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CLIMATE COMMITMENT Rising to the Climate Challenge, Powering a Vibrant Future

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CLIMATE COMMITMENT Rising to the Climate Challenge, Powering a Vibrant Future BOULDER’S CLIMATE COMMITMENT Rising to the climate challenge, powering a vibrant future. MAY 2017 City of Boulder, Colorado 1 Dear neighbors, Boulder has long understood the importance of local climate action. Boulder’s residents and businesses were among the first in the country to implement programs like the Climate Action Plan Tax (CAP Tax) and a host of other energy efficiency and conservation programs. Some of these, including EnergySmart, SmartRegs and the Building Performance Ordinance, are being replicated elsewhere as they begin to achieve the full benefits of their implementation locally. Others, like a local carbon offset fund and changing our energy supply from fossil fuels to renewable sources through the possible creation of a local electric utility, are still taking shape. Over our years of work, however, the reality has become increasingly clear: climate change is happening, human activity is the cause and the scale of the challenge is even greater than we originally understood. Scientists now tell us that we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050 to stop the trend of warming – and slow the impacts already underway. Successfully addressing this challenge will require bold, broad measures. This document outlines the areas of action that we, in your local government plan, to focus on in the years ahead. We believe that city leadership in these key areas is critical to success. But we can’t do it alone. Community-wide participation, innovation and action are essential to fully address this challenge. With so many other challenges and demands on your time, why should this be a priority for you? Well, as is often the case, challenges also present opportunities. For those in our community drawn to Boulder’s entrepreneurial spirit, creating new approaches to renewable energy generation, storage and management—and being able to test those approaches here in Boulder—are leading to unprecedented business and local job opportunities. For those concerned about how we’ll withstand the impacts of climate change, these innovations also enable us and to build resilience in our critical infrastructure, as well as support vulnerable populations that are disproportionately stressed during emergencies. And for the average household, being able to use less energy, generate it yourself and intelligently plan for home system upgrades can add up to significant cost savings. Rather than sending over $300 million each year out of our community to pay for fossil fuels we simply burn up, we can reinvest those dollars in energy systems that could last a lifetime or more. This is a critical time for our environment and our community—but it is also an exciting time. Once again, our community is positioned to be a leader. We are eager to hear your thoughts about our planned focus areas and your ideas for how each of us can play a role in achieving our goals. We’re up to the challenge. We hope you are, too. Sincerely, Suzanne Jones, Mayor Jane Brautigam, City Manager 2 Boulder’s Climate Table of Contents Commitment Vision Into Action ................................................ 5 ENERGY Our Challenge High Performance Buildings ......................... 12 The combustion of fossil fuels is warming earth’s Clean Mobility .................................................... 18 atmosphere and changing our climate. The current Clean Electricity Sources ................................ 22 trajectory, if left unchecked, will lead to a human- induced warming of 7 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), or higher. Such an increase in RESOURCES global temperatures will be catastrophic. To change Waste ..................................................................... 30 this course, we must achieve dramatic near-term Water ...................................................................... 34 reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by rapidly Food ....................................................................... 36 transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Stabilizing the climate will also require using resources more efficiently and removing carbon ECOSYSTEMS from the atmosphere by restoring and enhancing Urban Ecosystems ............................................. 40 ecosystems. Wildland Ecosystems ....................................... 42 Agricultural Ecosystems .................................. 44 Our Opportunity Transformation of our energy system is essential COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION if we are going to stop burning fossil fuels. This Key Findings ......................................................... 48 transition presents an unparalleled opportunity. Community Leader Profiles ............................ 50 Technology, innovation and collective social change Just Transition ..................................................... 52 have the potential to create a world in which the fuel to power our lives is clean, abundant, free Next Steps ............................................................. 54 and accessible to all. We need to redirect our energy system investments, making them more REFERENCES AND RESOURCES ................. 56 decentralized and resilient in the process. More efficient use of energy and other resources can also support greater community abundance and shared equity. Enhancing ecosystems to remove carbon from the atmosphere also improves local air and water quality, leading to better public health. Our Commitment Boulder will rapidly transition to a clean energy economy and lifestyle through innovative strategies, products and services that dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance our community’s resilience and support a vital and equitable economy. Our Goal We will power our city with 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and reduce Boulder’s Printed on 100% greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent recycled paper. below 2005 levels by 2050. 3 History and Accomplishments To Date Accelerated Net-Zero Energy Code adopted, requiring new and remodeled residential First city City Council and commercial buildings to GHG adopts SmartRegs meet net-zero inventory Ordinance to help emissions by 2031. published. improve energy performance in The Universal City Council rental properties. Zero Waste passes Kyoto Ordinance Resolution to Marijuana Renewable passes. lower GHGs to Voters pass Energy Offset Requirement 7 percent below nation’s first passed. 1990 levels by 2012. Climate Action Plan (CAP) Tax Voters to reduce GHGs. pass a five-year Boulder CAP Tax achieves City launches extension. Solar Friendly first voluntary Community energy efficiency Platinum programs. Designation 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 11 miles per resident 14 miles per resident per day driven per day driven First home enrolls EnergySmart has advised in EnergySmart and 7,500 homes and 1,600 first rental unit receives businesses. 6,500 rental units compliance certificate. are SmartRegs compliant About 50 solar photovoltaic (PV) Community actions through installs; 1 megawatt of solar 2014: 2,000 solar installs; capacity; $0 for local solar development. 12 MW of solar; $200,000 in grants for local solar. City launches City reduces effort to reduce its its operational own operational emissions by 34 emissions. percent. The Building Building Performance Performance Ordinance achieves 100 Ordinance percent compliance for 4 passes. first round. Vision Into Action Vision Boulder is a world leader in the development and implementation of renewable energy and emissions reductions programs that create local economic opportunities, enhance community well-being and build resilience. Through these efforts, Boulder inspires and enables other communities to participate in reducing carbon emissions and stabilizing the climate. Goal Boulder will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent or more below 2005 levels by 2050.1 Action Areas Energy—Reduce fossil fuel demand from buildings and transportation; rapidly transition to an energy system and economy that is powered 100 percent or more by renewable clean electricity with 50 percent or more of that produced locally.2 Resources—Reduce the emissions impacts caused by the use of goods and services by maximizing the productivity of all resources used and making purchasing decisions that support responsible resource use. Ecosystems—Enhance the ability of urban, wildland and agricultural ecosystems to capture and stabilize atmospheric carbon and provide critical buffering against climatic extremes. Community Climate Action—Support the inspiration and innovation of those who live, work, study and visit Boulder to create a low-carbon economy and lifestyle that improves the health, shared prosperity and long-term security of the community. Emissions and Energy Goals3 TARGET AREA 2020 2030 2050 COMMUNITY Emissions Reduction 15% 50% 80% CITY ORGANIZATION Emissions Reduction 50% 80% +90% Percent of electricity 40% 100% 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY supply that is renewable 1 The City of Boulder uses the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) for greenhouse gas accounting. 2 The current methodologies for calculating community-wide greenhouse gas emissions account primarily for energy-related sources. Recognizing the important role that both resource use and ecosystem management play in emissions reduction, the city is working on incorporating methods for quantifying the impacts of actions in these areas. 3 Community emissions are measured against a 2005 baseline. City organization emissions are measured
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