ground source heat exchange. • Well field closed-loop system. 3|Page  • Reduction of natural gas consumption with the steam tunnel upgrade. • Davis campus has about 2 megawatts of power. • Very first large installation will go under construction in May of 2020 for a parking lot. • Same people making CIP budget decisions working hand in hand on projects. • 75% of the campus has been converted to date. Remainder will be 2030. Water Conservation • We hired our first full time water conservation specialist in 2016. We created a water council and started drafting a water conservation plan. The draft plan was completed last year and are finalizing the final plan right now. • We have a smart irrigation system on campus with a smart weather station. We’re working to transition our grass over to zero scape or water smart plants. • We have a water warrior program for our landscape department where they get incentivized and receive a trophy for whoever wins at the end of the season. Waste • We have a goal of zero waste by 2050, which means we’re hoping to get to a point where none of our waste is going to the landfill. We established a zero-waste council last year to start working on this. • We have a food recovery network student club who recover all food from events on campus. We donate the food or take it down to the Lantern House, so we’re not throwing it away. We compost the rest and educate on recycling. • We have a recycling program on campus. We have other programs to get rid of computers, etc. • We have a community garden run by students. They produce food that goes to our Weber Cares food pantry. Campus Engagement • We have a student environmental ambassador’s program that does a lot of education and outreach. • Our green department certification program provides a focus to incentivize faculty and staff. This has been very successful. • SPARC hosts the annual sustainability summit. This year it will be March 19th – 20th. Community Programs • City Hulet Community Solar Program - We helped 142 households put solar on their homes. • Drive Electric Northern Utah – Held workshops teaching people about electric vehicles and getting them familiar with that technology. • Cut Pollution Electric Mower Program – We helped 1,250 families exchange gas powered lawn mowers to electric mowers for $100. • Empower Northern Utah – Partnered with the city and the HEAT Assistance Program to change out incandescent and CFL light bulbs for energy efficient LED bulbs, with 392 households served and distributing over 5,000 LEDs. Next year it will be smart thermostats. Lessons Learned • We had a lot of volunteers, staff and faculty who were passionate about sustainability before we signed on to the Climate Action Plan in 2007. 4|Page  • We hired professional staff as dedicated champions to move it forward. • We used RMP money to hire a dedicated Energy Manager. • The State revolving loan fund was key to financing this program. • Utility incentive money available through RMP and Dominion Energy can help projects have a faster ROI. • The on-campus recognition program, primarily the Green Department Program has helped to spread the culture and get people involved to help us achieve our sustainability goals. • We’ve learned that community programs have helped citizens to reduce their emissions and save money, but it’s also been fantastic public relations. • WSU would like to partner with Ogden City moving forward. • Collaboration is key and we’re happy to provide assistance to this committee. Q&A • Adam asked Jennifer what she thinks our first steps should be in putting together and creating a plan. Jennifer said the first step is to create a plan with key areas and probably chapters based on subcommittees. Dedicated staff at the city would be key. Research RMP incentive funding available to start with an Energy Manager. In WSU’s case, through all the incentive money, the manager could hire a position like Jennifer’s and other staff. • Pick projects you can accomplish sooner with the best ROI, so that money can be invested quickly. • Establish goals and the plans to achieve them. • Bill thanked Jennifer for spending 1.5 hours with him a couple of weeks ago regarding water related issues. She suggested, 1. Developing a city water plan that accounts for long term affects of climate change with the water quality and quantity, 2. Support policies that support climate resilience, 3. Focus on storm water management (Salt Lake City has a model that could serve Ogden), 4. Elevate the issue of affordability of water for some Ogden residents in stressed areas, particularly with secondary water, 5. Be informed by other efforts to understand climate change and the impacts on water quality, air quality, and wildlife. Jennifer also provided Bill with contact information of people who are knowledgeable in these areas. • Kenna said the committee can learn a lot from WSU’s model. It can be applicable on a city scale. • Jay asked how WSU relates their savings and carbon neutral goals in converting to all electricity. Jennifer said the plan is to continue to develop our onsite solar and is also why we’ve been purchasing Blue Sky to offset it. We’re also changing our custom fuel mix. Electricity is the only way to source all that energy to meet our goal of being 100% renewable by 2050. • Stephen asked how the HB 411 resolution will affect WSU. Jennifer said WSU has its own substation on campus and is on separate rate schedules, so she assumes it will apply less to WSU. • Heather said WSU has fantastic plan and they also own their own buildings. Ogden City is very different because the city owned buildings are a very small fraction of the entire city. She asked Jennifer how this affects the scheme. Jennifer said it changes it dramatically, but it doesn’t make it impossible. She suggested that Ogden focus on their facilities first, because these are the ones they can control, and to create incentive programs and community programs to incentivize. • Stephen asked which programs WSU uses. Jennifer said they use LUCID program subscription. They started with EnergyStar and suggested it’s a good program to start with, adding that EnergyStar is more useful for a city than a campus. Stephen asked if there is any fleet management capability. Jennifer said no because it tracks buildings, but you can track water efficiency as well. WSU has a fleet management plan. They have to use the State’s fleet tracking system. • Ford has their electric F150 coming out in 2021. 5|Page  • Bonnie asked if there is an award for EnergyStar. Jennifer said yes. • Bonnie said, for the Intermountain Sustainability Summit, there is a high likelihood they will bring in someone that will show how to do climate action plans from an equity lens. If that happens, she will let the committee know. • Bill asked Jennifer is she would share her PowerPoint presentation. Jennifer said she will give a copy to the committee and is happy to share any resources she has. • Jay asked if the campus policy for bike use has changed. Jennifer said they do have a bike plan for campus and they’re hoping the BRT will have a dedicated bike lane. We don’t have a good north to south connecting spot. Jay said we’re bringing in Green Bike and part of the plan is to bring it to the university. Jennifer said that scooters may be too much of a liability, so WSU has a committee looking at them. They may be open to Green Bike. Joe and the committee thanked Jennifer and she was excused. RECAP OF 11/19/19 COUNCIL WORK SESSION REGARDING HB 411 RESOLUTION • Amy felt overall it was a good discussion. Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) came for the first part providing a presentation and went more in depth in the goal for 2030. A joint resolution consideration will take place on December 3rd. It will be an opportunity for public comment. • Bonnie said, from the meeting, there is an assumption that RMP’s portfolio is 15% renewable and 85% other. She asked if, as their portfolio grows in renewables, will it make Ogden City grow as well and will it stagnate other communities with them being stuck with the 15% for quite some time. Amy said the responses have been vague and confusing, but they said with the coal plants and other resources running out, they are being forced to move in this direction. RMP was asked if the rates are going up and will they go down once the cost of the resources go down. Their response still leaves some confusion out there. Amy will get better clarification. Bonnie said to check with the Public Service Commission (PSC) because they mandate it. Amy said today there was a meeting with communities who have adopted it, and she will continue to research. • Jay said his understanding is, if we agree to the joint resolution, we are committing to pay for the study. Once the study is complete and the numbers are in, we can opt out, but he hears conflicting information. Amy said, according to legal, once the resolution has been adopted, we would have to hold public hearings for a budget amendment. So, legally, we can’t adopt something that is fiscally binding without a number. We were told, once we get that number, we have the option to opt out if it’s cost prohibitive. • Jay said the more cities that opt out leaves the other cities with a higher cost. • Bonnie said she understands that once the rates are determined, we can opt out at that time. • Amy said, if the city decides to move forward on the resolution, the council wants the committee to be more involved. • Joe said it seems there are a couple of council members who are concerned about other options that may be available and why the date of 2030, as well as rate increases for the citizens and if they should be forced by government. These are some of the things we need to think about and will address them. • Bonnie said RMP is regulated by the PSC, which receives it’s dictates from the Utah State Legislature. The reason being, is they are a regulated monopoly power company. Either way, they are both regulated by government and gives our constituents which rate choices they want. • Heather said it has been suggested that RMP is moving the grid towards renewable anyway and it may be less efficient for individual cities to move to renewable because RMP has to serve smaller portions of the grid instead of the whole grid. It seems like a legitimate potential concern. 6|Page  • Bonnie said in 2002 she used to market the BlueSky Program for 5 years. She went on to explain how the grid works. The people that keep the benefit on renewable energy are those people who purchase the green portion of that power. She feels they are not going to bring on a whole new grid. Stephen agreed. • Wyoming is making some rules that they can’t shut down some of their coal powered plants. • Amy reminded the committee that, right now, we’re at the resolution level. It’s something she will emphasize to the council. If the resolution is adopted, we’ll have other opportunities to make recommendations. Joe agreed. • Jay said the council is shy on opt out programs. Amy said they still need a little bit more clarification on how this is going to work with renters or the owners. The RMP rep thought the renewable portion of the cost would be to whoever the overall electricity cost is billed to. Amy asked Bonnie if someone on the BlueSky Program moved to another community that isn’t in the BlueSky Program, would they still be a part of the program. Bonnie said no, and this is something that will be determined in the rate case, which is a huge process with costs associated with it. It will be an independent study and will include many scenarios. • Bonnie said we don’t know what the costs will be but will likely be a little more. In the long term it may or may not be more for our residents. If the city does 100% renewable, it avoids the risk of a carbon tax. If the cost of renewables is projected to be 7 – 10% as Scott Handy indicated, the cost for 100kwh will be somewhere between 80 cents and $1.14. Right now, those opting in to the BlueSky program are paying $1.95. If they move to the HB 411 program, it will probably be less expensive for them. If you look at the emissions scenarios that we have to meet in order to avoid these high projected climate change impacts, we should be at 45% by 2030. As we’re looking for how to reach the 45%, this is a big drop in that bucket. Municipalities will have pay to build this infrastructure as climate change gets worse. • Amy said each member can individually write to council members through her, adding that context is always helpful and to focus on the resolution at hand. • Joe said adopting a resolution gives us the opportunity to be involved. • Stephen said, if the resolution is not recommended, it goes against what this committee was formed for in reaching out to the community and putting these efforts forward. We may not be taken seriously if we don’t take serious efforts like this into consideration. • Bill said he feels it’s important to have input of a general nature that’s initiated from us, as we are compelled to do so. He would like clear questions presented to the committee to be addressed. It’s important for the council to be aware that we shouldn’t be restricted, and they should offer specific guidance and input. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES • Other than noted above, nothing new to report at this time. MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION • Joe thanked Jay for a nice tour of the treatment plant facility. • Chase said there has been a document for the Open Space Subcommittee uploaded to the shared drive. • Jay suggested committee members attend the upcoming WSU conference and the city will pay for the registration fees. Bonnie said there will be volunteer opportunities too. She will check to see how we can work together and to check the website in about a week. DELIVERABLES FOR DECEMBER 12TH MEETING • All subcommittees to present updates and present one or two major priorities. ADJOURNMENT 7|Page  • Joe thanked the committee members and the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m. NEXT MEETING Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. __________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Jay M. Lowder Joseph Linford, Chair Ogden City Public Services Director Date Approved: 12/12/19 8|Page