VT Center for Geographic Information Act 174 Energy Planning Mapping Standards: GIS Support Methodology
Version1.3
Updates
V.1.3: April 2017
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VT Center for Geographic Information Agency of Commerce and Community Development 802-828-3211 vcgi.vermont.gov 1 National Life Drive, Davis Bldg, 6th Floor Montpelier, VT 05620-0501
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Contents Overview...... 2 Deliverables...... 3 Table 1: Overview of Deliverables:...... 3 Table 2: Deliverables Update History...... 3 Project Info...... 4 Programming Overview:...... 4 Future Model Updates:...... 4 Table 3: Overview of Model Builder “Models”...... 4 QAQC Procedures:...... 5 Renewable Energy Datasets:...... 5 Solar Potential Input:...... 5 Wind Potential Inputs:...... 6 Table 4: Input Wind Data Layers...... 6 Infrastructure Resources: TBD...... 6 Appendix A: Overview of Layers on VCGI Act 174 – Energy Planning Mapping Standards Web Page...... 7 Table 5: Known Constraints...... 7 Table 6: Possible Constraints...... 8 Appendix B: Updating Existing Electric Generation Sources...... 9 Appendix C: Updating Transmission and Distribution Resources & Constraints...... 10
Overview Act 174 of 2016 establishes a new set of municipal and regional energy planning standards that when applied, provide for those plans to carry greater weight, i.e., “substantial deference”, in the Section 248 siting process for energy generation. To enable towns and their associated Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) to comply with this Act, VCGI implemented the Energy Planning Standards for Municipal Plans, by modeling both solar and wind renewable energy in accordance with the known and possible constraints. For the full reference see links to the relevant GIS data specified in the ‘Mapping Standards’ section of the Department of Public Service (DPS) implementation standard of the Act (ACT 174 RECOMMENDATIONS AND DETERMINATION STANDARDS).
In support of Act 174 efforts, VCGI is employing the best available supporting data layers noted in the standard to model Potential Renewable Energy (Solar and Wind) in concert with Known and Possible Constraints, and supporting Infrastructure layers. These data will be made publicly available for download and may also be published to a publicly visible web site in the future. Data will become available on the following web page: http://vcgi.vermont.gov/opendata/act174.
D:\Docs\2017-12-28\0d97a2363e5a80ddde0dbdf9183ea8c5.doc Deliverables See Appendix A for list of individual constraints, renewable potential and infrastructure files. Known Constraints: Both individual and merged shapefile formats will be made available by COB Friday, January 6, 2017; Possible Constraints: Both individual and merged shapefile formats may be made available by COB Friday, January 6, 2017; Raw Renewable Potential: Per requirements of municipal and regional energy planning standards, (p.10, section 11.A) areas of “Known Constraints” will be removed and “Possible Constraints” will be identified in these layers: o Solar Potential: “Unfiltered” ground mount Solar analysis from the 2010 Renewable Energy Atlas of VT project; and o Wind Potential: Using 30m, 50m and 70m “hub height” data from the 2004 Massachusetts Technology Collaborate/NREL project. Infrastructure Resources: These layers require a full project level effort to develop: 1) Existing Electric Generation Sources (See Appendix B); and 2) Transmission and Distribution resources & constraints (See Appendix C).
Table 1: Overview of Deliverables: (Version notes below) Layer1 Description ConstraintsKnown_Act174v#.shp All “Known Constraints” merged into single “flat” ESRI shapefile format. ConstraintsPossible_Act174v#.shp All “Possible Constraints” merged into single “flat” ESRI shapefile format. EnvironOther_SOLARact174v#.shp Statewide ground based (30m USGS DEM) solar potential layer created w\ESRI solar analyst. Filtered by SLOPE (LTE 14%), ASPECT (90-270 Degrees) and values GTE 1,000 kWh/Sq. Mtr. “Known constraints” removed and output to ESRI shapefile. Attributed with varying units (Wh/m2) and (kWh/m2) EnvironOther_WINDact174v#.shp 30m, 50m & 70m MTC wind speed layers filtered for minimum wind speed, then merged into single ESRI shapefile with “known constraints” removed.
Table 2: Deliverables Update History Release Date Description V1.3 Update 2/27/17 Remediated error in VSWI Advisory Wetlands layer query Updates include: 1. Fixed “Known Constraints” - “VSWI Wetlands Advisory Layer” query error so null values now be selected (“CLASS = 4 OR CLASS IS NULL”) vs. (“CLASS = 4 OR CLASS =’’) 2. STILL NEEDS TO BE RUN on both Solar & Wind data; v.1.2 Update 1/6/17 Updates include: release 1. Removed “Known Constraints” - “VSWI Wetlands Advisory Layer”
1 State of Vermont Act 174 Energy Planning Standards for Municipal Plans, pp.10-13, http://tinyurl.com/Act174-EPS4MunicipalPlans. features (CLASS = 0, 4(presumed Class 2) from both Solar & Wind data; 2. Removed sliver features along perimeter of state boundary (with blank “INITIALS” (RPC) values) from both Solar & Wind data; 3. Passed Final QAQC review. v.1.1 Initial 12/19/16 Initial release of four deliverables Release Project Info ACCD Project Directory: S:\VCGI\VCGI-ProjectManagement\Projects\Act_174; Act 174 – Energy Planning Mapping Standards web page: http://vcgi.vermont.gov/opendata/act174 Data Overview Spreadsheet: ~\4.0 Technical Documents\ Act174_EnergyPlanningMapping_Resourcess_Constraint Layers.xlsx Code directory: ~\5.0 Construction and Testing\code o Master (Model Builder) models reside here: ~\toolbox\act174energymapping.tbx o Python equivalents exported from models here: ~\python\* QAQC directory: ~\5.0 Construction and Testing\QAQC Programming Overview: VCGI employed the ESRI Model Builder to leverage the object-oriented programming environment and ease of visually inspecting outputs within ArcGIS desktop. Copies of the models are available upon request.
Future Model Updates: These recently identified elements will be integrated into the models before the next full update. The critical ones have already been manually applied (in bold) to the current release (version 2). 1. Integrate “Wetlands Advisory Layer” into “Known Constraints” model and rerun, then rerun both Solar and Wind models. 2. Integrate Town Boundaries into “Possible Constraints” to afford town level analysis. 3. ID where Town Boundaries entered “Known Constraints” layer? 4. Remove all sliver features along VT State boundary perimeter, e. g., (INITIALS = “”) 5. Remove extraneous attributes from final EnvironOther_SolarAct174 and *_WINDAct174 layers (now that process has been validated). 6. Repoint all inputs to SDE equivalents (where possible, to keep inputs as up to date as possible).
Table 3: Overview of Model Builder “Models” Model Outputs Description 01a_Create_Known_Constraints Act174_Constraints Takes all individual input constraints and outputs merged Known_Model.shp "flat" shapefile. 01b_Create_Possible_Constraints Act174_Constraints Takes all individual input constraints and outputs merged Possible_Model.shp "flat" shapefile. 01c_Creation_RESites TBD 02a_PreProcess_SolarDataInput Environ_SOLAR_pol Unconstrained 10m Area Solar Radiation data from y_AreaPV_Dissolve 2009/2010 VT Sustainable Jobs Fund project used as input. Filtered by SLOPE (LTE 14%), ASPECT (90-270 Degrees) and finally by solar insolation values GTE 1,000 kWh/Sq. Mtr (gets ride of shrapnel on low end of scale). 02b_PreProcess_MTC_Wind Applies wind speed threshold to MTC 30m, 50m & 70m wind speed datasets to prep as input. 03a_SOLARact174_wConstraints Applies slope and aspect constraints, clips out "Known" constraints and UNIONs with "Possible" constraints. 03b_WINDact174_wConstraints this model merges 30, 50 & 70m wind layers, clips out "Known" constraints and UNIONs with "Possible" constraints.
QAQC Procedures:
Version 1.3 “ VSWI Wetland Advisory Layer” query partially incorrect: While developing Act 174 web services it was discovered the query used on the “VSWI Wetland Advisory Layer” (Known Constraint) was partially incorrect (“CLASS = 4 OR CLASS = ‘’) resulting in a shortage of 3,539 records. The updated query (“CLASS = 4 OR CLASS IS NULL”) selects 15,246 records vs. 11,707. This resulted in the following shortfall in the v1.2 energy layers: o EnvironOther_SolarAct174v2.shp: 446 acres of “VSWI Wetland Advisory Layer” (CLASS IS NULL) not accounted for statewide. o EnvironOther_WINDAct174v2.shp: 321 acres of “VSWI Wetland Advisory Layer” (CLASS IS NULL) not accounted for statewide.
Version 1.2 1. Quality Assurance: The Windham Regional Commission conducted a manual review of their member towns extent and helped identify the “VSWI Wetland Advisory Layer” features to be incorrectly missing from the analysis.
2. Quality Assurance: VCGI implemented the National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy protocol of selecting 50 random points for testing accuracy of the modeled solar and wind data. 50 random points were generated within the land-only extent of the state of Vermont (excluding Lake Champlain, including islands). These points were intersected with finalized known constraints and possible constraints layers, and fields populated based on this intersection:
a. Results – Appendix B presents results of automated random point review. Points located within known constraints were confirmed to not intersect final solar and wind layers through select-by-attribute tool. Points located within possible constraints were confirmed to be marked as possible constraints in final solar and wind layers through visual assessment. All points confirmed accuracy of constraints. Therefore, all layers created successfully incorporate and reflect areas with no constraints and “possible constraints,” and successfully exclude “known constraints.”
3. Quality Control: VCGI conducted an internal independent review of the completeness and model logic for code used in producing the final renewable layers. Model logic was tested by checking the source layers, referencing the specifications put forward in the municipal and regional energy planning standards, and running checks using select-by-attribute tool. In the case of class-specific constraints, checks were run to ensure that the proper codes were incorporated or excluded. a. Results – Model was confirmed to be complete and logical. All source layers were incorporated into possible constraints and known constraints layers, respectively. Class-specific constraints were verified and reflect the proper classes.
4. Testing downloads: The zipfiles available on the VCGI Act 174 web page were tested as follows prior to posting: a. Download most recent zipfiles from the Act 174 web site to: ~\Act_174\gisdata\EnergyPlanningMapping\zipfiles b. Decompress into the appropriate Known vs Possible folder: ~\Act_174\gisdata\EnergyPlanningMapping\shapefiles\ c. Open blank ArcGIS map document and reviewed for completeness.
Renewable Energy Datasets:
Solar Potential Input: The best available statewide solar source data used in this effort was originally created by VCGI in 2010 under contract with the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund for the Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont project. This data is not currently publicly available on the Vermont Open GeoData Portal. The parent data “Environ_Solar_raster_ASR_raw” is the raw modeled potential and is unconstrained, whereas the child data “EnvironOther_Solar” layer was the final output of the Energy Atlas of VT effort and reflects different constraints than those outlined in the Act 174 Energy Mapping Standards. While the child version was used by BCRC in their prototyping analysis, this effort employed the parent version to apply the Act 174 constraints.
Please note the following: The “Raw parent” solar data analysis for the entire state has no constraints applied and is based on the 1:24k USGS 30m DEM (however, it was resampled to a 10m resolution to match the VCGI VTHYDRODEM product). Until metadata is created for the Act 174 effort, a general overview of this data still resides on the atlas site: http://www.vtenergyatlas-info.com/solar/methodology
The following pre-processing steps were applied to the solar renewable energy layer before removing the known constraints (Erdas Imagine raster of solar radiation potential originally in units of watt hours/sq. mtr.), originally created in the 2010 VT Energy Atlas effort, e.g, “raw” Area Solar Radiation (ASR).
Filtered ASR layer to retain only data cells with E-S-W facing Aspect (90-270) and Slopes <=14% and insolation values GT 1,000 kWh/mtr sq. (the adjacent histogram of solar values supports this breakpoint value as well within 2 standard deviations (99%).
Model also filters out DISSOLVED features <= 400 sq. mtrs (equivalent to four 10m cells).
Wind Potential Inputs: The best available statewide wind potential data are the 30m, 50m & 70m hub height wind speed layers from the MA Technology Collaborative (ClimateOther_WINDSPD*M) are the best publicly available statewide wind data currently available. The “EnvironOther_WIND” layer available on the VT Open GeoData portal is not viable as it is constrained with different individual layers than those in Act 174 and those constraints are now dated (~2009). The source wind data was filtered out by wind speed threshold values (see Table 1. Input Wind Data Layers), respective of the hub height source data.
Table 4: Input Wind Data Layers Layer Source Threshold Value* Description ClimateOther_WINDSPD30M MA Tech. Collaborative 4.5 m/s Predicted wind speed at 30m height ClimateOther_WINDSPD50M** MTC 5.5 m/s Predicted wind speed at 50m height ClimateOther_WINDSPD70M MTC 6.5 m/s Predicted wind speed at 70m height *- From Anne Margolis DPS ** - TBD (not to be confused with currently available ClimateOther_WINDPWR50M (mean power W/Sq. Mtr.) Appendix A: Overview of Layers on VCGI Act 174 – Energy Planning Mapping Standards Web Page2
NOTE: Most of these data are also available as services from VT ANR Open Data: http://anrmaps.vermont.gov/arcgis/rest/services/map_services/MAP_ANR_ANROPENDATA_SP_NOCACHE/MapServer
Table 5: Known Constraints LAYER SOURCE NOTES Vernal Pools VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17) 50’ buffer applied to all point 1) AE/VCE Confirmed Vernal Pools data as noted for wetlands in 2) AE/VCE Unconfirmed Vernal Pools) metadata DEC River Corridors VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17)
1) DEC River Corridors FEMA DFIRM Floodways VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17) Less than whole state coverage 1) DFIRM Floodways State-significant Natural VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17) “State-significant Natural Communities and Rare, Communities and Rare, 1) RTE and Significant Natural Communities Threatened, and Threatened, and Endangered Endangered Species Species” = All features Vermont (National) VT Open Geodata Portal packaged zip file: (verified Wilderness Areas 1/17/17)
1) National Wilderness Areas Class 1 and Class 2 VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17) Wetland Class Lyr (all features). Wetlands Wetland Advisory Layer query: 1) VSWI (June 4 2010) Wetlands Class Layer “CLASS is null OR CLASS = 4” 2) VSWI (June 4 2010) Wetlands Advisory Layer 4 = presumed Class 2 wetlands) Regionally or Locally TBD by towns and/or RPCs. Identified Critical Resources
2 http://vcgi.vermont.gov/opendata/act174 Table 6: Possible Constraints LAYER SOURCE NOTES VT Agriculturally Important Soils VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17)
1) GeologicSoils_SOAG FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17) NOTE: Less than whole state coverage 100-year flood = 1) FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas Zones labeled as: A, AO, AH, s A1-A30, AE, A99, AR, AR/AE, AR/AO, AR/A1-A30, AR/A, V, VE, and V1-V30. Protected Lands (State fee lands VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17) Data query applies: ("PTYPE1" and private conservation lands) = '01' AND ("PAGENCY1" >= 1) CadastralConserved_PROTECTEDLND '40000' AND "PAGENCY1" < '50000')) OR ("PAGENCY1" >= '50000') Act 250 Agricultural Soil VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/18/17) Mitigation areas 1) Act 250 Agricultural Soil Mitigation areas
Deer Wintering Areas VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17)
1) Deer Wintering Areas
ANR’s Vermont Conservation ** Temporary Download link: ** Due to proprietary layer Design Highest Priority Forest ACT174 Vermont Conservation Design Layers: file package file type the Blocks (or Habitat Blocks 9 & 10, Consists of the following: (verified 1/13/17) Geodata Portal doesn’t for plans that will be submitted 1) Forest Blocks - Connectivity currently recognize as “open for adoption at the regional level 2) Forest Blocks – Interior data”. ANR or VCGI (TBD) will by March 1, 2017) 3) Forest Blocks - Physical Land Division eventually load to VTOGP
VT Open Geodata Portal links: (verified 1/13/17) Joined top20 table to soils via MUID and queried all records Hydric Soils 1) GeologicSoils_SO with HYDRIC = “Y” 2) SOILATTR (Top20) table Regionally or Locally Identified TBD by towns and/or RPCs. Critical Resources Appendix B: Quality Assurance – Automated Random Point Review Table