Addressing Global Climate Change Locally
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AddressingAddressing GlobalGlobal ClimateClimate ChangeChange LocallyLocally Vermont Case Studies for Clean Energy for Towns and Schools: Safe Money and Go Green Cape & Islands Renewable Energy Collaborative and Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve May 18, 2007 Debra L. Sachs, Alliance for Climate Action Today’s Remarks . • Introduction and brief background • Economic development and energy efficiency advocates can foster opportunities • Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network- structure/role of energy committees • Communities--planning, implementing strategies • Ideas, lessons learned in leadership AllianceAlliance forfor ClimateClimate ActionAction MembersMembers City of Burlington Vermont Department of Public Service Underground Railway Theater--Vermont Vermont Interfaith Power & Light OurOur VisionVision • To support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent; • To inspire, facilitate and motivate behavior change; • To monitor community progress; and • To collaborate with others to expand efforts throughout Vermont and beyond. ClimateClimate ActionAction PlanPlan Keep the vision consistent… The Climate Action Plan A Plan to Save Energy and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions • Municipal Development Plan • Climate Action Plan • Legacy Plan Burlington Climate Protection Task Force Burlington, Vermont, USA March 2000 Adopted by Burlington City Council--May 1, 2000 IndividualIndividual actionsactions toto growinggrowing partnershipspartnerships…… • 10% Challenge Program …voluntary program encouraging households, businesses, schools and institutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in three sectors: [energy efficiency, transportation and solid waste] • Multi-layered marketing approach • Creative partnerships and approaches Energy-related CO2 emissions in the Northeast compared with the major carbon-emitting nations of the world Includes nine northeastern states Note: U.S. emissions include the Northeast Source: Emissions data for 2001 from Energy Information Administration (EIA), International energy annual (2003), and EIA, Emissions of greenhouse gases in the United States (2004). TheThe ProblemProblem----U.S.U.S. EmissionsEmissions 3 2.6 2.5 Business as Usual 2 1.8 1.5 GtC 1 0.5 0 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 AfterAfter PacalaPacala and and Socolow,Socolow, 202004;04; ARIARI CarBen3CarBen3 SpreadsheetSpreadsheet U.S.U.S. Stabilization?Stabilization? Yes,Yes, andand itit beginsbegins locallylocally…….. 3 2.6 2.5 Electricity end-use efficiency Other end-use 2 efficiency 1.8 Passenger vehicle efficiency 1.5 GtC Other transport efficiency 1 Renewables CCS and Supply Locally, think first: 0.90.9 efficiency 0.5 • Energy efficiency • Smart Growth- land use/transportation • Vehicle efficiency— • Renewable sources (passenger and fleets) 0 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 AfterAfter PacalaPacala and and Socolow,Socolow, 2004;2004; ARIARI CarBen3CarBen3 SpreadsheetSpreadsheet RecentRecent SternStern reportreport revealingrevealing…… Source: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/ stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm Growth:Growth: DevelopmentDevelopment vs.vs. ExpansionExpansion The word ”Growth" is commonly used to describe two very different concepts: Expansion and Development DevelopmentDevelopment == Expansion?Expansion? Expansion makes a community bigger (e.g. more people, infrastructure, buildings, subdivisions, malls, etc.). Development makes it better (e.g. living-wage jobs, increased income, more savings, and improved quality of life.) DevelopmentDevelopment == ExpansionExpansion • Expansion can be beneficial • Much expansion is not •• ManyMany opportunitiesopportunities existexist toto developdevelop withoutwithout necessarilynecessarily expandingexpanding.. LocalLocal EconomyEconomy EconomicEconomicEconomic DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment NewNew BusinessBusiness LeakageLeakage EnergyEnergy--RelatedRelated LeakageLeakage PaymentsPayments to:to: Utilities,Utilities, heatingheating oiloil andand naturalnatural gasgas producers,producers, refiners,refiners, Another picture of distributorsdistributors bucket, identical to the one on the previous WealthWealth AccumulationAccumulation slide for:for:stockholders stockholders inin allall thesethese companiescompanies How many of these beneficiaries of Energy-Related leakage are in your community? EnergyEnergy EfficiencyEfficiency TheThe rapid-deploymentrapid-deployment energyenergy resourceresource • Creates local jobs • Saves millions of dollars Example:Example: SacramentoSacramento CaliforniaCalifornia InvestedInvested $59$59 millionmillion toto savesave electricityelectricity EnablingEnabling customerscustomers toto savesave nearlynearly asas muchmuch CreatedCreated 880880 jobsjobs IncreasedIncreased regionalregional incomeincome byby $124$124 millionmillion GreenGreen EnergyEnergy isis seriousserious businessbusiness “The“The employmentemployment multipliermultiplier effecteffect forfor efficiencyefficiency exceedsexceeds anyany otherother typetype ofof energyenergy production.”production.” TonyTony Usibelli,Usibelli, EnergyEnergy PolicyPolicy DirectorDirector OfficeOffice ofof TradeTrade && EconomicEconomic DevelopmentDevelopment StateState ofof WashingtonWashington Source: Solar Development Inc TheThe EnergyEnergy EfficiencyEfficiency andand RenewableRenewable EnergyEnergy InvestmentInvestment • Investing in EE and RE . – Saves money for households and businesses – Keeps money in the local economy – Creates direct local jobs – Creates indirect local jobs (recycling $$ locally) – Produces environmental benefits (attracting and keeping businesses, knowledge workers, tourists) • So….Why aren’t EE and targeted RE programs more prevalent? VermontVermont solutionssolutions .. .. .. • A political alliance between: Economic Development practitioners and advocates and Energy Efficiency practitioners and advocates – Burlington Examples • Marketing: Targeting the Right Message to the Right Audience/Constituency • Organizational Strength/Alignment 20062006 VermontVermont StateState LawLaw 25% reductions in GhG’s by 2012, further targets by 2028 and 2050 [Suggested policy targets—Via cross-cutting strategies-- 6%/year ghg reductions through 2012] VermontVermont SourcesSources ofof GHGGHG • Transportation 46% • Residential / Commercial Fuel Use 28% • Agriculture 11% • Industrial Fuel Use 06% • Industrial Process 05% • Waste 03% • In State Electricity 01% Source: Vt Climate Change Commission WhatWhat’’ss inin storestore forfor NorthernNorthern NewNew England?England? • Boston’s avg. temp. Richmond, VA (3.5°C) Atlanta (5.6°C) • Increased strain on storm water management systems • Warmer, wetter winters—reduced snowpack • Vermont maple syrup already impacted— 10% loss in season since 1940 • Impact on cold water fishing and hunting VermontVermont Skiing and foliage season is a $4.2 billion annual business Syrup industry $226 million annually $383 million for Storm water—5-25% hunting and fishing more precipitation Vehicle Miles Traveled By Calendar Year Vermont 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 Millions of Miles Millions 2,000 1,000 - 1920 1932 1940 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 Calendar Year Source: VTrans Dr. Epstein, Harvard Medical School reports that U.S. asthma and allergy rates are on the rise, due in part from increased temperature. Pollutants from vehicle emissions are supercharging pollen production. SMARTSMART GROWTHGROWTH MilesMiles ofof TravelTravel vs.vs. StreetStreet ConnectivityConnectivity Average daily 2005 VMT per capita = 33.5 miles Source: VTRANS D. Larry Frank, GA Tech.; Dr. Tom Schmid, Center for Disease Control Average In-Town House Outperforms Even the Greenest Suburban House w/Hybrid Cars Transportation Use 250 Household Use 200 125 150 87 35 100 26 Millions of BTUs per Year 114 50 101 71 56 0 Suburban Avg. (239 Suburban Green (158 Urban Avg. (136 MBTU) Urban Green (82 MBTU) MBTU) MBTU) Single Family Household Type © Jonathan Rose Companies, LLC VermontVermont EnergyEnergy && ClimateClimate ActionAction NetworkNetwork Five founding members Sustainable Energy Resource Group "Where Efficiency Makes $ense" VermontVermont EnergyEnergy && ClimateClimate ActionAction NetworkNetwork • Five founding partners • Our mission To inspire, support, connect and align community-based energy and climate action initiatives, working to create a more secure, sustainable clean energy future in Vermont. StepsSteps andand ApproachesApproaches What is the best structure for your Community Energy and Climate Action Committee? • Ad hoc committee • Subcommittee of Planning Commission or Conservation Commission • Independent committee of Select Board ModelsModels • ICLEI • Clean Air—Cool Planet • Task Force/10% Challenge • Association of Conservation Commissions • Global Action Plan • Vermont Earth Institute --Discussion Courses • Sierra Club—Cool Cities • Advocacy Group ConservationConservation Commissions:Commissions: VermontVermont’’ss PreferredPreferred ““VehicleVehicle”” forfor LocalLocal EnergyEnergy ConservationConservation • Resource conservation matters – (i.e., energy conservation), served well by grassroots conservation commissions • Form subcommittee (i.e., energy conservation committee) – to strengthen the specific effort by inviting and empowering a greater number of interested parties WhatWhat cancan ConservationConservation CommissionsCommissions do?do? • Powers & Duties – Advise planning commission, zoning board of adjustment, development review board, district environmental commission